22-250AI reloading data

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sniper767

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Several months ago I bought a used Gaillard barrel in 22-250AI sporter contour 24 inch twist 1-14" and I got started in developing loads for it.

My goal was to achieve 4000 fps with the 55 gr bullet which is about the heaviest it will manage at this slow twist rate.

I decided to use powders I already have so 4064 and Benchmark were my first choices. Here are the results:

1-55 gr Berger bullet / Federal brass / Wolf primers / IMR 4064 powder / OAL 2.45. I loaded 5 rds with 38.0 to 42.0 gr of powder at 1/2 gr interval and recorded MV. I started with 38 gr which was max load for a 220 swift.
I took great care of examining the brass and primer after each shot to check for signs of high pressure. I managed to get to the 42 gr charge at 3975 fps avg (4004 fps max) The group for this charge was just under 1 inch at 100 yds. I loaded more rounds with 42 gr to be tested for groups.

2- Benchmark powder gave better groups but I only got to 3800 fps which is not so bad. I loaded 36.5 gr to 38.0 gr and at the highest charge the bolt started to stick. Group at 38 gr charge was just shy of 0.60 inch

3- Varget is my next test powder. I'll load up 37.0 to 41.0 gr and post the results. 41 gr may prove to be too much.

Everyone must understand that in your rifle you must work up your own load since powder lot, brass brand and lot, primers and even different bullets will make a difference. It would be foolish to try my max charge in your rifle without doing so. The charges I quoted above are definitely very hot loads.

Hope this helps. I have a hard time finding relaoding data for this cartridge even on google and on the powder brands internet sites.

Proeliator ab pluvius non conliquefactus
 
heres my input

I have a ATR .22-250AI

Norma Brass, 55gr nosler, i use 760 powder and cci BR2 primers COL 2.520

My ladder test ended at 44.9 gr, 15 loads, and i was at 4050 at the high end, all loads went 1 inch c-center at 330m, so i had to choose and start individual groupings at the velocitys i wanted, i ended up with 44.4 gr at 3996 average, and it shoots EASY under 1 inch at 300m, one ragged hole at 100..... (Not every time cause I suck most days)........ No pressure signs whatsoever.


Varget, well I wasnt nearly as good and without presure signs i got just shy of 4000, but one more up and hard bolt,......ejector mark on brass..

But it didnt group all that well at 300m about 3inch........


I am going to try 414, but havent had time, even though 760 is doing great.....

Brad
 
22-250ai Oal

Hi Brad:
Thanks for your input.
One question: how can you load 2.52 OAL and have enough shoulder holding the bullet. I also need 2.52 in my rifle to be on the lands but there's not a lot of bullet left in the case so my run-outs are not good. When I reduce OAL to 2.45 or 2.47 for instance my run-outs are good. I did get good accuracy with this OAL. The Nosler Ballistic Tip being a boat tail it makes it worst. I have some flat base bergers but prefer the NBTs for long range. JBM says I'm supersonic beyond 1000 yds with MV of 3975 fps on the 55 NBTs. I want to try that.
Serge
 
22-250 AI reloading data

More data collected last w/e
unfortunately could not set-up the chrono
tried 40 and 41 gr Varget with the 55s and got good groups (0.66 and 0.75 for 5 shots) no signs of extreme pressure.
I shot some more 42 gr IMR 4064 / 55 NBTs and blew a primer right out of the case. I'll have to reduce that load (41 gr ?) bolt was also sticking.
One impressive group at 560 yds (3 shots) measured 2 ¼ inch.
and this out of a sporter barrel...
 
You can't achieve 4000 fps with a 55gr bullet out of a 22-250 AI at pressures below 60K psi. The best you can hope for woud be about 3850 fps with a full case (or nearly full) of something like H380 or a bit slower.

I didn't say you can't "get" 4000 fps, just not at sane pressures.
 
well.......I have absolutly NO pressure signs at all

at 4000fps...... Infact, I shot it at summerland at over 1000yrds with ridiculous consistancy.... IN FACT Glock-a-manic was shooting it at over 1000 yrds, and it was quite warm out, sunburn city, and like i said, no pressure problems, my primers arent even flattened.... When i got that velocity with varget the primers were flat.... and when i got over 4000 the pockets were done with varget...... So I am not sure about the 60k pressure deal that you have quoted andy, and if thats a quick load projection or what, but by my usage, I am 100% a-ok with it,and wouldn't hesitate to use it in MY rifle.... (yours??? ur on yer own:dancingbanana:)


i will check out how much i have it in side the brass, and get back to ya...

I checked the seating depth, and it figure a nosler 55gr is ABOUT .808 or so, and i checked my COL to confirm it is 2.520 and it is, and by my calculations i have .171 inside the neck.....
 
