What are you pet accuracy loads for the 22-250?Looking for accuracy first and velocity is secondary.Also what bullet type and weight do you reccommend?I just got a 12BVSS heavy barrel and can't seem to get past 3/4" or a little less groups with factory loads want to start handloading now to tighten things up.Have been guided towards H380 and H414 with 52 gr sierra HPBT bullets.Would prefer Ballistic tip or VMax bullets to use on chucks and varmints after load development.Green at this so any advice or suggestions will be tried and appreciated.The gun is floated and pillar bedded with a good trigger and 26" barrel and has 4x16 quality glass on it so its now a matter of bettering the factory ammo.It will touch bullet holes some with two shots but always averages about .6-.7 groups from a bench under perfect conditions.My gunsmith feels that it will take well measured and uniform handloads to get any tighter.I prefer 50-52gr bullets but will try 55's and the twist rate is 1 in 12.Thanks for your ideas.

[ 07-06-2003, 21:18: Message edited by: woodseye ]

My VS likes 39 grains of H380 and the 52 gr Sierra HPBT,35 grains of RL15 and 55 grain Nosler BT's,and the last time at the range I tried some of the new 50 grain Barnes Varminator bullets in it and it shot one ragged hole with 36 grains of RL15.I have not tried them since to find out if that was a fluke but will later this week.

Thanks for info Steve,had already been steered toward the H380 at 38.5 gr and with the same 52gr HPBT match bullet except with a CCI primer so that looks like a good powder to buy and try out.
Excellant website and info.
woods

Woods, I've tried 37, 38grs. H380, 37grs. being the accuracy load for 50gr Nosler, RE15 at 36grs. which is the accuracy load in the Sierra manual for the 50gr. bullets, got nice 1/2moa groups for 4 shots and almost always a high flier, and sometimes a low one, too. Did get a .505" group with 37grs. H380 with the 50gr. VMax, what no flier? I think I'd probably wear the barrel out before I found a consistant load that doesn't throw a flier, Ballistic tips might be your best bet to start with, if they won't shoot, maybe your rifle will like VMaxs, or Sierras, H380, RE15, Varget, 4320 and H4895 are your best powders. Good luck on this 'FUSSY' cartridge, I suppose the accuracy I'm getting is plenty good for coyotes and perhaps a woodchuck, maybe let your barrel cool after 3 shots, you may get tighter groups than I. Jay

Although the H380 is an excellent powder, it seemed a bit too temp sensitive in my rifle. I switched to IMR 4895 and have been very happy. Groups are great and it seems a bit more stable.

Thanks for the info Jay,its a pretty heavy barrel with flutes and don't seem to be getting that hot as I shoot slowly,heat up here also isn't too bad.I notice a lot of the accuracy loads include the Sierra 52gr HPBT bullets so I may start with them as I shoot more paper than varmints up here anyway.I would like a load that will shoot 1/4" groups if possible and think the rifle will do it if I can find the load it likes.Thanks again.

woods

Woods, Got some 3 shot groups at 1/4", good luck with 5, a '250' is doing really good around 1/2moa. The rifle I bought my son last year shot a 4 shot group at 1/4" with 53gr. Hor. and 32grs. Varget, but I sent that rifle back to Rem. as I noted a barrel warpage, not from my son shooting it, just a factory thing, they gave me a new rifle. The accuracy load for the 52 Sierra is 34.9grs. RE15, that powder seems to work really good in my 708 with 150MKs as opposed to Varget, whereas Varget works really good with 150 BTs, just some info in case you have a 708. Good luck, Jay

Woodseye:

I second the use of IMR 4895 for accuracy with all bullet weights, next would be IMR 4064.

My New Favorite powder for accuracy in my 2 22/250s is RL 7.. I use the Lyman 47th manual for my reference on the amount of powder.

For Rocking Velocity and Minute of Prairie Dog accuracy, ( but probably rough on barrels) is 34 grains of RL7 with a 40 grain bullet. In a 24 inch barrel (that just got rebarreled to a 28 inch stainless barrel) I was clocking velocities of 4450 fps. Accuracy was 1 inch to 1.5 inch groups at 300 yds. ( with 40 grain Blitzkings.)

Check out the trajectory charts in a Sierra 5th Edition for the flatness of that. Something like 5.5 inches high at 100 put you dead on at 400 yds.
it was the best accuracy I got in a barrel that was 75% shot out.

woodseye
I also have a savage 12BVSS. I have had the best results with IMR 4895 with just about any bullet.
My pet load is
50 gr. berger MEF
34 gr 4895
Fed 210 primer
My rifle likes the bullets seated very close to the lands. When testing loads I shoot 10 shots and getting average .5 at 100yds.

I have had best resultes with H-4895 and H-414.

Sierras match bullets shoot well but with the right load ballistic tips and v-max will hang right with them providing the best of both words.

Also try playing with the seating depth. Some 22-250's realy like bullets seated deeply as to jump to the lands.

I want to thank everyone who responded as it will start me out in the right area.I will try these loads and report back later on with my results.Again Thanx

woods

Have shot 1/2 MOA @ 200y with following;
Vit N140
CCI 200
10 thou' off lands.
52g 37.1
55g 36.4
63g 35.3
Rob T.

