I have a whole lot of RL-7 powder that I use for the 40gr vmax in my .223, that simply works great.

I have a Rem 788 in .22-250. I was wondering if I could use the RL-7 with the 22-250? I have a feeling I can, but I don't want to use light bullets only. Can I get away with a 55gr bullet with RL-7? Or would the max be 45-50gr bullets? If anyone has experience with this, please advise. thanks

rtridge : .22-250 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 55, Nosler BalTip 39526
Useable Case Capaci: 39.834 grain H2O = 2.586 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.350 inch = 59.69 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder- 7

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 76 27.00 3303 1332 45797 7859 100.0 1.080
-09.0 77 27.30 3330 1354 47074 7906 100.0 1.066
-08.0 78 27.60 3357 1376 48381 7952 100.0 1.053
-07.0 79 27.90 3384 1398 49719 7998 100.0 1.040
-06.0 79 28.20 3410 1420 51088 8043 100.0 1.027
-05.0 80 28.50 3437 1442 52489 8088 100.0 1.015
-04.0 81 28.80 3463 1465 53924 8133 100.0 1.002
-03.0 82 29.10 3489 1487 55392 8177 100.0 0.991 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 83 29.40 3515 1509 56895 8221 100.0 0.979 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 84 29.70 3541 1531 58434 8264 100.0 0.967 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 84 30.00 3566 1553 60008 8307 100.0 0.956 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 85 30.30 3592 1575 61621 8350 100.0 0.945 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 86 30.60 3617 1598 63271 8392 100.0 0.935 ! Near Maximum !
+03.0 87 30.90 3642 1620 64961 8433 100.0 0.924 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 88 31.20 3667 1642 66691 8475 100.0 0.914 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 89 31.50 3692 1664 68463 8515 100.0 0.903 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

oh okay, i do not have a reloading manual for 22-250.

my 788 shoots the factory rem 55gr psp (green/yellow box) an inch at 100yrds. it is a great whitetail doe round--neck shots, behind the shoulder as well. when i run out of those, i was hoping to have something similar if not better by reloading and using up my RL-7 as well.

The 55gr bullet i would like to use is the sierra gameking SPBT----if i could find them anywhere in stock that is!!

quote:

The 55gr bullet i would like to use is the sierra gameking SPBT

Cartridge : .22-250 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 55, Sierra SPBT 1365
Useable Case Capaci: 40.757 grain H2O = 2.646 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.350 inch = 59.69 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder- 7

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 77 27.90 3354 1374 47913 8067 100.0 1.057
-09.0 78 28.21 3381 1396 49257 8115 100.0 1.044
-08.0 78 28.52 3408 1419 50632 8163 100.0 1.031
-07.0 79 28.83 3435 1441 52040 8210 100.0 1.018
-06.0 80 29.14 3462 1463 53481 8257 100.0 1.006
-05.0 81 29.45 3488 1486 54956 8303 100.0 0.993
-04.0 82 29.76 3514 1508 56467 8349 100.0 0.982 ! Near Maximum !
-03.0 83 30.07 3541 1531 58013 8395 100.0 0.970 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 84 30.38 3567 1553 59596 8440 100.0 0.958 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 84 30.69 3592 1576 61217 8484 100.0 0.947 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 85 31.00 3618 1599 62877 8528 100.0 0.936 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 86 31.31 3643 1621 64576 8572 100.0 0.925 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 87 31.62 3669 1644 66316 8615 100.0 0.915 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 88 31.93 3694 1667 68098 8658 100.0 0.905 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 89 32.24 3719 1689 69923 8700 100.0 0.894 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 90 32.55 3744 1712 71792 8742 100.0 0.884 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 85 31.00 3695 1668 71847 8327 100.0 0.885 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 85 31.00 3503 1499 53607 8820 100.0 1.005

I personally would not use that fast of a powder for what you want to do. RL-15 would be much more appropriate.

ramrod340, thanks for the info. that gives me an idea. moorepower, that what i thought too, that's why i asked here first.
that rem green/yellow box claims to go 3680fps, i doubt its very close to that. i will try to load up to 30grns max and i could pretty much get the same thing i hope. obviously its been done before, so i will just see if its accuarte, if not, i will do something else.

quote:

Originally posted by Moorepower:
I personally would not use that fast of a powder for what you want to do.

I agree

quote:

I agree

That makes 3 of us. Those are simply loads from QL. Not something I have or would use.

I sure wouldn't jump into 30grs with both feet. I'd start lower and work up.

okay, okay, i guess i will just have to shoot my .223 more often to burn all of the rl-7

so i have some varget that i got for my .243. will that be better/safer to use for what i want?

quote:

so i have some varget that i got for my .243. will that be better/safer to use for what i want?

