My latest project, 22-250

[justinp61]

About a month ago I bought a used Savage LH mdl 11 in 308 with the intent of building a lighter weight carry around coyote/groundhog rifle. I already have a mdl 12 in 22-250 but it's over 11 pounds so it gets old toting it around pretty quick.

I chose a Shilen SS Select Match, 24" heavy varmint contour, 1-12" twist for the 55gr Sierras that I load for the mdl 12. It has shown promise during barrel break in so now it's time to start on the loads. I put a Leupold VX3 6.5-20 X 40 with a Varmint Hunters Reticle on it but will probably put my Weaver 36X back on it for load development. I left it in the factory plastic stock because it's light, but did mill a slot from under the recoil lug to the sling stud and epoxied a piece of aluminum arrow in it and bedded the recoil lug and front action screw.

 

[Gary in MD]

For varmint hunting - it’s hard to go wrong with a 22-250 and a 55 grain Sierra. I’d like to have a dollar for all of the ground hogs, foxes and crows that I killed with that combo. Excellent choice!!
Gary

 

[B23]

I would agree with Gary, you can never go wrong with a 22-250. Congrats on the new piece.

 

[justinp61]

With the model 12 I've killed groundhogs out to 470 yards with the Sierra, I hope this rifle likes them.

I shot up some test loads that I loaded years ago for the model 12 during break in, the Nosler 52gr Custom Competition shot well.

This is the first shots, two foulers and three five shot groups.

 

[K22]

Great caliber for ghogs. I like the 12" twist w/ 55 grain bullets.

I used a Rem 700 22 250 for years (14" twist 50 & 55 grain bullets) - never failed me. I shot the barrel out and sold it about 10 years ago. Most of my ghogging today is at farms where safe shot opportunities are rarely over 275 yards so I've when back to the 233 Rem.

However, if and when the components shortage dilemma eases I might get a Tikka 22 250 since I've located a new farm where 300+ yards safe shots are possible. No matter the distance, you can't go wrong w/ the 22 250.

Powders I found excellent where, IMR4064 and IMR / H 4895. Good velocity and accuracy. Believe it or not, the most accurate powder I ever tested was IMR 4350 but at the cost of reduced velocity to about 3,500 f/s. Nosler has load data for this powder. In my rifle I shot sub 1/4 moa groups.

Another powder that shot very well was H380 but I stop using it because of pressure surges in hot weather.

Good luck with yours, I'm confident you'll love it for ghogging.

 

[pwdrbrn]

Great caliber for ghogs. I like the 12" twist w/ 55 grain bullets.

I used a Rem 700 22 250 for years (14" twist 50 & 55 grain bullets) - never failed me. I shot the barrel out and sold it about 10 years ago. Most of my ghogging today is at farms where safe shot opportunities are rarely over 275 yards so I've when back to the 233 Rem.

However, if and when the components shortage dilemma eases I might get a Tikka 22 250 since I've located a new farm where 300+ yards safe shots are possible. No matter the distance, you can't go wrong w/ the 22 250.

Powders I found excellent where, IMR4064 and IMR / H 4895. Good velocity and accuracy. Believe it or not, the most accurate powder I ever tested was IMR 4350 but at the cost of reduced velocity to about 3,500 f/s. Nosler has load data for this powder. In my rifle I shot sub 1/4 moa groups.

Another powder that shot very well was H380 but I stop using it because of pressure surges in hot weather.

Good luck with yours, I'm confident you'll love it for ghogging.

Pretty amazing, 36 grs 4064 still works. What we figured was factory load back in the 60's and have been using since. Have fun with it, Tom.

 

[STOMP442]

If a 55gr bullet and 4064 don't shoot out of a .22-250 you got a problem. Excellent combo in that caliber.

 

[Evan]

If a 55gr bullet and 4064 don't shoot out of a .22-250 you got a problem. Excellent combo in that caliber.

35.2gns of 4064 shot very very well in 3 different barrels with 50 or 55 vmax, or any of the 52/53 class of match bullets for me

 

[LAH]

Pretty amazing, 36 grs 4064 still works. What we figured was factory load back in the 60's and have been using since. Have fun with it, Tom.

Shot the same for years with flat base 55s.

 

[1911nut]

Nice rig Justinp61,

Give Bergers a try when you can find them.
I put a 1-12” 22-250 Shilen on a Savage target action.
5 shots @ 100 pretty consistently.

 

[justinp61]

1911nut, that's impressive.

I have my brass prepped and primed so during the rain tomorrow the plan is to load up some test loads with the Sierra 1365's with Varget and 4064. Hopefully I can shoot some Tuesday am before I have to get ready for work Tuesday night. Haven't decided to shoot at 100 or 200 yards yet. I also have H4350 and H380 to try at some time.

 

[1911nut]

Yeah, that was the finale after load development with the Savage 12 twist barrel then adjusted with the Shilen.
22-250 and a Shilen is gonna shoot

 

[justinp61]

I got some test loads done this am while it was raining, it moved out about noon so I got to do some shooting. I probably wasted some components as it was a little windy in the early afternoon but it laid down pretty good about a hour before dark. I shoot off a hill behind my shop into a creek bottoms and the wind can be tricky as part of the hill is wooded and the wind does some crazy stuff there.

I did get a couple pretty good groups though late in the day. the target was set up at 200 yards and I had Varget loaded up with Sierra 55gr Gamekings.

The best group.

 

[justinp61]

The view from my bench. The white nearest is a wind flag, the white in the distance is the target, there is also a flag there too. Tomorrow is 4064 day.

 

[justinp61]

4064 from this AM.

 

[357Mag]

4064 from this AM.
View attachment 1242247

Justin -

Howdy

Have you given any thought to trying WW760 / H414, especially w/ the 60's ?

Worked great for me in .22-250 and my .22-35 Remington wildcat, the latter when shooting
Hornady 55SX from a 24" SS Hart 5-groove 1-14.

I also had good luck shooting FED Large Magnum Rifle Match.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[justinp61]

Justin -

Howdy

Have you given any thought to trying WW760 / H414, especially w/ the 60's ?

Worked great for me in .22-250 and my .22-35 Remington wildcat, the latter when shooting
Hornady 55SX from a 24" SS Hart 5-groove 1-14.

I also had good luck shooting FED Large Magnum Rifle Match.


With regards,
357Mag

I have 414 but no 760 or 60gr bullets, I do have a good supply of Varget and Sierra 1365's. Kinda' staying with the girl I brought to the dance for now. When the madness is over (if it ever is) I'll try some other bullets and powder.

Thanks, Justin

 

[357Mag]

I have 414 but no 760 or 60gr bullets, I do have a good supply of Varget and Sierra 1365's. Kinda' staying with the girl I brought to the dance for now. When the madness is over (if it ever is) I'll try some other bullets and powder.

Thanks, Justin

Justin -

Howdy ! Nice to hear from you !

H414 IS WW760. You can ask Hodgdons.

FWIW - I never encountered temperature-related problems, when shooting groundhogs w/ WW760 / H414 loads. But hey, that's just me. That Varget seems to be working for you, just fine.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[justinp61]

Thanks 357, didn’t know that. Like H110 and W296.

I bought the 414 for my 260, I think. From what I’ve seen one of the great things about a 22-250 is that will shoot a lot of powders well and are easy to load for. This going to be a fun rifle to shoot.

 

[Gary in MD]

Incidentally WW760 was one of the best powders that I ever used in my old 22-250 with the 55 grain bullets. Plenty accurate and gave me the highest velocities that I was able to achieve with that rifle. Not noted for the temperature insensitivity of Varget but I never had trouble even in the hot summer.
Gary