Hi, Hope you will be able to help me in the right direction. I reloaded some ammo for my Savage axis in 22-250. The twist rate is 1:12, i'm using a 55gr h.p. bullet sold by midway usa as thier dog town bullets, and they are .700 in length. I'm using 35.5 grains of varget, which should put me over 3500 fps. As you can see, I'm getting nice groups at 100 yards, 4 shots in .641", but one will be sideways. I shot several other 3 shot groups and one out of the three was sideways. Any Ideas?
.22-250 bullets hitting sideways??
- Thread starter Garyj69
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No reason a 1/12 twist 22-250 won't stablize a 55 grain bullet of any type.
My old one shot just fine with 63 grain Sierra Semi-Pointed.
My longest coyote kill was 517 yards, with that bullet.
I don't know what the problem is.
But I would start by checking the bore for a bad case of copper fouling.
rc
My old one shot just fine with 63 grain Sierra Semi-Pointed.
My longest coyote kill was 517 yards, with that bullet.
I don't know what the problem is.
But I would start by checking the bore for a bad case of copper fouling.
rc
NeuseRvrRat
Member
rule of thumb is 22-250 with 1:12" is good for up to 64 gr pills. at least 60 gr. those 55s shouldn't be a problem.
i know this sounds dumb, but did you weigh a bullet and confirm what was written on the box is actually what was inside the box?
by the way, your problem is generally referred to as "keyholing". this may help your googling.
i know this sounds dumb, but did you weigh a bullet and confirm what was written on the box is actually what was inside the box?
by the way, your problem is generally referred to as "keyholing". this may help your googling.
lmccrock
Member
Are you sure they are 3500 fps? I am sure you heard this before; get a chronograph. Borrow, buy, whatever.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It doesn't matter.
He is well within the mid-level powder charge with Varget and a 55 grain bullet.
How ever fast it is is fast enough to stabilize it.
rc
He is well within the mid-level powder charge with Varget and a 55 grain bullet.
How ever fast it is is fast enough to stabilize it.
rc
I don't have a chronograph, I'm only one grain from max with varget with this load. I checked the length of this bullet at .700 compared to the 52gr a-max at .800, and the barnes 36gr v.g. at .691. Neither of the other bullets have this problem, perhaps my gun just doesn't like this bullet. I'll try a different powder and if that doesn't work ill just go to a different bullet.
Just seemed weird to me. And yeah, I did weigh a few and they are 55grs.
Just seemed weird to me. And yeah, I did weigh a few and they are 55grs.
NeuseRvrRat
Member
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/366488_.html
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3789124.0
perhaps a batch batch of bullets? there are several threads like this if you google "dogtown bullets keyholing"
i'd call up midway and see if they'll send you another box or refund your money in "midway money". no reason they should be keyholing.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3789124.0
perhaps a batch batch of bullets? there are several threads like this if you google "dogtown bullets keyholing"
i'd call up midway and see if they'll send you another box or refund your money in "midway money". no reason they should be keyholing.
Cemetery21
Member
Agree with the above. I shoot the same bullets at 3475 fps chronographed in a 1 in 14 and a 1 in 12 (223 Ackley). No keyholing and excellent groups. I load 2000 per prairie dog trip.
Possibly a bad batch.
I once had a new 700 varmint 223 that keyholed. I scrubbed it again with a tight wet brush, several strokes. It then shot like it should and was good for several years of prairie dogs. My only guess is that it had some hard grease or filings in the grooves from the factory.
Possibly a bad batch.
I once had a new 700 varmint 223 that keyholed. I scrubbed it again with a tight wet brush, several strokes. It then shot like it should and was good for several years of prairie dogs. My only guess is that it had some hard grease or filings in the grooves from the factory.
TwoEyedJack
Member
I have seen similar problems
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=656894
Cleaning the crap out of the barrel with JB Bore Paste helped a little.
I basically have given up on 55 gr. bullets and gone back to the 40 gr. ballistic tips at 4000 fps.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=656894
Cleaning the crap out of the barrel with JB Bore Paste helped a little.
I basically have given up on 55 gr. bullets and gone back to the 40 gr. ballistic tips at 4000 fps.
NeuseRvrRat
Member
my savage with a 1:12" twist shoots 55 gr nosler ballistic tips very well
I'll also add that even though you are 1 gr away from the max in your manual that doesn't mean you're getting the same performance.
I've been using Varget in both my .308 and .22-250 for a few years. Shooting the 52 gr Sierra match the max is supposed to be 36.5 gr I believe for a velocity of 3700 fps. The best I could coax out of my rifle was 3400 fps at that charge. It was an accurate load but it didn't hit advertised velocity. At 38.0 gr my rifle is shooting this bullet at 3680 fps with no pressure signs and is slightly more accurate then the 36.5 gr load.
Varget is a strange powder. Every new lot # I've bought has had to be worked up to. Sometimes it follows the book and other times it takes at least 1.5 gr more to hit advertised velocity. I've never seen any of the other powders I use act like this.
But I still think the problem is the bullets.
I've been using Varget in both my .308 and .22-250 for a few years. Shooting the 52 gr Sierra match the max is supposed to be 36.5 gr I believe for a velocity of 3700 fps. The best I could coax out of my rifle was 3400 fps at that charge. It was an accurate load but it didn't hit advertised velocity. At 38.0 gr my rifle is shooting this bullet at 3680 fps with no pressure signs and is slightly more accurate then the 36.5 gr load.
Varget is a strange powder. Every new lot # I've bought has had to be worked up to. Sometimes it follows the book and other times it takes at least 1.5 gr more to hit advertised velocity. I've never seen any of the other powders I use act like this.
But I still think the problem is the bullets.
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