It seems I do not have a powder that will safely get the Sierra 80-grain HPBT to 3100 fps out of a 24" barrel fast-twist .22-250. The only two that I know of that are reported to do the job are AA4350 and VV N-560. I think there are likely to be others.

I wonder if some of you could recommend powders for this application, and perhaps places around DFW that have reasonable prices. I called one place that wanted $27.00 for one pound of IMR 4350 (no I am not making this up). I've heard there is a place called Gibson's out in Weatherford that has reasonable prices.

I'm temporarily out of .308 powder, which leaves me with pistol powders and slow-burning rifle powders, with WC852(slow) being the fastest I have right now. It appeared that WC852 was flattening the primer a little more than I felt was safe at 3100fps, though I might keep the ammunition cooler and try again.

AA-3100 From 34.7 grains to 37.8 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
AA-4350 From 32.6 grains to 36.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-414 From 31.5 grains to 35.6 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-4350 From 33.0 grains to 36.5 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-4831 From 34.1 grains to 37.7 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
IMR-4350 From 32.1 grains to 35.6 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
IMR-4831 From 33.6 grains to 36.6 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
N-160 From 30.9 grains to 34.5 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
RL-19 From 33.1 grains to 37.5 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
RL-22 From 34.4 grains to 38.4 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

I prefer the H-4350 load...

Steve, I have been to your website a number of times and I like it a lot. I'm amazed by the amount of information. It's a great job.

Last time I checked, though, you did not provide velocities to go with the loads. Maybe I missed something? Normally I am not greedy about velocity because I would rather be really safe, but this time I want to shoot at 1000 yards, and I want the velocity to make the job simpler. I'd rather not buy powders and assemble loads, only to find that they work in .22-250, but do not achieve 3100 fps. I'm looking for somebody to say they know of a powder that will safely do 3100. I've got six reloading manuals, but none of them will help with this.

If 852 slow (4831 speed) is flattening primers, I can't see 4350 getting you there.

How about som AA8700, WC860 or WC870 or maybe some "real" 4831 or IMR 7828.

With that expansion ratio and heavy bullet you can probably burn some pretty slow powders!

27 bucks a pound for 4350

OUCH!

LouisB

Just a bunch of guesses here on on my part of course.

I do not provide neither velocities nor pressures. Too many variables are involved.

The only place I list real velocities is in Table #1, where I have my really favorite loads listed

Steve,

Thanks for all the work that you do and make available to everyone on your reload site!

I have played with this and I find that the mid range powders give me the same velocities as the slower powders with less powder.
I used RL 15, IMR 4064 as my favorite two powders with the heavier 22 caliber bullets.

I would have to agree with 4350 or H 414 as my backups if the first two listed were not in my cabinet.