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Post by HMC710 on Mar 30, 2013 17:40:06 GMT -5
Shut down progressing well so I ducked out for the weekend. Wanted to get a 22RE in blowback done but the blank diameter is not big enough. So had Bro center it up for me and will try it on our new gasser system and see what happens. Went to chuck it up on the lathe and servo batteries were dead. I guess that teaches me for not being here. OK, maybe next trip......... or move the shop......
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Post by HMC710 on Apr 3, 2013 21:53:22 GMT -5
Have some .223 blanks coming in 1:8 and 1:12 twist to test the new 22RE and see how they compare. Also got 257 1:10 (instead of the 1:14) for the 257 ARS and 256 Win Mag to do some comparisons on those.
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Post by HMC710 on Apr 23, 2013 17:19:27 GMT -5
Don't know if I will get to the 22 RE on this tour back but have been gathering parts..... can't wait to put them to use!
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Post by HMC710 on Apr 26, 2013 16:04:04 GMT -5
Blanks are here but only have a couple days on site before another 2 week tour. Then back for some needed R&R
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Post by HMC710 on May 5, 2013 10:52:13 GMT -5
Got the blanks cut for some 10" and 16" barrels. Bro got them all centered so we will profile and chamber a few when I get back. Actually found some A3 uppers, BCG, and even a few lowers at reasonable prices so will put a couple of these together and see what happens. Curious to see how they feed from std Tok mag from what 22B commented about earlier. The blanks are 1:8 and 1:12 twist so that should give us the two extremes for bullet testing. I am contemplating doing a straight blow back also just to see how it compares to a gas operated. That would give all the BB users a simple conversion. I've got to make a run of Tok BB adapters anyway.
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Post by HMC710 on May 20, 2013 8:25:27 GMT -5
Loaded up some dummy rounds with Hornady 35g VMax and Nosler 45g (iirc).... Anyway, new phone camera sux to have to get the old standby out so I can get pics going again. 35gr are .520" long and the 45g are .710 long. I can hit 1.280" with the 35gr and maybe a bit less. The 45g are limited to 1.470" before you hit on the ogive and lose the bullet in the case. That would limit them to the M1 Carbine mags. As a note, the carbine mags will take any bullet combo that I've got, the Tok and 38 Super are limited. Hope to have a barrel done today.
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Post by 22boomer on May 20, 2013 14:35:33 GMT -5
Tim, The dummy cartridges you made -- are they 22 Reed Express or the 22 TCM?
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Post by HMC710 on May 20, 2013 17:17:13 GMT -5
Reeds Express. Got the barrel profiled and ready to chamber. 16" with pistol port to start. Going to do a blow back version next along with a 1911.
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Post by 22boomer on May 21, 2013 7:50:40 GMT -5
You're going to love that 22RE. I've got a 16" AR upper with the pistol length gas system.
I've been looking into doing a 22 TCM just for the hell of it but the big difference is finding the brass. The 22 TCM brass is unavailable and to make it yourself you need .223 brass. With the 22RE you can shoot Sellier&Bellott in a Tok upper and then reform the brass or go get some Starline and reform it. The Starline 7.62X25 Tok brass or the 30 mauser brass is not that expensive.
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Post by HMC710 on May 21, 2013 8:07:39 GMT -5
Loaded up some of the Hornady 35gr V-Max with 11.0 gr of Lil Gun. Filled case almost to the neck and QL says we have 92% burning at 2700 fps. The other bullets I made dummy rounds for were Nosler 40gr, not 45. Even tho they were only 5gr heavier, they were almost .250" longer. Loaded the VMax to 1.350" OAL for Tok Mags. Hope to test later today.
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Post by 22boomer on May 21, 2013 18:01:31 GMT -5
I don't know if you like the brand or not but right now I like the 30gr barnes Varmint Grenade. With the Varmint Grenades the COL is 1.33" and I'm using Starline 30 Mauser brass. I also like the Lil' Gun powder in this cartridge but you don't want to know how much of the powder I'm using with no pressure signs. I also tried H110 but the Lil' Gun worked better. I've been using CCI 450 primers because that's all I could locate.
