22 BR 90gn load suggestions

[Evan]

Hi all,

I've got a 1:7twist 5R 29" 22BR barrel in the works and am starting to collect what I need for when it shows up in a few weeks. I've got some 88gn ELDs and will be ordering some 90gn Berger VLDs too but am having trouble finding load data anywhere. Sierra has published data for the 80gn, but not the 90. Do you guys have a favorite load, or somewhere to start with these in a 22BR?

I've got these powders on hand that I could try: Varget, H380, IMR 3031, 4064, 4320, 4350, RL17, RL15, and W748. I'm open to buying something else too if you've got a powder you really like (VV will be a hard sell though, that stuff is expensive!). I was eyeballing 2000-MR, IMR4451, and RL16 as potentials too. I'm leaning towards slow powders that will help extend barrel life. Don't care too much about speed as long as the accuracy is great. Thanks!

 

[linebaugh]

What brand of barrel?

Berger has data in their load manual.

Slower powders would be my choice as they fill the case better. They may or may not extend bbl life.

 

[Evan]

What brand of barrel?

Berger has data in their load manual.

Slower powders would be my choice as they fill the case better. They may or may not extend bbl life.

Bartlein HV contour. Going on this rifle: http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/new-stock-for-my-22-250.3978615/

Which manual? The most recent? When you say slow, even slower than RL 17 or 4451? I have H4831sc and IMR4831 but figured that they would be too slow.

EDIT: Turns out that was a silly question. Looks like there is only one edition of the Berger manual!

 

[Ned Ludd]

FYI- one thing to be aware of is the possibility for jacket failure when pushing .224 "heavies" at high velocities from fast twist barrels. I have blown up Berger 90 VLDs and Hornady 88 ELDMs from a 30" 6.8-twist barrel at velocities ( i.e. 2830-2850 fps in a .223 Rem) well below what you should be capable of achieving with your 22BR. I haven't had any trouble at those velocities when using 7-twist barrels, but you will potentially be closer to the 3000 fps velocity range, which will generate 300,000+ RPM, even with a 7-twist barrel.

 

[linebaugh]

Bartlein should be fine (I hope) as that is what I run now in 7 twist and 30". I had a different brand last year and blew my first bullets ever, a lot. Bergers were pretty much a given to fail when the bbl heated up and shot about 3070-3100fps. The ELDs would fail once in a while under higher heat. Switch to Sierras if you have a problem as I never lost one that I know of even with that bbl and high heat.
All the above said if you are not shooting higher volume and rapid round count you probably would not see this. I have run the same bergers to near 3200fps without failure in other rifles not used for competition. I ran them in competition the year prior in a different tube without failures as well.
IF you have a long bbl 28-30" you should be able to push 88-90s around 3000 fps.

The berger manual has data for straight 22 BR w/heavy bullets.

I would suggest you look at powders in the RL17-VVN160 range. You will not necessarily gain bbl life just because you use slower powders. Of course you could. High pressure, shooting a hot bbl under rapid fire and high powder BTU value are bbl killers. That said keep in mind many of the guys on here are benchrest dicipline so a shot out bbl has an entirely different meaning to those of us ringing steel or hunting.

 

[Evan]

FYI- one thing to be aware of is the possibility for jacket failure when pushing .224 "heavies" at high velocities from fast twist barrels. I have blown up Berger 90 VLDs and Hornady 88 ELDMs from a 30" 6.8-twist barrel at velocities ( i.e. 2830-2850 fps in a .223 Rem) well below what you should be capable of achieving with your 22BR. I haven't had any trouble at those velocities when using 7-twist barrels, but you will potentially be closer to the 3000 fps velocity range, which will generate 300,000+ RPM, even with a 7-twist barrel.

I'm really concerned about this, but decided to go for it. I'm not shooting in competition, maybe the local 600 and 1000yd BR fun matches which are 5 shots for group. Hopefully the slower pace, with less heat in the barrel, and regular cleaning intervals every 50rnds or as needed to keep carbon at bay, will all come together to stop bullets going poof. I'm also not planning to really step on it. I'll start low and when it hits the first accuracy node, I'm stopping there.

Bartlein should be fine (I hope) as that is what I run now in 7 twist and 30". I had a different brand last year and blew my first bullets ever, a lot. Bergers were pretty much a given to fail when the bbl heated up and shot about 3070-3100fps. The ELDs would fail once in a while under higher heat. Switch to Sierras if you have a problem as I never lost one that I know of even with that bbl and high heat.
All the above said if you are not shooting higher volume and rapid round count you probably would not see this. I have run the same bergers to near 3200fps without failure in other rifles not used for competition. I ran them in competition the year prior in a different tube without failures as well.
IF you have a long bbl 28-30" you should be able to push 88-90s around 3000 fps.

The berger manual has data for straight 22 BR w/heavy bullets.

I would suggest you look at powders in the RL17-VVN160 range. You will not necessarily gain bbl life just because you use slower powders. Of course you could. High pressure, shooting a hot bbl under rapid fire and high powder BTU value are bbl killers. That said keep in mind many of the guys on here are benchrest discipline so a shot out bbl has an entirely different meaning to those of us ringing steel or hunting.

