22-250 loads

[NHSHOOTER]

Just started reloading for 22-250, have tried a few loads with H 380 with ok results, just looking for opinions on powder and bullets weights. I have a weatherby vanguard with 24" barrel I just checked the stats for the Vanguard and its a 1-14 twist..

[BumbleBug]

A 1-12" twist is unusual for .22-250 with the norm being 1-14". If so, I'd lean toward heavier bullets. I've had good luck/accuracy with Sierra 65gr GK in lesser .224 centerfires but unstable in my .22-250(1-14"). Interesting to me is that the Sierra 50gr & 63gr Semi-Pointed blitz seem to shoot well in every .224 CF I've tried from 1-9" twist up.

Good Luck!

...bug

[the jigger]

My 22-250 has 1 in 12 twist. I use 60gr Hornady V-Max and RL15. It shoots minute of prairie dog out beyond 300yds(if the wind is below "gale force").

[cdoc42]

I have a Browning A-Bolt with the BOSS. A Sierra 52 gr Match HP with 37.5gr of Varget produces 1-MOA and 10 shots averaged 3540 fps by chronograph. Even though the match bullet isn't suggested for hunting it is devastating on groundhogs. Some shots never come out while others open them up like they had a zipper.

[Jim Watson]

My 14 twist Ruger 77V is most accurate with 52 gr SMK.
The ugly little 50 gr Remington PowerLokt was nearly as good and less expensive. Discontinued in favor of way kewl plastic nosed bullets. I still have some, when and if I get back into varmint rifle shooting.

[waburn]

My Remington 788 with a 1 in 14" barrel prefers 55gr and under bullet weights. My favorite coyote medicine is a 55gr vmax over a dose of h335. Out to 400 yards, I have yet had a coyote take more than 5 steps, most dropping instantly. Velocity is 3510fps out of this rifle. Tried h380 and could have gained probably another 150fps, but groups opened from an average of .7 for the h335 to about 1.5 for the h380.

[Barnacle Brad]

Remmy 700 w/ 14 twist
33gr IMR 4064: under a Nosler 50gr Ballistic tip; or a Nosler 64gr Bonded Performance. The 50gr grouped at .814" (5 shots) and the 64gr grouped at .75" (3 shots).

I got lucky, I suppose, that the 64gr bullet I loaded for, did not change the POI that I was sighted in for with the 50 grainer.

I killed a pronghorn last year with the 64gr at a hundred yards. Spine shot, total pass through. Nasty!

Looks like you are getting a lot of good choices.

Good luck!

[NHSHOOTER]

so far I have found that my rifle seems to like the 52 gr bullets a bit better but I still have alot of powder options to try. I have only used H380 in about 7 different loads and just 1 load with Varget with a 52gr HP match that shot real well. I love experimenting with loads and powders always searching for that 1 hole 5 shot group..
Thanks to everyone with your loads, dont stop now!!

[1stmar]

Sierra 1390 with 36gr of imr4064. Very good results. Sub 1/2 moa in my ruger vt.

[MightyMO1911]

Mine really likes a 52gr Barnes Match Burner pushed by 38 grains of H380. IMR4895 also shoots quite well but it likes the H380 the best.

[Colorado Redneck]

1:14 twist generally shoot lighter bullets better and won't stabilize longer heavier bullets.

22-250 Recommended Twist Rates
"For max velocity and accuracy with the lightest bullets, a 1:14″ twist may be ideal. More versatile is a 1:12″ twist that will allow you to shoot the popular 60-64 grain match bullets. For normal lead-core jacketed bullets, a true 1:9″ twist will let you shoot up to 75gr bullets (except some longer VLDs)."

From:
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/22-250/

[Panfisher]

My only real load for my 22-250 is IMR 4895 (34.0 I believe) and a 55 grain bullet, have shot Nosler BT's, Hornady SXSP, Rem HP's, Speers, midway dogtowns, all have performed well enough with the Noslers being a little bit best. Way way back when I first acquired the rifle that was the load I found in an old manual and it worked well enough that I have never changed it. Which is extremely handly since I load several different cartridges with IMR 4895. I know its not the most efficient but so far has worked well enough that I am slowly reducing the # of different powders I have on hand. Some day if I win the lottery I will bigger jugs of it.

