Reloading 22-250

Snipe · March 31, 2017, 10:36 AM

Does anyone have a certain bullet, grain and powder they would recommend.
I am thinking varget powder and a 52 grain hornady vmax or eldx any opinions
This load will be for ground hogs foxes ect

Thanks
Peyton

Al Norris · March 31, 2017, 10:48 AM

Your question will get a much better response in the Handloading, Reloading forum.

Moved.

Snipe · March 31, 2017, 11:45 AM

Ok sorry about that

T. O'Heir · March 31, 2017, 12:33 PM

Hi. You might want to think about another bullet for fox. An A-Max, for example, won't make a great big hole in the hide. It's a winter hide hunting thing. Applies to Wiley(coyotes) too.
You really don't need or particularly want a controlled expansion bullet like a ELD-X for varmints. No .22 calibre ELD-X's anyway. An ELD-Match is a different thing.
Otherwise, you need to work up the load for your rifle. A load that works well in one won't necessarily in another. Varget and the 52 grain bullets will no nicely for ground hogs and other beasties you don't care about the hides.

David R · March 31, 2017, 12:58 PM

38 grains H380 works for me.

David

sako2 · March 31, 2017, 05:31 PM

55 gn hornady with imr3031

ericuda · March 31, 2017, 05:52 PM

53 grain vmax and the standard powder for 22.250 in h380 will make you happy.

Mobuck · March 31, 2017, 08:23 PM

I shot many coyotes with Hornady 53 Match HP ahead of IMR4895(my rifle accepts a load slightly over published data so I won't repeat it).

Kevin Rohrer · March 31, 2017, 09:17 PM

This is a very popular round, and using the Search function will answer this question 100s of times.

603Country · April 1, 2017, 08:14 AM

You might want to try a bullet I use a lot. The 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip works great on coyotes, and it seems to transfer all of the energy to the coyote and not leave a big hole on exiting. I start using it because I wanted a small fast bullet that would fragment easily and not ricochet. My second choice was going to be the Varmint Grenade, but I haven't tried it yet.

Snipe · April 4, 2017, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the good information guys I have 53 grain vmax bullets now but my concern is my loading manual state they won't stabilize in a barrel that has a 14 twist which I have.

Thanks
Peyton

mikejonestkd · April 4, 2017, 04:52 PM

I am curious - what manual says that a 22-250 with 1 in 14 twist will not stabilize a 53 grain bullet?

I have been loading for two different 22-250s for a while and they both have 1 in 14 twist. both handle 52-55 grain bullets just fine, regardless of the manufacturer or type of bullet

**Unclenick** · April 4, 2017, 05:14 PM

My .222 Rem with 14" twist shows marked group widening moving from a 50 grain flat base Hornady SP to a 52 grain Sierra MatchKing boattail. The reason is the difference in bullet length. Length matters much more to stability than weight does. Indeed, if you can hold length and velocity constant, increasing weight improves stability. It is only the fact increasing weight is generally associated with increasing length, and to a much lesser extent, with decreasing velocity, that it causes folks to think you need more twist for greater bullet weight. Weight is not the reason. If you melted out the lead core from a bullet jacket and poured if full of gold, which is more dense than lead, you'd find you needed much less twist at any given velocity, not more.

If the manufacturer says his bullet won't stabilize in a 14" twist, then you can probably believe they've tried it or had unhappy feedback from customer's who did. They'd have no reason to discourage you from buying their bullet otherwise. It is also a fact that many rifles don't have very accurate twist pitch. It would not be terribly unusual to find a 14" twist that was actually closer to 13.5" or to 14.5". This accounts for why some guns shoot bullets well that others with the same nominal twist do not. So the exact bullet size that your gun can deal with is going to be somewhat individual.

hagar · April 5, 2017, 03:42 PM

My 24 inch Remington BDL heavy barrel with 1 in 14 twist stabilized 64 grain PP bullets with no problem. It was actually the best load I ever found for that rifle, loaded with 38 grains of 4350, killed a lot of coyotes and a few deer and javelina with it.

I do have to admit that my 20 inch Browning Micro medallion did not like them at all.

**44 AMP** · April 7, 2017, 12:32 PM

Every rifle has its own preference. I get 3/4" groups from a completely stock Win M70 varmint using 52/53gr boattail match bullets (hornady or sierra) and a slightly less than max charge of WW 748. 55gr flatbase SP groups about an inch.

Same rifle will only group 63gr Sierra semi spitzers at about 1.5"

Best advice is try every combination you can, until you find one that makes you smile. Then stick with it!

LOLBELL · April 7, 2017, 08:50 PM

I too have a 22-250 with a 14 twist. It's accuracy falls off fast with anything over 50 grains. My preferred load is a 50 V-Max and 39 grains of H414.

