I have worked up a load for my 22-250 that has produced consistent .75-.85" 5 shot groups.
R-P brass, Sierra 52 HPBT match, CCi200, 34.0 gr IMR 3031, 0.07" off lands.

Although IMR's guide says 34.0 gr 3031 is max, Speer's says it's right in the middle. I will say the primer does look a little flattened. Any less powder, my groups open, any more powdwer, the same.
I have a dummy round made up to 0.02" off the lands. I intend to start at 32.0 gr and work back up. Looking for a tight group without flat primers.
I will say there are no other signs of pressure. Bolt opens easy as if it were empty, case looks good, no extractor groove.
Does this sound like a pretty good course of action? Perhaps try a different powder, IMR 4895 for example?

I prefer 4895 in .22-250. Its shorter stick length allows it to meter more accurately than 3031 and its slower speed allows a bit higher velocities at the same pressures and usually also provides a lower shot-to-shot velocity variation.

35 or 35.5 grains with a 55 grain bullet is a recipe often used by experienced loaders.

How does your velocity compare to the manuals? If the velocity is in the ballpark of what the book gives as max for that load I`d call it good. If not you can procede with caution.

Don`t forget to take barrel lengh and other factors into concideration when looking at the velocity.

I prefer loads that use-up 100% of case capacity.

Well, I don't know about velocity. Can't afford a chrono.
Definitely not near max capacity, perhaps I'll try to work up a 4895 load to get close to max, maybe even compressed?

I'm glad someone liked 4895 because that's the only other powder I have on hand. Stick length is not really an issue, I do have a Uniflow, but don't really like it (perhaps because it doesn't meter 3031 too well!!), I prefer my teaspoon in the scale pan method

Is 0.02" of lands a good figure? Should I try a little close or further to start?

quote:

Originally posted by CharlieHo:
Can't afford a chrono.

Last time I checked, you can get a refurbished Shooting Chrony for $50, directly from their website. I picked one up last year to use as a spare (my other chrono was in the process of being repaired) and it seems to work just fine.

I started loading on a .22-250 using IMR 3031 and 55 gr. HP BT. Mine liked 33 grains the best. Less than 3/4". The book I used (Lymans I think) show 36 grains as max. When I went to max load it showed on the head of the case. If that load is doing good for ya I would not change.

Use what's safe in your rifle.

The Hodgon website load of 41 grains of H380 with a 50 grain bullet is unsafe IN MY GUN. This load resulted in blown primers, case head expansion so severe that the cases would not go into the RCBS shell holder and velocities in excess of 3980 fps.

Hodgon's website says that this load is 45,300 CUP at 3742 fps. Their H4895 max load of 36.5 grains at 3827 fps and 50,200 CUP is perfectly safe in my rifle though.

IMR-3031 From 28.5 grains to 36.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

CharlieHo Quote – “I have worked up a load for my 22-250 that has produced consistent .75-.85" 5 shot groups. “

I’d try a different powder. My AR will group better than that.

What rifle are you shooting?

I tried 3031 and got no where.
39.5 380 & 52 A-Max replaced my H4895 load as I could not get any Hodgden powder. My new load is 33.2 of 4064 and 52 A-Max. I get about 1.2" at 200 with this and 3620 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by CharlieHo:
Well, I don't know about velocity. ...

Hey CharlieHo, Actually knowing the Velocity doesn't tell you anything - except the Velocity. Since it doesn't tell you anything about Pressure, you would only be wasting your money on a Chronograph, since you want to know if the Pressure is OK.

If you were using CHE or PRE, you would already know the answer about the Pressure. So, you must not be using either of those Methods.

One time-proven ancient-old(older than me) Method which always works is to see how many reloads you get on 3-5 Test Cases. If you can get 10-reloads using a specific Load combination(case, primer, powder, bullet) in the specific rifle you are working with, then the Load is not only SAFE, but will ensure a long "non-over stressed" life for your rifle.

Best of luck to you.

