(Highlight and copy this post, this is the entire story in a nutshell)


Special Thanks To: Larry Trotter, Jed Moskwa, Shane Hayes, George Arredondo Jr., Randy Hutton, GBO Members who provided valuable feedback/input and those that just dropped by and followed the project, GBO Forum Moderators, and GBO Founder Bill, GBO, Saubier.com, Savage Shooters.com


You all have my sincere thanks on helping me make this journey, I could not have done it without you.


223 Short v1 Part 1: Project Summary - Took long enough to get here, that's what you get when you have very little money and no deadlines.


Design Goals:


Cheap Parent Brass - 223 Remington √
Small Powder Capacity - 14gr L’Il Gun = 22 Hornet √
Design: Modern High Pressure √
Performance: 22 Hornet + 50% = 225 yd Coyote Kill √+ (275+yd MPBR)
Simple Savage 223 Rem. Barrel Setback & Rechamber √


A list of loads that may give the best starting place for the adoption of the 223 Short v1, all loads produced <0.5MOA at 50 yards. I only shot for accuracy. We know the round can be hot rodded and I'll leave that up to others.


Parent Cases: Lake City Commercial Once Fired


TiteGroup
30gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.475" - 5.2g
30gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.475" - 5.4g
40gr Armscor COAL 1.400" - 5.4g
50gr TNT COAL 1.615" - 4.9g


Benchmark
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 12.6g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 12.8g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 13.3g
36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade COAL 1.595” - 13.4g
53gr V-Max COAL 1.615” - 13.0g


L'Il Gun
40gr Sierra Varminter COAL 1.500” - 13.2g
50gr V-Max COAL 1.596” - 11.2g
50gr TNT COAL 1.65” - 11.6g
53gr Nosler Varmageddon COAL 1.700” - 11.8g


THE HARDWARE AND TOOLS I USED TO GET THERE


Test Rifle: Savage Axis I Left Hand
Private Sourced Accutrigger
Cut Down & Reinforced Forearm to Accommodate Heavy Barrel
Green Mountain 1:9 Very Heavy Barrel Blank
Cut down to 17" with 11º Target Crown
Chambered by Larry Trotter
PT&G Reamer Print # 51121
Added 3.75lbs Lead Shot to Stock
CenterPointe 4-16x40 Scope
V-Life 6-24x50 Scope
Total Rifle Weight 11.5lbs


Case Prep: Formed in custom CH4D FL Sizer/Forming die using Lee Challenger Breech Lock press with extended breaker bar for extra leverage in a single stroke, Hornady Case Lube Spray


Neck cut off using Proxxon KG-80 Mini Mitre Saw in modified Squirrel Daddy 300 Blackout Jig


Neck trimmed to length using Little Crow Gun Works custom trimmer chucked in cordless drill/driver - have upgraded to Trim-It II


Neck chamfer and debur using Lyman Case Prep Multi-Tool Ends chucked in cordless drill/driver


Flash hole debur using Lyman Flash Hole Uniforming Tool chucked in a cordless drill/driver


Primer Pocket crimp removal using Lyman Primer Pocket Reamer by Hand


Frankford Quick-N-EZ Vibratory Case Tumbler, Lyman Tuff-Nut Media


Neck Only Resize: Upgraded to Lee 223 Collet Die Unmodified with Custom Case Holder


Neck Expanded using Lyman Neck Expander M-1 cut down to 2.5255” body length


Decapping: Lee Universal Decapper unmodified


Primer Seating: On-Press Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press


Primers: CCI No 400 Small Rifle


MTM Universal Loading Tray


Powder Delivery: Lee Safety Powder Scale, Lee Powder Dippers, Frankford DS-750 Digital Powder Scale, Lee Powder Funnel, Lee Perfect Powder Measure, Lee Perfect Powder Measure Deluxe


Bullet Seating: Lee Challenger Breech Lock, Lee 221 FB Seater base cut down 0.275” & body stem cut down 0.250” to total body length 2.07”, 22 TCM Seater Will Work, Lee 223 Rem Factory Crimp base cut down to 2.2040”, Hornady Cam-lock Bullet Puller Unmodified, No-Name Dial Calipers x 2, Upgraded to Husky Digital Caliper


The second part of the project is the development of the 22 Mamba.


Brian Lewis