March 31, 2017, 10:36 AM	#1
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Reloading 22-250 Does anyone have a certain bullet, grain and powder they would recommend. I am thinking varget powder and a 52 grain hornady vmax or eldx any opinions This load will be for ground hogs foxes ect Thanks Peyton

March 31, 2017, 12:33 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Hi. You might want to think about another bullet for fox. An A-Max, for example, won't make a great big hole in the hide. It's a winter hide hunting thing. Applies to Wiley(coyotes) too. You really don't need or particularly want a controlled expansion bullet like a ELD-X for varmints. No .22 calibre ELD-X's anyway. An ELD-Match is a different thing. Otherwise, you need to work up the load for your rifle. A load that works well in one won't necessarily in another. Varget and the 52 grain bullets will no nicely for ground hogs and other beasties you don't care about the hides. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 31, 2017, 09:17 PM	#9
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	This is a very popular round, and using the Search function will answer this question 100s of times. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer

April 4, 2017, 04:52 PM	#12
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	I am curious - what manual says that a 22-250 with 1 in 14 twist will not stabilize a 53 grain bullet? I have been loading for two different 22-250s for a while and they both have 1 in 14 twist. both handle 52-55 grain bullets just fine, regardless of the manufacturer or type of bullet __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

April 4, 2017, 05:14 PM	#13
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	My .222 Rem with 14" twist shows marked group widening moving from a 50 grain flat base Hornady SP to a 52 grain Sierra MatchKing boattail. The reason is the difference in bullet length. Length matters much more to stability than weight does. Indeed, if you can hold length and velocity constant, increasing weight improves stability. It is only the fact increasing weight is generally associated with increasing length, and to a much lesser extent, with decreasing velocity, that it causes folks to think you need more twist for greater bullet weight. Weight is not the reason. If you melted out the lead core from a bullet jacket and poured if full of gold, which is more dense than lead, you'd find you needed much less twist at any given velocity, not more. If the manufacturer says his bullet won't stabilize in a 14" twist, then you can probably believe they've tried it or had unhappy feedback from customer's who did. They'd have no reason to discourage you from buying their bullet otherwise. It is also a fact that many rifles don't have very accurate twist pitch. It would not be terribly unusual to find a 14" twist that was actually closer to 13.5" or to 14.5". This accounts for why some guns shoot bullets well that others with the same nominal twist do not. So the exact bullet size that your gun can deal with is going to be somewhat individual. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 31, 2017, 10:48 AM	#2
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	Your question will get a much better response in the Handloading, Reloading forum. Moved.

March 31, 2017, 11:45 AM	#3
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Ok sorry about that

March 31, 2017, 12:58 PM	#5
David R Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2015 Location: The swamps of WNY Posts: 753	38 grains H380 works for me. David

March 31, 2017, 05:31 PM	#6
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 741	55 gn hornady with imr3031

March 31, 2017, 05:52 PM	#7
ericuda Member Join Date: May 19, 2012 Location: nwkansas Posts: 44	53 grain vmax and the standard powder for 22.250 in h380 will make you happy.

March 31, 2017, 08:23 PM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I shot many coyotes with Hornady 53 Match HP ahead of IMR4895(my rifle accepts a load slightly over published data so I won't repeat it).

April 1, 2017, 08:14 AM	#10
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	You might want to try a bullet I use a lot. The 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip works great on coyotes, and it seems to transfer all of the energy to the coyote and not leave a big hole on exiting. I start using it because I wanted a small fast bullet that would fragment easily and not ricochet. My second choice was going to be the Varmint Grenade, but I haven't tried it yet.

April 4, 2017, 11:36 AM	#11
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Thanks for the good information guys I have 53 grain vmax bullets now but my concern is my loading manual state they won't stabilize in a barrel that has a 14 twist which I have. Thanks Peyton

April 5, 2017, 03:42 PM	#14
hagar Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2000 Location: Colombia, SC Posts: 745	My 24 inch Remington BDL heavy barrel with 1 in 14 twist stabilized 64 grain PP bullets with no problem. It was actually the best load I ever found for that rifle, loaded with 38 grains of 4350, killed a lot of coyotes and a few deer and javelina with it. I do have to admit that my 20 inch Browning Micro medallion did not like them at all. __________________ I don't have time for busy people

April 7, 2017, 12:32 PM	#15
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Every rifle has its own preference. I get 3/4" groups from a completely stock Win M70 varmint using 52/53gr boattail match bullets (hornady or sierra) and a slightly less than max charge of WW 748. 55gr flatbase SP groups about an inch. Same rifle will only group 63gr Sierra semi spitzers at about 1.5" Best advice is try every combination you can, until you find one that makes you smile. Then stick with it! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 7, 2017, 08:50 PM	#16
LOLBELL Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2010 Location: Fayette AL Posts: 226	I too have a 22-250 with a 14 twist. It's accuracy falls off fast with anything over 50 grains. My preferred load is a 50 V-Max and 39 grains of H414. __________________ Don't squat with your spurs on!!