Surprising results with the 22-250

Dirtpoodle

New member
My test media was 8.5 inches of soaked paperbacks with the covers removed, the books were set up at 54 yards.
The two bullets I tried were the 60 grain Nosler Partition and the 70 grain Speer Semi Spitzer.
The Nosler penetrated about 7 inches with the base being recovered, it weighed 28.5 grains.
The Speer made a much larger "wound" channel and exited the paperbacks, I found small pieces of it suggesting that it fragmented pretty good.
I believe either one of these bullets would be fast killers on deer sized game.
I wouldn't use it on elk or moose, that's what the 06 is for.
 
Originally Posted By: DirtpoodleMy test media was 8.5 inches of soaked paperbacks with the covers removed, the books were set up at 54 yards.
The two bullets I tried were the 60 grain Nosler Partition and the 70 grain Speer Semi Spitzer.
The Nosler penetrated about 7 inches with the base being recovered, it weighed 28.5 grains.
The Speer made a much larger "wound" channel and exited the paperbacks, I found small pieces of it suggesting that it fragmented pretty good.
I believe either one of these bullets would be fast killers on deer sized game.
I wouldn't use it on elk or moose, that's what the 06 is for.


I tried another batch of 22-250 today. I loaded some 64 grain Winchester Power Point, 52 grain Sierra BTHP, 50 grain Nosler HP, all were accurate in my new Hawkeye 22-250.
The test media was 10 inches of soaked encyclopedias with the hard covers removed.
The books were wired together and soaked in the bath tub for about 6 hrs.
All of the lighter bullets fragmented, including the 52 grain Sierra Matchking.
The 64 grain Winchester Power Point went just over 8 inches in the books and remained together, the recovered bullet started out at 64 grains and ended up weighing 41 grains. The others went around 6 inches and fragmented with only a few small pieces of jacket to be found. The Winchester was a nice perfect little mushroom despite being pushed through hard paper like encyclopedias.
The range was 55 yards. The 64 grain Winchester Power Point is the bullet for deer after this test.
 
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Dirtpoodle:

Not a surprise to me as I have been writing for 2 years of the Speer 70 gr. in 1x12 and 1x14 twist i.e. factory barrels (have known of this bullet for 20 years).

But folks are compelled instead to spend $1000 on a custom 1x8 twist barrel/rifle just to shoot long VLD bullets.

At least you Canadiens have some sense and know the value of a dollar er loonie.

Good show with that testing.
 
The .224 diameter 60 grain Nosler Partition I shot the other day into the same media resulted in only a portion of the base remaining, the Winchester had more bullet intact and penetrated further and weighed more as well. This was a total unexpected outcome, I always thought the Nosler was the one to beat. I am going to purchase some 53 grain TSX, these are the ones I expect to outdo all others....but I have been surprised before.
 
Sounds like the partition did what its still designed to do...

The first half breaks up or fragments to create the shock and tissue damage while the rear core keeps penetrating and makes an exit hole for what is usually a quick clean kill.

Most partitions are only about a 65% weight retaining bullet IME, which isn't bad, but there is better if your looking for stouter bullets.

I'm sure the TSX will outdo all the others at least in the penetration and weight retention department, only because its an unleaded bullet...There great for shooting clear through animals and whatever else gets in the way.
 
Originally Posted By: kyotekiller25Sounds like the partition did what its still designed to do...

The first half breaks up or fragments to create the shock and tissue damage while the rear core keeps penetrating and makes an exit hole for what is usually a quick clean kill.

Most partitions are only about a 65% weight retaining bullet IME, which isn't bad, but there is better if your looking for stouter bullets.

I'm sure the TSX will outdo all the others at least in the penetration and weight retention department, only because its an unleaded bullet...There great for shooting clear through animals and whatever else gets in the way.


Yes, the Partition did what it was designed for, but I was expecting it to weigh more after the test.
There was only the rear portion of the jacket left, the rear core lead was gone leaving the bit of jacket with some lead smeared on it. The reamining jacket was mangled and didn't resemble the typical Partition that I have recoverd in game. The Winchester held together better and weighed more at the end of the day.
 
Originally Posted By: Dirtpoodle The Winchester held together better and weighed more at the end of the day. and that's fine if you want retention and penetration, but from a .224!!! I would have thought that you want it to impart its energy to the animal you are shooting. Not the five others in line with it too!!! It sounds too tough to me.
 
Originally Posted By: Happy_HunterOriginally Posted By: Dirtpoodle The Winchester held together better and weighed more at the end of the day. and that's fine if you want retention and penetration, but from a .224!!! I would have thought that you want it to impart its energy to the animal you are shooting. Not the five others in line with it too!!! It sounds too tough to me.

+1
I tested the 60gr partition in my 224 Clark and got a lot deeper penetration but had nothing left of the bullet. It traveled into the media (wet newspapers) 18" and then it looked like it completely exploded.
 

