Suggested loads for .22-250.

[HOOfan_1]

I've got a CZ 550 Varmint with a 1:14 barrel. I intend to use it for groundhog hunting.

I bought 80 rounds of Winchester white box 45 grain jacketed hollow points for the brass. After shooting the first 40 rounds sighting in and some paper punching, I worked up a couple of pressure series using 52 grain Sierra Match King HPBT and 45 grain Sierra Varminter SP. I used H380 with both. I bought the Lee Deluxe Die set and was neck sizing only (unfortunately the neck size die broke after only 43 rounds).

I loaded 5 cartridges for each powder charge, going from the starting charge all the way up to the highest non-compressed load. I saw no signs that any of these loads was causing too much pressure. The best group I got was with the 52 grain Match Kings and 38 grains of H380. However, the factory ammo seems to shoot just as well if not better. Do I just need to shoot more groups with the Match Kings, or should I try another powder or some different bullets? I have IMR4064 and IMR3031 which I use for other calibers and I am thinking about buying some Sierra Blitzkings, Hornady A-Max/V-Max and or Nosler Ballistic tips. Any particular bullet weight anyone can recommend?

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

Can't offer much advice,but I'm learning to load for my 22-250 too. Currently I'm using 50gr V-Max but haven't been to the range much with the bitter cold we've had. My best group was about 3/4"(and it was my only 3/4") with 34.5gr of Varget. I'm sticking with Varget until I think I have a good understanding of it's capabilities. My understanding is that for accuracy 53gr is about maximum weight for the 1:14" barrel on my gun,too. Some have mentioned using as low as 40gr bullets,but I'm not yet convinced that going than light would give good groups,so I'm just taking it slow and not moving away from the 50 V-Max and Varget much,trying to get a handle on something. At first I was trying this and that,but too many variables just had me chasing my tail. I will definitely be watching your thread to see what you come up with.

 

[HOOfan_1]

So far the smallest group from my gun was .276" with factory ammo and the largest was .875" with the 45 grain Varminters. I guess I have shot about 12 or 13 5 shot groups at 100 yards so far.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I load 55gr V-Max's over 36 grs. of Varget and shoot 'em thru a Ruger MK II Target. Been shooting that load for over 15 years.

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

Clearly I had no business posting on this thread. You are light-years ahead of me.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Clearly I had no business posting on this thread. You are light-years ahead of me.

That's over 2 days...I may have a bad day some time Of course like I said my neck sizing die already broke and I am not sure the Lee die is for me....seems like too much trial and error to get the right tension on the bullet. I might have to switch over to RCBS. My dad was actually the one who shot the .276" group...with MY gun. My own personal best group was .588" but hey I have out shot him with several of his guns so what goes around comes around.

 

[788Ham]

HOOF,

In my Rem. 700 BDL, I shoot 32.1 gr of 3031 powder, Rem 9 1/2 primer and Hornady 53 gr. MHP, @ 3400 fps., with my Hornady reload book I can, and do use the 52 gr BTHP with this same load. I know a lot of folks keep the speeds up around the warp end on this caliber, I don't, I've found my rifle to be more accurate at these speeds. I know factory ammo speeds are up around 4000 fps, but once fired and reloaded, mine a slower.

ColtElite, You use 36 grs of Varget for the 55 gr Vmax? My new Hornady, Seventh Edition printed 2007, shows 34.6 grs of Varget to be a max load. Just curious!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

788,

Correct, I am using 36 gr. The Hodgdon website shows 36.5 to be the max load with a .55 gr. bullet. The jug has the same data on it. I worked the load up 15 years ago and got really tight groups toward the top of the range. Been using the same recipe ever since.

 

[28lx]

H-380 and the 22-250 goes together like penut butter and jelly. I have also had good results with reloader 15. Ballistic Tips have always been more accurate than V-max's for me. The Lee collet die used with the Redding body die have produced the most accurate concentric ammo for me.

