h380 question

87mustang · April 21, 2010, 12:07 PM

all of my books say that a 22-250 with h380 and 55 grain bullets should start out at around 38 grains of powder and max around 41. when i first started loading with h380 i couldn't make groups worth while until i dropped down to 36.5 grains h380 with 55 grain nosler ballistic tips. with this load my rifle is a tack driver which has killed quite a few groundhogs out to 400-500 yards.
i have shot at least 500 rounds through this rifle with the exact same load and never had a misfire or any problem whatsoever. i realize that i am giving up some velocity loading so light, but accuracy beats velocity in my book.

--does anyone see a problem with such a light load in a 22-250?

GAR700 · April 21, 2010, 12:11 PM

I am not sure as to the technical side, but accuracy beats velocity in my book too. If it works I can see no problem with it. It might become an issue with bullet stabilization at long distances. 400 to 500 yards sounds good to me though.

GAR

HAMMER1DOWN · April 21, 2010, 12:12 PM

No, I load the same bullets in my .22-250, and load them at 32.5 grains of Varget and I get under .400 inch groups consistently at 100 and still 1/2 MOA at 200, so I don't see a problem at all. The gophers I shoot can't tell the difference between the .22-250, .223, and even the .300 win mag. Dead is Dead in my book. So if yer happy with the load keep loadin it.

Oh yeah, yer barrel will last longer to, so that is a plus.

Robert

Brian Pfleuger · April 21, 2010, 12:12 PM

That's not really a light load. Quickload predicts just shy of 55,000 psi, assuming standard seating/COAL and chamber dimensions.

Besides, you've shot 500 rounds loaded like that... does it seem like a problem?

BTW, what's your barrel length?

87mustang · April 21, 2010, 12:18 PM

just trying to make sure i'm not doing something that seems ok now, but will haunt me later.

i can say that with this load i have some brass that is up to it's 7th loading and only had to be full length sized once. i size the last half of the neck otherwise. i only get 2 or 3 out of 100 that chamber hard.

Brian Pfleuger · April 21, 2010, 12:25 PM

Wow...

I don't know about that 41gr max load from Hodgdon.... QL predicts that 41.0gr under a 55gr Nosler will produce over 82,0000 psi!

FrankenMauser · April 21, 2010, 12:41 PM

The Nosler Ballistic Tip has a larger contact area than the Speer SP. That might be one of the reasons for the pressure jump.

As for 36.5 gr being "light"... I don't think it's an issue. You're using a bullet / powder combination that differs from your reference data.
You started low, and worked up (after starting too high...). But, it got you where you wanted to be. That's perfectly acceptable to me.

Edit:
I just verified with my Nosler manual. They list 35.5gr as a starting load, and 39.5gr as the max load (for the BT). It's not "such a light load" after all.

Brian Pfleuger · April 21, 2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

The Nosler Ballistic Tip has a larger contact area than the Speer SP. That might be one of the reasons for the pressure jump.

Yep, which is why we must reduce charges and work back up when we change components, even when we might think that they're "the same".

mrawesome22 · April 21, 2010, 07:41 PM

The only problem I see is that it is far easier to make hits at those ranges with a bullet going at max speed.

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago. H380 and NBT's just wouldn't work at top velocity in my Varminter. So I tried some 50gr VMAX's and have never looked back. Fast, slow, many different powders, it doesn't matter. They just shoot. They aren't picky.

My latest accuracy load is the 50gr VMAX that shoots in the threes at 3800fps at 100yds under a charge of IMR4007SSC.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... switch bullets. Sierra BlitzKings are more accurate than me as well, but they cost more than the VMAX.

steveno · April 22, 2010, 03:01 AM

I use 40.5 grains of H-380 with the 55 grain Nosler bt and it is good for 3 shots touching at 100 yards. velocity is in the 3,700 fps range out of a Ruger #1B and 26 inch barrel. I'm a little skeptical about software programs predicting pressure especially if it is predicting 82,000 psi as that would be very close to a proof load.

hammie · April 22, 2010, 10:50 AM

As a bit of trivia, that's how H380 got it's name. When H380 was an unnamed powder, Bruce Hodgdon got one hole groups from his .22-250 with 38.0 grains behind a 52 grain bullet. Historically, H380 has always shown more variation in burning rates between lots that other powders.

Brian Pfleuger · April 22, 2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveno

I use 40.5 grains of H-380 with the 55 grain Nosler bt and it is good for 3 shots touching at 100 yards. velocity is in the 3,700 fps range out of a Ruger #1B and 26 inch barrel. I'm a little skeptical about software programs predicting pressure especially if it is predicting 82,000 psi as that would be very close to a proof load.

The computer is certainly not perfect, but it is remarkably close in many instances. It has predicted the velocity of several of my loads with errors of around 1 fps.

Othertimes, it takes a bit of tweaking.

The 82,000psi prediction is with a seating length that likely would not be used with the Nosler bullet.