I tried another batch of 22-250 today. I loaded some 64 grain Winchester Power Point, 52 grain Sierra BTHP, 50 grain Nosler HP, all were accurate in my new Hawkeye 22-250.
The test media was 10 inches of soaked encyclopedias with the hard covers removed.
The books were wired together and soaked in the bath tub for about 6 hrs.
All of the lighter bullets fragmented, including the 52 grain Sierra Matchking.
The 64 grain Winchester Power Point went just over 8 inches in the books and remained together, the recovered bullet started out at 64 grains and ended up weighing 41 grains. The others went around 6 inches and fragmented with only a few small pieces of jacket to be found. The Winchester was a nice perfect little mushroom despite being pushed through hard paper like encyclopedias.
The range was 55 yards. The 64 grain Winchester Power Point is the bullet for deer after this test. [/quote]


What did you expect from the Sierra 52 GR HPBT Match.
No surprise at all that the Sierra 52 GR HPBT match didn't hold together. It aint made to be a hunting bullet. I use it as a varmint bullet and it works OK for that use. Not the perfect Varmint bullet but the accuracy I get out of it in my 22-250 out weigh what it lacks as a varmint bullet.

DAB
 
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I was expecting most of the results, but I was looking for the bullet that was the toughest. So far it's the 64 grain Winchester Power Point. All of the bullets tested will work on varmints, but not all will work as good for deer sized game. I wanted to find one that will work on deer if one showed upon a varmint hunt.
 
Originally Posted By: DirtpoodleI was expecting most of the results, but I was looking for the bullet that was the toughest. So far it's the 64 grain Winchester Power Point. All of the bullets tested will work on varmints, but not all will work as good for deer sized game. I wanted to find one that will work on deer if one showed upon a varmint hunt.

Try the 63 GR Sierra SMP bullet. Its shape will remind you of a 30 Cal. round nose bullet. I never tested them as you are testing bullets but I had great results on the Mule Deer I killed with my 22-250 one year.( only killed one just to say I killed one with my 22-250) I never thought to recover the bullet when gutting it. In my Ruger the 63 SMP will shoot a 5 shot group at 100 Yds with all 5 rounds touching.

DAB
 
Originally Posted By: DABOriginally Posted By: DirtpoodleI was expecting most of the results, but I was looking for the bullet that was the toughest. So far it's the 64 grain Winchester Power Point. All of the bullets tested will work on varmints, but not all will work as good for deer sized game. I wanted to find one that will work on deer if one showed upon a varmint hunt.

Try the 63 GR Sierra SMP bullet. Its shape will remind you of a 30 Cal. round nose bullet. I never tested them as you are testing bullets but I had great results on the Mule Deer I killed with my 22-250 one year.( only killed one just to say I killed one with my 22-250) I never thought to recover the bullet when gutting it. In my Ruger the 63 SMP will shoot a 5 shot group at 100 Yds with all 5 rounds touching.

DAB

I have some of the 63 grainers on order, I am going to test as many different bullet types as possible to get as much data as I can for my 22-250. I will be looking for the most accurate varmint bullet first, then testing bullets more suited for smaller deer. I am not going to try them on black bears though, I have a new Hawkeye in 358 Winchester for the big fuzzy critters.
 
Great stuff with what your doing. Any chance of getting you to move back to 100 yards?

BTW one of the best 22-250 deer killing bullets Ive found is the 50 grain barnes x bullet. Great combination of speed for vital shock and toughness for penetration.
 
Originally Posted By: yotenaylorGreat stuff with what your doing. Any chance of getting you to move back to 100 yards?

BTW one of the best 22-250 deer killing bullets Ive found is the 50 grain barnes x bullet. Great combination of speed for vital shock and toughness for penetration.

I plan on doing some 100 yard testing, the rain has been almost non stop here though. It makes for a soggy chronograph with dodgy results, so I will wait.
 
I would like to see you try the 65 grain Sierra Game king.....sierra #1395....Sierra makes this to be a deer bullet.... it is heavier constructed than a varmint bullet....
 
Originally Posted By: ilmoI would like to see you try the 65 grain Sierra Game king.....sierra #1395....Sierra makes this to be a deer bullet.... it is heavier constructed than a varmint bullet....



That's another one I will be trying, hopefully the weather cooperates soon.
 
I have been using the 64gr winchester power point for years. In my experience it is the best bullet for the 22-250 for killing game. It has proven itself on several deer many coyote and one cougar. It would be interesting to see the results of other .22 deer type bullets. I do have the 70gr speer loaded for the 223 but have not did more than punch paper and cronograph it.
 
So far, the 64 grain Winchester Power Point held together better than all others tested. As I said before, probably the only bullet that could do better is the 53 grain TSX from Barnes.
 
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