Any varmint 22-250 shooters?

[eflatminor]

I've placed my order on a Remmington 700 vl ss with a Nightforce scope and Harris bipod. I'll have a trigger job performed but will save the heavy accurization work for when I go to replace the barrel. First, I want to shoot out the factory barrel, which is 26" long with a 1:12 twist.

I'm a reasonably experienced reloader and am thinking about what I'll work up first. Anyone like a particular bullet (weight and/or maker) with this caliber for long range (500yds plus) varmint hunting, mostly prarie dogs.

Thanks!

 

[41magsnub]

<- raises hand

I just use Remington Accu-tip V 50 gr for long stuff (past 300 yards) and winchester white box 45 gr hollow points for closer in. Out of my Model 70 they are within 1/2 inch POI all the way out to 300 yards so I don't even need to screw with the scope.

This is factory loads of course <-not a reloader

 

[Samuel_Hoggson]

500 yds is a long way for the typical .22 CF if you're trying to dial in about 2" of rodent body width. I hit a crow at a measured 450 yds with a 40XB-KSS in Swift once............I said once. At that distance the poor-BC .22s are no match for the .24s, .25s, and up. The slightest puff of wind and you're off. 50 yds short or long on range estimate and you're off. I suppose a fast twist .22 with really heavy heads would work.

Anyway, best results at extreme range will most likely come with heavier projos. The higher the BC, the better. I would try some of the 60 to 64 gr Sierra or Nosler heads with that 1:12 twist. Powder burn rate will be no faster than 4064 or H-380. The 4350 burn rate would not be too slow. One thing we found was that 100 yd accuracy told us very little about 300+ yd accuracy. This is where using a chronograph to minimize velocity ES is very important.

The good news is that the accuracy life of your barrel will probably be around 4,000 rds. You can have a heckuva lot of fun with those 4000 rds. Then you can rechamber to something of larger diameter to facilitate much longer high-BC projos.

Sam

 

[eflatminor]

Thanks, that's very helpful. I should of stated that 500 yards was the MAXIMUM I'd consider with the 22-250. I hope to have a 6mmBR built for the really long stuff but up to 500, I like the idea of the .22.

Regarding bullet weight and twist, I thought a heavier bullet (say over 50g) would require a lower twist, like 1:8 or 1:10. The 1:12 and 1:14 twists, I thought, required lower weight bullets. Is there a rule of thumb here?

 

[Samuel_Hoggson]

Heavy for bore diameter bullets require "faster" twist rates. 1:12 is faster than the 1:14 typical of many .22-250s. But it's not exactly "fast". I would guess it will do fine with 60 to 64 gr sporting stuff. You will have no problem stabilizing weights less than 60 gr - I think overstabilization is an overrated concept in most circumstances. Dotgov uses 1:7 twist for 5.56, but remember that this is to stabilize M856 tracer projo that is very, very long. The SS109 bullet requires about 1:9, but it's a steel cored projo, also very long relative to weight.

Rule of thumb: longer bullets, more aerodynamic bullets require faster twists. Smaller bores require faster twists than larger bores when comparing bullets of equal length (sectional density).

Sam

 

[sscoyote]

If u can get ahold of some 60 gr. JLK Low Drags, that bullet will net u some better ballistics out to 500+. As far as i know that's the longest/heaviest 22 bullet that will stabilize out of that 12 twist with a BC of .339. If u're trying to save $ shooting pr. dogs, then the higher BC plastic tips will work OK to that range. Shame u didn't get that Savage offering that has a 9 twist barrel, then u would've been able to play in the 68/69 gr. range, and those kinda ballistics would be better suited to that scope as well. I'm sure your rig'll bring a smile to your face though. Which reticle do u have in that oh-so-sweet optic??

 

[huntershooter]

Samual H. is sure right about 100 yds. not being indicative of what your 300 yd. potential is. My experience is that typically, I can shoot tighter @ 300 than 100, in terms of MOA. I've a factory 700 (laminate stock, 24" HB) in .22-.250 that will shoot 1" or better @ 300, but the best I've done @ 100 is 3/8". Yes, this IS splitting hairs, but that's what this is about! To answer your ? Eflat: I shoot 55 gr. NBT out of this rifle, FED 210M, WIN cases, Varget or WIN 760 (go figure). I've made the rare 450 Yd. + shot on coyotes with this rig. I've a 25-06 I prefer for 400+ yds.

 

[CZ223]

Eflat

I have shot prarie dogs out to and beyond 500 yards with a couple of different 22 centerfire rifles. My Savage 112BVSS 220Swift with 1 in 12 barrel and my Savage 12 BVSS with a 1 in 14 barrel. Both guns love Sierra bullets and I stick to anything under 55 grains. I have hit a few at 600 yards with the Swift but in a good wind it is pretty tuff. If it is reasonably calm I have no problems hitting them out to 500 yards with either gun. With your 1 in 12 barrel I would stick to anything under 55 grains. The 50 and 55 grain Blitz Kings from Sierra are nearly as accurate as their Match bullets in my rifle and devastating on p-dogs. I have also tried and like both the Nosler and the Hornady ballistic tips as well but the Sierras are the best for me. I have recently purchased a 22-250 barrel for another Savage BVSS that was a 308 and I will probably have to wait till spring to really get into load development. I have loaded for the 22-250 before and both H414 and H380 worked reasonably well. Give the Sierra Blitz kings a try for p-dogs well as the 52 and 53 grain Match bullets for accuracy. I don't think you will be sorry.

 

[Whitman31]

I've had excellent luck with 55gr NBT, 33gr of Varget. I'm running a remmington 700 BDL with 1:14 twist though. This is a 6 shot, benchrest group at 100yds.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Well, I've never really played with the .22-250, but I use 55 grain moly-coated V-max's in my .220 Swift. I load them for ~3850 FPS (about 100 FPS under max). The .22-250 can get up to 3,700 FPS with the same bullet weight (though I'd keep it closer to 3,600 for the gun's sake).

I've always had good results both for accuracy and varmint devastation with V-max's. For my .220, which is chambered in a Ruger KM77 varmint, 5-shot 200 yard groups average 1.56" (I do allow for 1 flyer). In my .17 rem (remington 700 LVSF), the 20 gr. V-max averages .69" at 100 yards. Of course, I've spent some time working up the loads.

The bitch about super fast varmint guns is that by the time you get the load perfected, you're halfway through the life of the barrel and then you've gotta start all over again.

 

[eflatminor]

Thanks all, this is great info. This is going to be fun settling on a load. I figure by the time I'm all dialed, I'll be placing an order for a new barrel...probably a Hart.

As for the Nightforce scope, I got the 5.5-22x56 with the NP-R2 reticle. If the scope is at 22x, I can use the built in hash marks for MOA adjustments quickly. Otherwise, it's like any other reticle with a thickness well suited for varmint. At least this is my hope!

 

[LittleLebowski]

The Leupold 6.5-20x Boone and Crockett Varmint reticle is the heat for varmint shooting. I took some bench rest shooter/.50 shooter friend from CA to my dad's ranch in Wyoming and despite my advice, they all brought Remington .223s. My $650 Winchester Stealth 26" 22-250 outshot them so badly there wasn't even a contest.

You definitely need the heavier bullets after 350 yards.

Here's a couple of 250ish yard one shot kills with el cheapo WalMart ammo.