If you tell me the case capacity of your rifle in grains of H2O, the case length and seating depth, I bet I can give you numbers that will be very close to reality.

steveno · April 22, 2010, 04:41 PM

just curious so the oal is 2.490 with Federal nickel cases and CCI-200 primers. I don't have an empty case so I can't give you anything else with the case. the average of 10 shots is 3,761 fps , es of 67 fps and sd of 19. all I know is it is one heck of a good load. I used to use H-4895 and the H-380 shot noticeably better. the Hornady 55 grain shot almost as good with the same 40.5 grains and oal.

April 21, 2010, 12:12 PM	#3
HAMMER1DOWN Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Location: Close Enough to Canada to say "EH!!"... MT Posts: 418	No, I load the same bullets in my .22-250, and load them at 32.5 grains of Varget and I get under .400 inch groups consistently at 100 and still 1/2 MOA at 200, so I don't see a problem at all. The gophers I shoot can't tell the difference between the .22-250, .223, and even the .300 win mag. Dead is Dead in my book. So if yer happy with the load keep loadin it. Oh yeah, yer barrel will last longer to, so that is a plus. Robert __________________ "Worthy is Freedom to only those who are prepared to stand behind their rifles and fight for their rights" -Robert W. Hambley....A.K.A. Myself-

April 21, 2010, 12:12 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	That's not really a light load. Quickload predicts just shy of 55,000 psi, assuming standard seating/COAL and chamber dimensions. Besides, you've shot 500 rounds loaded like that... does it seem like a problem? BTW, what's your barrel length? __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

April 21, 2010, 12:25 PM	#6
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Wow... I don't know about that 41gr max load from Hodgdon.... QL predicts that 41.0gr under a 55gr Nosler will produce over 82,0000 psi! __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

April 21, 2010, 12:41 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	The Nosler Ballistic Tip has a larger contact area than the Speer SP. That might be one of the reasons for the pressure jump. As for 36.5 gr being "light"... I don't think it's an issue. You're using a bullet / powder combination that differs from your reference data. You started low, and worked up (after starting too high...). But, it got you where you wanted to be. That's perfectly acceptable to me. Edit: I just verified with my Nosler manual. They list 35.5gr as a starting load, and 39.5gr as the max load (for the BT). It's not "such a light load" after all. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 21, 2010, 12:07 PM	#1
87mustang Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 91	h380 question all of my books say that a 22-250 with h380 and 55 grain bullets should start out at around 38 grains of powder and max around 41. when i first started loading with h380 i couldn't make groups worth while until i dropped down to 36.5 grains h380 with 55 grain nosler ballistic tips. with this load my rifle is a tack driver which has killed quite a few groundhogs out to 400-500 yards. i have shot at least 500 rounds through this rifle with the exact same load and never had a misfire or any problem whatsoever. i realize that i am giving up some velocity loading so light, but accuracy beats velocity in my book. --does anyone see a problem with such a light load in a 22-250?

April 21, 2010, 12:11 PM	#2
GAR700 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2008 Location: East of the Crest, Oregon Posts: 184	I am not sure as to the technical side, but accuracy beats velocity in my book too. If it works I can see no problem with it. It might become an issue with bullet stabilization at long distances. 400 to 500 yards sounds good to me though. GAR

April 21, 2010, 12:18 PM	#5
87mustang Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 91	just trying to make sure i'm not doing something that seems ok now, but will haunt me later. i can say that with this load i have some brass that is up to it's 7th loading and only had to be full length sized once. i size the last half of the neck otherwise. i only get 2 or 3 out of 100 that chamber hard.

April 21, 2010, 07:41 PM	#9
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	The only problem I see is that it is far easier to make hits at those ranges with a bullet going at max speed. I was in the same boat as you a few years ago. H380 and NBT's just wouldn't work at top velocity in my Varminter. So I tried some 50gr VMAX's and have never looked back. Fast, slow, many different powders, it doesn't matter. They just shoot. They aren't picky. My latest accuracy load is the 50gr VMAX that shoots in the threes at 3800fps at 100yds under a charge of IMR4007SSC. I guess what I'm trying to say is... switch bullets. Sierra BlitzKings are more accurate than me as well, but they cost more than the VMAX.

April 22, 2010, 03:01 AM	#10
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	I use 40.5 grains of H-380 with the 55 grain Nosler bt and it is good for 3 shots touching at 100 yards. velocity is in the 3,700 fps range out of a Ruger #1B and 26 inch barrel. I'm a little skeptical about software programs predicting pressure especially if it is predicting 82,000 psi as that would be very close to a proof load.

April 22, 2010, 10:50 AM	#11
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	As a bit of trivia, that's how H380 got it's name. When H380 was an unnamed powder, Bruce Hodgdon got one hole groups from his .22-250 with 38.0 grains behind a 52 grain bullet. Historically, H380 has always shown more variation in burning rates between lots that other powders.

April 22, 2010, 04:41 PM	#13
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	just curious so the oal is 2.490 with Federal nickel cases and CCI-200 primers. I don't have an empty case so I can't give you anything else with the case. the average of 10 shots is 3,761 fps , es of 67 fps and sd of 19. all I know is it is one heck of a good load. I used to use H-4895 and the H-380 shot noticeably better. the Hornady 55 grain shot almost as good with the same 40.5 grains and oal.