Serious shooters know Bill Gravatt. He served as President/co-owner of Sinclair Int’l, worked with Creedmoor Sports for many years, then became President of the Capstone Precision Group (Berger, Lapua, SK, Vihtavuori). Bill guided Capstone through the successful acquisition of Berger Bullets by the Lapua Group, introducing new products and increasing product availability. His time at Capstone was marked by one success after another. Now that Bill has achieved his goals with Capstone (which he may continue to serve as a board member), he is returning to Creedmoor Sports in the role of Managing Director.
As the Managing Director of Creedmoor Sports, Bill will direct all operational and marketing activities for the company. Gravatt had worked for Creedmoor Sports as a consultant several years ago before taking over as Capstone President. Previously, Bill was President/Co-owner of Sinclair International, now owned by Brownells. Gravatt has over 27 years of experience in the shooting industry.
“I’m excited to re-join the customer-focused and talented team at Creedmoor Sports. Having served them as a supplier for three years, it’s good to be back in retail to directly serve our precision shooting customers”, said Gravatt.
“The entire staff at Creedmoor Sports is extremely excited to have Bill back! Bill’s leadership skills and commitment to customer satisfaction is second to none. Creedmoor Sports is committed to continuing our quest to be the leader in the precision shooting market and Bill is the right person for this journey”, said Greg Kantorovich, President of Creedmoor Sports.
Watch for Bill Gravatt Interview Soon
Last week AccurateShooter’s Editor conducted a wide-ranging interview with Bill Gravatt, covering numerous topics. We discussed trends in competitive shooting, development of new products and new cartridges, how to grow the shooting sports, and Bill’s goals at Creedmoor Sports. We hope to present this interview in early May. Stay tuned.
Day after day, one of AccurateShooter’s most-visited web pages is a reference guide featuring a comparative burn rate chart, ranking powders from fastest to slowest. Compiled by Hodgdon Powder Co., this Burn Rate Chart displays the relative burn rates of 163 different powders. Here is the latest table, released by Hodgdon in November of 2019.
You’ll want to download this Powder Burn Rate Table. This table shows the latest IMR powders including the Enduron series (IMR 4166, 4451, 4955, 7977), highlighted in green. This 163-entry comparison table provides vital information for hand-loaders. Note — this invaluable chart is not limited to Hodgdon and IMR propellants. This burn rate chart ranks powders from eight major powder-makers: Accurate, Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR, Norma, Ramshot (Western), Vihtavuori, and Winchester.
This chart provides useful information for all hand-loaders. When doing load development, and testing one powder versus another, it’s generally wise to choose propellants that share the same relative burn rate, as least for starters.
NOTE: Hodgdon powders are blue, IMR Enduron powders are green, IMR standard powders are yellow, and Winchester powders are red. DOWNLOAD Chart HERE.
Peterson Cartridge Company (“Peterson”) has released a lengthy, authoritative guide to the 22 Creedmoor cartridge, a popular wildcat based on the 6.5 Creedmoor or 6mm Creedmoor necked down to .224 caliber. We think the 22 Creedmoor would be a great long-range varmint cartridge, similar to the .22-250 Rem, but with a more moder, efficient cartridge design. In addition, some PRS/NRL competitors may turn to the 22 Creedmoor because it has less recoil and is flatter-shooting than the 6mm Creedmoor. In addition, .224-caliber match bullets are typically less expensive than heavier 6mm and 6.5mm projectiles. Less recoil, and less cost — what’s not to like?*
Along with load data, this article has specific sections dedicated to: Primers, Rifling Twist Rates, and Reloading Supplies. If you are considering building a .22 Creedmoor, we recommend you download the full Peterson .22 Creedmoor article, which is available in PDF format.
