22-250 Reloading Issues

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SAKO Nut

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Hello, I'm totally new to the game here, in fact, this is the first forum I've subscribed to and the first post I've made!! So here goes!

I'm reloading for 22-250 in Sako bolt action and have noticed that the necks of all my cartridges are smoked/carboned. This is the case for older brass fired ~ 4X as well as for brand new brass. Is this an issue? Is the smoked neck symptomatic of something?

Further, I'm a bit puzzled by the fact that I've never been successful at using a neck sizing die to prep my cases--they just won't chamber. As a result, I have to use my full length sizing die and although the literature I've read suggests only partially sizing, even cases sized in this manner won't successfully chamber without excessive effort. Both my neck and full length sizing dies are the Hornady New Dimension type. My interest in neck sizing is to get more case life and (hopefully!) accuracy from a case which, except for the neck, is "fire formed" to my gun's chamber.

Finally, here's my best load, but it's still +1.00" at 100 m (5 Shot Grp).

Ideas?

Here is some of my reloading information:

Rifle: SAKO Varmint Heavy Barrel 23 1/2" 1-14 Twist
Cases: Winchester and Remington, sorted by weight, Full length sized, deburred flashhole, trimmed to 1.900"

Bullet: 55 grain Hornady SXSP and VMAX;
Bullet Jump: ~0.050"
Powder: 760 Win 37.5 grains
Primer: Federal 210 LRifle
 
f:P:f:P: Pretty sure this should have been posted in the Reloading section of CGN since it is a Reloading question. f:P:f:P:

On that note, yes, soot on the necks is normal but if it goes farther than the neck then you have issues.
 
I had a Sako 22-250 that did the same thing. Chamber was cut oversize and out of round.I had bought it used at a gunshow. We cut some off the barrel and used a boring bar to get started straight, then chambered in 22 Cheetah. Still have the rifle, don't use it much anymore.

I suspect your sooty necks are caused by chamber pressure not sealing the necks. This could be because of oversize chamber as well.

If neck sized cases won't return to the chamber they were fired in, you have a problem. Mark
 
Are you saying neither the neck sizing die nor the full length die allows an easy chambering of the reloaded cartridge?

Are the dies adjusted properly? Can you measure(mic) the fired neck diameter vs the factory new data listed in the reload man. Also mic the fired neck measurement vs the resized neck when it comes out of the die. Should be different for sure.

Is the brass from your gun's chamber only, and is it possible it is "stretched" due to overpressure or lost it's mallability due to number of times reloaded?

More info would help.
 
I shoot a 22-250 alot and have to trim each firing. Check you case length. Trim accordingly and your problem should go away.
 
I think 358 has the right diagnosis, You trim to 1.90" neck size or fl size the case should chamber. I reload for 3 22-250's and only neck size for the most part, I use the FL die after 4 or 5 rounds to knock the head back . If you can get your hands on some 52g Bergers and put them on top of 37.5g of RL15 with a CCI primer it should improve the accuracy. I gave up on Hornady after a lot of load tests and went to the Bergers, they shoot under .4" in all 3 rifles.
 
I was having big issues with reloads not loading into my single shot break open. Part of it was the mechanism on the gun,(bad lock, kept opening!) but the big part was that I was neck sizing ONLY. After four reloads the shoulders were pushed forward enough that the cartridge would not chamber, sometimes even when forced. This eventually led to a case-head separation. BAD. The answer was to full length size and trim the cases. I did this to all the ones that wouldn't chamber and now they're fine.
 
SLightly smokey necks isn't a huge problem.

If the discolouration extends to the shoulder, you might need to change a few things.

It's a sign that you don't have quite enough pressure to seal the case.

Now before you go and stand on the powder charge, there's another factor to consider. The 22-250 is somewhat known for building up brass at the neck when fired and resized. I don't mean the normal lengthening of the case. I'm talking about the brass at the neck thickening.

While most commercial guns have the chambers cut to allow for a healthy variation in neck thickness, I would not be surprised to find that the 22-250 reamers are a little more generous. Custom chambers are often deliberately tight in the neck, and sometimes reloaders have to turn thier case necks to fit.

Try measuring a piece of fired brass at the neck and compare it to your finished rounds. If the difference is great, this is probably something you'll just need to get used to.
 
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