I have a R700 VSSF in 22-250. A very finicky rifle. I've tried various combinations of loads but it seems that a 55 grain VMax or CT under 37-38 grains of W760 is the only loads that get me below 1/2" groups at 100 yards. It just seems to hate any IMR powders and anything lighter than 55 grains wont stay under 3/4" in any combination. A buddy says I should be happy with a bone stock rifle that stays under an inch I beg to differ. So I cooked up a load of 37.5 grains of W760 under a CT 55 grain bullet @3600fps seated just touching the lands. No over pressure signs and groups about .4"-.3" regularly. Now I got a pound of Varget which I havn't tried but from what I hear is an excellent powder and need some "pet loads" also somebody said that W760 is hard on a barrel in this caliber. Any truth? I want to squeeze every ounce of accuracy from this rifle I can. What next?

I'd be very happy if my Sako V would shoot like that! It seems you've stumble on a very good load in a very good gun, I'd stick with it unless your in competion shooting!

Valkyrie. I have the same rifle and it shoots similar groups. I am pleased with mine, as it is a varminter/hunting rifle that I use extensively. Mine likes 55gr Sierra's with 36.5 grs of Varget or 53 gr Barnes' with 37 grs of Varget. I am trying to find a good combo using Nosler BT's/Varget powder. I guess I would like it to shoot better, but it does everything I need it to do. Might I inquire what scope you have mounted on this rifle, trigger job done, etc. etc.?? I have a leupold 6.5x20x50 LR target scope on mine and have the trigger set just a smiggen over 1 lb. Good luck with yours! GREG

Gregy, I have a Leupold 6.5-20X40 VXIII mounted on it.

The scope I love and the rifle too but I would like to be able to have a little more variety with what I run down the barrel. The trigger is stock. I lightened it up and got rid of the creep and over-travel. I think Rem has a great factory trigger when set up right. I also had to have the barrel recrowned 2 years ago. I was propped up on a rock pile shooting groundhogs when at the shot the rocks I was rested on shifted and the bi-pod slipped and it went barrel first into the rocks. Anyway there's this oldtimer gunsmith(think he's retired now) that put a nice target crown on it for $20. But it has always been finicky. Was actually considering a new barrel but I have my eye's on a new PRS guitar right now so the barrel is out for the time being.

I can live with it but a uddy told me W760 is hard on the throats in this caliber. I like to tinker also.

Should of brought a 22 250 savage the first load I worked up in it with wc844 shot under a half inch.Haven't even tryed to improve on it. The other two I have in 223 well shoot around .375 with out any load development. I normaly try and shoot about 100 fps slower then max seems to help a whole lot. Most of the best shooting loads are less then max.

There may be dissent, but if you'll try this, I think you will confirm for yourself the wisdom of deep seating the light varmint bullets.

Measure a Hornady factory VMAX round with the 55 grain VMAX bullet. The OAL will be short. Use this OAL for your 55 grain loads. As a rule of thumb, seat the bullet a caliber's depth into the case. Trying to seat to approach the lands will increase bullet deformation on firing, harming accuracy. Imagine a soccer ball being kicked. Before it actually begins to move, it bulges. Your light bullet bulges into the gap at the end of the case mouth, suffering deformation. Larger bullets can tolerate this effect much better than the light small ones, so seating long with 30 caliber bullets is a good idea.
By seating deeper, you add bearing surface and diminish the bulging effect by slowing the release of the bullet.

I would avoid Remington brass if I were you, the necks seem very inconsistent in my experience (at least this is true of the .223's I've checked). If you try the Hornady factory VMAX's, you'll have some nice fire formed cases to use afterward. You'll probably also find that the Hornady factory ammo shoots quite well.

Try the deep seating for yourself. I think you'll find it works beautifully.

green 788