Peterson states, “Since its inception in 2007… the 6.5 Creedmoor has seen some pretty meteoric growth in popularity. That growth continues as of this writing, as the cartridge has now gone mainstream with hunters and shooters alike. As the popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor has increased, so has the number of wildcat cartridges based off of it. Some of those popular wildcat cartridges are the 6mm Creedmoor, the .25 Creedmoor, and now the .22 Creedmoor. This data sheet will cover the .22 Creedmoor.
To help our customers, and anyone else who shoots .22 Creedmoor, we decided to create this Data Sheet and distribute it. [In this LOAD DATA Document] you will find four (4) common bullets, and four (4) common rifle powders used when handloading the .22 Creedmoor cartridge. We then took the different bullet and powder combinations and loaded them up to the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor cartridges, which is 62,000 PSI. [O]ur goal was to provide a wide spectrum of bullet weights and the powders used with them.
All of the following data was gathered by our ballistician in our indoor ballistics lab located in our factory in Pennsylvania. Although we were able to gather pressure and velocity data in our lab, we have NOT tested these loads for accuracy. Again, these loads are just designed to give shooters information regarding what velocity, a given bullet and powder charge combination, will produce the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 62,000 psi.”
Sample .22 Creedmoor LOAD DATA
IMPORTANT — Pressures can vary significantly with different Cartridge Overall Lengths (COAL). In addition, ANY change to ANY load components — primers, bullets, brass, powder — can affect pressure. Always load conservatively. In addition, because of variances in bore dimensions, some barrels may show higher pressures than others. Again, always start with conservative loads, well below MAX pressures.
*Actually there IS a potential downside — reduced barrel life. We expect that a .22 Creedmoor running hot varmint loads would experience shorter useful barrel life compared to a 6.5 Creedmoor. This is based on what we’ve observed with .22-250 and .22-250 Ackley barrels compared to our 6.5 CM barrels.
Tired of messing around with neck bushings? Is there a simpler (and potentially better) solution for controlling case neck tension? Yes there is — the precision honed non-bushing die.
You can purchase a Forster non-bushing Full-length sizing die for many popular cartridge types for under $50.00. Then you can send that die to Forster, and Forster will custom-hone the neck for a $24 fee (includes return shipping). When done right, the honed FL die can load ultra-straight ammo with the precise next tension you prefer for your brass and bullet choice.
Alternative to Bushings — Honed Full-Length dies
Conventional, non-bushing full-length sizing dies can create ultra-accurate ammo with very low run-out. For some applications, we prefer a non-bushing FL die over a bushing die — so long as the neck tension is correct. But many FL dies have an undersized neck diameter so you end up with excess neck tension, and you work the brass excessively. Forster offers a simple, inexpensive solution — honing the neck diameter to whatever size you want*.
If you purchase a Forster non-bushing, full-length sizing die, Forster will hone the neck dimension to your specs for $24.00 including return shipping. This way you can have a FL die that provides the right amount of tension for your particular load. (The max amount of diameter change Forster can do is about .008″) Forster dies are relatively inexpensive so you can afford to have a couple of FL dies with necks honed to different diameters — such as 0.266″ and 0.267″ for a no-turn 6mmBR. The die itself is fairly inexpensive — currently Precision Reloading charges $44.54 for a Forster 6mmBR FL sizing die (Forster Part #018121).
Forster FL dies, necks honed to .265″, .266″, and .267″.
Steve Rasmussen of IowaHighPower.com gave this a try. In fact, he had three dies made — each with a different neck dimension. Here’s his report: “My original Forster 6BR FL die sized the necks down a lot [to about 0.260″]. I sent my die in and asked if they could supply two more FL dies (for three total) to have the necks honed to 0.265″, 0.266″, and 0.267″.” In addition to the purchase cost of two more FL-sizing dies, Steve paid $36 ($12 per die) for the three dies to be honed.
