I have just put together a 22-250 Ackley Improved with a Border 1 in 8 twist barrel. I intend to use this for long range varmitting in England - 250 - 400 yds.
With fireforming loads of 34g Vit 140 under a 60g sierra hollowpoint I am getting .3 moa but tragectory is disapointing.
Could anyone recommend loads for fast twist barrel and heavy bullet over 55g to 75 g.

Try H414 if you can get it. Your rifle is different than mine so start low and work up.

The new Sierra manual #5 has loads for that specific cartridge and the test rifle has a 1-8 26" barrel

To 400 yds the Sierra 55 gr Blitz King is a good choice for varmints. Also Hornady has a 75 gr A Max. Thats rated as a game bullet however. Try to get some Ramshot "Big Game" powder. Sierra got 55's to 3850 fps out of that rifle with it and I read that they have a anti fouling additive in their powders.

That's a nice manual with a lot of improved and wildcat cartridges in it.

Thanks, I didn't realize that Sierra had published load data. Guess what i'm buying?
My rifle doesn't seem to like 55g bullets. I am waiting for a consignment of 75g A Max to arrive as I think they will allow me to reach out a little further than anything else.

With your twist, a 75 to 90-grain bullet (90 may be high) would seem to me to be the best weights, but this is not a varmint rifle anymore. It's more like the old .22 Newton, which was intended for larger stuff!!

i've been getting some pretty good results out of the 69 gr. Nosler Comp. bullet at 3100 f.p.s. from a custom AR out to around 500 yds. on coyotes. At the increased velocity you'll get from your rig you should get some explosive results from it, or its counterparts.

[ 03-24-2003, 09:12: Message edited by: sscoyote ]

My 22-250 AI has a 1:12 twist barrel. However, It certainly likes H414 and I've had very good luck with Berger 80 gr VLD's in a 1:7 twist 22-6mm AI. The 22-250 AI is a neat cartridge. All the speed of a swift and none of the brass problems.-Rob

My 22-250 AI seems to be partial to the 80 grain Bergers, although the 77 grain Sierra Matchkings shoot pretty good too.
Reloader 22 works really well and is just about the right density to fill the case. Reloader 25 is a bit too slow burning, but gave good velocities.

The previous barrel burned out with less than 1500 shots thru it, so you need to watch real carefully to keep the barrel from getting hot. The new barrel only has about 500 rounds thru it, so I don't know yet if the first barrel was normal with respect to barrel life.

For fireforming I bought a couple of boxes of the 77 grain Matchkings and seated the bullet long enough that it would crush into the lands in order to make sure the case is in the rear part of the chamber for forming.

The published max. loads for a standard 22-250 worked very well for starting points in the load development process. With respect to capacity, the 22-250 AI falls about half way between the standard 22-250 and the 220 Swift. I only used Winchester brass, so can't say if that is the normal capacity for other brands of brass.

Ive found that 60g Sierra H/P seated longer than the OAL work really well for fireforming. I used Remington brass whick I kneck turned to .249" these give excellent formed cases. Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

When I tried the lighter (and shorter) bullets for fireforming I ran into a problem because the bullet did not go the full length of the neck. That situation left a ring at teh juncture where the neck and taper comes together. By going to longer bullets this problem went away.