Ruger American 22 250 loads

Scatter4brain · May 9, 2017, 02:28 PM

First time here so thanks for having me. I bought the RA 22 250 and started shoot with different grain bullets and found bad grouping. Contacted Ruger and sent gun back and the crown was off so I got it back and shot it and was doing better but not what I was expecting . So I started loading some 60 gr. NBT using vargat powder and can't find a good load. Was interested in some input on data from any one who has experienced the 1:10 twist in 22" barrel ? Thanks in advance.

ShootistPRS · May 9, 2017, 02:50 PM

As far as I now your Ruger American has 1:10 twist. It should handle a cup and core bullet up to 60 grains trouble free. Your bullet choice and intended use will determine the best bullet and you will have to find a powder that will complement your bullet and bore. I know that Varget works for light to medium weight bullets in some guns as does H 4895. I prefer double base powders like H380 and H414 but they are not optimum in the 22-250 until you get into the heavier bullets.
32.6 to 32.8 grains of Varget should be good with your 60 grain bullet. Have you broken the barrel in properly?

salt and battery · May 10, 2017, 01:00 PM

do not know why they still put a slow twist in 22/250. I have one with 1x8 twist and have gone out to 800 yds easily with 80 gr bullets

Scatter4brain · May 10, 2017, 04:00 PM

I have broken the barrel in and I'm thinking I'm running to high of a charge . I am gonna try getting around 32 gr. and try that. Thanks for the info. I do like the heavier bullets .

Kevin Rohrer · May 10, 2017, 04:36 PM

Try most any 55gr bullet (the Speer and Vmax work well) w/ 35gr of IMR 4064. This is a tack driver. For more velocity, try 36gr.

Scatter4brain · May 11, 2017, 10:51 AM

I have tried some 55 gr. factory loads from Remington and Winchester and luck . Get better groups from my hand loads. Has any one tried I'M 4007 ?

sako2 · May 13, 2017, 03:17 PM

try some 3031 with the 55gn bullets.

dgludwig · May 15, 2017, 04:11 PM

John Haviland, in the May issue of the American Rifleman, wrote an article titled "A New Rifle & Loads For The .22-250 Remington" you might find interesting.

mikejonestkd · May 15, 2017, 04:30 PM

For the record - what are your 100 yard 5 shot group? .5", 1"? 2"? It would be nice to know where you are currently at, and what your expectations are.

603Country · May 15, 2017, 06:47 PM

Probably your best powder for the 22-250 is going to be IMR 4064 or Reloader 15. If you don't have either in your powder inventory, go get either one. I use a lot of 4064.

balderclev · May 16, 2017, 10:15 AM

I use 34.7 grains of RL-15 under 50 grain Hornady Vmax and 2.35 COL that gives me sub MOA accuracy.

38.5 grains of BLC-2 under 36 grain Varmint Granades and 2.35 COL is a fantastic load. Touching holes at 100 yds and 4000+ fps.

ntg · December 30, 2017, 12:33 PM

I'm just starting to play with 69TMKs. It looking good so far. I'll keep you posted.

Scatter4brain · April 9, 2018, 07:22 PM

I have still been trying the Varget and 60 gr. Nosler BT and my best 100 ya group is 1.25 and 200 yd. group is a tad over 2 inches. Just expected more from this rifle. Going to try 4064 and see what happens. Thanks for all the info and I’ll keep on shooting till I figure it out

jmr40 · April 9, 2018, 08:27 PM

It is time to try something else.

#1, none of those powders are a good choice for 22-250 with bullets that heavy. You need to be looking at something in the 4350 burn rate range. H4350, IMR4350, Ramshot Hunter, RL17 etc.

There isn't a lot of data for bullets that heavy in 22-250. Most people use lighter bullets if they choose 22-250 and go with 223 if they want to shoot the heavier bullets. That in its self is a handicap.

But you SHOULD be able to handle a 60 gr bullet with a 10 twist. But maybe your rifle simply doesn't like the NPT. There is nothing wrong with that bullet, but it has never been noted as an extremely accurate bullet and YOUR rifle may not like it. I'd be trying another bullet. Hornady and others make 60 gr bullets that your rifle might like better.

Chainsaw. · April 9, 2018, 09:57 PM

You are chasing wind at this point. Do a charge weight ladder test, I do 5 shots at .3 grain increments, find the "high" velocity node, then do a O.A.L. ladder test. Either have someone fimd the depth to the lands or magic marker a bullet, oit it in an already fired case and jam it into the lands and measure, start making the O.A.L. shorter by .005 untill you see the tightest group. Then you will have a recipe that you know shoots accurate in your rifle and is repeatable.
There is tons of info out there on how to do all this.