Steve’s honed dies produced very straight loaded ammo:
“Brass springback after sizing is running 1 to 1.3 thousandths. My loaded rounds are running 0.2697-0.2699 using [older Gold Box Lapua brass]. So far the dies are working well. I sized 80 cases with the 0.266″ necked die. The shoulder is running 0.4582″ and 0.300″ up from the base is 0.4684". I spun 20 of ‘em and 16 had a runout of one thousandth (0.001) and the other 4 at 1.5 thousandths (0.0015).”
We custom hone the inside neck diameter by using a diamond stoning process. We enlarge the inside diameter to your specification to prevent over-sizing of the case neck due to thick neck walls. You may require this service for multiple reasons: 1) If you use some brands of brass cases which have thicker neck walls. 2) If you do not intend to outside neck turn case necks that have thickened after repeated firings. Please specify desired inside neck diameter. Note: 1) No more than .008″ stock removal from your existing die neck diameter is possible. 2) Honing is done in increments of one half thousandth of an inch (.0005″), meaning that your specified inside diameter must be either.XXX0″ or .XXX5″. FEES: $24.00, includes shipping within continental U.S. (lower 48 states). Please allow 1-3 weeks
Here’s a simple task you can do that will give your seater die a more perfect fit to your match bullets. You can lap the inside of the seater stem so that it matches the exact profile of the bullet. This spreads out the seating force over a larger area of the bullet jacket. That allows smoother, more consistent seating, without putting dents, creases, or sharp rings in your bullets.
This process is demonstrated here by our friend Erik Cortina of Team Lapua-Brux-Borden. Erik, one of the nation’s top F-Class shooters and a skilled machinist, explains: “Here I’m lapping my new seater die stem with lapping compound. I chuck up a bullet in the lathe and lap the inside of the seating stem. I put lapping compound on the bullet and also in the stem. You can do the same with a hand drill and bore paste. You can see in the piture below how much contact area the stem has on the bullet after being lapped. This bullet is a Berger 7mm 180-grain Hybrid. ”
It can be helpful but it’s not necessary to make your seating stem an exact match to a bullet, particularly if you’re loading hunting or varmint rounds. But it is helpful to do some mild internal stem polishing. This should eliminate any ring (or dent) that forms on the bullet jacket during seating.
Sharp edges on a seating stem can cause a ring to be pressed into the bullet jacket — especially with compressed loads that resist downward bullet movement.
Q2: Is there any down-side to the process?
Not really. However, if you shoot many different bullet types for a particular cartridge, you may not want to conform the stem aggressively to one particular bullet design. Lightly lap the inside of the stem to remove burrs/sharp edges but leave it at that. A light lap will prevent a ring forming when seating bullets.
We have all been there…..you place a piece of tumbled brass in the shell-holder of your press, raise it into the die, and suddenly it is like somebody hit the brakes. The case is stuck in the die. Your first instinct is to reverse it out. You crank on the handle, and BANG! The rim rips off the case head and you are looking at a piece of brass stuck in the die.
A stuck case is one of the boo-boos that all of us reloaders have faced from time to time. If proper lubrication is applied, then it should not be a problem. No matter if you are a seasoned reloader or new to it, this situation can happen. Take your time, use the proper procedures, and you will be back in business in no time! This article explains how to avoid stuck cases (through proper lubrication) and how to use a stuck case removal system.
What Causes Stuck Cases
One of the first common mistakes reloaders face is the stuck case. It can be caused by too much or too little lube. Too much and a vacuum can be formed causing the case to become suctioned into the die. Too little lube and friction is the culprit. So what is the cure? There is no exact cure, but the best lube that we have found so far is just a dab of Imperial Sizing Die Wax on your fingers and applied in a thin coat on the body of the case, not the shoulder or neck. Too much of this wax can cause the vacuum effect, or can eventually load your die up with gobs of residue. If it is applied to the shoulder area, or the leftover wax moves up into the shoulder region of the die, you will see dents or dimples in the shoulder. [AccurateShooter.com Editor’s Note: For normal full-length sizing of small cases such as 220 Russian/PPC, 6mmBR, 6.5 Grendel, or 6.5×47 Lapua we recommend Ballistol (aerosol) lube. It is very slippery, goes on very thin, and does not gum up the die.]
