Heavy Bullets in a .22-250?

Archie · October 21, 2002, 08:32 PM

Okay folks, I'm stumped.

I have a Remington 700 varmint rifle in .22-250 with 1-14 twist. It does real well with 52 and 55 grain bullets.

I bought some 69 grain Sierras, as I'm a heavy bullet fan. According to all the formulae I find, these things should be stabilizing at about 3000 f/s or so, but they ain't, to put a fine edge on it.

The Speer book implies their 70 grain bullet works at velocities of between 2800 and 3300 f/s. My loads (chronographed) are well into the 3100 f/s range, and won't group on the ground! (Maybe I should try some of the Speer 70s?)

Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks!

C.R.Sam · October 21, 2002, 09:54 PM

Guessin your twist rate is too slow for the heavy bullets.

Could also be that your gun just doesn't like the load you usin with them.

Or both.

Sam

Jim Watson · October 21, 2002, 11:37 PM

My Ruger 77V with 1/14 shoots 60 grain flatbase spitzers very accurately, and does pretty well with the 70 grain Speer semispitzers. I don't think you can push a 69 grain boattail fast enough. As I recall, bullet stability increases only with the fourth root of velocity.

Archie · October 22, 2002, 12:21 AM

Sam, I've had loads that "didn't work" before. This is beyond that.

I think Mr. Watson has an idea. A flat base bullet, being shorter, may be easier to stabilize. I'll have to try some.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Poodleshooter · October 22, 2002, 10:52 PM

Try Sierra's semipointed 63gr spitzer (usually very cheap for some reason), and the Winchester 64gr powerpoint. Both are short and heavy, as is the Speer.

redhawk44 · October 23, 2002, 11:45 AM

I think you will find that the 70 gr. Speer bullet is a little shorter that the 69 Sierra. That is why Speer made it a semi pointed style--so it would stabalize in a 1:14 twist.

I shoot 60 gr. Hornadys in the 220 Swift all the time with good results, but 69s are not so hot accuracy wise. For those you need at least a 1:9 twist.

Savage makes a rifle chambered for the .223 with a 1:9 and it handles the 69 sierra and even the 75 gr. Hornady WELL.

Archie · October 24, 2002, 12:28 AM

The Speer 70 grain bullet.

But my pressure meter says I still have some more to go, and therefore more velocity.

Thanks for the information. I post results.

Oh, by the way, the Sierra 52 grain match bullets gave me a .43x group. The rifle do shoot.

blob · December 5, 2005, 04:26 PM

I use the 70 grain Speer semi spitzer in my 22/250. It is a Remington 700 ADL with 1/14 twist. It shot the bullet real well and It will kill deer with good placed shot out to 300 yards +. There are only a hand full of powders that will drive the Speer bullet past 3000 fps and still be real accute. I called Speeer and they told me that IMR 4320 would drive the bullet about 300 FPs more than the IMR 4064 because it is a lot more liener and with less pressure. I was using 33.5 grains of IMR 4064 with good results. I shot a deer in the neck last week at about 80 yards and it was downed instantly. So the 4064 is working. But I will soon experiment with the IMR 4320 to obtain more FPS if accuracy will hold up to the IMR 4064. I have been shooting .500 at 100 yards with the IMR 4064.
Any barrel over the 1/14 twist will stablize the 70 grain Speer bullet real well. But to get a real good stablization with a 1/14 twist it comes down to using the right powder and the right amount of powder. Although all reloading is based on these facts, this is more so as far as finding the right combo. But it is there and it can be done and deer will be killed at distances you wouldn't think they could be if you just take your time and find the right ingrediants. And remember that some rifle will never shoot certian bullets no matter what you do.
Two more bullets that work well and do not cost and arm and a leg, is the Winchester 24 grain power point and the 60 grain Hornady. Both these bullets cost little ($8.00-$9.00 a 100) and are used by a lot of hunters reloading the 22/250 for medium deer. 34.0 grains of IMR 4064 works for me with the 64 grain power point. Haven't worked up a load for the 60 grain yet as I am setting out to get the 70 grain as good as possible with the 1/14 twist Reming ton ADL.

