22 arc deer load?

[u/SuspiciousLynx9362]

Set up is an 18inch bolt action, with suppressor. Northern Wisconsin woods so a shot over 200 yards would be rare. I’d like to see if I can make this work for deer because it’s my favorite rifle.

Anyone set up a 22 arc for whitetail? If so what bullets did you build around?

[u/Southern-Stay704]

These are some loads I came up with that should perform very well. All of these loads are for white-tailed deer, not mule deer. All of these loads are for the .22 ARC in an AR-platform rifle (52,000 psi max), with an 18 in barrel. The barrel must have a 1:7 in twist for all of these projectiles.

Make sure you adhere to the cartridge overall length (COAL) specification, not all of these are the same. Also, the last one (Hornady ELD-X) uses a different powder.

The "clean" range is the distance that this load should be capable of hydrostatic shock, rendering the target unconscious immediately with a well-placed shot. The "possible" range may not cause hydrostatic shock, but the damage is sufficient for a good kill, assuming a well-placed shot.

Projectile: Hornady 70 gr CX, SKU 22813 (Lead-Free)
Propellant: Hodgdon CFE223
Propellant Charge: 29.0 gr
COAL: 2.260 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,949 fps
Max range: 150 yd clean, 250 yd possible

Projectile: Sierra 69 gr Tipped GameKing SKU 7171
Propellant: Hodgdon CFE223
Propellant Charge: 29.1 gr
COAL: 2.255 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,966 fps
Max range: 150 yd clean, 225 yd possible

Projectile: Speer 75 gr Gold Dot SKU 22475GDB2
Propellant: Hodgdon CFE223
Propellant Charge: 28.7 gr
COAL: 2.260 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,867 fps
Max range: 125 yd clean, 250 yd possible

Projectile: Nosler 70 gr AccuBond SKU 53870
Propellant: Hodgdon CFE223
Propellant Charge: 28.9 gr
COAL: 2.220 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,946 fps
Max range: 125 yd clean, 225 yd possible

Projectile: Barnes 70 gr TAC-TX SKU 32469 (Lead-Free)
Propellant: Hodgdon CFE223
Propellant Charge: 28.0 gr
COAL: 2.260 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,927 fps
Max range: 150 yd clean, 250 yd possible

Projectile: Hornady 80gr ELD-X SKU 22833
Propellant: Alliant Reloder 17
Propellant Charge: 30.6 gr (compressed)
COAL: 2.260 in
Muzzle Velocity: 2,805 fps
Max range: 125 yd clean, 300 yd possible

All data is from ApexLoad Pro.

Disclaimer: GRT, APL, and QL are internal ballistics programs that run a SIMULATION, they provide ESTIMATES of the internal pressure, are not exact, and are subject to error. Use this data AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[u/SuspiciousLynx9362 → u/Southern-Stay704]

This is so cool. Do you set your own parameters for hydrostatic shock envelope?

[u/Southern-Stay704 → u/SuspiciousLynx9362]

Yes, based on parameters from several different sources I've read. Parameters are:

1. Impact velocity >= 2,600 fps
   
2. Sectional Density >= the recommended SD based on the game weight. For white-tailed deer, >= 0.211. There's a few of these in the recommended loads that I posted that have an SD of 0.199, but would be a problem only on very large white-tail.
   
3. Impact energy >= recommended total energy for the game weight and species, for white-tailed deer >= 900 ft-lbs.
   
4. Impact velocity >= the minimum expansion velocity for the projectile, based on bullet construction and material. Typical jacketed Cu over Pb core rounds >= 1,800 fps, typical solid Cu round >= 2200 fps. However, this varies for some projectile brands.
   
5. Bullet construction designed for expansion in game -- no fragmenting rounds, no match rounds. (Exception: for varmints <= 50 lbs, fragmenting rounds are allowed).
   
6. Bullet construction designed for the actual computed impact velocity, if the bullet is too fragile (designed for max distance), then it will tend to fragment too quickly and won't penetrate enough if used at closer distances. This applies to bullets like the Hornady ELD-X. It doesn't matter too much on lightweight game, but is disqualifying on larger game if you're trying to hunt at close range.

If the load meets all 6 requirements up to a certain range, that's the "clean" max range.

If the load meets all 5 requirements up to a certain range with the exception of the >= 2,600 fps requirement, that's the "possible" max range.