 

[22brguy]

Hi there...I have loade the 22 250 for many years but always still learning. Have you messed around yet with the seating depth of your bullets? can make a big difference. Also do you turn the case necks and check for concentricity?....another helper...do you uniform primer pockets? and seat primers with a hand tool or something that will give you a good "feel" for uniformity? Also I like the Lee collet die very much for concentricity and uniformity. Have some other ideas as well...don't overlook Vihtavouri N550 for Sierra 55gr spbt's...has worked great for me.....not quite as tight as 380 but very close and is not as subject to temp changes.....Best Wishes

 

[Strongbad]

My CZ550 Varmint loves Reloder 10x and 52 gr. Sierra matchkings. Shoots tiny little groups with them all day long. Shoots 52 gr. Shilen Microjacket bullets even better. Either of those would do great on prairie dogs or chucks. I also have a load with 55 gr. Remington PSP's that shoots about an inch. Good enough for deer if I ever had to use it, but I don't expect I ever will. Here's the best part. All of them shoot to within 3/4" of eachother. If I have to adjust the scope at all, its just a couple of clicks.

I haven't tried any of the Speer 70 grain bullets in my rifle but the 60 grain partitions were no bueno. Twist isnt fast enough. The 55 gr PSPs are the heaviest Ive been able to shoot halfway decent but the gun shows a strong preference for the 52's. Also, I dont know what brass you're thinking about but for me, Norma brass has been second to none. The primer pockets stay tight for forever, and it's very well made. If I went through the trouble of annealing the necks, theres no telling how long it would last. However even without it, I'm still getting a minimum of 5 reloads per case.

 

[Afy]

The accuracy loads in the Lyman manual work like a charm in mine.

 

[LOLBELL]

I have had good results with 50 grn V-Max over 39 grns of H414 or for a lighter bullet a 40 grn Varminters over 35 grns of IMR 4064. My Tikka dosen't do well with a 55 grn or heavier bullet. I neck size only, but have not messed around with seatind depth or neck turning yet, I really haven't wanted to in that I get 1/4 moa with the 50 V-Max and even a little tighter with the 40's

 

[NCsmitty]

When I built my Mauser based 22-250, I set my mind that I wanted to get a load using the 52gr A-Max. After a few dismal attempts using Varget, I tried an initial load of IMR3031 and bingo, a decent group. I worked up to 33.3gr of IMR3031 and the 22-250 was shooting under .5" consistently for 5 shots. I got one at around 3/8" and I was very happy.
The barrel was a Remington 24" sporter weight that I threaded and chambered myself, and it made me proud.



NCsmitty

 

[Visionz45]

My semi custom Ruger .22-250AI with its original 1-14 barrel loves 52gr SMK's over 39grs of IMR 4064 sparked with CCI BR2's. Ive recently toyed with WS2 coated bullets with mixed sucess but thats another topic in itself. Ive had equally pleasing results with these components in standard .22-250 chambers with standard non improved sierra data. 35.5gr of 4064 a(nd a suitible 50-55gr projectile) reduced by 10% and worked up to a charge weight your rifle likes might be a start.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I have a Remington M700ADL synthetic.
Most accurate rifle I own. I have free floated the barrel and adjusted trigger to safe 3lbs.

#1. 55gr Sierra or Hornady Soft Pt. (w/o cannulure). 39.0gr of H380, Winchester brass, neck turned for uniformity, primer pockets reamed. Fed#210primers. Typically sub-1/2moa. Have shot 5-shot one-hole groups. 3,700fps. (24"bbl)

#2. Same as above but substitue 35.5gr of RL15. 3,600fps. 1/2moa.
#3. 50gr Hornady spt, 33.5gr BenchMark. 3,800fps 1/2moa.

My rifle dosen't care for long seated bullets. I therefore just seat them to the SAAMI max of 2.350"

You can substitue the Hornady V-max bullets in #1 or #2. Ditto Nosler B.T.'s
However the 55gr plastic tips are NOT as accurate as the conventional bullets in my rifle. (slow twist rate).
The 60gr Hornady V-max will not hit the target at 100yds from my rifle due to the 1/14" twist.
The 60gr Spt Hornady over 38.0gr of H380 however is quite accurate (under 3/4") and is a real deer slayer.....