Varget is fine powder for the 22-250. I lean towards a touch slower like RL15. Varget will give give pretty much the same velocity and almost fill the case as full as RL 15.

RL7 might work fine but is is more like 82% case capacity vs 98%. I feel a fuller case gives me more consitant ignition. If you try RL7 just start low and work up.

Varget will work.The Hodgdon web site has the data you want.

go to a burn chart.....look up RL-7....then find Varget.....than find the powder I like to use....H-414......quite a bit of space there...

H-414 is a little slow for the 22-250 but I like it for personal reasons.....(I have a lot of it)

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

so i have some varget that i got for my .243. will that be better/safer to use for what i want?

Varget is fine powder for the 22-250. I lean towards a touch slower like RL15. Varget will give give pretty much the same velocity and almost fill the case as full as RL 15.

RL7 might work fine but is is more like 82% case capacity vs 98%. I feel a fuller case gives me more consitant ignition. If you try RL7 just start low and work up.

I agree. RL-7 might be a whisper too fast for the 22-250. I'm also using the RL-7 in my 223 with 40g NBT and Varget in the 22-250 with 50g NBT both with fantastic velocity and accuracy. Try them and see if your shooter likes them. Good luck

Evidently as I read the responses, folks are giving opinions academically instead of having hands on experience with it..

RL 7 is one of my top preferred powders with the 22/250.

from 30 grain bullets to 60 grain bullets..

first reason was for accuracy, second reason was for economy...

consulting the Lyman # 47 manual they have data for the 22.250 for bullet weights from 40 grains to 63 grains..

true some other powders will give a little higher velocity, but RL 7 holds its own and also does so with less powder..and often less pressure than the data written for other powders..

however since you mentioned 40 grain bullets in the 22.250, 33 grains will get you an MV of 4130 fps. I must confess to going 1.5 grains higher than that in my loads with Nosler Ballistic Tips or Sierra Blitz Kings... which gives 4450 fps out of a 22 inch barrel, 4550 fps out of a 26 inch barrel and 4750 fps out of my 29 inch custom barreled Winchester...and its accuracy is superb out of all 5 of the 22.250s in the rifle rack..

30 grains give me 3600 fps out of the regular 26 inch barrel Ruger VT.. and another 100 fps out of the 29 inch barrel Winchester using a 55 grain bullet.

50 grainers give about 3800 fps out of a 26 inch barreled Ruger VT and 3900 out of the Model 70.. with a charge of 31.5 to 32 grains of RL 7...

all of these loads are not the top pressure limits posted in the Lyman manual either, compared to some of the other powders listed..

RL 7 doesn't have to apologize to anybody on its use in a 22.250.. it performs, both for accuracy and velocity...and economy...

it, H 322, and Benchmark are my first choices for powder use in the 22.250.

alot of other powders work real well also in the 22.250.. but the above 3 powders are also user friendly when dropping powder down that small 22 caliber opening in the case...

pages 208-210 for those that want to look up the load data in the Lyman # 47 manual..

seafire2,

i had an idea rl-7 would work with lighter bullets.

do remember which specific 55gr bullet you used?
was the accuracy as good with the 55gr as it was with the 40gr?
did you have variations/inconsitancies in the velocities (55gr only) due to there being less powder in the case?

Steve;

I have used it with an entire amount of different 55 grain bullets.. from ballistic tips, to V Maxes, to each one of Sierra's, Hornady's, Speer's ,Remingtons and Winchester's offerings..

plus a wide variety of Bulk bullets..

It performs well right across the board...

Not to knock the RL 15 crowd but I have also had better accuracy with RL 7 as compared to RL 15 in about any 22 caliber application I have tried it in..

RL 7 has not shown it to be position sensitive, and I don't see eradict velocity spreads with it neither..

In my backward way, with bullets that are 50 to 60 grains and everything in between, my standard charge of RL 7 is a plain easy to remember 30 grains...

I also frequently use the same charge weight, in the 243, 260, and 7/08, plus the 6.5 x 55 and the 7 x 57...regardless of bullet weight..

makes a good reduced load that is effective for a range of 200 to 250 yds... and is always accurate...

quote:

I also frequently use the same charge weight, in the 243, 260, and 7/08, plus the 6.5 x 55 and the 7 x 57...regardless of bullet weight..

I guess if it works for you. I'm not into the reduced loads.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

I also frequently use the same charge weight, in the 243, 260, and 7/08, plus the 6.5 x 55 and the 7 x 57...regardless of bullet weight..

I guess if it works for you. I'm not into the reduced loads.

More into accuracy...don't always need a full power load.. that is why I hand load..

www.ammoguide.com lists zero loads for the .22-250 using 55-grain bullets and RL-7. Lots of VitaV loads, though. There's your roadsign...

Guess I will have to submit some and change that situation around..