Help with loading for 22-250

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I sure could use some help figuring out a good starting point for 22-250 reloads. A dealer suggested trying more than one bullet to find one that shoots good in my rifle. My only reloads so far have been with Nosler's 50gr Ballistic Tip and today I picked up a box of Sierra 53gr HP Match,but cannot find load data. My gun is a Ruger M77 Mark II that has a 26" RH 1:14 barrel. Varget is the only powder I have on hand. I will be using new Winchester brass and CCI BP primers (a gift because there are no large rifle primers to be had in my local). Can someone provide me with load data for this round? Thanks

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I should have added that I am looking for a good target round,not killing power. Also,I am seating to COAL and have yet to figure out how to seat according to land in barrel.

 

[Russt]

Last fall a friend of mine bought a new Savage in 22-250, 26"heavy bbl, & I believe 1-14 twist. We tried 40 to 60 gr bullets in Hornady, Berger, & Nosler. His most accurate load was 38gr of Varget with a 40gr Vmax.

 

[JimKirk]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Lots of Data at this link ^^^

Jimmy K

 

[jbkebert]

I assume you are still using Varget for your powder. if it was indicated i did not notice. According to the Hornady manual the info is as follows for a 52-53 grain BTHP. Even though this is a hornday manual for hornady bullets the sierra will be very similar. Just start at the low end and work your way up. As a general rule speed freaks do not obtain the best possible accuracy. A peice of paper or a coyotte will never know the diffrence between 3300 fps and 3700fps

30.7 grain 3200fps
31.7 grain 3300fps
32.7 grain 3400fps
33.7 grain 3500fps
34.7 grain 3600fps
35.7 grain 3700fps max load all info is for use with Varget only.
c.o.l 2.350
case trim length 1.902 with max case length of 1.912.

Like I said on your other thread start low work your way up slowly. Experiment with one bullet and adjust powder a little bit at a time.
if that does not work switch bullets. Your bitting of a lot for just starting to load for a rifle. Although i like your attitude to jump in all the way. Slow down a bit check everything then recheck it again. don't get so excited that you make a costly mistake.

 

[jbkebert]

Make sure you are checking you spent brass for presure signs. Flat primers, split necks, and signs of abnormal wear and tear.

 

[Rokman]

I looks like you have got the stuff to make some good ammo. I use 34.5-35 grains of Varget with 55 grain Nosler Btips bullets for some really good ammo. I just used plain ole Win/Rem primers with Win. or Hornady brass. I have not loaded 50 grain bullets, but had excellent results with 52 grain A-max bullets.

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I assume you are still using Varget for your powder. if it was indicated i did not notice. According to the Hornady manual the info is as follows for a 52-53 grain BTHP. Even though this is a hornday manual for hornady bullets the sierra will be very similar. Just start at the low end and work your way up. As a general rule speed freaks do not obtain the best possible accuracy. A peice of paper or a coyotte will never know the diffrence between 3300 fps and 3700fps

30.7 grain 3200fps
31.7 grain 3300fps
32.7 grain 3400fps
33.7 grain 3500fps
34.7 grain 3600fps
35.7 grain 3700fps max load all info is for use with Varget only.
c.o.l 2.350
case trim length 1.902 with max case length of 1.912.

Like I said on your other thread start low work your way up slowly. Experiment with one bullet and adjust powder a little bit at a time.
if that does not work switch bullets. Your bitting of a lot for just starting to load for a rifle. Although i like your attitude to jump in all the way. Slow down a bit check everything then recheck it again. don't get so excited that you make a costly mistake.

Thanks for the info. Yes,Varget. I intend to start at the very bottom. Should new cases be trimmed?

 

[Afy]

I have had luck with 34.5 grains of N-140 and the 53 grain SMK. I do use a coal of 2.42 inches which is fairly well into the lands. Please work up slowly to this load.

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I just noticed that the Sierras I picked up today are not boat-tail. They are Match 1400s with just a lightly chambered tail. Same data apply?

 

[Afy]

Yes.. same data. The SMK 1400 is a boat tailed projectile or am I mixing it up with 52 grain one...
As long as the bullet is same weight for a given load, it wont make a difference. However those more knowledgeable will undoubtedly provide advice.
If I have data for 53 grain bullets, then I apply that loading to all bullets in the 53 grain wieght. Havent had issues.

 

[jbkebert]

Yes new brass should be trimmed for consistancy. Some brands come pre-trimmed others do not. Use your calipers and check several random cases. If they all measure within the limits don't worry about trimming but still chamfer them.

 

[Red Cent]

Once fired, I just kiss the front of the neck with a sizing die on the reloader. Take fired round (no primer or powder), seat a bullet longer than the ones you are using. Chamber the round. No marks on the bullet, not touching lands and grooves. If you load it too long the bullet will seat it self upon chambering. Need a few thousands of clearance or reduce your load.

13# 22-250, Douglas barrel 1" bull bbl. Argentine MKX Mauser action. Fajen stock.

 

[ranger335v]

"I picked up a box of Sierra 53gr HP Match,but cannot find load data."

Use 55 gr. data and develop your load normally.

All loading data is generic by powder type and bullet weight anyway, the only reloading "rule", including OAL, that can't be changed is to "start low and only work up until, unless...", etc. That automatically corrects for any small differences in powder lots, primers, cases, bullet makers, rifles, etc.

