22 Creedmoor, because WE NEED MORE CREEDMOOR!

[CraigC]

Being of a former generation I really liked using a 22-25 to punch a 40 or 45 gr bullet into a jackrabbit or prairie dog. It still gets the job done today. I know I am considered a fossil by most but don't give one small hoot if I am. Shoot what you wish and enjoy it. I will do the same. Just keep on shooting what ever it is that floats your boat.

I love the 6.5CM but if I wanted a rifle for blasting prairie dogs and needed more than a .223, it would probably be a .22-250.

 

[Varminterror]

@doubleh - I don’t make any claims the 22-250 isn’t a great cartridge, nobody’s kicking anybody’s dog here. Frankly, I grew up with 22-250 as my go to cartridge for calling coyotes - in a time when I was calling 75-100 days per year. We also used to have good access to prairie dog towns on neighbors’ properties back then. But seeing what could be done with heavier bullets, I built my first fast twist 22-250AI in high school, and even after adopting AR’s as my calling rifle, I kept a 22-250 or AI bolt gun around for a lot of years. I was literally drooling as I discovered a ton of loaded ammo and fireformed 22-250 AI brass in the accumulation of a local reloader as his wife asked me to help derive fair market value since he can no longer make use of it (advanced Parkinson’s) - and she showed the beautiful custom Rem 700 he had built, chambered in the AI.

But…. My 2020 F-150 is an objectively better truck than was my 1991. It’s not bias or blind fandom to admit to objective benefits - I AI’d the 22-250 because it was better. The Creed and GT case have the advantages I wanted in the 22-250 AI over the straight 22-250, but without the burden of fireforming.

 

[doubleh]

@doubleh - I don’t make any claims the 22-250 isn’t a great cartridge, nobody’s kicking anybody’s dog here. Frankly, I grew up with 22-250 as my go to cartridge for calling coyotes - in a time when I was calling 75-100 days per year. We also used to have good access to prairie dog towns on neighbors’ properties back then. But seeing what could be done with heavier bullets, I built my first fast twist 22-250AI in high school, and even after adopting AR’s as my calling rifle, I kept a 22-250 or AI bolt gun around for a lot of years. I was literally drooling as I discovered a ton of loaded ammo and fireformed 22-250 AI brass in the accumulation of a local reloader as his wife asked me to help derive fair market value since he can no longer make use of it (advanced Parkinson’s) - and she showed the beautiful custom Rem 700 he had built, chambered in the AI.

But…. My 2020 F-150 is an objectively better truck than was my 1991. It’s not bias or blind fandom to admit to objective benefits - I AI’d the 22-250 because it was better. The Creed and GT case have the advantages I wanted in the 22-250 AI over the straight 22-250, but without the burden of fireforming.

I certainly wasn't poo-pooing the new fast twist long bullet rifles of today. I was just pointing out that the 22-250 did a great job of what I used it to do plus there was no other option.I did switch to an AR for coyote hunting but those years are behind me.Time has a way of doing that. If it was possible I would be out playing some long range game now. I have no problem with improved technology no matter what it is.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Should make some money for the ammo companies and a few rifle manufacturers who pick it up. .223 Remington/5.56 will always be the standard for many years. Mostly because so many rifles have been built already. It's a tough market. Marketing Seems to be focused on predator hunters and possibly some deer hunters. But hunters are declining in numbers and 22's are verboten in some states for deer.

 

[marksman13]

I love the idea of a 22 Creed, but with a 6.5 Creed, 6mm Creed, a 224 Valk and several fast twist 223s already in the safe, I just don’t see a need to buy a 22 Creed. I am going to add a 6 Creed bolt action at some point though.

 

[horsemen61]

I wonder what barrel life will be for the 22 CM versus 6 CM and 6.5 CM.

Just a guess but I’m betting it will be shorter than the 6.5 and the 6 version

 

[12Bravo20]

Just a guess but I’m betting it will be shorter than the 6.5 and the 6 version

That is a given. What I was looking at was more of an actual round count. I know people have been shooting some form of 22CM for a while now.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Just a guess but I’m betting it will be shorter than the 6.5 and the 6 version

The OAL of the cartridge is shorter since the bullet's aren't as long, but the case length is the same.
I've been shooting a custom 22 CM for several years, and I also built a 25 CM that I shoot the newer 135gr .257 caliber bullets with.

 

[mavracer]

The OAL of the cartridge is shorter since the bullet's aren't as long, but the case length is the same.
I've been shooting a custom 22 CM for several years, and I also built a 25 CM that I shoot the newer 135gr .257 caliber bullets with.

He's talking about barrel life not OAL.
As to barrel life from the little research I've done my SWAG would be
22= 800-1000
6= 1200-1500
6.5=2000ish

 

[Varminterror]

I messaged a couple of my buddies re: barrel life on their 22CM match rifles - both pull barrels at 1000-1100. I pull 6 creed barrels at 1200-1400.

A Hunter would be happy for twice that, but the velocity unreliability is a problem beyond that mark for competition - so if you define “barrel life” as the stable life of a barrel, a 22CM is done around 1000-1100.

 

[12Bravo20]

Thank you @mavracer and @Varminterror for giving round counts.

 

[kimberkid]

I was intrigued by the 6.5CM because of its light felt recoil … and having increasing problems with arthritis, most notably in my right shoulder.
I built my first on a Sharps “Jack” upper & lower matched 308 receiver set. The barrel is a cryogenically treated JP Enterprise, stainless fluted 22” 1:8, the handguard, heat sink, adjustable gas block and muzzle break, bolt & lite weight carrier, captured recoil spring are JP as well. MagPul PRS stock … the trigger is a Geissele Super Dynamic Enhanced Trigger lastly a Leupold Mark 4 ER/T 8.5-25x50 M1 Extended Range Front Focal Tactical Rifle Scope

I could have saved money on the receiver set, trigger & scope but I had sold 5-6 other firearms to fund this build, it’s what I wanted … and I haven’t been disappointed.

In the end I was right at $3,700 for the build, this doesn’t include the reloading components & Dillon powder drop, dies, shell plate or Atlas bipod.

I also had a 6.5 Creedmoor Benchmark barrel cut for my SiG SSG3000, which is also 22” stainless fluted & cryo’d. So far I haven’t been impressed with the accuracy (around 1.25 moa at 100 through 300 yards but I’ve only shot 77 rounds through the SiG) of the load that I developed for the AR which has repeatedly shot sub 3/4”moa groups (and better) out to 450 yards.