bullets for 22-250 (TX)

[calaverasslim]

I recently married a lady whose husband passed 5 years ago. Along with my wife comes a great daughter, 30, who has a Browning A bolt in 22-250. Her dad bought it for before he passed.

Now we're coming on hunting season and she wants to shoot it and get ready. I need to reload her some ammo.

My question. What with the rifling in the Browning A bolt, what bullet should this rifle like best?

There are a ton to choose from, providing I can buy them.

Appreciate your help

 

[j1]

You never mentioned what she would be hunting.

 

[calaverasslim]

Your right. South Texas. White Tail

 

[CountryUgly]

What's the barrel twist rate? If it's the traditional 1/14 a 60gr bullet will most likely be your max that it will stabilize. If so the Hornady 60gr SP would be a good choice for deer. Also 50-52gr BTHPs or SPs from any of the major names will work. If it's a faster twist a Speer 70gr spitzer would work well. Any way it goes I'd avoid the ballistic tips and focus more on soft points or BTHPs. Make sure she gets plenty of practice too. Shot placement will be paramount when hunting deer with a .224 dia anything but the 22-250 is IMO the finest choice of the bunch for the job.

 

[LeonCarr]

The 60 Grain Nosler Partition would be a good choice, I also like the 64 Grain Winchester Power Point and the mentioned 70 Grain Speer SP. Any of those should provide good penetration on Deer, and stabilize well in a slower twist 1/12 or 1/14 twist barrel.

As a general rule if you shoot 55-70 grain non boattail, non polymer tip bullets, they should do fine in the slower twist .22-250 for deer with good shot placement.

A buddy's wife shot a 13 point with two drop tines Whitetail Buck scoring 173 with a .22-250 shooting factory Remington 55 Grain SPs. One shot through the lungs at 150 yards, ran about 30 yards and done.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[calaverasslim]

I went to the Browning web site and could not find the twist rate. I strongly suspect 1-12 but will continue looking.

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

Measure it yourself.

Use a tight patch on a cleaning rod.
Put a flap of tape on the back of the cleaning rod where you can watch it.
Then mark the rod when it starts in the rifling.
Then mark it again after it makes one complete turn.

Then measure the distance between the marks.

One complete turn in 12" is 1-12.
One complete turn in 14" is 1-14.
Etc, etc, etc.

rc

 

[calaverasslim]

Called the technician and he stated it was the afore mentioned 1/14.

Thanks for the clues and now I have an idea where to start.

 

[iShoot17]

Shooting a 60gr will most likely be a jump in the dark.. some 1/14 twist like the 60gr and others don't like anything over 55gr. It is up to you if you want to try them and see if they will work. If you do want to try a 60gr, I would suggest a flat base bullet over a boat tail.

My full suggestion would be to try something around a 55gr bullet. There are many flavors out there to choose from, but would most likely perform to better standards for you. Pick a bullet that works for the rifle and packs a wallop.

Varget and a 55ish gr bullet.. Seems to be a go to for many .22-250 shooters (myself included.) Look at the Barnes TSX or Sierra GameKing.

 

[rcmodel]

Your 1-14 22-250 will shoot the Sierra 63 grain Semi-Pointed if you can find them somewhere.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/60...224-diameter-63-grain-semi-pointed-box-of-100

rc

 

[jmr40]

I'm confused. At one point you said 700 BDL, then Browning A-Bolt. I don't know if the twist is different or which rifle you meant. It probably is the same.

I'd start with 50 or 55 gr Barnes TTSX. If they shoot accurately I go kill deer.

 

[calaverasslim]

Your right. I edited the post and failed to complete it. It is a Browning and not a Remington.

 

[gamestalker]

RC beat me to it, measure it yourself. I just did this with a 6mm Rem (244) I came into.

GS

 

[wankerjake]

These would probably work pretty well too, the reports I've read is that the 1in 14" twist stabilizes them.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/130769/nosler-bonded-performance-bullets-22-caliber-224-diameter-64-grain-spitzer-solid-base-box-of-100

 

[45lcshooter]

Anything over 60gr. Shot placement is key with that small of a bullet and that big of a target, (not the best choice for deer rifle). But I've seen a 17hmr with correct shot placement drop a deer at 200 yards. So everything is possible. Haha

 

[jstein650]

2nd the above suggestion for the 60gr Nosler Partition. My .223 (1:12) puts them just about the same spot as my 50gr varmint loads (for some reason) If you're going to use on deer, I don't see you doing better than those, and at 22-250 speeds, I'd want something pretty tough like the NP's (assuming they shoot ok when you can test some)

 

[dubbleA]

I worked up a load back in the early late 80's/early 90's for my 20 inch A Bolt in 22-250 using Sierra's .224" 63gr semi-pointed spitzer. It's pencil thin barrel groups them in about the size of a nickle at just over 3000fps. Still use that load today and it has taken countless deer and hogs and will continue to do so.

Working on a fast twisted 22-250 which should be able to handle pills up to 90grs. but that's another story.