IMO 3031 is not the right powder for the 22-250....
H-380, H-414 work well for me.....do as you see fit

Reloading for me is about four things and only four things

1. Accuracy
2. Velocity
3. terminal performance
4. Pressure

Accuracy is only determined by you by shooting groups from a bench

velocity is only determined by having a chronograph

Terminal performance is largely controlled by selecting the bullet you want for the job at the speed you intend to drive it.

Pressure can only be determined with pressure barrel or judicious use of strain gauges.....and many don't do that right either. Further most of us don't have that equipment or cash or sophistication. (me either)

So we do a one sided test.....that is the test for TOO MUCH!!! Personally I don't care what the pressure of my reloads are.....I just want to know that they aren't too much!!!!! With that said the primer pocket expansion test is just the best I can find today. This is not to say that one should ignor flat primers, case head expansion, difficult extraction, ejector marks, etc. It's just that loosening of primer pockets tells me more than any test I've used in the past. Further if you're loosening the pockets noticeably in one firing then you're probably about three grains over a safe operating load.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by CharlieHo:
Well, I don't know about velocity. ...

Hey CharlieHo, Actually knowing the Velocity doesn't tell you anything - except the Velocity. Since it doesn't tell you anything about Pressure, you would only be wasting your money on a Chronograph, since you want to know if the Pressure is OK.

If you were using CHE or PRE, you would already know the answer about the Pressure. So, you must not be using either of those Methods.

One time-proven ancient-old(older than me) Method which always works is to see how many reloads you get on 3-5 Test Cases. If you can get 10-reloads using a specific Load combination(case, primer, powder, bullet) in the specific rifle you are working with, then the Load is not only SAFE, but will ensure a long "non-over stressed" life for your rifle.

Best of luck to you.

Well, I guess my pressures are pretty in line then, as the cases I am using have probably been loaded 6-8 times.

I have been reading in some of the other posts, and have determined that as long as I'm not "jammed into" the lands I should be safe to keep current loading, just changing OAL.

I'm still not really concerned with velocity, I shoot most of my loads out to 600 yards at 50 yrd increments anyway to record drop and write it down, so..... Holes in paper make more sense to me than figuring out mathematical drop with ballistic tables


BTW: PRE & CHE??
I'm guessing Case head expansion & Primer relief expansion?

quote:

I shoot most of my loads out to 600 yards at 50 yrd increments anyway to record drop and write it down, so..... Holes in paper make more sense to me than figuring out mathematical drop with ballistic tables

Actually shooting to determine the Drop Rate for a specific Cartridge/Rifle combo is definitely the way to go. The Ballistics Tables are nice to get a person started, but can be off a good bit in the real world.

quote:

BTW: PRE & CHE?? I'm guessing Case head expansion & Primer relief expansion?

Case Head Expansion(CHE) and Pressure Ring Expansion(PRE). Both are Pressure Detection Methods that have stood the test of time. Both can be of benefit to a Reloader, but CHE does not work with the old Low Pressure cartridges like the 38Spl, 35Rem, 45-70. However, PRE works with every "cartridge" made.

That said, I do agree with VapoDog that if you can get 8-10 reloads using one specific Load and still have "snug Primer Pockets", your Load is SAFE.

Best of luck to you.

Just so I have more information to look at, I would like to incorporate CHE and PRE into my data. However, I am unsure as how to measure each. I have a pretty good common sense idea, and did a search, but haven't come up with anything definitive.
A link or explanation would be helpful.

I doubt that I would ever really load a cartridge to dangerous levels, but in the off chance that I do, I would like to have many signs to look for. The more the better, cause I just don't want to blow anything up!

Hey CharlieHo, Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a couple of Files.

One is on CHE/PRE and is in "Word". The other is a Load Data Sheet in "Excel".

You will need a 0.0001" capable Micrometer. A 0.001" capable Caliper just isn't accurate enough. Most of the Reloading Supply Houses carry them now days at good prices.

35-36 grains of 4895 with a 55 grain bullet is pretty much an old standard load for the .22-250. One of those that seems to work pretty well in most anything and velocity is usually about 3600 fps.