need load data for 22-250

huntin4em

huntin4em

New member
I looked at a hornady reloading book today, and the load data is different than stated in my lee book. I am going to try some test loads for 50 grain vmax with varget powder in my 700 adl22-250. I need to know what the starting and exceed loads are, cause I'm starting to wonder about the data my book is giving me. Thanks for reading!
 
My book has the data for the 50 gr bullet at 34.5 start and 37.5 never exceed for varget, mine is a second edition of modern reloading by richard lee. Why do you think it is such a big margin? But I will take your data since it is newer. Thanks leanporker!
 
I was in the same predicament a while back when I started loading for a .22-250. For powders I tried H380 and Varget. For bullets I've tried Nosler 50 gr BT, 55 gr Hornady Vmax, Nosler 55 gr BT and Sierra 52 gr match.

H380 is a horrible powder for use in OH if you shoot the rifle year round. It's just to temperature sensitive.

Then I tried Varget. I found so many differences in my loading manuals that I was ready to try another powder. But I worked up loads with the Varget anyway.

I couldn't get the 50 gr Nosler to shoot accurately. I don't know if it's the powder or the gun. The 55 gr Hornady was OK at best. The surprise was the 52 gr with Varget, this one shoots! I worked up loads and found 36.5 gr of Varget accurate but velocity over a chrono was only 3440 fps. So I kept going. At 38.0 gr I hit on a load just as accurate as 36.5 gr but now the bullet was moving at 3700 fps. The 38.0 gr load is in my lyman book. There are no signs of high pressure either, primers even look fine.

Found the same problem with Varget in my .308, I can't hit the velocity that is advertised unless I go with 1.5 to 2.0 gr more.

I now have a rifle that shoots 1 load accurately, I'm no longer a fan of the .22-250. This is a cartridge that has humbled me after 34 years of reloading. If I seat the bullet out any further then what is listed as max in my manuals accuracy falls apart. Would you believe 3" groups?

Good luck on your pursuit of a good load.






 
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I'll add one other item on powders. If I didn't have Varget the only other powder I would try is RL 15. People have told me this works great in .22-250 and .220 Swift.

I thought of trying the new IMR 8208 XBR but it's to new yet and I don't want to waste money when I have something that works well.
 
Hodgdon.com

Manuals made for specific bullets are going to vary. Bullet designs are different. Ogive, bearing surface, jacket hardness, all different. That's only one reason why you always work up. I've never found a safe shortcut.
 
Originally Posted By: pk1Hodgdon.com

Manuals made for specific bullets are going to vary. Bullet designs are different. Ogive, bearing surface, jacket hardness, all different. That's only one reason why you always work up. I've never found a safe shortcut.
And here is your answer why load manuals vary. Different bullets have different bearing surfaces raising pressures.

What I've started to do is look at several books and compare. Then work up watching for pressure signs. This is the best way I've come up with.
 
Thanks guys for the info, but I'm starting to think my barrel is going downhill. I have tried everything I can, and I still am getting inconsistant groups. I have found 33.4 grains to work the best, but one group will almost be touching, and the next group will be over an inch, not much over an inch though. I have gave up trying to figure it out, I have also tried new brass against my older brass, and there is no difference.

I have also tried different seating depths, all kinds of different charges, different graqin bullets, and its all the same. Just when I find a group that I am happy with, the next group of the same combination will be a lot more open.



Thanks for the info!
 
"but one group will almost be touching, and the next group will be over an inch, not much over an inch though"
You have nothing to complain about.
That is good for a factory rifle.

Don't be misled by internet groups where people only talk about the best group they ever lucked into. Worst groups are never mentioned.

Jack
 
Originally Posted By: Jack Roberts"but one group will almost be touching, and the next group will be over an inch, not much over an inch though"
You have nothing to complain about.
That is good for a factory rifle.

Don't be misled by internet groups where people only talk about the best group they ever lucked into. Worst groups are never mentioned.

Jack

Now that is straight shooting. Great advice.
 
I guess the thing that has me stumped, is my old loads were shooting dime sized groups every time at a hundred yards, and my new loads are just so different with each group, but these new loads are plenty good enough to hunt with.
 
I've been using 35gr.of 748 for the last three years, with great results. It has been very accurate in three different 22-250's. The RL15 is almost as accurate but is 100 fps slower. The 748 runs right at 3550fps which isn't real fast, but speed isn't a concern to me. I want the accuracy, especially at 400 plus yards.
 
I have a 700 ADL and mine does very good with
cci 200
nosler 50gr.bt
35.8gr. IMR 4064
col 2.350 any longer and it will open the group slightly.
This load at a 100yds 5 shots will make one ragged hole,with a good rest.
 
Originally Posted By: 3DHUSKEROriginally Posted By: Jack Roberts"but one group will almost be touching, and the next group will be over an inch, not much over an inch though"
You have nothing to complain about.
That is good for a factory rifle.

Don't be misled by internet groups where people only talk about the best group they ever lucked into. Worst groups are never mentioned.

Jack

Now that is straight shooting. Great advice.


Wind is always part of your accuracy equation. www.benchrestcentral.com has guys on there that sell wind flags...best money you could ever spend....amazing how just a tiny change from left to right will open up groups...this ain't rocket science.

Also, check this site for some loading data reported by shooter's themselves: http://www.centerfirecentral.com/viewer.html
 
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hunt4em, try 35.0 grs IMR4064 under a 55 gr v-max or Gameking bthp. 4064 is one of the best for the 22-250 gets ya about 3650fps. hagrid
 


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