22-250 reloaders approach, to 1st time 52 gr load/powder work up..

[atvalaska]

ok here's the dirt.. New gun 1in12 twist bull barrel 22-250 load work up .. have taken 3 diff bullets and 4 diff powders...I plan to clean the NEW gun , then fire 3 moly 40gr-v-maxs down the barrel to get her going,( they are a fast hot factory load that i have lots of) then I'im going to shoot the reloads i make into "hopefull " groups of 3... all 3 brands of bullets are loaded to 1gr BELOW max,(as I learend long ago)i have 4 brands of powder h380,varget,imr4064,imr3031, and the bullets are speer52gr bthp #1036.....sierra 52gr hpbt.........berger fb target m-grade 22408's all seated to 2.345 .... what do u think

 

[James2]

Hmmmmm..... one grain below max? The usual recommendation is to start 10% below max.

 

[twofifty]

Let me see...you plan to load 3 rounds for each of 3 bullet brands, times 4 different powders? So you'll fire 36 test shots, plus the 3 moly fouler shots.

What you propose to do will only tell you how each bullet will group 3rds with one specific load of each of 4 powders. Have you checked to see if your manuals' load data are for a 1-12 twist barrel (most 22-250s are 1-14 twist)?

Load development means finding out how a specific bullet performs when loaded with increasing increments of a given powder, starting at 10% below max. Starting 1gr below max is too close to max and can lead to surprises. Suggest you read up on development concepts and methods called "Ladder Testing" and "Optimal Charge Weight". It can take shooting 50 or more rounds to fairly test the accuracy potential of one bullet type with one powder type (and one primer & brass brand).

Your proposed COL is on the short side if your rifle has a SAAMI spec chamber. Many chambers are cut long, such that further testing reaveals optimal accuracy results when COL is longer than book length.

 

[atvalaska]

BTDT.. New gun ,not new to reloading .. this will be about the 20th time i started out with a "see what powder she like's " l then build UP/DOWN from there.....

 

[twofifty]

atvalaska, that's interesting and I'd like to learn how your method works - it'd be nice to narrow things down more efficiently.

Are you starting at 1gr below max because many rounds shoot well in the higher third of their velocity range? Do you cast your chamber to determine its size?

 

[atvalaska]

""''''''''''''Your proposed COL is on the short side ,iof your rifles SAAMI spec chamber"""""""" ""2.50".......... this is which/ what i based this off of ( knowing the same). i made all the rounds this long/just lookin for a std . Many chambers are cut long and/or short , I'm looking for a starting point........Just like i got a box of ammo off the shelf , further testing will reavel , at what COL will be best for my gun...........i do know that , i have taken a look

 

[atvalaska]

twofifty... a old and 'mean' gunsmith said go this route, even add a few more rounds to the mix......this was about "all the same size ,trimed /cleaned rounds i had for a small test." hell the gun aint here yet.. ( i have 400+ fed rounds ready to load ) but was looking for a small test batch.... thanks for input u guys......

 

[Shoney]

The 12 twist is ideal for 55-60gr bullets, it may shoot the 52 or 63 grain bullets. I would choose the 60 gr for first tests.

As for the method you are proposing. Since 0.3-0.5 grain variatio in any given powder will tighten/widen up a group, the powder you pick from your method may not necessarily be you most accurate.

Now to complicate your decisions even more, some brands of primer/powder combos give better performance. And all the above can be specific to the rifle. I do not think your gunsmiths dartboard method of selecting a starting load is very good.

 

[atvalaska]

well, here we go .. I take a "xgrain round" ,start at 1gr below max(by the book!.. that we all buy/have!) and come up with a "powder match" , then i well work up, the real numbers/chambers cut long and/or short ..a starting point is needed......... after this we /i work on the length etc...........""".Your proposed COL is on the short side""" i only have 2 factory rounds on hand... a 40gr and a 55gr "BOTH "are over and under" what i'm starting with as far a" OAL', ! again i'm starting with a NEW gun ...........

 

[Blackrock]

I am working up loads for my new to me 22-250. I find the published loads in my Hornady manual to be on the conservative side but start medium and build up from there.

atvalaska you should have good results with all those powders. I am using H380, Varget and Rel15. Hornady 40g Vmax and 50g Midway Dogtownbullets.

 

[Afy]

I have found the accuracy loads in Lyman's 48th bang on target.

 

[jenrob]

My 22-250 is a 1n12.

The way i started with it was I took 3 bullet weights 50 55 and 60gr. I loaded them all as equal as possible I took the min and max figured the difference and started dead in the middle. this is kinda a lie I did go out with some loads that were all 55gr 10 rounds starting low and increasing from min to max in 1gr increases with 2 shoot per. This gave me an idea of the pressures that I would be getting.

Now back to the 50 55 and 60 I loaded them all in the mid range for the stated bullet each was set to .03 off lands. I loaded 30 rounds of each 5-5 shot groups with a foul shot for each group. after each 5 shoot group I ran a snake down the tub and a 2 drop oil patch.

After this I found that the 60's shot the best with the 55 a close second. Now that I know the bullet weight that goes the best I will start playing with velocity then the powder types then maybe the primers (doubt it though).

Some say that 30 rnds sounds like a lot but I can get unlucky once and make a good 5 shot group with the 50's but to do it 5 time in a row.