October 21, 2002, 08:32 PM	#1
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	Heavy Bullets in a .22-250? Okay folks, I'm stumped. I have a Remington 700 varmint rifle in .22-250 with 1-14 twist. It does real well with 52 and 55 grain bullets. I bought some 69 grain Sierras, as I'm a heavy bullet fan. According to all the formulae I find, these things should be stabilizing at about 3000 f/s or so, but they ain't, to put a fine edge on it. The Speer book implies their 70 grain bullet works at velocities of between 2800 and 3300 f/s. My loads (chronographed) are well into the 3100 f/s range, and won't group on the ground! (Maybe I should try some of the Speer 70s?) Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks! __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

October 22, 2002, 12:21 AM	#4
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	Hmmm... Thanks... Sam, I've had loads that "didn't work" before. This is beyond that. I think Mr. Watson has an idea. A flat base bullet, being shorter, may be easier to stabilize. I'll have to try some. Thanks for the thoughts. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

October 23, 2002, 11:45 AM	#6
redhawk44 Member Join Date: October 20, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 69	I think you will find that the 70 gr. Speer bullet is a little shorter that the 69 Sierra. That is why Speer made it a semi pointed style--so it would stabalize in a 1:14 twist. I shoot 60 gr. Hornadys in the 220 Swift all the time with good results, but 69s are not so hot accuracy wise. For those you need at least a 1:9 twist. Savage makes a rifle chambered for the .223 with a 1:9 and it handles the 69 sierra and even the 75 gr. Hornady WELL. __________________ RedHawk

October 24, 2002, 12:28 AM	#7
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	Gonna have to try...... The Speer 70 grain bullet. But my pressure meter says I still have some more to go, and therefore more velocity. Thanks for the information. I post results. Oh, by the way, the Sierra 52 grain match bullets gave me a .43x group. The rifle do shoot. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

October 21, 2002, 09:54 PM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Guessin your twist rate is too slow for the heavy bullets. Could also be that your gun just doesn't like the load you usin with them. Or both. Sam

October 21, 2002, 11:37 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	My Ruger 77V with 1/14 shoots 60 grain flatbase spitzers very accurately, and does pretty well with the 70 grain Speer semispitzers. I don't think you can push a 69 grain boattail fast enough. As I recall, bullet stability increases only with the fourth root of velocity.

October 22, 2002, 10:52 PM	#5
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Try Sierra's semipointed 63gr spitzer (usually very cheap for some reason), and the Winchester 64gr powerpoint. Both are short and heavy, as is the Speer.

December 5, 2005, 04:26 PM	#8
blob Member Join Date: July 7, 2005 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 32	I use the 70 grain Speer semi spitzer in my 22/250. It is a Remington 700 ADL with 1/14 twist. It shot the bullet real well and It will kill deer with good placed shot out to 300 yards +. There are only a hand full of powders that will drive the Speer bullet past 3000 fps and still be real accute. I called Speeer and they told me that IMR 4320 would drive the bullet about 300 FPs more than the IMR 4064 because it is a lot more liener and with less pressure. I was using 33.5 grains of IMR 4064 with good results. I shot a deer in the neck last week at about 80 yards and it was downed instantly. So the 4064 is working. But I will soon experiment with the IMR 4320 to obtain more FPS if accuracy will hold up to the IMR 4064. I have been shooting .500 at 100 yards with the IMR 4064. Any barrel over the 1/14 twist will stablize the 70 grain Speer bullet real well. But to get a real good stablization with a 1/14 twist it comes down to using the right powder and the right amount of powder. Although all reloading is based on these facts, this is more so as far as finding the right combo. But it is there and it can be done and deer will be killed at distances you wouldn't think they could be if you just take your time and find the right ingrediants. And remember that some rifle will never shoot certian bullets no matter what you do. Two more bullets that work well and do not cost and arm and a leg, is the Winchester 24 grain power point and the 60 grain Hornady. Both these bullets cost little ($8.00-$9.00 a 100) and are used by a lot of hunters reloading the 22/250 for medium deer. 34.0 grains of IMR 4064 works for me with the 64 grain power point. Haven't worked up a load for the 60 grain yet as I am setting out to get the 70 grain as good as possible with the 1/14 twist Reming ton ADL.