reduced 22/250 loads

kaniac

kaniac

New member
Anybody loading down a 22/250? I might try to get mine down around 2600 fps, I know I should just buy a fireball but I've got enough other things on my wish list right now, and 4000 fps is just too much even on a coyote. I imagine having a case half full of powder sloshing around doesn't do much for accuracy.
 
Are you blowing up coyotes?

What are you shooting at 4000 fps?

Speer manuals have lower velocity using 4895 that is safe. 55g Sierra BTHP with 34g of 4895 is about 3550 approx. and does a good job, it is a very tough bullet, so is the 55g Hornady Sp.

If you hit a shoulder blade or rib, they break off and spin becoming secondary projectiles, it can't be helped sometimes.
 
The 4000 fps was when I used to use 40 grain v-maxes, I've since switched to 55 grain sierra soft points, but it's still overkill especially in the tight woods here in Maine. Also I might try to target bobcat a little more this winter.
 
Try about 18gr of AA5744 should put you around 2300fps with 55gr SP should get small exit and a few runners and spinners but minimal damage.
 
kaniac
The AA5744 is used often for reduced loads. The 18.0 grains is 51% of case capacity. I am going to pass along some info that is from my personal experience. I have reduced loads for the 223 mostly as apposed to the 22-250. I usually do not go with "Full House" loads in the 22-250 anyway. I have found with the reduced loads that the 50 grain VMax gives the best performance. The load that venatic gave you is slower than what you ask, and it does not burn but about 95% of the powder. So up the charge to 21.0 grains and you will burn 99% of the powder,be at 59.6 % of the case capacity, and be in the neighborhood of 3000 FPS with a 24" barrel. If you have a 22" barrel then it will be about 100 FPS less. But try these other loads if you would like, Or give us some more information about what powders you do have and barrel length.
50 Grain VMax
1. Blue Dot 18-21 grains give you the speeds of 3000-3300 FPS

2. RE 10X 30 grains is minimum, and that will put you in the 3000 FPS range.


55 Grain VMax
1. Blue Dot 16-18 grains 2800 FPS -3000 FPS
2 H4350 31 grains gives you 2800 FPS w/ 86% of case capacity. All powder will not burn. Only 79% of it. That's OK just so you know ahead of time.

SR4759 12 grains MAX gives you 1982 FPS from Speer Book with a 50 grain SPEER bullet
SR4759 13 grains is MAX and gives you 2000 FPS from Speer Book w/ Speer Bullet.

Now,,, If you really want to have some fun,,, And do this right, then get ready to see performance out of your rifle that you have not imagined. Consider using lead bullets. You can use reduced loads and I will give you a better ones but, you have to use lead bullets with them.
They will NOT lead up your barrel. There is many MYTHS about shooting lead out of your gun. You will get much much better performance out of your gun with lead and reduced loads than you will using jacketed bullets.
 
The above mentioned powders are all good ones to explore EXCEPT Blue Dot as it has no pressure testing data to back it up by anyone I have ever seen....I know, I know......hundreds of guys, or more, have sent at least millions of rounds, or less, of Blue Dot reduced loads downrange with only a few mishaps documented......I prefer to stick with tested data....tested with real pressure equipment. The other powders shown here are supported by their manufacturer's for reduced loads and data from them exists. As a rule, getting under 3000 or so fps seems to be helping with damage on cats and even fox for most guys. Picking the bullet that works for you is an art form. Picking your shot angles is even more effective at reducing damage. Having the patience to pick your shot angles, even more than that.....

Oh, and that 4895 is to be H4895, not IMR 4895. Hodgdon has a reduced load guide sheet for it and for Trail Boss. Data exists for 5744 from AA, and the IMR SR powders in the older Speer manuals.
 
Hey thanks guys, this is all great stuff. Maybe I was secretly hoping someone would just convince me to buy a fireball... just kidding, next year maybe! Thanks a bunch. Keep it comin!
 
Originally Posted By: Mike BThe above mentioned powders are all good ones to explore EXCEPT Blue Dot as it has no pressure testing data to back it up by anyone I have ever seen....I know, I know......hundreds of guys, or more, have sent at least millions of rounds, or less, of Blue Dot reduced loads downrange with only a few mishaps documented......I prefer to stick with tested data....tested with real pressure equipment. The other powders shown here are supported by their manufacturer's for reduced loads and data from them exists. As a rule, getting under 3000 or so fps seems to be helping with damage on cats and even fox for most guys. Picking the bullet that works for you is an art form. Picking your shot angles is even more effective at reducing damage. Having the patience to pick your shot angles, even more than that.....

Oh, and that 4895 is to be H4895, not IMR 4895. Hodgdon has a reduced load guide sheet for it and for Trail Boss. Data exists for 5744 from AA, and the IMR SR powders in the older Speer manuals.


MikeB, just cause your scared to death of anything "not in the book" is no reason to not use the data. My friend, it is called ignorance. Work up some loads for your self. Be enlightened, but stop saying that the sky will fall if you use Blue Dot for reduced loads, having never done so.

BTW, Imr-4895 makes some Jim dandy reduced loads as well. You need to live life some place other than the books. Just say'n.

I've done them all, and they work perfectly. Just so you know.
 
