22-250 loading

[Mac1]

Been reloading handgun rounds for 25 yrs. Decided to get in to long range rifle. Been practicing with a 10/22 heavy barrel for form. Bought a Rem 700 22-250 w/ 26" heavy barrel, 1-14" twist. Powders on my shelf are 10 yrs old and include 3031, 4895, H 380, H335 and H450. I've bought Hornady Custom grade dies and 4 different bullets (all 55 gr) from Hornady V max, Rem corelok, Sierra Blitzking and Nosler balistic tip. Gonna load 10 rds each at different load configerations from mid to just under max according to Speer to see what gives the best accuracy. Any suggestions or experience with these powders / bullets?
BTW using Federal match primers. Thanks much, Mac.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Wish I could help you. I have had that same rifle for 33+ years and it still shoots 1/2MOA or better w/ 55gr Speer and 55gr Vmax. I use 4064 and Varget.

[billnourse]

In my Remington700 VS I load the 55 grain Nosler BT with 36 grains of H380. Accuracy is excellent, 1/2" or better. This is far from a max load and only runs about 3,400 fps.

I also load the 40 gr.V-Max with 34 gr. of Benchmark for a speed of 3,950. Again well under max. I shot one group with this load that was 1/2" at 200 yards, and it is always under 1/2" at 100 yards.

Bill

[geetarman]

I have been shooting 22-250 for years. I have always had excellent results with
Sierra 52 gr. Matchkings and 38 gr. H380.

I have had very good results using IMR 4064 and 4895. I do not have the load data in front of me but I think I was using about 34 gr. of those powders.

I never load to maximum. This round, in my rifles, seems to work best around 3300-3400fps.

Good luck. Please report back your pet load.

Geetarman

[Shoney]

Mac1

Welcome to the Reloading Forum!!!

The 14 twist is listed as ideal for 50-52 grain bullets, and does a very good job with 55 gr.

All the powders you list will work, except maybe the H450.

When I was first starting to load this cartridge, I remember warnings about ball (spherical) powders. Loads with non-extreme ball powders are particularly sensitive to warmer temps, and there were warnings of not keeping ammo in the sun, or on a hot vehicle hood, or shooting in 95 degree and up weather, or chambering of cartridges in hot barrels for a short length of time before firing. The H380 and H335 are ball powders.

There were also warning that the IMR powders were also temperature sensitive, but not as much as the ball powders. So be careful when shooting at higher temps.

[dozernomore]

rem 700 sps varmint heavy barrel.1-14 twist
50gr v-max.36.5 varget,cci lrp,win brass
extremely accurate,,definitely knock's the yotes down

[jepp2]

+1 on the Sierra 52 gr, and either H380 or IMR 4895

If you haven't read the Dan Newberry's Optimal Charge Weight load development, it makes for an interesting approach:

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

[castnblast]

H4895 is my powder. I shoot 55 gr Sierra Game King Spitzer boat tail soft points. Benchmark went erradic on me at high temps. It also shoots speer 50 gr bullets very accurate. My go to powder is H4895, and my #2 powder is IMR 4064. You need to hand trickle every charge - unlike pistol powder which meters very good, rifle powder does not. Also, the 22-250 is very persnikity about powder charges. the 1:14 is going to most likely get the best groups at close to max, or right at max. Don't let that scare you, but do double check and zero your scale regularly when loading close to or at max. I've run 5k rounds almost through my HOWA. Looking at going to a new barrel in a 1:10 to stabalize 55-70 gr. bullets.

[1chig]

i shoot a rem 788, and use imr 3031 with good results.

[A_Gamehog]

One thing not mentioned,

For "Me" and many others with the 22-250 in 1-14 twist the 55 Grain V-Max is too long to stabilize correctly. They shoot around 1-2 MOA reguardless if it's "Rambo's" 1/4" MOA go to load.

Sierra Blitzkings would be a starting point for me, or the Noslers.

Welcome and good luck.

[Mac1]

Thanks for the input. I'm seeing the Hornady V max may give me some trouble, but that's what I wanted to hear, input. I've lost the handle of my case trimmer, so I'm calling RCBS in the morning. Getting started with it and taking my time to do it right. I certainly appreciate the replies. I'll let ya'll know the outcome, and hopefully I can add a load recommendation to the next one that has the same question. Keep 'em coming. Shoot safe and often. Mac.

[44 AMP]

I've had excellent results over the years with the 52/53gr match boattails from Hornady & Sierra. Sierra 55gr sp does well for me also. The 63gr Sierra doesn't group well from my Model 70 varmint.

I have used 4064 and WW748 with good results also. IIRC, Hodgdon named H380 after his favorite load in the .22-250, 38gr.

Every rifle is a little different about what it likes best. Mine shoots a little better in the 3600fps range than it does at max (3800fps). Other rifles do other things.

For me, acuracy is more important than a few (or even a couple hundred) fps.

[Scorch]

Over they years, I have loaded IMR 3031, IMR4320, IMR4831, H380, W748, W760. For accuracy loads, I like IMR3031 behind a 53 gr HP Match bullet. For varmints, max load of 760 behind a Hornady 55 gr SP.

[castnblast]

PHP Code:

For me, acuracy is more important than a few (or even a couple hundred) fps. 


Absolutely - I don't care about velocity - all these rounds are screamers. It does not matter how fast it gets there if it does not hit what you want it to. I load for accuracy, then chrono for kicks. One thing I discovered a few years back when I was having issues with some loads - they were scattering. Thought it was my gun. Nope - it was the powder. I hand trickle my shots, and as the barrel heated , each shot was reducing approx. 80fps. over a 4 shot spread 320fps reduction. It was hot that day - approx. 100 degrees. I changed powder and the problem went away. The powder was sensitive to higher temps. H4895 seems to be very heat resistant.

[crowbeaner]

I use H380 or H414 myself with a 55 grainer. CCI 250 primer and 37.0 grains H380 in FC brass, or 39.0 grains H414 and CCI 200. Either load is a one hole shooter. Match prep the brass; newer FC brass has LARGE primer pockets, so you might want to use WW.

[87mustang]

i have been shooting 55gr nosler ballistic tips with 36.5 gr. H380. that's the best thing i have found so far. i have tried v-max's, sierra 52gr HP, and 36gr varmint grenades. anything that requires a shot longer than 125 yards gets shot with the noslers, and i use the other bullets i have for the close shots until i get them used up, then i will exclusively buy noslers.

i am shooting a 700 stainless heavy barrell with a bedded thumbhole laminate stock and adjusted factory trigger. on top of it is a bushnell elite 4200 6x24 with leupold rings and bases.

[DiscoRacing]

I know it wasnt in the OP post/question...but..IVe started loading for 22-250 with Midway Dogtown 55gr HP..and they are excellent.

[powerline]

I'm shooting a remington 700 spss no luck with 55gr v-max , all info i got was they were to long for a 1 in 14 twist , got some 50 gr v-max working on them seemed to be better still fine tuning want to try some 50 gr sierra blitz kings

[sundog]

H380 for starters. Check the load data on the Hodgdon web site.