A great way to ensure that your dies are clean is to use a simple chamber mop with a dab of your favorite solvent on it and clean out the die. Be sure all of the solvent is out after cleaning by spraying the die out with Quickscrub III or use a clean chamber mop. If you are storing your dies, you can apply a thin coat of a good oil to protect the steel such as TM oil or Starrett M1 Spray.
Using a Stuck Case Removal Kit
If you do stick a case in your die there are a few good stuck case removal kits available. Each one works in a similar fashion. I have found the Hornady kit very effective and easy to use.
Basically what you do is remove the die from the press. Unscrew the decapping assembly and pull it out as far as you can. You then need to drill/tap threads into the stuck case head (this is why it is suggested to unscrew the decapping assembly as far as you can to get it clear of the drill bits). Once this is done screw the die back into the press. You then install the included shellholder attachment on the shellholder ram, and thread it into the case via a small wrench. With some elbow grease you can reverse the stuck case out of the die with the leverage of the press, and not damage the die.
However if the case is stuck….REALLY stuck, you may pull out the threads on the case and you are still left with a stuck case in the die without any way to pull it out. If the case is really difficult to remove even with the use of a stuck case removal kit, do not try to be Hercules with the press ram. Here is a trick that may work. Take the die with the stuck case and place it in your freezer for a couple of hours. Then repeat the removal with the cold die. The freezing temperatures may cause the brass to contract, and make removal easier. If this does not work it is recommended to send it to the die manufacturer. They will be able to remove the case without damaging the die.
Another fix if you can remove the decapping assembly completely is to use a tap hammer and a punch or small wooden dowel to knock the stuck case out. This isn’t the best way since it is very possible that you will damage the die internally or externally on the threads, or both. Send the die to the manufacturer to have this done properly. You will be happier in the long run.
This article appears courtesy Sinclair International. It first appeared in Sinclair’s Reloading Press Blog.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Mc3 Stocks — 20% Off All Stocks and Accessories
Here’s a great oppotunity — get 20% Off all Mc3 products during the April Stay Healthy 2020 Sale. Do you have a rifle you’ve been wanting to upgrade? You can get 20% off EVERYTHING in the McMillan Mc3 store. Save on Hunting Stocks, Tactical Stocks, Bottom Metal, Magazines and other accessories IMPORTANT: To save 20% use Code STAYHEALTHY during checkout. Thanks to ELR Researcher for this tip.
2. Precision Reloading — HUGE Clearance Up to 50% Off
Precision Reloading is running a Big Clearance on a wide range of products including bullets, loaded ammo, reloading tools, dies, holsters, storage boxes, and more. You find some truly great deals, with many items up to 50% off. There are over 400 items on sale, including Berger, Barnes, and Nosler Bullet Sample Packs, cleaning kits, and more.
3. FREE FL Die Set with RCBS MatchMaster Dispenser
Have you been wanting to try the impressive new RCBS MatchMaster powder dispenser but you’ve been waiting for a special deal? RCBS is now offering a FREE Die Set Promo. Purchasers of a MatchMaster Scale/Dispenser qualify for a free set of MatchMaster Dies, with a $185.00 MSRP. This Promotion applies to MatchMaster machines purchased from any retailer including Amazon, Graf & Sons, and Midsouth Shooters. After completing your purchase, submit the RCBS Redemption Form to get your FREE set of MatchMaster FL dies. Die sets for 23 different cartridge types are available. MORE INFO HERE.
4. Midsouth — Aguila .22 LR Ammunition in-stock
Has the recent run on supplies got you thinking that you could use some more rimfire ammo? Well Midsouth Shooters has a full selection of reliable Aguila .22 LR ammunition at very affordable prices. A wide variety of Aguila .22 LR rimfire ammo is currently in-stock and ready to ship.