Easy fellas, Lets all remember that a whole bunch of the stuff that we shoot now was designed by fellas that didnt even have a chrony. They dreamed it up built a reamer and went for it. It is really difficult to hurt a modern bolt gun. Just dont double charge that blue dot load.
 
Originally Posted By: sandy hicksEasy fellas, Lets all remember that a whole bunch of the stuff that we shoot now was designed by fellas that didnt even have a chrony. They dreamed it up built a reamer and went for it. It is really difficult to hurt a modern bolt gun. Just don't double charge that blue dot load.

I agree with not getting a double charge, and it should be pointed out that not getting enough powder can wreak havoc. The only two powders that can get away with very small charges are, AA#2 and Titegroup. They are not position sensitive.

I prefer to stay within the 60-75% range of powder with reduced loads. Trailboss has been used for many reduced loads but I have not found it to be accurate in my guns. I first bought it to shoot in my Colt SAA . I was not happy with the resulting group if you would dare to call it that. LOL
There is some formulas for the H4895, but I did not disclose that here, since the intended purpose was for lead cast bullets. I will say this one more time. It takes a little education to use lead bullets, but it is worth it. When you do things right, there should be no leading at all. Lead bullets and reduced loads go hand in hand. Please do not be thinking that you cannot get the higher velocities. You can. This is done with the formula of the cast, and sometimes with gas checks.

Kaniac GO BUY that 221 fireball !!!!!
 
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I sold my fireball also after working up the Blue Dot loads.

Problematic 221 brass is impossible to find.

Now I am talking minute of squirrel, or 5/8" at 100 yds with the 40g.
 
Originally Posted By: cherokeetracker
Now,,, If you really want to have some fun,,, And do this right, then get ready to see performance out of your rifle that you have not imagined. Consider using lead bullets. You can use reduced loads and I will give you a better ones but, you have to use lead bullets with them.
They will NOT lead up your barrel. There is many MYTHS about shooting lead out of your gun. You will get much much better performance out of your gun with lead and reduced loads than you will using jacketed bullets.

I want to have some fun; do this right; and get performance never seen before. Could you please share your Lead Boolits & Reduced Loads knowledge with us???
I cast & powder coat my boolits, and my 22 cal molds are: NEI 224-45, Lee C225-55-RF, Lyman 225462, MIHEC 277-75. I also have plenty of powders to try.
Alwas eager to learn & expand my knowledge. Thank you.
 
Went through this same effort looking for approx 22-hornet speeds out oy my 22" TC Venture 22-250.
55 gr VMAX with 12.0 gr Trail Boss was too slow at 2102 fps.


60 gr HDY SP with 25.2 gr 8208 XBR was good at 2600 fps.
case was HDY, primer CCI-200, COL was 2.350, case fill was 62 %

Tried less 8208 but the case fill % became a problem, but speeds dropped accordingly,
like 24.0 gr => 2480 fps, but that fill was too low at 59% so beware..

Precautions apply, this data is good only for my rifle...

Moved on to full speed SuperFormance loads, that's what I carry hunting now.
 
I shot 15g of Blue dot with a 40g Speer spire point, about 3000 fps.

The 55's dropped like an anvil, and I wanted to be able to shoot 200 yards if need be.

If you use Blue Dot, weigh every charge, powder measures do not handle this powder very well.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanI shot 15g of Blue dot with a 40g Speer spire point, about 3000 fps.

The 55's dropped like an anvil, and I wanted to be able to shoot 200 yards if need be.

If you use Blue Dot, weigh every charge, powder measures do not handle this powder very well.

Roger that Sir. I have been following some of your other posts regarding Blue Dot, and I have Seafire's Range Reports on that powder. I have cases prepped & ready, and will weigh each charge then seat bullet, repeat. I'm starting with 50 grains VMaxs and 11 grs --> 17 grs of Blue Dot in .3 grs increments for my first round of tests. I'm looking for a node around 2500 fps since my shoots are within 90 yards in heavy cover. I might have to consider 45 or 40 grainers since I have some of those. Thanks ackleyman.
 
32 grains of AR Comp gave me 3400 fps with a 55 grain sierra sp 1365. A little faster than what you wanted but was very accurate out of my savage.
J
 
My load in 22-250 pushes a 52 gr. Speer HPFB Varmit load at approximately 3600 fps. I'm using 35.5 gr of IMR 4064. This load makes one hole , no exit easy on fur and it hits like a hammer. My data shows you can go down to 34.5 gr. The 35.5 gr. load works the best in my rifle.OAL is 2000th's off the lands this produces a very accurate load. V-Max's work good when shot placement is right. I didn't always get it right, so I now use this load. Rudy
 
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There's an article online from handloading magazine.....the author talked to Hodgson....they said IMR 4895 can be used the same as H4895....with 60% reduced loADS. They said H4895 is slightly better for reduced loads. I've used IMR4895 with a reduced 308 win load. I had a mauser with a M80 parker hale canadian sniper barrel on it. It shot one ragged hole at 100 yds with 38.5 grains of IMR 4895 and a nosler 165gr BT.

Look at this...a 22-250 reduced load.....
https://www.smithandwessonforums.com/threads/test-results-imr4895-powder-for-22-250.44559/
It's a bit of a reduced load....nice group with IMR4895 and a 55 gr NBT bullet.
 
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