H380 for the 22-250

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milsy12

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Good day all:

Just picked up some H380 to play around with for my 250

I plan to load up Berger 52 grain FB HP Varmints over it. Rifle is a Sako A7.

Reading a lot online and it seems like guys are either on one side of the fence or the other. Some say forget the ball style powder, get Varget, get 4064, get 4895 etc etc. I’ve ran Varget on a trial basis with 55 Varmegeddon’s with ok results but not what I would consider a great load.

I have had fairly decent results with Sierra 50 grain SP over Reloader 15 and CCI LR primers.

Some say H380 is a “dirty” powder. Others say that’s because you aren’t using mag primers. I know the load data uses Win LR primers and that’s where I will start.

Any information good or bad from real experiences is appreciated. I know it’s not the most temp stable powder but the 250 is a fall/winter/early spring coyote rig and a spring/early summer groundhog gun.... plus the legacy of 380 in the 250 has peaked my interest!

Thanks in Advance
 
Older 22-250s have slow twist barrels, so light bullets are common. This is a shame, because with that case capacity, a heavier bullet can be driven at high velocity.

A light bullet loses velocity so fast that the power is wasted.

If you were loading 69 or 80 gr bullets, H380 would be an excellent choice.

I would not use it for anything lighter than 55 gr. A ball powder and alight bullet is begging for ignition problems. The Winchester primer is a good choice. It is a hot primer designed to ignite Winchester ball powders.

For 55gr and heavier, H380 will perform well. Don't download it. It would get dirty.
 
Legend has it that Bruce Hodgdon named the powder after his favorite 22-250 load 38.0 grains with a 52 grain. My best load in a Savage was 37.5 grains Win case WLR and Berger 52 or 55 consistent 1/2 moa 5 shot groups.
 
Heddok said:
Legend has it that Bruce Hodgdon named the powder after his favorite 22-250 load 38.0 grains with a 52 grain. My best load in a Savage was 37.5 grains Win case WLR and Berger 52 or 55 consistent 1/2 moa 5 shot groups.
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I used to use it to get 3400fps with an 80 gr match bullet. The 80 would hold velocity well. I once hit a tank with it at 1600 yards. It was a 22-250 Ackley with a 1:8 barrel.
 
don't know the velocity ,im using 39,5 of h-380 with sierras 53 hpmk getting 1/2" 4 shot group @100 yds prone from a bipod.Fed 215 May match lr primers ,ww cases , C,O,L 2.383.No pressure signs in my savage 1-12
I use h4895 also but my go to load is imr 4064 with ww lr primers it’s a lot more consistent in my savage
5 shot groups little bug holes
Varget not so much w 760 and h414 temperature sensitive
 
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I burned a fair bit of H380 in my Swifts over the years....55 and 60 grain bullets worked well with it.
My latest Swift, a Tang safety HB Ruger 77V, dotes on the 55 Ballistic tip and 43.5 grains of H380.
It shoots that load into .5 moa at a muzzle velocity of 3945. Very decent performer out to 500 yards.
Dave.
 
In my 14 twist Rem 700 VSF the 52 gr Berger varmint FB with 38.4 grs H-380 and a Rem 9 1/2M shot in the high 3's , low 4's at 100 yds.(5 shots)
 
hunters home said:
In my 14 twist Rem 700 VSF the 52 gr Berger varmint FB with 38.4 grs H-380 and a Rem 9 1/2M shot in the high 3's , low 4's at 100 yds.(5 shots)
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Did you go with a magnum primer after trying a regular LR primer or right away due to ignition concerns / cold temp concerns?
 
I used to use 380 in the 22/250. Eventually I had to give up in disgust because of its dismal performance as a winter coyote load. If you’re s fair weather rodent shooter You’ll do fine.
 
I have been using h380 for almost 35 years in my 22-250's. Fired thousands of rounds -generally use 39 gns with 52-55 gn bullets and regular primers - never had any issues and accuracy is acceptable in two of my guns to outstanding in two others
 
Dogleg said:
I used to use 380 in the 22/250. Eventually I had to give up in disgust because of its dismal performance as a winter coyote load. If you’re s fair weather rodent shooter You’ll do fine.
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What created the bad performance? Poor ignition? Groups open up? Other?

Wondering because this primarily will be my use for it. I have decided to start with Magnum Win primers for load development, hopefully negate any foreseeable issues......
 
milsy12 said:
What created the bad performance? Poor ignition? Groups open up? Other?

Wondering because this primarily will be my use for it. I have decided to start with Magnum Win primers for load development, hopefully negate any foreseeable issues......
Click to expand...

Velocity dropped a couple three hundred and my chart was off, but worse the lower pressure dropped it out of the node and groups opened. In some cases the zero changed as well.On a cold day at the range you could literally see unburnt powder lying on the bottom of the barrel. Life is too short, so my winter ‘250 load got changed to 4895. I don't see any particular reason not to use it year round.
 
Dogleg said:
Velocity dropped a couple three hundred and my chart was off, but worse the lower pressure dropped it out of the node and groups opened. In some cases the zero changed as well.On a cold day at the range you could literally see unburnt powder lying on the bottom of the barrel. Life is too short, so my winter ‘250 load got changed to 4895. I don't see any particular reason not to use it year round.
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Yea 35 grs H4895 and a 50-55 gr bullet works well in most 22-250 's . RJ
 
If memory serves, the history of H380 and the 22-250 go hand in hand: I think it was Bruce Hodgdon who found 38.0gr of the new powder now bearing that name which produced superb accuracy in the rifle/barrel/chamber in which he developed it.
 
I’m getting 1/2 inch groups with 38 grs and the 55 gn v-max. I use this load for summer practice and for winter hunting. For some reason I never had good luck with varget with any of my rifles. Hp380 and 4064 are my go to powders.
 
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