OK guys, i just got a Rem 700 VLS .22-250 over the summer and i have been playing around with loads for it thus far. I have had decent success group wise, but nothing particularly great. The rifle averages about 1" at 100 yards. I primarily groundhog hunt with it. I have a Leupold vx-2 6-18 on it. Leupold bases and rings. Everything is tight. I have been reloading on a RCBS Rockchucker press with Redding competition dies. I finally decided on a 40 gr moly coated vmax over 40.5 grns of H380, std. winchester primers and winchester cases. I picked up some CCI benchrest primers this weekend as i was getting a large fluctuation in velocity when chronoed. the SD was throught he roof. I am neck sizing and neck turning, reaming the pocket and flash hole deburring. Trimmed to length according to the sierra manual. I'm seating to about .2 off of the lands as the bullet isn't long enough to seat much further. I have made some decent shots with this load (1/2 liter drink bottles @ 500 yards off of a bench..and no wind ) but there must be a load i'm missing out on. The barrel is 26" long with a 1:14" twist. I have tried Nosler Ballistic tips, 50 and 55 gr, Sierra blitz bullets (50 gr), SPeer 52 gr HP (which shot quite well with 4064 but lacked the terminal performance i was looking for out past 350 yds). Does anyone have a pet load for their 700 VLS? the only thing i have done to it was that i've had some trigger work done on it (down to about 8oz or so) The barrel is NOT free floated...it wont allow a dollar bill to pass much past the end of the forearm. I considered glass bedding also>...any ideas? thanks in advance!
Simon Rucker

My own load for 22/250 uses 55gr. Nosler balistic tips with Win. 760 powder. I also use Win. brass, Win. primers (L.R.). Out of a 26" barrel it produces 3723fps. average, over my chronagraph. This is better velocity than with the loads I worked up with H380, equal accuracy, and very reasonable pressure.

By the way float that barrel if you want it to really perform.

Just the way I do it,,,,,

[ 10-30-2003, 22:06: Message edited by: Ma Bell ]

I use Hornady 53gr BTHP Match Grade ahead of 35.5grs of AA2520, using Fed. primers. One hole groups at 100yds.

This is out of a gun that was pieced together. By that I mean. I used and old Rem. M700 SA and a Rem. 26" VSSF barrel (take off) that was trued to the action and a VLS stock. The scope is a B&L 4200 6x24x40AO with Leupold base & rings. The stock trigger is adjusted to 1.25lbs.

The best at 300yds is 3 holes touching, with a witness (I would be hard to do that again). This was off of a good bench with good bags. We shoot every weekend and use 20oz bottles filled with water. The first shot is for the caps, if we miss we then shoot for the bottle itself. Its not hard to tell if you hit.

[ 10-30-2003, 22:46: Message edited by: JLK ]

thanks guys, i really appreciate it...i still have some 55 gr ballistic tips left over...i initially wanted to use something heavier than 50 grs in it to reach out and touch them. I'll try that out, i think i have some 760 laying around. I was also using winchester large rifle primers. Strangely enough, i had a load worked up for the 52gr speer HP and man, i couldn't get it to shoot worth a lick with the winchester primers....it liked Remington 9 1/2 magnum primers...O the discoveries we make. HOpefuly when i make it home, i'll load a few up and wait a nice calm day. Thanks...keep em coming
o yeah..i'm def going to look into getting the rifle free floated
Simon
aka Ruck

[ 10-30-2003, 23:23: Message edited by: Ruck ]

Ruck,
I have used 35.5gr. of IMR4895 with a 55gr. Sierra spitzer in several rifles and it has worked well for me(one hole groups in most rifles)
Stepchild

Try some H414 and Sierra 53gr matchkings. That's a flat based bullet. My various 22-250's and .223's seem to prefer flat based bullets; but then, each rifle can be different. I have tried both standard and benchrest primers and could not tell any difference between them. I'm rather surprised you did all that case prep before you floated your barrel or bedded the action. That's sorta the first step with me.
I have a VS and I skim bedded the action even tho it has a bedding block. I don't know if the VLS has a bedding block or not. If not, you might want to consider going ahead and pillar bedding it.

i'll check into those also. As far as the case prep, i figured i'd have to do it sometime anyway, so i went ahead and fixed them. i'll get it free floated when i have a little bit of time on my hands. Should i bed the action or not? Sort of new to the whole aspect of bench/varmint shooting, so anything helps! Been reloading other stuff for a few years though
Thanks,
Ruck

Ruck, PM sent! GHD

Ruck:

34 grains of RL 7, with a 40 grain Sierra HP or a Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tip.

Most accurate out of the two 22/250s I have, both heavy barreled. One is a factory Ruger VT and the second is a rebarreled ( replacement) 26 inch stainless PacNor barrel, on a Winchester Model 70 short action.

Chronograph the load if you have a chrony, or send me an email, and I will send you the velocity. It is VERY flat shooting, and HIGHLY accurate. in both of my rifles.

Good luck.

Before you go grinding on your stock, make some spacers (cardstock-read matchbook covers- works) and put them on the action bolts between the action and the stock. Put enough to make sure the action is not touching the stock at any point. This will have the same effect as free floating. Shoot some groups like that. Then take the shims out and put one shim between the barrel and the pressure point near the front of the stock. Try some groups with the added pressure. Free floating is not the straight road to one hole groups some would have you think. Have a smith look at the crown on your rifle.
Finally, try 38grs of H380 behind any good 53-55gr bullet. Standard primer. That may not be the very best load for your rifle but if it doesn't shoot well, I'd have a long talk with Remington.

Tommy Millner, CEO
870 Remington Dr
P.O. Box 700
Madison, NC 27025

If you call, ask to speak to John Lotion. Don't talk to any of the snots that first answer the phone. (as you can guess, I've been down this road)

My son's VSSF shoots the 52-53MKs the best with 35grs. RE15, just over 1/2", Jay

thanks guys...yall really are a help...i'm going to test a few things out this weekend while i'm home...hopefully get a few rounds loaded up
Thanks,
Simon

ok guys, i tried a new load...55gr BT over 37.7 gr of H380. Win brass and CCI BR-2 primers...i also tried winchester LR primers, and Remington 9 1/2Magnum primers...the CCI's gave the best accuracy by about 3/4". I shot a 5 shot group for them, turned in at about 5/8" (three of the five shots)...the other two opened it up to about 1.25" or so...the others were in a lil hole, touching. Still searching for that magic
thanks
Simon

By all means, glass bed the action and float the barrel. Make sure the trigger is around 2 lbs. or less. It seems that when we buy a rifle today, we're buying a basic kit, and have to shell out the coins to make it shoot. Remington is a prime example. They used to be a great shooting rifle, as is. They will still shoot if you'll spend the extra money on them. I have a Hart
26" SS barrel on mine, and it shoots in the .2"s. A time tested load is IMR4064 34.0grs. and almost any good 52gr. HP, like Sierra or Berger. I get a MV of 3500 fps out of that load which is fast enough to be accurate, and yet not lead my barrel to a hasty burnout. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

thanks cal...i'm looking into having the action bedded and floatin the barrell

My Remington 22-250 absolutely LOVES a 50 grain V-MAX in front of 35g of IMR 4895. I shot some this past weekend with .350 results and better. This isn't a load you'll find in many/any books, but it's a winner for me.
Good luck

Hollywood