Loads for .22-250

[ArkansasFatboy]

I'm trying to work up loads for a couple of .22-250 rifles
My rifle is a ruger m77 mkII target the barrell twist is 1-14
My dads rifle is a stevens model 200 barrell twist is 1-12
What weight of bullet is best suited for these twist rates? I'm thinking 40gr in the ruger and and 55gr in the stevens but it would be nice to find a compromise and work the same load for both rifles. any input appreciated.

 

[NCsmitty]

I'm not sure where people get the notion that a 1in14 twist 22-250 cannot handle 55-60gr bullets. It has been the standard twist for 40 years. Pick a good brand in 55gr and try it in each. There is hardly a guarantee that two separate rifles will shoot the same loads but there is a possibility they may shoot the same bullet.
It's only been the last few years that some people have become obsessed with longer bullets in fast twist barrels.
The 1in12 Stevens will even handle lighter bullets if they are designed without a super frangible jacket.
The twist differences are just not that much between the two rifles to matter.

NCsmitty

 

[Strongbad]

Anything over 55 in my 1:14 were a no go. 52 & 53 gr. HP's shoot best in my rifle (CZ-550). You can try heavier, (60's) but it's a crap shoot. May work, may not. Only way to know is to test them.

FWIW, I use Reloder 10x in my rifle with 52 gr. Matchkings, 52 gr. Shilen HP's, and even bulk 55 gr. Remington PSP's. The HP's make tiny little holes. The PSP's group about an inch.

 

[rcmodel]

There are heavy bullets for 1/14, and then there are heavy bullets for 1/14.

Sierra makes a 63 grain Semi-pointed that is short enough to shoot just fine in a 1/14 22-250 or .220 Swift.

On the otherhand, the 60 grain plastic-tipped bullets may very well be too long to stabilize in a 1/14.

But I agree, anybodies 55 grain bullets should be just fine in either rifle.

Try some Hornady V-Max, Nosler Ballistic-Tips, or Sierra Blitz-Kings.

If they won't shoot them very well, they likely won't shoot anything else either.

rcmodel

 

[bearwolf]

Ive had good luck so far using 32gr of IMR4064 and Hornady 60gr SP's. Just got some of the 63gr Sierra SMP's for my 223, maybe I will try them in my 22-250. I've had pretty decent luck with the Speer 55gr SP and the Rem 55gr Core-Lokts loaded to the cannelure. I'm wondering how the 63gr SMP's would work on our small deer loaded up at 35gr IMR4064.

 

[K-Dirt]

I'm wondering how the 63gr SMP's would work on our small deer loaded up at 35gr IMR4064.

I'm not near a manual right now, but that seems like alot of IMR4064. Please be careful.

John

 

[rcmodel]

35 grains of IMR4064 is a max load according to Lyman #49.

Don't know about using it for deer.

I used them for coyote hunting years ago, and they are pretty distructive at close range.
They would probably just blow up on a deers shoulder. Might work at longer range though.

rcmodel

 

[GooseGestapo]

I too have a Remington M700 with 1/14" bbl.
If that darn 8pt'r that traipsed through my back yard about 10:45am this morning had waited another 15sec., I'd have introduced him to a 63gr Sierra, and I'd have sent you some photo's. (I'd moved the rifle for Thanksgiving visitors, and had to go to bedroom to get it....buck chased the does away too! I hunt out of my kitchen window, you know!)

I don't have photo's of the ones I've shot previously with 55gr,60gr Hornady's, or 63gr Sierra's; however, they do very well, about like a 95 or 100gr from a .243wcf.

My rifle, however, shoots poorly with 55gr Hornady V-max's (about 4" at 100yds w/39.0gr of H380 or 35.0gr RL15, or 35.5Varget). Sierra 55gr Boat-tail soft points will frequently shoot 1-hole, however.
The 60gr V-max will not hit a 3'x5' target at 100yds, with perhaps the occasional key-hole as an exception.
It shoots about 2.5" with oblong holes with the 65gr Sierra BTSpt Game-Kings.

I load the 63gr Semi-Ptd Sierras over 37.5gr of H380 for about 3,500fps (from my rifle, chrono'd). They shoot 1" lower at 100yds than the 55gr PtSpt Sierra's over 39.0gr of H380 for a chrono'd 3,680fps. (both are working max for MY rifle). They too will occasionally shoot a 1-hole group-(63grSMPt).

With a chest/shoulder shot from broadside, the 55gr's and heavier will give complete penetration, especially from my 18.5" .223 at 3,100fps. I usally get quarter to fifty-cent piece sized exit wounds. Usually nothing like "Shawnee"s son's buck in the photo in the Hunting section. However, I once shot (2001) an 8pt buck at 25yds with the Hornady 60gr SoftPt. that did that. Usually, a low frontal chest shot will end up in the paunch after liquifling the lungs/heart.

 

[fireman 9731]

I have had great results out of my 1/14 twist 22-250 with barnes 36gr varmint grenades and barnes 53 gr TSX loaded on top of varget. both rounds easily sub MOA. I have yet to try matchkings but I hear good things about them. I dont recommend any FMJ, I cant get better than a 2 inch group with them. good luck with whatever you load though, the 22-250 can be quite a fun round!

 

[NCsmitty]

The flat based bullets in the 55-60gr range usually shoot very well in a 1in14 twist, whereas most boat tails in that weight range seem too long to stabilize well, as a rule. It really depends on the boat tail angle and length at the base. If you go to a 50-52gr boat tail styled bullet, it seems to be a much better match. I find the Hornady 52gr A-Max a dynamite match for my 1in14 Remington barreled Mauser.

NCsmitty

 

[sig220mw]

I've have good results in my ruger
m77 22-250 with the hornady 60 gr sp's also. Using 2 powders imr4064 and h380 I get 1/2 inch or smaller groups with both of these. I use 31.5 grains of the imr4064 and 35.3 grains of the h380.

 

[BoilerUP]

My Ruger No.1-V really likes 34.5gr Varget and a 52gr A-Max.

H380 was also working well in it (of course) but work and deer season interrupted the load devleopment.