Just picked up new in box rem. 700 bdl in 22-250.Loaded up 11 rds. of IMR 3031 in .3 gr. increments, 30.0-34.0 grs.(ladder method) behind 52 gr.Hornaday A-max's set .002" off the lands.Loaded 10 more of the same, set .010 off the lands to see if that would give me a better results.Seems that 33.1-33.4 grs. was the most promising with bullets seated .010 back.Off to the loading bench and created 5 rds. of each load.Shot them out in the back (I have a 270 yd. range,30 ft. out the back door)at 100 yds.Results were more than disappointing!4" groups(patterns?)Was using new unfired Win.brass in a new gun.I know about form firing, but how many rounds down the tube should I expect to fire before the barrel settles down and results on paper are meaningful, and the variable of a new barrel is moot? Temp. at shooting range was in the mid teens with 30 secs or so between shots.Yes, all screws are more than snug.Scope is a Leupy VX-I 4x12.Including fouling shots,barrel has 39 rds.through it.This is my 1st NEW center-fire rifle.How many more shots til the variable of a new barrel is out of the equation?

For got to mention the lack of wind.It was really an ideal day to plink!

4" groups is not likely to be corrected with custom ammo.....glass bed the action and float the barrel.

then get to the loading bench and try your A-Max bullets at about 38 grains of H-414 or Win 760 or even H-380.

You should see a difference.....and a lot!

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about a bad barrel just yet.
22/250's are known to be accurate right off, I've only seen one that wasn't shooting at or under 1.5" right off. I would re trace all of your steps first.
1. Is the scope a proven accurate scope?(Have you had it on another rifle and it shoots groups). If not put on a "proven" scope.
2. Are you sure that the bases, rings, and stock screws are tight? ( and they don't have to be air wrench tight but start checking at the bases first and work up).
3. Is the gun clean? Scrub the bore! ( my brother got a Rem that just before we fired its first shots I cleaned it and tons of metal chips and filings came out with the first cleaning!)
4. Check the bedding, see if it makes contact un evenly or if it is floated. Some guns like contact, some like free float, you'll have to figure out what this gun likes.
Start with these basic steps and you should be on your way. I listed them in what I feel is there relative order of importance for a new rifle and you didn't say if the scope was new or used. I have a feeling something is not right with scope or loose mounts or scope is touching the barrel?
If these easy steps don't fix it then look to the bedding and trigger but I would try everything else before altering the rifle.
36 to 38 grains of H 380 seems to work real well in lots of 22/250's shooting 50 grain bullets.
Good luck and report back on the progress.

Biker,

I would try a different powder before I started chasing other causes. But I would go with a load that is proven as others have mentioned above.

All you should need is 3 to 5 rounds. If your group size decreases significantly then you have an indication the powder you were using is the culprit. If the group size stays the same, then go after the barrel clearance, bedding, etc.

There are some powders that seem to shoot well in most '250s. Not in any specific order, but H-380, IMR-4350, IMR-4064. You are using a proven bullet. Let us know what other powders you have or can borrow from a buddy to try and someone can probably give you a good load. If you have any 4350, put 39 grains in and try it.

Jim

The trigger was set to a glass breaking crisp 3 1/2 lbs.Barrel was floated with a shim.Both of these adjustments were made before the gun was fired. I have all the powders suggested in the cabinet. I'll try those 1st.If it doesn't help,the scope will go on a proven gun to check if that's my problem.(Hadn't thought of that one)Also the barrel is as clean as can be.15 min. w/wipe out,couple swipes w/sweets,no blue or black.Given the advise I have recieved on this post,I am going to ignore the "new barrel variable", and hit the loading bench.Thanks much,guys.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
4" groups is not likely to be corrected with custom ammo.....glass bed the action and float the barrel.

then get to the loading bench and try your A-Max bullets at about 38 grains of H-414 or Win 760 or even H-380.

You should see a difference.....and a lot!

Agreed, but I'd loose the lawyer proof trigger first, then work on the bedding. Don't be afraid to try IMR 4895 either...

I have a new 22-250 also, I started load developement various powders and bullets and oal from .030 from lands to .010 from lands and never really settled on a load so later, I tried some 55gr with H380 but this time instead of .030-.010 from the lands I started out with recommended OAL but when I got the H380 up to 39.5gr of powder, the bullet was seating on the powder so I left it out at 2.361 OAL and found my best load. I have shot several times now running around .3-.7 groups.

I have always been told I would find my best groups from .030-.010 from the lands, that may be so with majority but definetely not always.

Just from my experience, If I were you, I would try working some other loads 1st, at least try another powder with that bullet. I had tested, Benchmark, Varget, before I tried the H380

prplbkrr,

I wouldn't get too worried just yet. Your rifle just may not like that particular load combo.

A short while back I took in a M70 Feather Weight in 22-250 (1:14 twist) for custom load development and I too tried the 52 Amax along with probably 4-5 other bullets and several powders. That rifle shot huge patterns with the Amaxes, Blitzes, and Spts. After alot of head scratching and quite a few loads down the tube I finally found two loads that shot well from the rifle. One was the 70 grn Speer over H4895 and the other the 52 grn MK over H4895 as well. Both of those loads shot at least MOA and the Speers would shoot sub moa regularly.

Don't give up on her after just one try. You've probably gotten a hold of one with a finicky barrel and may just need to find that one load that gives you the right harmonics.

