.22-250 help

[w8n4rut]

I just recently purchased a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .22-250 caliber with a 26" heavy barrel. I believe the twist to be 1:14", with that being said I will be hand loading my rounds, and wanted see what bullet/powder charge/powder types/velocities/groups, people were using for best results out of this rifle combination or similar rifle combinations. This rifle will be used soley for varmints. Any relevant input would be greatly appreciated.

[the jigger]

my best 22-250 accuracy load is 53gr sierra hp match,35gr RL15, cci primer and remington brass.
i have also had good luck with 55gr sierra hpbt,35.2gr IMR4064, cci primer and remington brass.
i shoot a savage 12fv with 26" varmint weight barrel. with the match bullet all of my groups are under .500 at 100yds and under .800 at 200yds.
hope this helps!

[beemanbeme]

Once again, it kinda boils down to what you're gonna use the rifle for.  If you're going to be shooting targets and/or Groundhogs, it's gonna be hard to beat either the Sierra 52 or 53gr MK's.  Whichever one your rifle likes the best. The 53gr is a flat based bullet and the 52 is a BT.  If you're gonna be shooting Pdogs where you'll be burning a lot of powder, I'd reccomend any of the non-fmj bulk bullets. In 55grs. The difference in accuracy between them and a SMK is gonna be small while the difference between 1000 say Horn sp's and 1000 SMK's is a nice piece of change.
I use a lot of H380 because it meters well thru my measure and I shoot a lot of Pdogs. I use CCI primers and, in my rifle, haven't been able to tell any difference between standard primers and BR primers except price. 

[gray fox]

I use sierra 55 gr. Blitz King with 39.0 gr. of Winchester 760 and CCI 250m primers and i got a one hole group but ever gun will shoot different than others.

[K.K]

I, too recently started reloading for the 22-250. I haven't found a load that shoots poorly! Mine likes 50 or 55 grain Hornady VMAX over either Varget or H4064, and Remington Brass. I gotta stop and smell the roses when I get good groups, otherwise, I'll never stop experimenting! I just ordered neck sizing dies for it to stretch brass life as well.

[Ladobe]

Have had a lot of 22 Varminters over the years before retiring all the 22's when I got into the 17's.   Never had one that didn"t shoot the load very well that named the powder used in it as a starting place to work up to - 38.0 gr. of H380 with any 50-52 grain bullet.   It's a slow load at around 3600 but was safe and accurate in every 22-250 I ever heard of.   Another safe powder to play with in the 22-250 is Varget with 40-52 gr. bullets.   It'll push the 40's over 4300 and the 52's over 3800.   Depending on the firearm, I've had good luck with H322, H335, H380, H414, H4350, H/IMR4895, BLC2, Varget, 760, VV140 in the 22-250's, and probably some I've forgot.

[Glanceblamm]

I still use a case full of IMR3031 & 55gr bullets for my Coyote loads...they will shoot 5 into an inch but are not as accurate as the H380 that I use for varmints.

[jeclif]

does anyone load 65 grain bullets if so how about H335 how much please??
thanks for any help

[beemanbeme]

65grs may be a little heavy for your 14 twist 22-250 and H335 may be a little too fast. Do you have a load book?  If not, I'd suggest getting at least one.  Lyman's 48th Edition is a good one. There are several others.  Take any load data you get in cyberspace with a grain of salt.  Few of the responsible reloaders will publish an actual load in here except maybe a starting load or info direct from one of the load books regarding starting and max loads.

[w8n4rut]

Thanks all for the information you have provided in regards to loads for the .22-250. I will use the information provided to me as a good starting point for my particular rifle and just play around with it until I find out what my rifle likes best. Again thanks for all the input.

