I’ve got an itch for a 22 CM

I have a Tikka TAC A1 chassis and a spare SA tikka action that is taunting me. Thinking about doing a 22 CM to run the 95 gr SMK.

Will a 1:7 be enough or do I need 1:6.5?

"This bullet requires a barrel twist rate of 1x6.5” or faster."


https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1396/224-dia-95-gr-HPBT

I went with 1:7 Bartlein in my 22-250ai. (not a bad choice for a fast twist .224 unless youre dead set on a 22cm)

On Berger's stability calc is shows 95gr SMK stable at 3100fps on 1:7 until you get down below 45 degrees temp at 500ft elevation. Since it is right on the border if you are set on the 95gr it would probably be best to err on the safe side with the faster twist 6.5".

I've got a pile of the 88gr ELDMs that I plan to run in my 1:7.

Won’t really help much on your decision but I can say the 95 gr did not shoot well at all from my 1/8 twist 22 CM. It was stable enough to make nice clean round holes out to 350yards but 100yard groups were wild.
88 ‘s although have shot pretty well.

I can order a 1:7 Hardy CF barrel (and comfortably run 88s or 90s) from dallasrifle at a good price or get a krieger 1:6.5 which is in stock.

Any idea on how short I can go on barrel length? I’d like to do 24” or less.

24's burn up powder in 6mm and 6.5mm, why wouldn't they work in .22?

The 22 will be more overbore. I would keep it 24 or longer if it were me. I think you will find Reloader 26 to be a good powder choice

I run a 24 and going from memory based off what Derrick at Horizon is getting from his I would figure losing about 40fps per inch roughly. 22 caliber being smaller diameter than 6.5 will lose a little more per inch barrel length.

I was thinking 24", but I see a bunch of his are 20 or 22"

Yes with everyone nowadays running Suppressed barrel lengths have gotten shorter.
One way to look at it is with a 20inch barreled 22 Creedmoor you can get the speed of a 24 inch barreled 22-250.

24" barrel +suppressor, .22-250 makes 75 gr go 3200 fps MV. Load it with 95's and it's still FAST.

you know how i like to hotrod!

26" + can = a narrower powder charge node, but more speed. Get it hot, and it starts to shoot like chit...

I'd be worried at 22 creed speeds running a 6.5 twist would over spin and shed jackets. My 7 twist will push 90gr at 3350 and it's generating crazy rpm.

I've got two 20 inch 1-7 twist Xcaliber 22 CM barrels setting on my table, just waiting for my Nucleus action to arrive.
I'll be shooting the 75gr AMax out of the first barrel since I have 1200 of them on the shelf, and probably won't go over 80-85 gr with the second barrel. If I want to shoot heavier bullets real fast I'll just grab the 25-06.

Chads gonna load up 88's to shoot out of my Creed.

Not really a step in a positive direction imo. Burning more powder. With 90's in each the speed gained Isn't much and not enough to make up for the poor BC of the 257 stuff.

For target shooting,you are correct,but I will be using mine for coyotes and pigs mainly,I have way too many 6.5mm guns to worry about shooting a .224 caliber long range for fun.

And even doing that it still holds no advantage while burning 10gr more powder. The 22 also bests the majority of the 6.5 offerings in trajectory and drift.

BC on some of the smaller bullets is just silly nowadays.

You pay for the performance a bit in barrel life though. No free lunch.

Between 22cm and the 25-06 it's a wash. Both are serious over bore. The creed might have an edge with case design/shoulder angle but it's still a barrel eater.

22x47

77g Nosler

3515 fps, devastating exit wounds

I was comparing 22/6/257 to the 6.5 CM, for instance.

You running a 6.5 or 7? Pretty sure we've talked about this before but I forget a lot.

1:7 twist

Exit wound - you could stick your fist in it. That's 1 shot; it apparently came out in 2 pieces.

I got similar results running 80gr vld. Basically decapitating trash pandas just inside 300yds and awesome wound channel on a 150lbs (dressed weight) buck at 154yds. Mine were going a touch slower at the time.