I'm thinking of trying out IMR 4350. I've got tons of it and have had great luck finding excellent accuracy with it. Was thinking that 28gns would be a safe start for fireforming the 200 pieces of brass I've got. All loads I seem to find for H4350 and the like are in the 31gn range. I'll use 88 ELDs, 0.010" into the lands, and 450 primers in my virgin Lapua brass, size the neck/shoulder until the stripped bolt closes with just a tiny bit of resistance at the very bottom so that I have a good snug fit and no unnecessary brass stretch.

Option 2 is that I have a box of old 69 SMK and I could load them up with my Sierra manual (X-Terminator, 24.5 up to 29.2, or Varget 25 up to 30) and see how the gun tolerates pressure before stepping off into the uncharted with the 88s and slow powders. If the brass, in this chamber, seem to tolerate pressure really well, then that will make me feel a bit less uncomfortable about my "stab-in-the-dark" of 28gns of IMR4350.

 

[Evlshnngns]

Im going to start with imr4451 and 80grn nosler c.c.. Ill be watching this thread.

 

[Adam 6mm build]

Try RL26 start low 31 grn and work up I’m at 33 grn shoots .342 velocity is around 2865 give a try

 

[Evan]

Try RL26 start low 31 grn and work up I’m at 33 grn shoots .342 velocity is around 2865 give a try

Wow! I would have never thought RL26 would work in a case this small!

 

[xswanted]

I'm really concerned about this, but decided to go for it. I'm not shooting in competition, maybe the local 600 and 1000yd BR fun matches which are 5 shots for group. Hopefully the slower pace, with less heat in the barrel, and regular cleaning intervals every 50rnds or as needed to keep carbon at bay, will all come together to stop bullets going poof. I'm also not planning to really step on it. I'll start low and when it hits the first accuracy node, I'm stopping there.



I'm thinking of trying out IMR 4350. I've got tons of it and have had great luck finding excellent accuracy with it. Was thinking that 28gns would be a safe start for fireforming the 200 pieces of brass I've got. All loads I seem to find for H4350 and the like are in the 31gn range. I'll use 88 ELDs, 0.010" into the lands, and 450 primers in my virgin Lapua brass, size the neck/shoulder until the stripped bolt closes with just a tiny bit of resistance at the very bottom so that I have a good snug fit and no unnecessary brass stretch.

Option 2 is that I have a box of old 69 SMK and I could load them up with my Sierra manual (X-Terminator, 24.5 up to 29.2, or Varget 25 up to 30) and see how the gun tolerates pressure before stepping off into the uncharted with the 88s and slow powders. If the brass, in this chamber, seem to tolerate pressure really well, then that will make me feel a bit less uncomfortable about my "stab-in-the-dark" of 28gns of IMR4350.

I’ve ran IMR4350 in my 22BR with 75s with great results.

I’m using H4350 right now with 80s. 33.5 grains.

I would think 4350 something or R17 would push 90s very well

 

[xswanted]

Try RL26 start low 31 grn and work up I’m at 33 grn shoots .342 velocity is around 2865 give a try

Have you gone farther up than that?

Accuracy is obviously good but velocity seems to be slow.

 

[Evan]

Have you gone farther up than that?

Accuracy is obviously good but velocity seems to be slow.

I'm imagining a 6inch drop tube and vibrator to try and get enough powder in there. Isn't 33gns of 4350 already pretty full?

 

[USMCDOC]

when i did mine, it was a 7.2 twist Rock barrel and i had my best load with RL17

 

[Adam 6mm build]

4 inch drop tube 33 grn RL 26 2865fps 6.5 twist xcalibur 33 grns is as high as I went excellent accuracy SD was 9 no pressure signs

 

[xswanted]

I'm imagining a 6inch drop tube and vibrator to try and get enough powder in there. Isn't 33gns of 4350 already pretty full?

33.5 will fill the case just past the shoulder junction. It’s about perfect.

IMR 4350 filled it up into the neck and resulted in inconsistent seating depths.

That’s the main reason I switched to H4350. Little easier to load with

Thursday the load produced a sub 3” group at 700 yards, a 2.5” group at 600 yards and a 5” group at 835 yards. The load seems to be working as of now.

80 grain Berger’s seated .015 off lands.

 

[Seanshooter]

Check out sierras new online reloading manual. 22 br Remington and 22 br Norma listed with weights to there 95smk. I do believe R16 is listed as there accuracy powder.

 

[T.Moore]

Wonder how H4831SC would work with 80 and heavier bullets? With the short cut kernels it should be somewhat easier to load compared to H4350.

 

[Evan]

Wonder how H4831SC would work with 80 and heavier bullets? With the short cut kernels it should be somewhat easier to load compared to H4350.

I don’t think you will be able to get enough in there. H4350 maxes pressure right at lightly compressed loads. I couldn’t get enough RL16 in the case.

 

[ctrickett]

What about N150, would take work?

 

[dstoenner]

I am running 31.0 RL16 for 90 Atips at about 2950 fps. I have shot this mode at 1000 fclass and did as well as my 6x47 with 115 dtacs.

David