Dropping charge with new bullet.

mrawesome22 · April 25, 2010, 08:03 PM

I'm going to try a new bullet in my 22-250Rem. I just ordered 200 Hornady 53gr .224" match flat base bullets. Here is my question. I already have a great load of 39.7gr IMR4007SSC and a 50gr VMAX working for me. How much should I drop the charge for these bullets. I know the books say to drop it 10% when changing any component, but do I really need to drop it clear back to 35.7gr? Seems like safety over kill to me. What do you all think?

Thanks.

WESHOOT2 · April 26, 2010, 01:41 AM

I think I'd drop to a start of 36.0g.

Xfire68 · April 26, 2010, 01:56 AM

Better to be on the safe side and drop it back. Whenever you start a new load you need to work it up.You may find that you get the best groups at 37.2gr but you would not know that if you jumped right to 39.4gr!

Sport45 · April 26, 2010, 02:38 AM

3 grains doesn't sound like much, but when you're talking about 50gr bullets that's a 6% increase in bullet weight. I'd drop the charge 10% and work it back up.

srsmith · April 26, 2010, 06:32 AM

Safety First.
Check with the Hornady and IMR (Hodgdon) manuals, web sites or support folks and get their advice.
A few rounds at a each of couple levels starting at a known safe load is cheap insurance.

It took me less than 1 minute to find a manufacturer's starting load for your cartridge, bullet and powder.

Be Safe and Have Fun !

-steve

April 25, 2010, 08:03 PM	#1
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Dropping charge with new bullet. I'm going to try a new bullet in my 22-250Rem. I just ordered 200 Hornady 53gr .224" match flat base bullets. Here is my question. I already have a great load of 39.7gr IMR4007SSC and a 50gr VMAX working for me. How much should I drop the charge for these bullets. I know the books say to drop it 10% when changing any component, but do I really need to drop it clear back to 35.7gr? Seems like safety over kill to me. What do you all think? Thanks.

April 26, 2010, 01:41 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I was never good at percentages I think I'd drop to a start of 36.0g. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 26, 2010, 02:38 AM	#4
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	3 grains doesn't sound like much, but when you're talking about 50gr bullets that's a 6% increase in bullet weight. I'd drop the charge 10% and work it back up. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

April 26, 2010, 01:56 AM	#3
Xfire68 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2010 Location: Communist State of IL. Posts: 1,562	Better to be on the safe side and drop it back. Whenever you start a new load you need to work it up.You may find that you get the best groups at 37.2gr but you would not know that if you jumped right to 39.4gr!

April 26, 2010, 06:32 AM	#5
srsmith Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 36	Safety First. Check with the Hornady and IMR (Hodgdon) manuals, web sites or support folks and get their advice. A few rounds at a each of couple levels starting at a known safe load is cheap insurance. It took me less than 1 minute to find a manufacturer's starting load for your cartridge, bullet and powder. Be Safe and Have Fun ! -steve