Doesn't anyone use Hodgen Varget!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldnt use anything else, Varget/22-250= perfection. Anyway i use 36 grains of Varget pushing a sierra 52gr hpbt matchking at 3730 from my 26 inch barrel savage 12fv. I use winchester cases, wlr primers, and have consistently gotten 1/2 moa and better. My smallest group was something like .135 at 100yards using this load. Try Varget, you wont regret it.

I tried some Varget last summer using Remington brass, Remington primers and Sierra 52 HPBT bullets.

The rifle I tested these loads in generally does this with H-380 loads:


0.260-inches for 5-shots at 200-yards.
Rifle: Ruger 77V in .22-250 Remington
Scope: Leupold 12x optics
Case: Remington
Primer: Remington 9-1/2
Powder: 38.4 grains of H-380
Bullet: Sierra 52 grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Velocity: 3702 FPS @ 15' from muzzle

The Varget loads were pitiful!

GRN VELOS GRP GRN VELOS GRP
30.7 2957 0.685 33.5 3316 2.184
31.0 3024 1.022 33.8 3361 1.701
31.3 3091 1.626 34.0 3373 1.801
31.5 3128 0.990 34.3 3408 1.610
31.8 3139 1.483 34.6 3447 2.174
32.1 3178 0.853 34.9 3458 2.128
32.4 3205 0.743 35.2 3503 2.188
32.7 3247 0.856 35.4 3527 1.608
32.9 3249 1.634 35.7 3551 1.609
33.2 3302 1.498 36.0 3575 2.328

And this was at 100 yards!

Now, a 0.685 MOA group is nothing to snear at, but at 2950 FPS in a .22-250? Naw...

I am planning on working these loads up once again, using a different rifle that is just a tad less consistant than the first one...if the weather ever gets decent up here!

[ 09-15-2003, 10:27: Message edited by: ricciardelli ]

What about C.O.L with these loads. I'm using H380 and have to seat the bullet out to 2.480 to touch to lands. That doesn't leave much holding so I seat it down to 2.460. Book calls for 2.350 max C.O.L. This is a Rem 700 was just wondering what every one else seats theirs at.

My .22-250Rem. is an older Savage 110 with a 26" Hart SS barrel. I get my most accurate
reloads with IMR4064 34.1grs. pushing a Nosler 55gr. Bal.Tip. It'll give me 3600fps and print 5 shot groups (100yds) of .28" to .33". I load it out to 2.38". It'll go a lot faster than my 3600fps, but if you've priced SS barrels lately you'll know why I don't goose it up a ways. It's a great caliber, but my rifle weighs 11lbs. so I don't tote it around a whole lot. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I use 33 grains of IMR 4064, a speer 50 grain TNT, CCI or WIN primers, and REM or WIN cases. The velocity is 3255 fps with an ES of 13.99 and SD of 7.54 with Rem cases and CCI primers out of my Ruger 77 with 22" barrel, accuracy is under an inch at 100 yds with the 3-9 power scope currently on it. I've shot some smaller groups, and some larger, with the larger groups being due to defective shooter syndrome and/or the wind. The load varies a bit more with WIN cases and primers and posts a velocity of 3320 fps. It isn't all the rifle is capable of, but it's easier on the barrel and does a good job on the local crow population. The winchester primers are a little hotter in my opinion so I'm going back to the CCI's. The load might not shoot for beans in your rifle and but you might give it a try.

Woodseye,
I bought a custom 722 from my gunsmith,back before it was a factory cartridge. Along with the rifle I got several boxes of loaded ammo,brass,etc. They were all loaded with the same load, 35.5gr. IMR4895, 55gr. SIERRA's.Well that load shot so well I stuck with it. I have owned several rifles in the same chambering and never had one that would'nt shoot that load well.
I have a 22/250AI presently that also likes that powder. It's just one of many that will work.
I feel, if it's not broke don't fix it.
Stepchild 2

OK heres the first report,the gun is a savage 12 with 26" barrel and it shot 3/4"-1' groups brand new with remington 55 gr green box ammo.We started reloading yesterday for it and tried 34gr of 4895 and 38gr of H380 behind 50gr hornady v max bullets.The 380 shot much tighter groups so we tried 38-38.5-and 39 grains of powder at .010 off lands.The 38.5 shot .500 groups with this set-up and remington brass and winchester large rifle primers.We tried federal magnum primers and the gun tightened to .375 groups and the wind started to get up of course.Now I'm weighing brass and interested in trying going up and down a little more with powder weight to see if that helps or hurts.With 38 gr of 380 it chronoed at 3732 fps average with almost no deviation.Well just getting started and lots to try and play with at this point so I'll keep you posted as it goes with the loads and groups.The barrel is at 50 rounds so it may still be breaking in and I need a nice calm morning or evening to shoot some more loads to see what I can wring out of this gun for accuracy.Still haven't tried Sierra 52gr Match bullets or moving the bullet back from the lands yet either.I started with two of the reccommended loads of this post and I'm learning and having a lot of fun as I go.I'm hoping for 1/4" groups out of the gun and it looks entirely possible at this point.

woods thanks again for all the help and any opinions or ideas just throw them out.

What kind of distance off the lands is working for your best 12BVSS accuracy?

Varget here.

I use 35.2 grains of Varget in a Winchester case, Winchester standard primers, pushing the 52 grain Sierra HPBT Match bullet. Have not chrono'ed the load but it groups great.

I use it in my Winchester Coyote.

David.