40gr Bullets in 22-250

01 October 2003, 11:01

Are any of you shooting a 40gr bullet in your 22-250? I'm thinking of trying a 40gr V-Max in mine (1/14 twist), but I'm wondering how long range performance will be. It's gonna be fast, but is it too lite for those 300-500 yd shots? I don't see too many guys that shoot them.

01 October 2003, 11:52

B17G

Jethro:

I use Nosler BT in 40 grains for my long distance load for Prairie Dogs in a Ruger VT in 22/250.

My powder of choice is RL 7, 34 grains. Velocity is 4450 fps. Trajectory, at 500 yds, is 5.5 inches high at 100 yds. Should be a flat enought trajectory

I stumbled onto that load, in an older Lyman manual. It is 1 grain or more over what they list as max in the Lyman 47th Edition manual. Trajectory at 300 yds is 2.5 inches high at 100 yds.

These are figures out of the Nosler Manual # 4's trajectory charts. Time at the range proved them accurate.

With RL 7 I have pushed these bullets as high as 4750 fps. Brass life is about 2 shots at 4750. At 4450, it has a decent life span ( 10 plus reloadings, winchester brass used.)

Good Luck.

[Cool]

05 October 2003, 16:10

jethro

Seafire, do you notice considerable effects from wind, or is it pretty much a wash between the 40 and 50 grainers? How's the terminal performance at 200+ yds? I typically shoot groundhogs, so I'm wondering how they'll do on varmints of that size.

05 October 2003, 19:37

Oregon Born

quote:
Originally posted by jethro:
Are any of you shooting a 40gr bullet in your 22-250? I'm thinking of trying a 40gr V-Max in mine (1/14 twist), but I'm wondering how long range performance will be. It's gonna be fast, but is it too lite for those 300-500 yd shots? I don't see too many guys that shoot them.

jethro,

I have played with about every bullet there is up to 60gr in the 22-250 and 1-14 twist. Also, ran them all through Sierra ballistics program to see what happens on yonder in the field.

In my gun the most accurate bullets are 40gr at just over 4000 fps. but the 40's don't hold the speed past 200 yards. The 55gr Sierra BK has been the best for me in all around shooitng out ot 350 yards of so...haven't had many shots past that. The case size of the 22-250 utilizes heavier bulelts better. I use Fed 210 primers, H414 or VV N150 with the Sierra 55gr BK and get 3700fps and good case life. I have shot 15+ lb nutria at over 260 yards and had no exit! Great expansion! ha Sure stops them too! 55's do much better in the wind than any 40.

07 October 2003, 18:33

B17G

Jethro,

I would tend to agree with my fellow Oregonian, Oregon Born. However, with the bullet speed at 4450, it gets to the target so quickly, it must be able to buck the wind better because of the velocity.

With the 40 grain Ballistic Tip in this application it really surprised me on not having much wind drift in the field. This is based on two outings in Montana on prairie dogs. I have not shock a ground hog with it, but I have shot a rock chuck which would be similar in size.
The end result was not pretty. Made a mess of the Rock Chuck, look like it had been hit with a 30/06 instead of a 40 grain 22 caliber bullet.

A little experimentation on your own is the best advise. However, it did surprise me, on my results ( for the better!)

Good luck!
[Cool]

08 October 2003, 15:10

NotRicochet

Bucking wind because of high velocity sounds right, but isn't. Turns out the wind deflection is proportional to the crosswind wind velocity component and the difference in time of flight of the bullet in air and the flight time in vacuum (maintaining constant muzzle velocity.) A very fast bullet of low BC can slow down quite rapidly and show a bigger flight time difference than a slower one of high BC, even though the actual flight time of the slower bullet may be longer. And the same bullet will deflect less in wind at a lower speed if its actual BC is higher at the lower speed. (Every bullet has different BCs in different speed ranges.)

09 October 2003, 17:10

B17G

Ricochet:

That is quite true and held as gospel by those in the know. However, If I have learned one think handloading and shooting, even tho there are a lot of ' experts', rifles and bullets don't always pay attention and behave the way they are suppose to.

Case in point, that is why I pointed out having less winddrift with the 40 grain BTip at 4450 MV.
Didn't think it would be so, but it has proven to be so, at least when I have carried mine in the field.

Thanks for the come back tho!!