5. Bruno Shooters — McMillan Stock Sale
McMillan makes some of the best stocks available, with proven designs for just about any discipline or action type. If you’ve been in the market for a new stock, head over to Bruno Shooters Supply. Bruno’s has discounted a wide selection of McMillan stocks including popular tactical, hunting, and benchrest stock designs. Save money and avoid the manufacturer’s waiting period.
6. Sportsman’s Warehouse — Savage AXIS II w/scope, $399.99
If you’re in the market for a good basic rifle packaged with a 3-9x40mm scope, here’s a great deal. Sportsman’s Warehouse has the Savage Axis II with optic for just $399.99!. Currently this package deal is offered with 12 different chamberings including the popular .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, and .30-06 SPR. This is a great value for a basic hunting rig.
7. Natchez — Bushnell Gold Binoculars, $49.99
We love high-end binoculars, but it makes sense to have a lower-cost set of binoculars that you might keep as a spare, lend to a friend on request, or use on camping trips. Right now Natchez is selling Bushnell 8x42mm Custom Gold Binoculars for the crazy low price of only $49.99. Hard to beat that price (under fifty bucks) for a brand name optic.
8. Amazon — Tactical Survival Knife, $18.95
Good knives are vital tools, particularly during times of crisis. When we saw this cool tactical survival knife for only $18.95 we couldn’t resist sharing. With a G10 handle and full tang design this tactical chopper is equally at home around the shop as it is out in the field. The knife features a serious square-front 3.5″ blade, and ships with a rugged nylon carry sheath. Choose either Black or Silver, both with 3mm-thick stainless steel blades. A this price you could grab a pair — one in each color.
Are you sitting around in Coronavirus lockdown trying to figure out what to do? How about organizing your reloading area with these handy wall-mounted storage bins. At just $24.97 for 30 units — nearly 50% Off the regular price — this storage set is a great bargain. Use these for bullets, brass, ammo boxes, small tools — you name it. At this price you can get all those odds and ends put in their place and be ready for when the world gets back to normal.
Cutting out the middleman — that’s what Barne is doing by launching its own e-Commerce website. Yes, now you can purchase the full line of Barnes bullets directly from the manufacturer. However, Barnes ammunition will only be sold through commercial retailers — no online ammo sales.
The new e-commerce web store, Shop.barnesbullets.com, allows individual consumers the convenience of purchasing Barnes Bullets directly. This can help you find the most popular bullets that are sometimes in short supply on dealers’ shelves.
Direct Shipping for Most States
All items on the site can be shipped direct to a consumer’s residential address except certain jurisdictions (such as California), which are noted on the site. All purchasers must be of 21 years of age or older, and adult signature with photo ID will be required to verify this upon delivery. And right now Barnes is offering FREE Shipping on all orders over $99.00.
Set Up Your Own Account or Shop as Guest
Personal accounts can be created to store shipping addresses for speed of checkout, see order status, and order history. A guest checkout option is also available. After an order is submitted auto-generated emails will be sent for: order confirmation, invoice of purchase, processing status, and shipped status.
CLICK HERE to view a catalog of All Barnes products.
If you have questions about the new Barnes online store, contact Barnes Customer Service: customerservice@barnesbullets.com. Or Telephone: (435) 856-1000.
As folks are stuck at home with the Pandemic lock-downs, many guys are thinking about projects involving their AR-15s sitting in their safes. We’ve seen some threads in our Forum asking about the .224 Valkyrie, an AR-centric cartridge that offers significantly better long-range performance than the .223 Remington (5.56×45). If you own a .224 Valkyrie, or are thinking about adding a .224 Valkyrie upper to your MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) arsensal, here is load information from industry leaders Hodgdon and Sierra.
With the 90gr SMK (or similar High-BC projectiles), the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil.
