max loads you ran through a 22-250?

[darcy32171]

Just curious thats all. I`m running IMR 4895 powder and Hornady V-max 55gr bullets. I started at 34.5 gr and 35 gr going by the Hodgdon website and no signs of pressure what so ever.. Tomorrow going to try a max load of 36.5gr.
I also tried the IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 45gr soft point hornets with 36gr, tomorrow going to try a max load of 38gr.
I know these books are governed by lawyers to protect the companies, so I`m thinking the max loads are safe to a certain point.

 

[ykkid]

No, Darcy, these books are governed by experienced internal ballisticians using elaborate instrumentation, to not exceed SAAMI specs. Obviously, if your cases are thicker, your chamber on the small side, your leade short and rough, maybe your bullet a shorter ogive than the similar weight in your manual, max book pressure my require beating the bolt handle open - which you could interpet as excessive pressure. A thin walled case, large chamber, long gradual leade, long ogive bullet, on a cold day, and max book loads may be significantly below max pressure.

Physics, not lawyers, govern max book loads.

 

[TCBF]

Just curious thats all. I`m running IMR 4895 powder and Hornady V-max 55gr bullets. I started at 34.5 gr and 35 gr going by the Hodgdon website and no signs of pressure what so ever.. Tomorrow going to try a max load of 36.5gr.
I also tried the IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 45gr soft point hornets with 36gr, tomorrow going to try a max load of 38gr.
I know these books are governed by lawyers to protect the companies, so I`m thinking the max loads are safe to a certain point.

- What exactly is the envisioned end-state in your quest for maximum pressure? It can't be accuracy. Longer range? You need a faster twist to stabilize 68 grain, 77 grain, etc., bullets. Increased penetration (of what?)? If you want the .22-250 to do more than it was intended to do, you should be searching for a different cartridge, not pushing the outer edges of the performance envelope. Just my opinion, though.

 

[H4831]

- What exactly is the envisioned end-state in your quest for maximum pressure? It can't be accuracy. Longer range? You need a faster twist to stabilize 68 grain, 77 grain, etc., bullets. Increased penetration (of what?)? If you want the .22-250 to do more than it was intended to do, you should be searching for a different cartridge, not pushing the outer edges of the performance envelope. Just my opinion, though.

Come on, look at the facts.
He has already used lighter loads than the maximum shown in his book, with no signs of excess pressure.
The load of 36.5 he quoted is straight out of the Hodgden data.
Why would he not go to the standard, full power load, as shown in the on line data?
Why coudn't it be for accuracy? Most cartridges get their best accuracy at the full power loads they were designed for.
The professional bench rest shooters learned this a very long time ago, and is why their loads are usually higher than any load you will find in a modern reloading book.

 

[stubblejumper]

I`m running IMR 4895 powder and Hornady V-max 55gr bullets. I started at 34.5 gr and 35 gr going by the Hodgdon website and no signs of pressure what so ever.. Tomorrow going to try a max load of 36.5gr.
I also tried the IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 45gr soft point hornets with 36gr, tomorrow going to try a max load of 38gr.

Loads should be worked up in reasonable graduations while watching for pressure signs. Jumps of 1.5 or 2 full grains can take you from a perfectly safe load in your gun, to a load that most certainly is not safe in your gun. For a 22-250, especially for a new reloader, that hasn't actually witnessed pressure signs, I would work up in 1/2 grain increments.

I know these books are governed by lawyers to protect the companies, so I`m thinking the max loads are safe to a certain point.

Why do you suppose that all manuals suggest that you start with a reduced load, and work up the loads with gradual increases? It's because the chamber and barrel dimensions vary from gun to gun, and the components such as brass and powder vary as well, so the people producing the manuals can't tell you which loads will be safe in your gun, with your batch of components.

Given that you just started loading, you might want to remain a bit conservative with your theories and methods, at least until you have enough experience to actually recognize pressure signs.

 

[Fassteel]

Just curious thats all. I`m running IMR 4895 powder and Hornady V-max 55gr bullets. I started at 34.5 gr and 35 gr going by the Hodgdon website and no signs of pressure what so ever.. Tomorrow going to try a max load of 36.5gr.
I also tried the IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 45gr soft point hornets with 36gr, tomorrow going to try a max load of 38gr.
I know these books are governed by lawyers to protect the companies, so I`m thinking the max loads are safe to a certain point.

You may find that these loads will shoot fine today but when you get them out side and it is 25 degrees , you'll be blowing primers, bolt may become hard to lift and other even worse misadventures. FS

 

[darcy32171]

Just trying to get the most ft/sec and accuracy at the same time. I`m sick of seeing coyotes out about 500 plus yrds and won`t come in even with calling. I want to reassure myself, that it is a "no problem" shot to take them down. This is why I want the most ft/sec. Maybe I`m wrong to say, but I`m thinking: "the faster the bullet, the flatter it will fly".

 

[stubblejumper]

Just trying to get the most ft/sec and accuracy at the same time. I`m sick of seeing coyotes out about 500 plus yrds and won`t come in even with calling. I want to reassure myself, that it is a "no problem" shot to take them down. This is why I want the most ft/sec. Maybe I`m wrong to say, but I`m thinking: "the faster the bullet, the flatter it will fly".

Since you can't hold right on from the muzzle to 500 yards with a standard reticle anyways, another 50fps or 100fps isn't as much of an advantage as you might think. Build a load that is safe in all temperatures, and learn the trajectory of that load by practicing out to 500 yards in both warm and cold weather. As far as accuracy goes, increasing the velocity may improve the accuracy, or it could make it worse. Giving up accuracy for trajectory is often not a winning solution.

 

[dead meat]

I use the published loads as a guide line. I`ve seen some rifles that can`t take anything near to a max load listed in reloading books. I`ve also got some older books that i use with much higher max loads than listed now. Powder formulations change with each new batch as well, so i like to stock up on a favorite powder if i can buy a 5lb or larger of the same batch. Right now i have 8 1lb cans of H4831 all the same lot #. Fassteel is very much right when he says the loads worked up in clod weather may not be suitable for summer use. Use some common sense and all should be well.

 

[rral22]

Just trying to get the most ft/sec and accuracy at the same time. I`m sick of seeing coyotes out about 500 plus yrds and won`t come in even with calling. I want to reassure myself, that it is a "no problem" shot to take them down. This is why I want the most ft/sec. Maybe I`m wrong to say, but I`m thinking: "the faster the bullet, the flatter it will fly".

If you think tiny fractions of an inch at 500 plus yards are worth pushing pressure limits, you are a seriously misinformed reloader. There are far more important things (like accuracy) when shooting long range, than 25 to 50 fps more you might get from absolutely maximum loads. You need to re-think your loading and shooting strategy.