Range report with the new Remington 700 SPS Varmint 22-250.

[DalesCarpentry]

Well guys I made it to the range this morning with my new Remington 700 SPS Varmint 22-250. I have to say it is a keeper. This is the first 22-250 I have ever owned and fired. I would say that the recoil is just a little less than my 243 that I owned in the same rifle. It was about 50 degrees or so and I had about 20 MPH wind gusts. I did not have a bore sighter so it took me a little while to get it on paper. I was shooting Winchester USA 45 grain JHP that have a MV of 4,000 FPS. Below is a picture of the only target I shot for group size. It is a five shot group at 100 yards and it measures 13/16" center of bullet hole to center of bullet hole. I think that is pretty good seeing as the barrel is not broke in yet and the trigger is about 8 pounds of pull. I have to say that is one heavy trigger. I tried to addjust it last night but the screw head of the screw I need to turn stripped out. Yes it is that tight. I don't even know if a gun smith has a trick to get it to turn now but something has to be done with the trigger for sure. I would bet I could shrink this group to a half inch or less with a good trigger pull. I am going to ask a gun smith but I bet I end up having to buy a after market trigger now. I really like this rifle and I am very happy to have another SPS Varmint again. I want to buy another in a 308 at some point. I like them that much. Looks like I will be able to get into reloading pretty soon because when I picked up my rifle at Gander Mountain last night they had thousands and thousands of large rifle primers. I was not going to get into it unless the became avaiable again. Now they are and I am going to jump into it. So what do you guys think of my new toy? Is it a keeper? Dale

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  very fine Dale, I would say with factory ammo for one's first groups...I seldom get excellent acc. with factory stuff..I would say, primers, etc. will become available in all areas.  they are all over in Wy. some still have a 1000 primer limit, but if you bought 5000 you would most likely have a life time of shooting from your .22-250.  It will be expensive to get into reloading compared to the old days, BUT it is still cheaper than factory stuff...If you got a hundred new cases, trimmed them an neck sized, you would be in business for a long time. my old Ackley .22-250 is about -2500 rounds old...one set of 100 cases is pretty well shot, but I could use them in a pinch, the second set is fair...I had some extras as I lost some due to necks splitting...great buy, great gun...great caliber....groundhogs look out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[diggler1833]

If you can keep it under an inch with factory ammo, less than stellar factory trigger, and factory craptastick stock you are doing okay.  No doubt in my mind that you cant get it near 1/2" or less with a good trigger, stock w/bedding, and some good handloads.  Nice shooting.

[Spanky]

Nice shooting buddy. I got my cast off yesterday so I'll be shooting my 22-250 real soon.



Spanky

[dozernomore]

I had the same results with the same factory ammo,,,,,in my sps varmint,,,I started to learn to reload with this rifle,,,,and it loves anything 50 or less grain,,,,this past winter I used the 50gr Vmax,,with a hefty load of varget,,mv 3800fps,,definitely anchors a yote at 235yd,,

[jpbar]

got the same rifle, same ammo. glad to see you got another one, good shootin! 

[backstrap]

Great shooting rifle there Dale.What kinda scope u have on the rifle?What does these rifle weight with scope and mounts on it? i am thinking about buying 1 but the barrel looks like it s just a tad bit smaller than a bull barrel,i like the sporster type barrels,i like a light rifle for as fare as i have to walk to the woods

[DalesCarpentry]

Great shooting rifle there Dale.What kinda scope u have on the rifle?What does these rifle weight with scope and mounts on it? i am thinking about buying 1 but the barrel looks like it s just a tad bit smaller than a bull barrel,i like the sporster type barrels,i like a light rifle for as fare as i have to walk to the woods

I just pulled the BSA Sweet 17 scope that is 6x18x40 off my 17 HMR for now until I can save a little money to put good glass on it. It will do for now. Here are the barrel specs. 26" heavy-contour barrel (0.820" muzzle O.D.) The rifle weighs 8 1/2 pounds without scope and bipod. It is no light weight by any means. I bet it weighs close to 11 pounds with the bipod and scope. I don't think I would want to carry this around the woods all day. Dale

[uncas]

Nice shootin', and a sweet gun to boot. I'm considerin' one in .308, with a redfield 4-12x40, just for that little xtra. $220.00 plus s&h, by Leupold, and American made to boot! Who can miss? www.redfield.com

[DalesCarpentry]

Well I made it back out to the range yesterday morning and froze my butt off. It was about 45 degrees tops but there was a 20 to 30 MPH wind that would not let up. This is the best group out of about 40 shots fired. It measures about 5/8" center of bullet hole to center of bullet hole. I can cover it with a quater as you can see. What concerns me is one of the groups I shot it looks like the bullet went in sideways I have never had this happen before. You would think the 1 in 14" barrel would have no problem stablizing a 45 JHP bullet. This makes me wonder if I will even be able to shoot 50 or 55 grain bullets at a later date. I wonder if this is just a fluke? Dale

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

 ;)Dale, the 1-14 should have no problem with 45 grain bullets my guns of this caliber are all that twist...I think I have told you that I have shot 50,55 63, 64, and 70 grain in this twist with no problem...the 63 were Serria and 70 were Speer..If this occurs again with the 45 grain, you might have the crown checked...I think sometimes this can  be the problem...I am sure you will get other pointers on this also.....you could have had a bad bullet also....

[DalesCarpentry]

I am going to try to not dwell on it and try not to concern myself to much with it. I feel like you said it was probably a bad bullet or just a fluke. I will be more concerned if I see it happen again. Dale

[Spanky]

My Stevens don't throw 'em sideways buddy.
Just funnin' ya. It's probably just a fluke... I wouldn't worry about it unless it becomes a regular thing.
If ya can't figure it out... trade it for a Stevens.



Spanky

[skarke]

I have one of these, and I love it too.  For a little extra money, they can be made really fine.  Save your money, and try a good aftermarket trigger.  The Jewell is the gold standard, but I have a Rifle Basix trigger (they were $90 a few years ago for the BR 2 to 6 oz version, which I have, but the've gone up $60 in three years.  They are still a pretty good buy).

Get rid of the safety if you are just going to be bench shooting or varmint shooting, they are dangerous on a super light trigger.

Try a little heavier bullet, the 52s perform very well with the 1 in 14 that Remington used on mine, and I think that they still do.

H380 is a great powder, named after the charge weight of the 22 250 behind the 55 gr spitzer.

Don't load super hot.  These barrels do burn, and you'll hurt your barrel life expectancy with thunderboomer loads.

Bottom line, enjoy this cartridge.  It zips.  When you wear it out, think about a rebarrel with a 22 BR.  Ridiculously accurate, still pretty fast, better barrel life, and more efficient with powder.

[charles p]

How about a field report from the groundhog community.  Any funerals taking place this week?

[KJR]

First hunt this year with the same Rem. 700, 22-250 but I'm shooting 50gr bullets. My son and I are both very pleased with it's performance. 

[DalesCarpentry]

Yes it would appear you have the exact same set up as I. I hope to get my first kill with mine this Saturday.   I did get one this year with my Marlin 917 17 HMR though. Dale