There is no component change we can make that will have even close to the effect of using a different rifle than the book makers used and we can't avoid that, can we?

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

Using the data jbkebert provided I loaded up some ammo and today went to the range with them. On the way I picked up some targets,but it did not occur to me at the time that they were too big to scan. So I cut them down and here are the results. The outside diameter of the red circle is 2" and the inside diameter is 1". Somehow I doubt that the hit outside the target with 32.7 gr can be blamed on the round. After all,until this outing I had only shot 40 rounds through this gun. I don't know if a winner can be determined by this,but at least it gave me some experience working up a load.

 

[jbkebert]

The group fired at 32.7 grains is pretty decent. I am assuming that the pulled shot is the shooter not the rifle or the load. That being said now load upa new batch based upon that load. I personally would make a batch at 32.5 grains, 32.9 grains, 33.1 grains and 32.3 grains.

Pick the best group out of this new batch. Keeping the COL and trim length and everything else the same. If the best group ends up being say 32.5 grains. Load a batch at 32.4, 32.3 and 32.6 and so on. Keep necking down the varience in your loads. You just may all of the sudden find the sweet spot where you groups neck down from a 1 1/2" group to a 3/4" group. A 1/10th of a grain sometimes does pretty cool things.

 

[jbkebert]

Whenever you get your new brass in. (I hope its the same stuff) I don't mix headstamps on rifle ammo. Pistol ammo is fine and I am not accurate enough with a handgun to ever tell the diffrence. With a rifle the case walls may be thicker or thiner dependeing on brand the base may be thicker or thinner. I you switch brands of brass you should start over. I understand that you are currently working with a limited amount of brass. Going up the scale in full grain increments makes things a little harder to peice together. If I go out to test new loads I may make up 15 diffrent batches of ammo and go up 3/10ths of a grain at a time. It makes it easier to find the sweet spot. Then I'll pick a couple loads that show promise and tweak them a little bit at a time. I mentioned above that Varget is a very good pwoder that seems to hold up well to tempeture changes. I have developed a load for a couple rifles using other powders that shot great at 70-80 degree weather. Then you shoot the same loads at 30-40 and the behave like crap. Varget does not seem to have this problem or very rarely has this issue. The two flyers on your last target could be trigger pull or a possibly a result of a hot barrel. Then again it could be that our fairly new to rifle shooting. Either way you found a great hobby that can be both very very frustrating and very very rewarding.

A book you may find interesting the ABC's of Reloading. I picked up a copy a couple years ago at Barnes and Noble. It really breaks down the process and explains powders and their characteristics and what to look for in your loads. Good read and well worth the $20-25 bucks. http://www.google.com/products/cata...TJmbII7UNYecsf4E&sa=image&ved=0CAgQ8gIwADgA#p

 

[jmundy]

I don't know how old your Ruger is, but I have one that is 10+ years old and it detest boattail bullets. I have read of other folks having similar problems with their Rugers as well.

Since you're in the early stages of load development you may want to pick up a box of flat base bullets and give them a try. It improved my groups in that particular rifle.

 

[Strongbad]

My CZ-550 also with a 1:14 twist loves Reloader 10x and several different bullet combinations with that powder. The two bullets it favors the most are 52 gr. Sierra Matchkings and 52 gr. Shilen Microjackets. The Shilens shoot better, but they're a bit harder to come by. The Sierra's still shoot pretty freakin' good, around 1/2" on most days if the wind isn't too terribly bad.

 

[Visionz45]

+1 on 52 SMK's, IMR 4064 has been great. Just find that sweet spot and shoot away. My Ruger is 15+ years old and has a 1-14 twist barrel. Varget didn't perform as good as 4064. I seated my bullets .01 off the lands.

 

[Bruno2]

26" barrel is a longer barrel for a rifle. Find a good reloading book that has a list of multiple powders for 22-250. Find the burn rate chart in the book determine which of the powders is the slower burning. Slow powder for the longer barreled rifles . The bullet stays in the barrel longer and lets the powder burn and gases expand to do its thing. Shorter barrel faster powder.

I have heard a lot of good stuff about Varget. However, your gun may not like it.

Seating bullets to lans. This is an advanced technique. I would suggest that you load to maximum length that will fit in the magazine. This will improve your accuracy.

This is how I seat to lans.I use a birthday candle to smoke the end of the bullet. Back the plug on your seater gradually until you achieve just a little contact on the lans. The residue left by the smoke from the candle will show when touching the lans. Use a case and bullet wih no powder to do this. If the bullet is not seated far enough back sometimes the bullet will get stuck in the lans . When you extract it the bullet will come out of the case and dump powder all in your gun. Big mess dont ask me how I know this.

 

[Visionz45]

Or buy an OAL length gauge from Hornady. Use the bullet measured to set the seater die. Saves alot of work.

 

[Afy]

You could also open the Lyman manual and use any of the accuracy loads. Should be fine as well.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

This is with my Savage model 14 American Classic using 35gr of IMR 8208 xbr and 52gr AMax bullets. Four shots. The 1 shot outside the group was my fault. Knew it when i pulled the trigger.

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

My next trip to the range will be with the loads you suggested,jbkebert. I have 100 pieces of new Winchester brass but many of then are already below trim length,so I will just have 5 rounds of each using the 20 pcs of trimmed brass I have from the box of factory loads I bought with the gun.
At the present I do not have a mentor to walk me through everything,so I really appreciate the help and suggestions all of you have posted.