Wanted 22-250AI Load Data

South Paw Shooter

South Paw Shooter

Member
This is my first Ackley Improved and dont know were to find data at. I have a 26" Barrel with a 1-14 Twist How big of a bullet can I go up to. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Sierra #5 reloading manuel. You can also start at max load listed for the 22-250. My load is Fed 210, 38.7 grn Varget, 50 grn Speer TNT. Not as hot as some guys load but very accurate in my rifle. Hope this helps.
 
Loads from Handloader #254 .22-250 AI

40 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 40.0 4065
Remarks: group (inches): .875
40 Nosler spitzer IMR-3031 36.5 3910
Remarks: group (inches): .50
40 Speer softpoint IMR-4895 41.0 4171
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Barnes X-Bullet IMR-4064 36.0 3664
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25
50 Hornady V-Max IMR-3031 34.5 3595
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Nosler spitzer Varget 40.0 3963
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
50 Speer TNT W-760 41.0 3492
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Winchester psp IMR-4895 40.0 3896
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 39.0 3787
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Nosler spitzer IMR-4320 36.5 3684
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Remington HP IMR-3031 33.5 3460
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Sierra semipointed IMR-4895 35.0 3410
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Speer softpoint Varget 36.0 3574
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25
 
You might be able to shoot some 55 and some 60gr bullets. Sierra 55 Blitzkings would not stabilize in a 1-14 twist 22-250 I had. You may be able to shoot some of the Hollow points though, or Sierra's 55gr SBT, #1365.

I hear some are getting by with the 55's at the higher speeds. I shoot 55gr BT's in mine with IMR 4064, a load that a hunter on this board gave me, but I'm shooting about 3700+ fps and I have a 1-12 twist.
 
The Nosler #6 Manual (circ.2002) has loads for the 22/250 AI. You can likely pick one up at a gun show.

As to heaviest bullets in a 1 in 14 twist, you may be able to attain good/acceptable accuracy from the 60gr. Sierra HP as well as the Speer 70 gr. SP (the Speer was designed for slow twist .224s...locate an older Speer manual and use 22/250 mid-to-max loads and 220 Swift loads as you load up and observe for pressure signs).
 
Originally Posted By: South Paw ShooterThis is my first Ackley Improved and dont know were to find data at. I have a 26" Barrel with a 1-14 Twist How big of a bullet can I go up to. Any help would be appreciated.

You should be able to shoot 55's with no problem. A friend shot 60's through his 15" twist and they were very accurate.

I've always shot 50's in the 22-250AI. In several barrels, Win. 760 powder has been exceptionally accurate/fast and Reloder 15 is even better. You should be getting 4100+ to 4200+ with 50's through your barrel if it's a good one, and 55's should be doing around 4000. Fireforming brass, start at what's top-end for a std. 22-250 and go up from there until you find best accuracy. With formed brass the load will be another gr. or so more powder.
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoLoads from Handloader #254 .22-250 AI

40 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 40.0 4065
Remarks: group (inches): .875
40 Nosler spitzer IMR-3031 36.5 3910
Remarks: group (inches): .50
40 Speer softpoint IMR-4895 41.0 4171
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Barnes X-Bullet IMR-4064 36.0 3664
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25
50 Hornady V-Max IMR-3031 34.5 3595
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Nosler spitzer Varget 40.0 3963
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
50 Speer TNT W-760 41.0 3492
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Winchester psp IMR-4895 40.0 3896
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 39.0 3787
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Nosler spitzer IMR-4320 36.5 3684
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Remington HP IMR-3031 33.5 3460
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Sierra semipointed IMR-4895 35.0 3410
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Speer softpoint Varget 36.0 3574
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25

Those are terrible results. Whoever wrote that article had no idea what he was doing. They shouldn't even waste space printing stuff like that.
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoLoads from Handloader #254 .22-250 AI

40 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 40.0 4065
Remarks: group (inches): .875
40 Nosler spitzer IMR-3031 36.5 3910
Remarks: group (inches): .50
40 Speer softpoint IMR-4895 41.0 4171
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Barnes X-Bullet IMR-4064 36.0 3664
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25
50 Hornady V-Max IMR-3031 34.5 3595
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Nosler spitzer Varget 40.0 3963
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
50 Speer TNT W-760 41.0 3492
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Winchester psp IMR-4895 40.0 3896
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 39.0 3787
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Nosler spitzer IMR-4320 36.5 3684
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Remington HP IMR-3031 33.5 3460
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Sierra semipointed IMR-4895 35.0 3410
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Speer softpoint Varget 36.0 3574
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25

Those are indeed terrible results.

760 and R#15 give stellar results in a 1-12 and a 1-14 twist barrels in my experience with 50,55, and 60 and 65g Bullets in the 1-12 twist.
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoLoads from Handloader #254 .22-250 AI

40 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 40.0 4065
Remarks: group (inches): .875
40 Nosler spitzer IMR-3031 36.5 3910
Remarks: group (inches): .50
40 Speer softpoint IMR-4895 41.0 4171
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Barnes X-Bullet IMR-4064 36.0 3664
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25
50 Hornady V-Max IMR-3031 34.5 3595
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Nosler spitzer Varget 40.0 3963
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
50 Speer TNT W-760 41.0 3492
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
50 Winchester psp IMR-4895 40.0 3896
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Hornady V-Max IMR-4064 39.0 3787
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Nosler spitzer IMR-4320 36.5 3684
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Remington HP IMR-3031 33.5 3460
Remarks: group (inches): 1.00
55 Sierra semipointed IMR-4895 35.0 3410
Remarks: group (inches): 1.50
55 Speer softpoint Varget 36.0 3574
Remarks: group (inches): 1.25


Was an honest written article on the "E.R.Shaw" new rifle. I wonder how many of those rifles got sold after that article?
 
I have been shooting a 22 250 AI for probably 20 yrs. A model 70 with now a 26" Hart barrel. My pet load is 33.5 grs of Benchmark with a 55 gr Sierra Blitz moly. This gun will shoot 1/2" groups all day long. The Sierra has performed really well for me. I have taken scores of coyotes and they don't run off. Have shot several out at 400 yrds. I was using Nosler's 55 gr bal. tip with great success too but the Sierras would group just a fraction better. I also was using H414 for quite some time until I got the Benchmark. Over my Chronograph it was giving more consistant readings. If I remember right they were shooting around 3900 fps. Could probably have pushed it more but this load worked and that is what I have stuck with. Hope this helps and happy hunting. Also forgot to mention mine is a 1 in 14 twist also.
 
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I always just used .220 Swift data and had no trouble. A max dose of H380 and a 52 gr. Amax...let me tell ya my results exceed anything the E.R.Shaw article included. In everyway.............
 


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