22 creedmore

Darknight

Darknight

Member
I haven't reloaded in years, have an old Lee starter reloading set. Do any of you reload the 22 creedmore for a bolt action? Does it matter of i use magnum small primers vs non magnum? I'm looking at Berger 73 grain bullets to try in a 1 in 8 barrel.
 
I have read that small rifle primers help save the barrel. If you're using heavy loads of something like RL 26, you normally need a large primer brass.
Now I'm only talking about information on my Ruger Gen 2 and a 20" barrel 1x8 twist. Just a heads up, but it took close to 250 different combinations of powder and bullets before I got what I wanted and the gun would shoot. Don't get too set on what you want to shoot. I ended up with an 80 gr ELDm and 80 gr ELDx. I get almost identical POI with both. I'm using the magic fairy bust RL 26. ( I was very fortunate to land on 3 8-pound jugs before it disappeared)I get less than a 1/2" cold, hot, first, or 50th shot. I found they like to fly very fast. I also found that every Creedmoor chambering will flatten the primer. I use the bolt lift and the presser sign. I get 3500 fps. On a fairly calm day, a rarity up here in north-central MT, but if I'm doing it right at 500 yards, I can get 4" groups. I shoot a Vortex Sonora with a custom dial-up elevation cap. anyway dont just settle for good go for great.
 
Its Creedmoor and the large primer vs small primer is more of a brass longevity thing and/or cold weather.

The small primer brass will get you more reloadings because the brass itself is thicker around the primer and a large magnum primer is more reliable in very cold weather.
 
Ok thanks guys, I believe there's a Winchester ball powder for extreme temperatures that might work well. Looking at the Berger 73 grain bullets as well.
 
If you have small primer brass, I would definitely use a magnum small primer like the CCI 450, especially if you're going to load on the hot side -- which you should -- the 22 Creed is a hotrod and should be driven as such.
Also, if this is a coyote load, I would skip the Bergers and go with the 75 or 80 Hornady ELDM. I've heard multiple reports of getting a lot of runners with the Bergers due to inconsistent expansion. I've killed over 100 coyotes with the 75 ELDM, and it just flat out works.
 
SupressYourself said:
If you have small primer brass, I would definitely use a magnum small primer like the CCI 450, especially if you're going to load on the hot side -- which you should -- the 22 Creed is a hotrod and should be driven as such.
Also, if this is a coyote load, I would skip the Bergers and go with the 75 or 80 Hornady ELDM. I've heard multiple reports of getting a lot of runners with the Bergers due to inconsistent expansion. I've killed over 100 coyotes with the 75 ELDM, and it just flat out works.
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Are you using a 1:8 twist in a 20 inch barrel?
 
Badbrass said:
I have read that small rifle primers help save the barrel. If you're using heavy loads of something like RL 26, you normally need a large primer brass.
Now I'm only talking about information on my Ruger Gen 2 and a 20" barrel 1x8 twist. Just a heads up, but it took close to 250 different combinations of powder and bullets before I got what I wanted and the gun would shoot. Don't get too set on what you want to shoot. I ended up with an 80 gr ELDm and 80 gr ELDx. I get almost identical POI with both. I'm using the magic fairy bust RL 26. ( I was very fortunate to land on 3 8-pound jugs before it disappeared)I get less than a 1/2" cold, hot, first, or 50th shot. I found they like to fly very fast. I also found that every Creedmoor chambering will flatten the primer. I use the bolt lift and the presser sign. I get 3500 fps. On a fairly calm day, a rarity up here in north-central MT, but if I'm doing it right at 500 yards, I can get 4" groups. I shoot a Vortex Sonora with a custom dial-up elevation cap. anyway dont just settle for good go for great.
Click to expand...
Wow, I see that RL 26 is not around any more. Has anyone used the Winchester Staball powers? I see they make different models in that line like 6.5 and HD and Match. So many choices, where to start?
 
Staball 6.5 would be a good choice. I haven't used it in a Creedmoor yet, but have had success in other cartridges.
Start by looking at published load data. For example, heres a snip from Hornady showing the upper velocity end for 73-75gr bullets.
1000013740.jpg
 
OK, I see Starline brass is large primer only. Alpha is on backorder everywhere. For some reason I'm thinking i want small primer brass
 
Darknight said:
OK, I see Starline brass is large primer only. Alpha is on backorder everywhere. For some reason I'm thinking i want small primer brass
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Guys used to avoid the 6.5x47 and it's variants with their small rifle primers because of reports of hang fires in cold weather. I have hunted down to 26 below, & never had issues, but I wasn't using the sometimes hard to ignite ball powders.

In another experiment with one of my 6x47 Lapuas, I made some brass out of 308 Lapua with the large rifle primers, and actually had better accuracy than with the small primer counterparts.
 
I like small primer as well. Alpha is at the top of the list, but Peterson also makes excellent brass, and they offer both LRP and SRP 22 Creedmoor.
Lapua does not make 22 Creed, but I've necked down their 6mm Creed to 22 before. Just one pass through the sizing die.
 
Where do you guys get reloading info on the 22 Creedmoor? Are there books available on this cartridge yet or do I take reloading data from the Hornady website as well as the Winchester Staball powder website similar to what SupressYourself showed in his previous post?
 
Darknight said:
Where do you guys get reloading info on the 22 Creedmoor? Are there books available on this cartridge yet or do I take reloading data from the Hornady website as well as the Winchester Staball powder website similar to what SupressYourself showed in his previous post?
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Various places. Hornady website, Hodgdon website, various bullet and powder manufacturers may also have some. Loads posted on various forums (use caution, some people are loading way too hot).
I would start by deciding what your goals are for the round (target, coyotes, deer, etc) and then which bullet you'd like to shoot to meet that goal. You should be able to find data for that bullet, or one in its weight class.
You could probably even ask your favorite AI and they'd get you on the right track.
 
I'm a bit old fashioned and am used to books but haven't reloaded for a long time so should get used to the online sources. I was trying the online resource on the staball 6.5 powder but had trouble getting 75 grain Hornady ELD M with the 6.5 powder in 22 CM. It's likely a user error issue though. This will be for Coyotes only. I appreciate you guys helping out though, thank you!
 
That's where that screenshot I posted above came from. Hornady load data. 22 Creedmoor, 75 grain bullets. Max load of StaBall 6.5 is 44.4 grains. Start lower and work up to that.
 
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