[jeclif]

sorry for the hijack but have just started loading 22-250
I have a couple of manuals  but none have a load for 65 grain ,but they both have a load for a 70 grain using H4895  and a 64 grain but no 65 grain and I have some 65 grain that I use for 223
thanks for your help

[beemanbeme]

You can use the data for the 64gr for the 65gr bullet. Also, the data for the heavier would be a reference for the lighter bullet.  But, IMO, not conversly.

[Lone Star]

....as a starting place to work up to - 38.0 gr. of H380 with any 50-52 grain bullet.   It's a slow load at around 3600 but was safe and accurate in every 22-250 I ever heard of....

While H380 is usually reasonably accurate, don't count on anywhere the velocity quoted above.  From the following loading manuals, most with 24" barrels:

Speer #14........55gr...38.0/H380...3143 fps
Hornady #6......55gr...37.8/H380...3400 fps
Sierra #V.........55gr...38.0/H380...3500 fps
Hodgdon 2008..55gr...38.0/H380...3507 fps
Nosler #5.........55gr...37.5/H380...3591 fps

This is clearly a powder that is very inconsistent lot to lot.  Over 400 fps difference in velocity and max loads that vary from 38.0 up to 42.0 grains are too much to tolerate IMO - there are much more consistent powders to use.   Unless you actually chronograph your load, you have no idea what the velocity really is.


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[beemanbeme]

IMO, that shows as much a variation of methodology of testing: barrels used, bullets used, primers used, etc.  It's not uncommon to get a couple of hundred different FPS in velocity in factory rifles #1 and #2 with the same loads. 
Perhaps I have been lucky, or am not a good enough shot to notice (a distinct possibility) but I have not had any problems with inconsistencies with H380. And Lord knows I've used enough of it.

[SharonAnne]

also, I would use the LOWEST maximum load listed in the listed load manuals as a MAXIMUM load.

[davem270win]

I've owned two 22-250's, an H&R ultra Bolt and a Ruger #1. They both liked H380.

[Lone Star]

IMO, that shows as much a variation of methodology of testing: barrels used, bullets used, primers used, etc.  It's not uncommon to get a couple of hundred different FPS in velocity in factory rifles #1 and #2 with the same loads.

Nope, that dog won't hunt.  See what happens when we use a more appropriate powder from the exact same manuals:

Speer #14........55gr...36.0/Varget...3655 fps
Hornady #6......55gr...34.6/Varget...3600 fps
Sierra #V.........55gr...36.1/Varget...3700 fps
Hodgdon 2008..55gr...36.5/Varget...3664 fps
Nosler #5.........55gr...35.0/Varget...3635 fps

H380 - 448 fps spread in max velocities.
Varget - 100 fps spread in max velocities.
Actually, it is rather amazing that Varget is so consistent.  But then, it was designed to be.

Note that I never said that H380 didn't give good accuracy, afterall that is how it got its name.  My own current .22-250 shoots 55-grain bullets very accurately with H380, giving aggregates in the .6s.  But if you want to know your real velocity, you have to use a chronograph.

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[beemanbeme]

You may be right.
 I've used a Chrony every since Chrony brought them out so's us po' boys could afford them.  But also, when I would get near the bottom of a can of H380, I would pour the remainder in a new can (different lot numbers), tumble it about a bit to mix it good, and keep on reloading.  Same velocity, same accuracy.  I know that will bring shrieks from various folks but so far, so good. And too, H380 gives me much better accuracy than Varget or any of the others I tried.
 In fact, when Varget came out, it was supposed to be THE powder, but I have yet to find a cartridge in which it was BEST. 
My point is simply that considering how many tons and tons of H380 have been loaded in however many gazillions of  22-250 cases, have all of us be outragously lucky?

[jeclif]

I loaded 2 70 grain soft points with H4895 starter loads and they made clean round holes in the target at 25 yards  what should I expect at 100???

[Lone Star]

The 70-grain Speers are very short for their length and will stabilize where 63-grain bullets may not.  They shot very well out of my 1:14 twist .223 at 2700 fps, so in your .22.250 they should be stable even at starting load speeds.


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