pulling bullets from factory loads?

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srt4u2nv

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Hey

I want to make some deer grade rounds for my .22-250. I do not have a reloading setup as I always have used factory ammo. I'm having trouble finding a suitable factory round for the .22-250 to use on deer. There is a 60gr partition load from federal but no one has them.

What I want to know is I have a ton of 55gr factory federal ammo can I pull the bullets and use a lee hand press to replace the soft point bullets with 53gr Barnes TSX's????......

I kind of need to keep the cost down on this like around $100....

this is what I'm thinking
Product ID & Name Size Color Flavor Quantity Price Extended
743094
RCBS Bullet Puller 21.99
728000
Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullets: .22 Cal .224 Dia. 53 Gr. Flat base 32.99
743102
Bullet Puller Collets: .22 12.99
748338
Lee Hand Press Kit - .22/250 Rem 70.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total 138.96
 
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I'm trying a similar experiment myself. I am pulling the fmj bullets from some milsurp 308 and replacing them with Hornady interlocks. The bullets come out easily with a wack of a kinetic bullet puller. I remove the bullet, pour the powder back in the case after checking the weight and press in a new bullet. I figure it might be a good alternate use of milsurp that is Berdan primed and can't be reloaded. I'm checking powder weight to see how consistent it is. I also weight the removed bullets and find they are much below the weight consistency of the Hornadys.
 
Some 22-250's have a slow twist barrel and might not stabilize the 53gr. The TSX's are much longer than an equivalent lead core bullet. Likewise, you should work up the load because the TSX bullet has a HIGHER starting force/pressure than a lead core bullet because the SOLID COPPER TSX the bullet does NOT DEFORM as easily when first encountering the rifling.

That said, you should really get a proper caliber for hunting deer. Unless you are very well practiced, and using head or neck shots, go with a larger caliber.
 
the .22-250 is a 1-12twist and will stabilize 63-65gr bullets so no worries there...

I manage 2'' groups at 300yds with this rifle using factory federal 55gr soft points. Shot placement is not a worrie I know I can put the bullet where I want it out to 300yds although in my hunting area the longest shot is about 200yds.

I own a 300wm and .30-06 but I would like to try the .22-250
 
For a while, the US military Match shooters ( or maybe it was the NRA guys that were getting cheap military ammo, but needed other than hardball, to meet the rules) were were doing a similar process to build their target shooting ammo. They pulled bullets off a known consistent batch of hardball ammo, and installed a target bullet.

IIRC the term used for this was "Mexican match" ammo. I recall reading about the practice, but have not seen the article of late.

I'd try one or 5 rounds and watch very carefully for pressure signs. You may have to resort to re-weighing the powder and adjusting the charges down.
Got a chono or got someone that has one that will help you out at the range?

Should work a treat on less than monster sized deer, given a little restraint in the shot selection.
Once the bullet is inside the rib cage, no more worries, eh?


I'd be interested in hearing how it works out, bullet performance and the like.

I'd be pretty happy if I was able to use a 223 for deer here in AB. I figure I'll go that way (appropriate bullets and all) when I am out in BC.

Cheers
Trev
 
srt4u2nv said:
I manage 2'' groups at 300yds with this rifle using factory federal 55gr soft points. Shot placement is not a worrie I know I can put the bullet where I want it out to 300yds although in my hunting area the longest shot is about 200yds.

I own a 300wm and .30-06 but I would like to try the .22-250
Click to expand...

Is is against the regulations to use a 22-250 to hunt deer in Ontario. Most Canadian provinces have a similar calibre restriction.

Perhaps you won't be hunting in Canada?
 
Mexican Match

Let me start by saying that I do not condone the shooting of big game animals with varmit calibers...It can be done...but its not ideal..will it work..sure..but Ideal no. While posted to Gagetown I witnessed several big whitetails shot with Browning BLRs in 22-250, because you can use that rifle during deer season for coyotes. Guys bought one rifle for everything. I dont understand why anyone with a more suitable rifle would want to tempt fate. I dont care how carefull you are, or if you can shoot 2" grps at 300...if you see the buck of a lifetime at 60 paces in a thicket, you'll try it...and I'd bet it wont be a good thing. Anyhow, on to MM....For years we have used DA and IVI 7.62 in this manner...simply replace the 147gr hard ball with a speer 150 SP....shoots real well out of most rifles, no preasure concerns. SS 109(62 gr) 5.56, pull the HBall..replace with a 60 gr Nosler or hornady. There are some tricks, pick a bullet that has a slight bevel at the base of the bullet, so it slides in more easily and wont shave...and forget the hammer type bullet pullers..they work fine for the odd screw up at the bench when you want to recover a charge or bullet..however, the collet type from RCBS is worth its weight in gold. Another formula that I do is use 308 match with a 168 gr HPBT, and "pull and put" with one of the many quality 168 gr hunting bullets. my fav is the CT 168 by Nosler / win...the data out of my sniper rifle shows no change out to 500m...
 
I was looking pretty hard at a 6mm barrel for a Sako, to be able to hunt with it, as it's in .223 now. The piece is in too nice shape to booger with, though.
I was looking hard at the 6mm on a .223 case.
I'd rather be able to use what I have, and choose the bullets that I have faith in.

Soon. Very soon. Maybe as soon as next season. Poosibly out in BC by then.

I've had a couple guys explain to me how hard deer are to kill, and why they needed nothing smaller than a 300 Win Mag to make sure they would be able to make sure that they would drop. <meh> Same sort of guys that shoot a moose in the ass with a 7 STW and ##### that it just walked off into the swamp.

There sure are better calibers out there, to cover all the options. Work within the reasonable limits, though (placement, bullet selection, range) , and it does not take much to kill a deer. They don't get any deader than dead the first time.

Again, I count myself in the bunch that say "go for it". If you are a capable shot and onfident in your abilities to pick the shot and place the bullet, it should be a good working combo.

Like I said, I'd like to hear the reports, both on the range, and in the field. From the reports on the TSX's in other calibers, it sounds like penetration is not likely to be much of an issue.

Cheers
Trev
 
WOW Thanks for all the info guys

I knew it was going to get a little muddy with ethics in here but I thank everyone for the input.

My main reasoning for wanting to use the .22-250 is my confidence in shot placement I have practiced more with the .22-250 due to the cost of ammo for the bigger calibers. My .30-06 is gone being used on a deer hunt up north which leaves me with the .300wm that I just bought and have only put one box of ammo through compaired to the 300+ rounds I have put down range using the .22-250.

I dont know guys maybe I should spend that $100 I was going to spend on the .22-250 loads and just get some .300wm ammo and go practice?????....
 
When you practice, whichever rifle, even a 22LR, shoot from the SAME types of positions you are going to use in the field. Standing, braced with a sling only, leaning on a tree, hanging upside down with one foot caught in your treestand, :D;)..etc.
 
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"...against the regulations to..." Nope. Any centre fire is legal for deer. It's daft, but it's legal.
Pulling varmint bullets to replace them with suitable bullets requires the same kit that reloading does. You have to resize at least the neck and work up the load. Just changing the bullet and using the same powder will give you no guarantee of being accurate enough to hunt anything. Especially with factory ammo.
Barnes bullets require Barnes data too. Solid copper bullets don't work the same way a lead core bullet does.
Then you need to practice shooting, off hand, at a 9" pie plate, at 100 yards until you can hit it every time.
 
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