I even have one very accurate 22-250 that will shoot tiny groups very consistently with many different combos however, there are a couple of combos that will spray patterns in that rifle.

Good Luck

Reloader

Just came in from the range using IMR 4064, in .3 gr. increments from 33.0 - 36.0 grs. Three shots were within an 1 1/2. Those 3 loads are 35.4,35.7 and 36.0 grs.Not to great, but better than the IMR3031 loads,by a long shot.I'm going to load up a batch of H- 380 next.I'll let you know how it goes.Thanks again for all of your advice.

I think a different bullet choice may greatly reduce your groups.

Seems as if most guys have good luck with the 52 grn Sierra MKs or the 50-55 grn Nolser NBTs.

May surprise you what a little bullet swaping can do.

Good Luck

Reloader

Let's back up a little bit.My initial question was if a new barrel will effect load development?I have developed loads for other USED rifles, but never a NEW one.I grabbed the A-max pills 'cause the side of the box stated 1:14 twist! Same rate as my barrel.There are a 1/2 dozen powders in the cabinet that will be used til I find a load that I am satisfied with.(Meaning that I can outshoot the neighbor!)Thanks to all for your posts.If the A-max's don't work out I'll try something else. I love winter in Wis.Your barrel seldom gets hot!

Just came in from the backdoor and thought I'd give an update my 22-250 700 BDL.Powder used was H-380 in charges of 40.2,40.5 and 40.8 grs.Groups were close to 1 1/4" with the 1st two loads.Heck,they looked like they were shot with the same charge.(i.e. same bullet spread) I am now going to play with the seating depth to fine tune her.The H-380 was used 'cause that,more than any other powder, was mentioned the most to use in a 22-250.Thanks to all. You guys are great!

prplbkrr, my buddy and I have identical Sako heavy barrel laminate varmint models with set triggers. The worst shooting rifle I have ever had. My friends was disappointing as well, although not as poor of a perfromer as mine. after about 300 rounds through his barrel, his really started shooting well. Several loads that would never perform before, now shoot sub 1/2 minute.

I wasn't that patient, and after about 200 rounds with different specs, I sent mine to be pillar bedded, action glassed, and possibly barrel lapped. If that doesn't do it, she'll get a new barrel since I really like the rifle overall. I don't know what kind of barrel life is to be expected from the 22-250, but my friend is sure glad he got a lot of rounds through the barrel and got his to shooting. Hopefully, he'll have good barrel life at his current accuracy level.

Good luck with yours!

Try some different powder/bullet combos. For whatever reason, my 22-250 is very very picky. Reloder 10x will deliver dime sized groups all day, but just about every other powder I've tried is in the 3"-4" range. So yes, it can make that much difference.

Prplbkrr,

You have a PM.

Jim

Fish 30114,that info is exactly what I was hoping to read on this thread!Some one who had a NEW gun and had to shoot it several hundred times before they got satisfactory results.
I am too stubborn to give up on a gun,I believe that they all have a load that will bring out the best in them.My 22-250 has,as I post this ,95 rds. down the tube.Best group has been 1 1/4" with H-380.Last nite I loaded 10 rds. with Varget.After those are shot , I'm gonna try IMR 4350.Sooo....I'll just keep blasting and loading with different recipes til I find one that works,even if it takes 500 rds.I'll keep y'all posted.

An old and untrendy powder...

however, RL 7 with the 22.250 with bullet weights of 60 grains and under...

with the 40 grainers, a charge of 34.5 grains ( 1.5 grains over max load) gives an MV of 4450 fps....at 33 grains, it gives 4150 fps out of my Ruger, and Winchester...

it is also a very accurate powder...

Load data can be found in Lyman's 47th Manual...

quote:

what kind of speeds can you get with a 50grn pill?? also is that stuff very temp stable??

Well it hasn't been a temp problem for me, used within temps of 30 degrees to 100 degrees...

with a 50 grain TNT Speer, and a charge of 31.5 grains of RL 7, I can expect about 3800 fps...

I just commonly use a charge of 30 grains, with bullet weights from 50 to 63 grains...Its a nice round number, it is accurate, and it is below max pressures...

I use the 34.5 grain load with the 40 grain bullets sparingly tho...4450 fps has got to come with quick throat erosion if you are using it all the time... and let the barrel heat up...

i dont have a 22-250 but in my rifle the seating depth is very important. 5 thou difference changes that rifle from 2.5" to .5" groups @ 100yards

quote:

Originally posted by prplbkrr:
Just came in from the backdoor and thought I'd give an update my 22-250 700 BDL.Powder used was H-380 in charges of 40.2,40.5 and 40.8 grs.Groups were close to 1 1/4" with the 1st two loads.Heck,they looked like they were shot with the same charge.(i.e. same bullet spread) I am now going to play with the seating depth to fine tune her.The H-380 was used 'cause
that,more than any other powder, was mentioned the most to use in a 22-250.Thanks to all. You guys are great!

40grn's of H380 with a 52 pill sounds a little hot to me Hodgon says about 41 to be max! I use 50's and get .500 groups with 37.5 of H380 also I have two 22-250s and 1 will shoot hornadys ok but 1 hates them bad! dont fall in love with a brand give noslers a try if you like b-tip's. as with barrels settleing in it wont make a whole inch differance mine shot half inch rite out of the box and my rem 700 did under 3/4 out of the box. also my tikka will not shoot with long col it does best at 3.900! try oal at 3.400 they all seem to shoot half way decent at that oal!