53 gr. TSX load for 22-250 w/ 1:14 twist ?

C

coltchris

New member
Having trouble finding a load for my Tikka T3 Varmint (1:14 twist) using the Barnes 53 gr. TSX bullet. Looking for load for potential wolf hunt. Have lots of loads in 40-55 gr. varmint bullets that give itty-bitty groups, but having trouble finding load with 55-60 gr. tougher bullets! Have tried 60 gr. Nosler Partition also with poor results. Haven't explored all powders & other variables yet, but wondered if anybody has some suggestions for these conditions?
 
I'd start by substituting one of my other 55gr loads that shoot well with the 53 TSX and work up slightly from there.

1-14's are good for up to about 55gr boolits, usually.....
 
Thanks; already tried that with one of my best (Varget); trying others as weather permits! Just looking for some shortcuts (not many in this business)as these Barnes & Partitions are expensive buggers!!! Have a feeling that max. loads may be better with these heavy for twist bullets.
 
Have you tried adjusting the seating depth of the bullet? My 22-250 needed them seated about .50 off the lands before it started liking them.

Guy
 
That bullet is NOT acceptable in 22-250's and 1 in 14 twist barrels. It is fine for .223 with 1 in 10, 1 in 9, 1 in 8 or 1 in 7 twist barrels. A friend just got back from the Safari Club Convention in Reno. He spoke with the Barnes Rep. about that very bullet in a 22-250 and got that info.

I think because of no lead it is longer for the weight and will not stabilize in the slower twist barrels. The length would be like shooting 70 grain bullets. The length is more important than the weight of the bullet.

The Barnes Rep flat out said you should not use the 53 grain TSX in a 22-250 with 1 in 14 twist barrel.
He said they are working on another lighter bullet for the slower twist barrel.

Basically do not waste your time if you have a slow twist barrel. It is a great bullet and has accounted for a bunch of deer but from .223 rifles.

If you really want to use that bullet in a 22-250 I would think you would have to re-barrel.
 
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Have you tried adjusting the seating depth of the bullet? My 22-250 needed them seated about .50 off the lands before it started liking them.

Guy


I think you might have the decimal point in the wrong place? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

JACK
 
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My ole Ruger #1-B in 22/250 (1/14) shoots the Barnes 53 TSX into 9/16 for 3 shots with H-380 powder.

Hoggy



Have one also. No problems with the 53TSX whatsoever.....
 
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1-14's are good for up to about 55gr lead core boolits, usually.....



Fixed it for you.



Thanks, but it didn't need fixin'.....
 
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Quote:
Have you tried adjusting the seating depth of the bullet? My 22-250 needed them seated about .50 off the lands before it started liking them.

Guy


I think you might have the decimal point in the wrong place? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

JACK



Little ways out, huh Jack? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
Having trouble finding a load for my Tikka T3 Varmint (1:14 twist) using the Barnes 53 gr. TSX bullet. Looking for load for potential wolf hunt. Have lots of loads in 40-55 gr. varmint bullets that give itty-bitty groups, but having trouble finding load with 55-60 gr. tougher bullets! Have tried 60 gr. Nosler Partition also with poor results. Haven't explored all powders & other variables yet, but wondered if anybody has some suggestions for these conditions?



You can listen to the couple guys who are claiming to be getting good results with the 53 grain TSX in 1 in 14 twist barrels or listen to Barnes who makes the bullets.

You obviously are having some accuracy problems or you would not have posted the question. The Tikka rifles have a good reputation for accuracy and you said other bullets have shot well in the rifle. What do you think the problem might be???

I am in no way slamming Barnes bullets or the 53 grain TSX.
I have heard good stuff about them. I am just trying to save you the headache of trying to figure out an accurate load when you most likely will not find one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif Good luck!
 
