Tumbling bullets....

P

pd_buster

New member
Reloaded for my 22-250 and went to sight in/test some new rounds, and when I looked at my results, several of the holes were bullet shaped, not round. What could be causing this? Thanks for any info... PD
 
It could be from a very dirty barrel or a bad barrel.
How many rounds are through the barrel? I would try some factory ammo to see if you are getting the same results.
 
I had the same problem with my 22-250. I was shooting 50 and 55 gr bullets but when I went to 60 gr they hit the paper side ways. They made a real nice bullet shape though. I beleive its from too heavy a bullet for the rate of twist of the barrell.
Daryl P.
 
I have shot the same 50GR VMAX's out of it for almost every shot down it's barrel and never saw this before. I doubt this could do it, but when I was testing the rounds I had it on the steady rest and a sand bag, but didn't have the gun to my shoulder. Could not having it against my shoulder cause it? The barrel was recently cleaned and I would guess there are about 1200-2000 rounds through the barrel. Thanks... PD
 
I really doubt how you are holding the rifle will make any difference other than actual point of impact, it should have no effect on what the bullet does once it's out of the case. Have you changed the load charges at all? You could be stripping the jacket from excessive copper fouling causing the bullets to develope a high velocity wobble and then begin to yaw due to stresses and jacket damage. You may have shot out the throat in the barrel or possibly a good deal of copper fouling is near the muzzle end of the rifling.

Clean it real well with a reputable copper remover like Montana Extreme Products.
 
Thanks FALFire. I actually just bought some copper cleaner and hadn't used it on the .22-250 barrel yet. I'll try that and post again if it doesn't fix it. Thanks! PD
 
i would say the barrel is shot out. i had a 243 do this when i tried to hop it up with light bullets and high vel. it would still shoot 100grainers decent but 75s would tumble. the throat was bad for at least 2 inches.
 
" would guess there are about 1200-2000 rounds through the barrel."

It is toast, new barrel time. Check it with a borescope but if it really has that many rounds through it, it will be alligator hide city when viewed through the borescope.

If bullets are tumbling it probably has closer to 2500 rounds through it. The borescope will tell the truth.

Jack
 
I doubt that it is the barrel, but before replacing have a gunsmith check it. If a barrel could get "shot out" at 1200 rounds some pdog shooters would need a new barrel after some of their pdog shoots.
You said "new rounds", have you used that bullet in reloads before? Did you check for runout? It is an odd thing to happen.
 
Same bullet I've always reloaded, just a different powder... normally Varget, but trying H335. What is runout? Is that when the case neck gets too thick? I'll take it to a gunsmith for a boresight. I need to find a good one first... Thanks for the input! PD
 
I don't think the barrel is shot out. I think your bullet is to heavy for the twist. The most common twist rate for a 22-250 is 1-14" this will not stablize bullets over 55 gr. That might be the reason why your rifle is shooting that way. You need a 1-12" twist for 60 grain bullets in the 22-250 and 220 Swift.
 
I would have to agree on the twist being the factor here. Some 1 in 14 twist rifles will shoot 60gr bullets but most won't.

As for the 50 gr VM bullets tumbling, would think fouled or what jack said. Need to have someone check it with a bore scope to be sure.
 
Will a 22-250 with a 1 in 14" twist properly stabilize the extra length of a boattail bullet like the 55 grain Sierra GameKing SBT?
Or should a 55 grain bullet be a flat based variety?

Thanks!
me!
 


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