.22 ARC / .22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (30-Shot Test)(Handloader issue #352) |
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| Warning! A custom rifle built on a Pacific Tool & Gauge Drakkar Action with a 20-inch Proof Research barrel (1:7 twist) with a Leupold Mark 4 4.5-18x 52mm scope mounted in Leupold Mark 4 rings was used to test all loads. Resized Lapua 6.5 Grendel cases and Federal 205M primers were used throughout. All loads were assembled using Hornady dies in an Area 419 ZERO Reloading Press. All powder was weighed and dispensed on an RCBS MatchMaster and charge weights were accurate to .04 grains. The temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit while the wind was 6 mph. The humidity was 42 percent, the altitude was 5,000 feet and pressure was 30.21 in HG as measured by a Kestrel 5700. Velocity is the average of 30 rounds recorded on a Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph. |
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Cartridge History
.22 ARC / .22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (30-Shot Test) The .22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) is a modern, small-bore centerfire cartridge developed to deliver repeatable, supersonic .22-cal performance from short-to-medium-length rifle barrels while remaining compatible with AR-style platforms. Handloader Issue #352 includes a focused 30-shot test that evaluates accuracy consistency, fouling, and real-world practicality across a range of factory and handloaded ammunition samples — an ideal format for assessing the ARC’s day-to-day performance for both precision and high-volume varmint work. The 30-shot test format used in the article emphasizes repeatability over single-group bragging rights. Instead of measuring a single 3- or 5-shot group, the test fires multiple strings (totaling 30 rounds) to show how groups open up with successive shots, how the rifle and ammunition handle heat and fouling, and whether velocity spreads grow over time. This approach gives a much clearer picture of what a shooter can expect in an extended field session or match scenario — issues that are especially relevant for a small, high-velocity cartridge like the .22 ARC. In Handloader #352 the author covers component selection (factory ARC loads and representative handloads), test rifle configuration, and the chronograph/target methodology used for the 30-shot sequence. The piece discusses observed trends such as group growth with sustained strings, changes in standard deviation (ES/SD) over the 30 rounds, and any meaningful shifts in point-of-impact as the barrel heats. Where applicable, the article highlights which bullet weights and seating practices produced the most consistent strings in the tested rifles.. Practical takeaways from the test include advice on primer and powder choices that produced the lowest velocity dispersion, recommended cleaning intervals to control fouling during long strings, and which commercial factory loads provided the best balance of accuracy and low ES/SD for general varmint use. The 30-shot results also help show how well the .22 ARC preserves accuracy across a realistic firing session, which is data many shooters prefer when choosing a cartridge for extended varmint trips or lightweight precision work. For quick reference on the full methodology, test rifles, and the complete data tables (velocities, ES/SD, and grouped targets), see the article in Handloader Issue #352 – October, 2024. |
| Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. |
| Wt. | Bullet | Powder Manufacturer | Powder | Charge | Velocity (FPS) | |
| 81 | Berger FullBore Target | Vihtavuori | VV-N540 | Subscribe | 3052 | |
| Remarks: COAL (inches): 2.257; standard deviation: 9.4; extreme spread (fps): 37; 30-shot 100-yard group (inches): .88; mean radius (inches): .21 | ||||||