howa 1500 mini 22 arc

[foxhunter]

i have been goofing around with a wood stocked 1500 mini in 22 arc. the rifle has a 1-7 twist. i tried 55 gr hornady spire points. they did ok with 3/4" groups. had simular results with 60 gr sierra hp and 69 gr hp. then i tried 75 gr amax, 1.5" groups at best. then i decided to try 88 gr hornady and 77 gr sierra hp. the 88 were just like the 75 amaxes. then i tried h380 with 77 gr sierra's and i have posted the target pics. load were around 2900-2926 fps.
i shortened the magazine to only semi ugly, it now holds 3 rounds instead of 5.

 

[Billinthedesert]

Mine will arrive this week. Looking forward to it. Already have some Hornady 73-grain ELD-Ms loaded over 31 grains of CFE-223 for break-in.
I bought the cheap version with the Hogue stock. Will probably try some of the stiffening and bedding tricks with it before fitting a Boyd's.

 

[foxhunter]

i bedded as the action rocked when you loosened and tightened the front and back screw. i tried the 62 gr Hornady eld vt with medium burning rate powders. results were mediocre at best. i do plan to go back and try h-380 which has proven to be the most accurate so far. i also plan to do the same with the 88 gr Hornady's with h380.
if i go exotic hunting i will try the 77's even though they are a march hp. i have shot a bunch with a 6mm 70 gr Sierra match hp in a 6ppc with Steller results. it's amazing what accuracy and a 70 Sierra match will do when you put it thru a deer's ear. 2 day hunt and 7 exotics.

 

[Billinthedesert]

Thanks. I'll check for action rocking when the rifle is in hand. Curious why you are using H380, as it isn't listed in the load data supplied by Hornady or Sierra. I see that Hodgdon lists loads with it for gas gun pressures.

 

[foxhunter]

i found loads for it but don't remember where, i think shooters reference maybe. they may not specifically list the Sierra bullet i have been reloading long enough to know how the use other data. h380 is listed as one of the better powders as to velocity. if they only list loads for a gas gun i just use the loads and work the loads up in the bolt. the loads i listed are safe in my rifle and are not max loads. i have a couple more to try which will top 3000 fps, plenty fast enough.

 

[Billinthedesert]

Yes, plenty fast enough!

 

[foxhunter]

77 gr
RDF
(NOS)
0.224"
Powder: H380 (Hodgdon)
Primer: FED 205
Case: HDY
Trim Length: 1.510"

C.O.L.: 2.250"
Powder:
26.7 gr
29.7 gr

Vel.:
2,666
2,932

Press.:
40,300
51,200
Hodgdon
this is for a gas gun, i seated the bullets further out

 

[Billinthedesert]

This is what I have printed out for reference:

https://static.hornady.media/site/hornady/files/load-data/22-arc-bolt-gun.pdf

From Sierra, bolt gun data start on Page 11:

https://sierrabullets.com/content/load-data/rifle/224/22-arc.pdf