I'm beginning to think that the 22 TCM got buried with all this crazyness about ammo and reloading parts these days. The one place I found that sold the brass is completely out of the ammo, the brass and the similar brass called the 22 Micro-Mag. The only place I can find reloading dies is CH4D and they have an 8 to 10 week wait. Guess I need to rethink trying the 22 TCM.
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Post by HMC710 on May 22, 2013 7:41:37 GMT -5
Chambered brl yesterday and its ready for stamping, drilling, and parkerizing. I forgot what twist I have but I think its a 1:8 that I had for a .223 build I never did. When I did a "what if" on QL, it actually showed Lil Gun burning better than H110 even tho it is listed as slower. I am a big fan of Lil Gun, it seems to be usable in everything from Reeds Express to Tok to Beowulf in sub sonic to max loads. I'm starting at 11 gr which is below max so we'll see what happens. Checking to see how the pistol length gas system works today.
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Post by 22boomer on May 22, 2013 10:49:48 GMT -5
I was just thinking back about when I tried loading up some 22RE rounds with 70gr VLD bullets. I think they shot ok -- can't really remember -- but that would work nice in a 1:8 twist. I think I used a modified GI type mag -- had a spacer and ramp added in the mag to keep the bullet nose up when loading into chamber. The bullet was probably slow -- maybe good for suppressor work -- but then I don't own a suppressor.
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Post by HMC710 on May 22, 2013 12:28:27 GMT -5
Just got the 22 Reeds Express fully assembled. Barrel is a 1:7 from my measurements, will look through my old notes to verify. Used a polymer New Frontier lower receiver for this build. Got a couple of the fully assembled lowers from them to see how they hold up. Polymer hammer and trigger - time will tell. Put on an A2 stock with rifle buffer and spring. Using Tok mag and adapter but have M1 Carbine set up ready also. Soon as I get a delivery will do a live fire test.............. OK, delivery completed: (no pics - new phone not friendly ) Tested new 22 Reeds Express in stock form, A2 stock with rifle buffer and spring, pistol gas port, New Frontier Polymer assembled lower, Tok mag and HM adapter. Barrel is 16" and loaded 11gr of Lil Gun with Hornady V-Max 35 gr bullets. OAL is 1.35" and could be loaded down to 1.28". Put 5 rounds in the mag and check function. Remembering 22B's issue with feeding using the Tok mags I left the barrel extension 100% stock to test settings. Loading the rounds in the tok mag, the 2nd round from the top is always loose. They will slip forward if you don't watch it. Loaded up 5 rounds and manually let the BCG fwd to watch the round feed. It appeared that the nose of the bullet caught on the barrel extension. The upper receiver was a Slick Side I had on another build without M4 cuts. The bullet either caught on the extension or the neck caught on the non M4 edge of the receiver. Put the rounds back in the mag and tried to normally cycle a round in. Presto! Nose up jam like 22B had. Cleared the jam and manually loaded the round to check cycling action. Pulled the trigger and the round ejected and reset the hammer. Pulled the upper apart and cut in some M4 cuts in the upper + slightly smoothed out the lower lugs on the extension. Re-assembled and cycled a round in. First round fed in, fired two rounds and jammed nose up. Disassembled again and went after the lower lugs like I would with a standard Tok barrel. Cleaned up and re-assembled. Loaded 6 rounds, racked in a shell, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang ;D Out of ammo so will have to do some loading tonight Issue is going to be the heavier bullets as the M1 carbine mag did not like these at all And just to find out, loaded up a blow back adapter and cycled with a Tok blow back upper. Fed just fine so time to get that blow back barrel done....
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Post by 22boomer on May 22, 2013 18:30:03 GMT -5
Sounds like you got the PPS mag problem figured out. Do you have any idea how many rounds you can load in the PPS mag and have 100% function?
Now, I would also like to see what happens with the blowback setup. I was just wondering if you might have to back off on the powder charge. I don't have a blowback 22RE so I don't have any idea how it will work. It could turn a 9mm blowback owner's carbine into a varmint rifle.
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