May 9, 2017, 02:50 PM	#2
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	As far as I now your Ruger American has 1:10 twist. It should handle a cup and core bullet up to 60 grains trouble free. Your bullet choice and intended use will determine the best bullet and you will have to find a powder that will complement your bullet and bore. I know that Varget works for light to medium weight bullets in some guns as does H 4895. I prefer double base powders like H380 and H414 but they are not optimum in the 22-250 until you get into the heavier bullets. 32.6 to 32.8 grains of Varget should be good with your 60 grain bullet. Have you broken the barrel in properly? Last edited by ShootistPRS; May 9, 2017 at 02:57 PM.

May 10, 2017, 04:36 PM	#5
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	Try most any 55gr bullet (the Speer and Vmax work well) w/ 35gr of IMR 4064. This is a tack driver. For more velocity, try 36gr. __________________ 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

May 15, 2017, 04:11 PM	#8
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	John Haviland, in the May issue of the American Rifleman, wrote an article titled "A New Rifle & Loads For The .22-250 Remington" you might find interesting. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

May 15, 2017, 04:30 PM	#9
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	For the record - what are your 100 yard 5 shot group? .5", 1"? 2"? It would be nice to know where you are currently at, and what your expectations are. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

April 9, 2018, 08:27 PM	#14
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	It is time to try something else. #1, none of those powders are a good choice for 22-250 with bullets that heavy. You need to be looking at something in the 4350 burn rate range. H4350, IMR4350, Ramshot Hunter, RL17 etc. There isn't a lot of data for bullets that heavy in 22-250. Most people use lighter bullets if they choose 22-250 and go with 223 if they want to shoot the heavier bullets. That in its self is a handicap. But you SHOULD be able to handle a 60 gr bullet with a 10 twist. But maybe your rifle simply doesn't like the NPT. There is nothing wrong with that bullet, but it has never been noted as an extremely accurate bullet and YOUR rifle may not like it. I'd be trying another bullet. Hornady and others make 60 gr bullets that your rifle might like better. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

May 9, 2017, 02:28 PM	#1
Scatter4brain Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2017 Posts: 4	Ruger American 22 250 loads First time here so thanks for having me. I bought the RA 22 250 and started shoot with different grain bullets and found bad grouping. Contacted Ruger and sent gun back and the crown was off so I got it back and shot it and was doing better but not what I was expecting . So I started loading some 60 gr. NBT using vargat powder and can't find a good load. Was interested in some input on data from any one who has experienced the 1:10 twist in 22" barrel ? Thanks in advance.

May 10, 2017, 01:00 PM	#3
salt and battery Junior member Join Date: September 24, 2016 Location: ny Posts: 112	do not know why they still put a slow twist in 22/250. I have one with 1x8 twist and have gone out to 800 yds easily with 80 gr bullets

May 10, 2017, 04:00 PM	#4
Scatter4brain Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2017 Posts: 4	I have broken the barrel in and I'm thinking I'm running to high of a charge . I am gonna try getting around 32 gr. and try that. Thanks for the info. I do like the heavier bullets .

May 11, 2017, 10:51 AM	#6
Scatter4brain Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2017 Posts: 4	I have tried some 55 gr. factory loads from Remington and Winchester and luck . Get better groups from my hand loads. Has any one tried I'M 4007 ?

May 13, 2017, 03:17 PM	#7
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 739	try some 3031 with the 55gn bullets.

May 15, 2017, 06:47 PM	#10
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	Probably your best powder for the 22-250 is going to be IMR 4064 or Reloader 15. If you don't have either in your powder inventory, go get either one. I use a lot of 4064.

May 16, 2017, 10:15 AM	#11
balderclev Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2013 Location: Benton, Arkansas Posts: 120	I use 34.7 grains of RL-15 under 50 grain Hornady Vmax and 2.35 COL that gives me sub MOA accuracy. 38.5 grains of BLC-2 under 36 grain Varmint Granades and 2.35 COL is a fantastic load. Touching holes at 100 yds and 4000+ fps.

December 30, 2017, 12:33 PM	#12
ntg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2013 Location: 4B - Idaho Posts: 119	I'm just starting to play with 69TMKs. It looking good so far. I'll keep you posted.

April 9, 2018, 07:22 PM	#13
Scatter4brain Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2017 Posts: 4	I have still been trying the Varget and 60 gr. Nosler BT and my best 100 ya group is 1.25 and 200 yd. group is a tad over 2 inches. Just expected more from this rifle. Going to try 4064 and see what happens. Thanks for all the info and I’ll keep on shooting till I figure it out

April 9, 2018, 09:57 PM	#15
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	You are chasing wind at this point. Do a charge weight ladder test, I do 5 shots at .3 grain increments, find the "high" velocity node, then do a O.A.L. ladder test. Either have someone fimd the depth to the lands or magic marker a bullet, oit it in an already fired case and jam it into the lands and measure, start making the O.A.L. shorter by .005 untill you see the tightest group. Then you will have a recipe that you know shoots accurate in your rifle and is repeatable. There is tons of info out there on how to do all this. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.