Good answer. Don't listen to the guys here who have done it. Listen to some second-hand heresay instead...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Thanks for all the input. I agree with "sumrifle" and know I'm very borderline due to the length of the 53 gr. TSX. Going to try max. load & see if speed will help offset slow twist. If not, will try other tough bullets. I've tried 0.050 & 0.070" off lands and still can't get under 2" group. Like I said in original post, this rifle shoots 40-50 gr. bullets at 0.5" or better with many loads and 55 gr. A-Max under 1". Looks like wolf hunt may be off anyway; so I've got time to find a lighter "tough" bullet! To the guys that had good luck with H-380, I've tried it also with similar results.
 
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2muchgun: I'm not doubting anybody that has shot good groups with the 53 gr. TSX in 1:14 twist barrels. In fact, I may still find the right combination; but hard to do alot in these weather conditions! Would develop load for my .223, but its an AR and I don't think I can take into Canada.
 
Hi Coltchris,

Sumrifle is correct in what he relayed in his post. That is what I told him. I am the real life second hand hearsay monger referenced by some of the non-believers in this thread. I was at the SCI Convention this month and had the opportunity to talk with Ty Herring at the Barnes Bullets booth. I have a .22-250 and wanted to work up some loads with the 53 Triple Shock bullet. (Sumrifle and I now live in the Condor Area of Kalif. Lucky us!) Ty was very helpful. He said for the most part the 53 gr. bullet will not stabilize properly in a 1:14 twist barrel which is the standard twist rate for .22-250's. The bullet is too long. It has absolutely nothing to do with the weight of the bullet. Some mentioned their rifles shoot 55 gr. lead bullets just fine. AGAIN, THE 53 GR. BARNES BULLET IS TOO LONG! Velocity is of no help if the twist rate is too slow. Ty said there are a few instances when the bullet will shoot fine. Their testing says at over 1,000 ft. elevation, the thinner air will often times allow the bullet to stablize properly. During the testing with 1:14 barrels some bullets entered the targets sideways (keyholed). He also said occasionally a rifle will shoot the 53 gr. just fine in spite of the slow twist rate and lower elevation. Why? No one knows. You can also use a faster twist barrel which will stabilize the bullets. Barnes is now making a 45 gr. Triple Shock bullet specifically for .22-250's. The shorter bullet works well with a 1:14 twist. He said some guys shooting .22-250's with 1:9 or 1:10 barrels are getting outstanding accuracy with 53 gr. bullets. When the time comes I will rebarrel mine to a faster twist. But since it is a new gun that will be a ways down the road.

Ty's business card shows an e-mail address of: email@barnesbullets.com.
You might contact him to confirm what I have said.

As a side note, We went pig hunting Jan. 21 and a friend shot a 200 lb. boar at 178 yards with a .270 Win. using a 130 gr. Triple Shock bullet. It was a complete pass through double lung shot that killed it dead. We did not recover the bullet. It worked real good!

We are currently testing loads for the 36 gr. .22 cal Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets in .223 Rem. That is where I will be tomorrow morning.

Good luck with your loading!
 
I've shot a few in one of my 14 tw 22-250's over ~36gr of R-15 with good luck. Never had any stabilization issues, that 53TSX is just about the same length as a 50Vmax, so if your rifle shoots them it should shoot the TSX..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

50Vmax is first in this pic, 53TSX is 3rd...about the same length.

100_1554.jpg



coltchris, what kind of groups were you getting when you tried them? I also run all my TSX loads (3 different rifles) quite abit closer to the lands than the Barnes recomended .050" jump....
 
Brad: Measured some of the length of bullets shown below:

53 gr. TSX: base to ogive, .448 OAL, .798
50 gr. V-Max. base to ogive, .373 OAL, .776
55 gr. V-Max. base to agive, .418 OAL, .818

Looks like the TSX is about .022" longer than the 50 gr. A-Max. and about .020 shorter than the 55 gr. V-Max. I'm sure other factors, such as bullet material & hardness, also have some effect.

The closest to lands I've tried with the TSX is .050"; may try some closer.

The groups with the TSX so far (if you want to call them that!) have been: 3", 2.8", & 1.95" with (3) different loads.

As reference, the following are some groups with various loads from this gun:
40 gr. V-Max.: 0.58, 0.42
50 gr. V-Max.: 0.26, 0.54, 0.44, 0.47, 0.30, 0.62, 0.52
 
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