Anyone have any experience with benchmark in a 22-250? I am looking for any pro's or con's using benchmark...

I currently use benchmark for my 204's and I would like to try it in my 22-250's. The main reason being, how it flows through my powder measure....Usally dumps within 1/10th of a grain, very little trickle needed...

I am going to work up some test loads and really haven't got much data on benchmark and the 22-250 for a starting load.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Cheers

Oneshot_onekill

It is an awesome powder with the 40 and 50 Gr. bullets. Benchmark and IMR4895 is all I use in my 22-250 anymore. The Benchmark is very accurate and has the best MV I've ever gotten with it. I have never seen another documented load that will beat it. If anyone has one I'd like to know what documented data base (Manual) you got it from I'm always looking for a better load. Undocumented loads form forums and my loads over max are not counters.

Benchmark 22-250

Well all, I have worked up several loads with 50 grain nosler ballistic tips and benchmark for my 22-250. I started at 34 grains and worked up in increments of two tenths. Final load was at max per Hogdon at 36 grains.

Each incremental load was shot in groups of five at 100 yards. The best overall load was at 36 grains or max. So I worked up ten more rounds of benchmark (36 grains) and the 50 grain noslers.

I shot these last ten rounds in two five shot groups. Both five shot groups were awesome. All five shots on both groups made one hole. No they did not all go in the same hole!!! but all five rounds cut each other in both groups.

I believe I have found a new powder for my 22-250 and will not be purchasing anymore IMR 4064. The 4064 performed very well, but the benchmark flows through my powder measure much more accurate, Very little trickle needed.

I will take the chrony with me next time and clock these loads and let you know actual velocity.

Just FYI for those interested.

Yes, I've used it, with quite promising results.

36 gr. of Benchmark, 40 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip, Winchester brass, Federal 210 primer, loaded to an overall length of 2.40 inches, gave me 4000+ f.p.s. from my Savage Model 12 with its 26 inch barrel. Accuracy was as good as I've found with any other powder, and better than some others.

From my limited experience, I think Benchmark may burn cleaner than H380, meaning that less powder fouling occurs and less barrel cleaning is needed.

I was playing with Benchmark in the 22.250 when Benchmark first came out.. It was very very accurate....

The only word of caution...

Don't push the loads beyond published data.... Benchmark can have a nasty habit of a quick presure spike for those that try to see " how much more can I get away with???"...

Some powders are real forgiving in that.. Bench mark is not one of them....

Keep on the straight and narrow and it will do a good job for you....

It burn rate is near IMR 3031... so one can use that load data's STARTING Loads and slowly work up.. if you find data being a little short... that is what I did when there was no data available in the 22.250 back then....

good luck and cheers
seafire