22-250, bullets, powder, etc, your input requested

Lefty Dick

Lefty Dick

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Alberta
I took the plung, I bought a 22-250 from a fellow CGN'r.
First order of business will be telling the Mrs., but she's good that way.
Now for reloading:
This rifle will see lots of paper and steel, followed by yotes, and maybe some gophers, if time permits(none round here)
I have availble copious quantities of Varget, and BLC2 (would like to stay with Hodg., and IMR)
As for bullets I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas
 
Me too I am going to watch this thread closely as I want to do the same. I got a precision RCBS die from a CGNer a while ago and I want to set it up this winter .And I will be shooting paper and '' Yotes ''. Also I want to play around with heavier bullet weights. This should be fun. :)
 
the heaviest you'l be able to go with the tyipical twist rates of the 22-250 would be in the 60gr neighbourhood.

The '250 is incredibly easy to load for. I use 36gr of 4064 behind a 55gr vmax. This is slightly over Hornady's listed max, but under IMR's listed max for a 55 w/4064. Work up slowly, etc, etc. These normally group around 1/2". Slightly more accurate are the Hornady HP-match bullets, I think 52gr, but these don't work as well as the 55's on critters. Varget's pretty similar to 4064, and I suspect 36-ish grains behind a 55 VMAX will serve you well, but don't take my word for it, check a reputable load manual or three.
 
Thumbs up on the Varget! I've been shooting a lot of Hornady 52 & 55 gr bullets like the V-Max. I've also had good experience with the Barnes 53gr triple shock for bigger stuff. My Remington 700 VS & LVSF will stabilize bullets up to the 60gr Nosler Partition, but the heavier 70gr stuff isn't worth it. You will need to rebarrel with a faster twist rate if you want to shoot heavy for caliber bullets. The comfort zone for my rifles seems to be in the 55gr range. The Speer TNT bullets seem to shoot well for me as well. If you haven't already done so, pick up a good reloading manual and follow their instructions. Loads you get from gun boards, etc...should be cross-checked with reliable reloading manuals before you use them. Many of the powder and bullet manufacturers also have load data on their web sites for most popular calibers. Good luck with it!
 
The best groups I get with my 22-250 are with the Sierra 50 grain SP. Most groups are well under 1/2 moa with the occasional group cutting one ragged hole at 100 yards.
 
In several rifles:

CCI BR2 primers

Nosler 55 gr Solid Base boat-tail spitzers # 16339

34.5 to 36.0 gr IMR 4064

Best accuracy for me was 35.5 grains of powder.

I see this is quite close to prosper's recipe, and that also gives me comfort.

Doug
 
Im going to be buying a '250 and was wondering what bullets will do the least amount of damage to a coyote since I wouldnt mind making some money off of them....also what about a fox...?
-thanks
 
Some jokers will recommend an FMJ or something silly like that. The simple fact is the FMJ's will not 'pencil' through, they will usually destabilize and fragment at these speeds. Sometimes you'll get lucky and have minimal pelt damage, other times it'll look like they were hit with a bazooka. Varmint style bullets are the ticket, something that will leave a tiny entrance, and completely disintegrate inside the critter, not exiting. Again, sometimes it will do some damage particularly if you hit a joint. But mostly with solid body hits, it's just bang flop. The 55 VMAX is a popular choice for yotes
 
I started a very similar thread about a year ago or so. If you are worried about pelt damage, I was told to use a 40 to 45 grain pill as these tend to disintegrate inside the animal, HOWEVER, if you want that classic bang--flop! use a 55 grain pill.

My favourite load was 35 grains of Varget with a 55 grain Hornady Vmax and a Federal 210 primer. This load gave me a consistent 0.5 to 0.75 MOA out of my Tikka 595 sporter. I do not know the velocity, I have no chrony.....yet!
 
Is there any advantage to going to a faster twist say to a 1 in 9 ?
Now I can shoot heavier bullets but can I still shoot the 45's or the 55's or would I want to ???
With the heaver bullet am I going to get the same effect only further down range?
What powder would you use with the heavier bullet? The Varget sounds like the ticket as you hear it being used a lot.
Thanks for the replies
TAC
 
Ken Waters recommended 32/3031 with a 52gr bullet as an accuracy load. I have found that this combo has always worked well for me. I have shot this load more than all other loads in all other calibers combined. :)

I also use Varget for 70gr Speers for deer hunting. Shoots about 1".



.
 
Magnum primers,4064 with 55gn nosler BTs. Like a LAZER!! Havent shot any coyotes but the gophers blowd up real good.:) I would imagine pelt damage on a coyote would be pretty severe.
 
I used Hornaday 52 and 55 grainers Vmax and A Max, 39 grains of H380 and Win LR Primers.

That was with a Rem 700 VS heavy barrel...teeny little groups
 
I have used the v-max on yotes with mixed results. They work great for the longer shots (150 yds. and out) but in close they were blowing exit holes that you could drive a truck thru. I always use Varget powder in the 22-250. I don't remember my exact load but it was about 3/4 gr. back from Lee's listed max load for a 52gr. bullet. What I like about Varget is it's low temp stability. When you are lying in a snowbank at -15 C. it's nice to know that the powder performs the same as it did at +15 C. The bullets that I am having the most luck with as far as minimizing pelt damage have been 52gr Speer hollow points. It goes in one side and seldom comes out the other.
 
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