[ligonierbill]

I do OK with H380, but what my rifle (700 VS) really likes are 40 grain Noslers over 36.5 gr TAC - 4,000 fps and one hole groups all day.

[Rimfire5]

I have a Remington 700 in .22-250 with a 1:14 twist 26 inch Varmint barrel.
I've tried H380, H4895, N140 and Reloader 15 powders with bullet weights from 40 grains to 63 grains.

Of the top 25 hand loads that average 0.333 at 100 yards:

4 loads use Nosler 40 gr BTs with Reloader 15 (slowest velocity is 3950 and fastest is 4050 fps)
2 loads use Nosler 50 gr BTs with Reloader 15 (slowest velocity is 3400 and fastest is 3450 fps)
1 load uses Berger 50 gr with Reloader 15 at 3450 fps
9 loads use Berger 52 gr with Reloader 15 (slowest velocity is 3300 and fastest is 3450 fps)
5 loads use Sierra 52 gr SMKs (slowest velocity is 3427 and fastest is 3650 fps) 2 with N140 and 3 with Reloader 15
3 loads use Sierra 53 gr SMK flat base with Reloader 15 powder (slowest velocity is 3300 and fastest is 3350 fps)

The top 10 loads that average 0.302 for 48 groups (all with Reloader 15):
6 loads Berger 52 gr
1 load uses Sierra 53 gr SMK
2 loads Sierra 52 gr SMK
1 load uses Nosler BT 50 gr.
The best group average is 0.227 for the 53 gr SMK @ 3300 fps and the worst averages 0.329 for the Berger 52 gr @ 3650 fps.

For other bullet weights and powders:
My 1:14 twist shoots bullet weights under 55 grains better than anything else.
It stabilizes bullets up to 63 grains but it doesn't shoot bullets over 55 grains as accurately as the 40 to 53 grain bullets.
The best 55 grain bullet averaged 0.465 with Reloader 15 and a Berger # 22410.
H380 couldn't shoot 40 grains under 1 inch but shot 52 gr SMKs at 0.575
H4895 shot the 52 SMKs at 0.522 but shot 40 and 45 grain bullets to averages in the high 0.7 average. The best load average was 0.638 for the 45 gr and 0.761 for the 40 gr.
Both H380 and H4895 shoot heavier bullets better than light ones but even the bullets 53 grains to 40 grains can't match Reloader 15 and N140.
For the heaviest bullet, Reloader 15 shot 63 grain Sierra # 1370s at 0.751 average across all loads with a best load average at 0.610.

Reloader 15 and N140 duplicate these results in my shooting buddy's Savage 12 LPV with a 1:12 twist. I would try to find some Reloader 15 or N140 if you can.

[NHSHOOTER]

Rimfire5,I have tried a few of the loads you listed but I cant seem to get my hands on any reloader 15 up here in NH. As soon as I can find some I will give it a try. I just finished loading some 52 and 55 gr for some field testing tomorrow. I dont have a chronograph so I can only go by group size. So far my best groups under 1" have been with 52 gr bullets. We will see what happens tomorrow. Loaded mostly with Varget today.

[loic]

For mt remingron 700 sps varmint 26 inch barrel 1-14 twist I used to reload with the 55 gr vmax and 36 gr of varget, very good group but very fast, average 3940 fps and fir hunting varmint was not good as the bullet would leave a nasty wound. Now im reloading with nosler 55 gr and 34.8 of varget even better group and slower bullet. I tried lighter bullets but my rifle didnt like them. With both bullet I could hit my 10 inch steel target at 600 yards consistently (no wind)
I neck size only my brass.

[SVTCobra306]

I bounced around between powders but when I finally got my hands on some Varget I was hooked. 50 gr Sierra Blitzkings seem to shoot the best out of my Savage 10 1/12 twist, and 36.0 gr of Varget ended up being a winner for me, I don't have the exact measurement but it's well under MOA, and they are deadly on coyotes.

[LOLBELL]

I have a Tikka with a 1:14 twist. After I found a load of a 50 grn V-Max over 39 grns of H414 I quit looking. I tried a few different bullets of different weights and makes but could not come close to the accuracy of the 50 V-Max