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22-250ai

Andy / Brad: Thanks for your feedback.

I consulted the Nosler 6 reloading manual for 55gr and 4064 and it quotes max 39 gr therefore I will back my load down from 42 to 40 or 41 gr (more testing to come) I only have a 24 inch barrel so another 2 or 3 inch would certainly help MV. 41 grain would bring me to 3880 as tested before but even that might prove too hot for an all around hunting load.

Brad: very nice of you to tell me you got 4000 fps with no pressure signs but could you give me your load please? I think you mentioned Varget. I tried 40 and 41 grain and the bolt was sticking on the 41s I did not try the 42s. I will have to clock this load as it was too windy.

Now you say you have 0.171 inside the neck (55 NBT) so I assume you did not remove the boat tail depth. what I want to know is how much of the bullet shank is held by the neck. I loaded 55 gr NBTs at 2.45 to get a good contact length. At 2.52 I had very little contact area remaining.

Benchmark did very good for groups and with 38 gr I got 3785 fps.
Now I need to test with IMR 3031 which I also have in my stock.
A previous load of 36 gr gave me a puny 3530 fps. Some clown on reloadersnest.com said he got 4100+ fps with 34.5 gr (26 inch bbl)

Serge
 
Oal

No i didnt remove the boat tail, I use Win 760 and the load i settled on is 44.5 gr of 760, with 2.520 COL I am using norma brass,,, I have a 26" pac-nor super match on this rifle....1-14" twist....
 
22-250ai Oal

Brad: thanks for your load info. I will try to locate some W760 to try.
Last night I loaded some more rounds. I trimmed cases to 1.900
and loaded at 2.48 which gave me 0.16 contact length in the case
neck (I removed the boat tail depth which is 0.060). I may even go up at 2.50 next time if I find the run-outs are still good.
I'm afraid my set-up is not as good as yours. I have a Gaillard sporter 24 inch (1-14 twist also) but at least I have Redding dies. We'll see how it does. Take Care.
 
im not sure but

I always that that case contact of 1/2 the bullet diameter was ok as a rule of thumb that would be .112 so you should be okaly dokaly!!! Theres no reason that your rig shouldt shoot well, try h414 is slightly slower than 760 yet, I havent but am going to.....Just for $hits and giggles..... I am am not near case capacity yet, so i am trying a slower powder for a higher percentage of capacity]...
 
Hi, fellow shooters:
I nailed another 3 chucks this past w/e. (100, 75 and 250 yds) with my hunting load of 42 gr 4064 / 55 NBTs but it still makes the bolt stick.
I tried a reduced load of 40 gr and did some groups to check my come-ups:
-200 yds, 2 shots into 0.6 inch
-325 yds, 2 shots into 1.0 inch
-560 yds, 3 shots into 2.75 inch
-250 yds, 3 shots into 0.75 inch
There was quite a wind (8-10km/hr) and at 560 yds I got pulled off by 22 inch !!! I was a bit surprised for a fast round like this.
I run around 3750 fps for this load and as you can see it's potentialy very accurate so I decided to switch to this one for my regular hunting load.
Still have to try the 3031 loads. later ...
 
I burned out 3 barrels in this caliber before concluding that barrel life was in the order of 1,000 rounds.

As barrel burned out bullets would start to blow up. Moly helped, but not much. very accurate with 80 Sierras at about 3200 fps.
 
22-250ai

Thanks for the info. I'll keep that in mind. My 14 twist will only handle 55s so I'll keep my 4064 load for hunting (3900fps) no more load developing for now.
I thought I could get 2000 rds.
 
Nearly blew myself up last weekend!!!

I fired a group of 5 rounds with my 22-250 AI and even if I had the chrono on It didn't register in my mind that it was too hot a load. I had previously tried the 42 gr of 4064 load behind a 55 NBT and recorded 3975 fps with signs of high pressure. On my next shooting session it was hotter and the MV jumped up to 4100 fps and still I had signs of extreme pressures. I should have stopped after the first round. On the 5th round I felt something on my cheek as I fired the shot and also noticed smoke coming out of the action which is a sign of a blown primer. I opened the bolt but had much trouble since it was well jammed and the case was stuck on the bolt face. I had to put it in a vise to wrench it out of the bolt. My extractor was shot to pieces and some brass entered the ejector hole jamming it. I cleaned everything and ordered a new extractor. The bolt looks OK but I must say that it was a very stupid stunt. High Power 22s are harder to judge for high pressures since the bore is small (the force on the bolt face is reduced compared to a 308 for ex.)

LET THIS BE A LESSON FOR ALL.
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN TRYING NEW LOADS IN YOUR RIFLE.

Of course leaving the ammo in the sun wasn't a good idea either.
I'm good for a double darwin award !!!!!:eek:
 
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