22-250 with Heavy Bullets?

[dk17hmr]

How well do the 22-250's barrels handle 60gr plus bullets?  I dont have a 22-250 but am somewhat interested in one for varmint hunting.

[45/70fan]

I think you are going to find anything much over 55gr is not going to shoot very good due to the slow 1-14 twist. Nosler's 60gr Partition and Hornady's 60gr SP are similar in length to 55gr bullets and should do well if loaded to max pressures/velocity.

[45-70.gov]

i  use  75 grain  in  223 ar  but have  1 in 8 twist

i  read  an article a few years ago  about using 90gr  for deer  hunting

i  forget  what spin  rate

[quickdtoo]

Looking at Berger Bullets website which shows twist requirements for their bullets, the heaviest they list for a 1:14" twist is 55gr. You might try the 63gr Sierra Varminter or the 64gr Win PP, but I think even at 22-250 velocities, they need a min 1:12" twist.

Tim

http://bergerbullets.com/

http://sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&caliberID=3

[ctk1981]

77 grain match kings showed signs of key holing at 25yds.  Was using Tubbs polishing ammo which utilize impregnated 77grn MK bullets and it was very evident in the few rounds I shot.  Just so you know, twist rate is more dependent on the length of the bullet....not the weight of the bullet.

The original AR's had a 1:12 twist rate for 55grn bullets.  Once the 62 grain penetrator was introduced there was a move to 1:9 twist to stabilize those.  1:8 will stabilize bullets up to 75 (hornady match, privi partizan match) grain generally, 77 match kings get a little iffy but most can do it.  80-90 match king better have a 1:7.  Again here I am listing weights but it is actually the length of the bullet that determines the twist rate needed to stabilize the bullet. 

[dk17hmr]

I understand twist rate pretty good, length of bullet and the velocity.  I was thinking that the NEF 22-250 barrels were 1:9.  In my 223's I dont load anything heavier than 55gr bullets, I was just wondering how heavy(long) a guy could go.

For the practical purpose of varmint, predator, and paper shooting 55gr Noslers or V-max would work well enough for me.

So what are 22-250 shooters using 40-50 or 50-55gr bullets more?

[trotterlg]

Twist is over rated, I had a custom Savage 22-250 with a 1 in 17 twist barrel, made it up to shoot the light 40 gr bullets fast.  It would stabalize a 55 gr bullet out to 100 yards.  The stability calculators use a formula that has the spin rate of the bullet slowing down in the same ratio as the velocity does, this does not happen in real life, the velocity slows down a far larger percentage than the spin rate does, so when you look at where the bullet should go unstable it really doesn't happen there, it happens a lot further down range.  If the crown is perfect so it doesn't blow the bullet over leaving the muzzel you will be surprised how heavy (long) a bullet you can shoot and still be stable.  Larry

[KYJoe]

I was wondering the same thing, I have a 22-250 UVF 24in. barrel. Has anyone tried the 60 gr. Noslers. I was going too, Just been putting it off. Maybe next week I will order a few and try to work up a load. If anyone has tried it I would like to know how it turned out.It shoots the 55gr. stuff good.

[trotterlg]

Remember, just because a bullet does not shoot tiny groups does not mean it is not stable.  Lots of light bullets don't shoot well in some guns, if a bullet is not stable you will know it, it will go throught the target sideways.  Larry

[torpedoman]

best advice i can give you is load up a few and try them