Hodgdon has reloading data for the .224 Valkyrie, a popular new cartridge optimized for the AR15 platform. “At Hodgdon, we’ve been researching this cartridge since before its introduction and are excited to release load data for the Valkyrie featuring powders like Hodgdon CFE 223, IMR 8208 XBR, and Hodgdon Varget” reports Ron Reiber, Hodgdon product manager/ballistician. Access the .224 Valkyrie Data via Hodgdon’s Reloading Data Center.
While new load data will continue to be updated, there is currently data for 80 different loads with bullet weights ranging from 50 to 90 grains. NOTE: The load data covers Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester brand powders only. See Sierra Data for other powder brands. Bullet brands included are: Federal, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra and Swift.
About the .224 Valkyrie Cartridge
Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .22, the Valkyrie has a shorter case than the .223 Remington (and 5.56×45 NATO). This allows you to load the longest, heaviest .224-caliber bullets and still feed reliably from an AR15-type magazine. Designed to rival the .22 Nosler while still running well in ARs, the .224 Valkyrie offers excellent long-range performance when loaded with modern, high-BC bullets. We expect some bolt-action PRS shooters might adopt the .224 Valkyrie. Why? Reduced recoil. With the 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil.
The new .224 Valkyrie has already developed a loyal following: “Shooting heavier bullets in an AR-platform rifle that maintain supersonic speeds beyond 1,300 yards has captured the interest of shooters and handloaders everywhere” — Hodgdon Powders
Our friend Gavin Gear of Ultimate Reloader.com found a superbly accurate load with Berger 80.5gr bullets.
IMPORTANT: Check Out Sierra’s .224 Valkyrie DATA
Sierra Bullets has also published extensive load data for the .224 Valkyrie. This covers over a dozen powder types — many more than the Hodgdon database. Sierra’s .224 Valkyrie load data covers projectiles from 50 grain all the way up to 95 grains. With the 90 to 95 grain bullets, the little Valkyrie can give 6mm match cartridges a real run for their money — offering similar ballistics with less recoil. When selecting a barrel for the long .224-cal bullets, specify a fast enough twist rate: “Sierra recommends a 1:6.5″-twist barrel for the #9290 22 cal 90 gr HPBT bullet. However, for cartridges like the Valkyrie, that can push them over 2650 fps muzzle velocity, a 1:7″-twist barrel will stabilize the bullet correctly.”
Gavin Gear tests .308 Win ammo with his DPMS LR-308B, AR10-type rifle.
Our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com owns a DPMS LR-308B, an AR10-type semi-auto rifle. Gavin finds that his DPMS has a healthy appetite for ammunition. So, he set up his Hornady Lock-N-Load progressive press to produce .308 Win ammo. This video shows the process of press set-up and operation, complete with Hornady’s automated Case Feeder and Bullet Feeder. Employing elevated rotary hoppers, the case feed and bullet feed systems really speed up production. The automated feeders allow the operator to produce cartridges without ever touching case or bullet with his hands.
If you need large quantities of .308 Win ammo for 3-Gun matches or tactical games, and if you value your time, a progressive press may be a wise investment. The progressive can load a complete round with every cycle of the press handle. With Case Feeder and Bullet Feeder in place, the Hornady L-N-L can easily crank out a new .308 round every 3-4 seconds (watch video at 5:25). Conservatively speaking, that’s 15 rounds per minute sustained production (and some guys can go even faster).
To learn more about the Hornady Lock-N-Load Progressive Press (with case/bullet feed options), and to see a list of the dies and accessories Gavin uses, click the link below:
A stuck case is one of the boo-boos that all of us reloaders have faced from time to time. If proper lubrication is applied, then it should not be a problem. No matter if you are a seasoned reloader or new to it, this situation can happen. Take your time, use the proper procedures, and you will be back in business in no time! This article explains how to avoid stuck cases (through proper lubrication) and how to use a stuck case removal system.
