22-250 1:16 twist

[danyboy]

Try Sierra’s good ol’ Varmint Master 40gr. HP. It’s great stuff in 1 in 16 twist rimfire barrels that have been re-chambered to either 22 Hornet or 22 K-Hornet.

And if I reloaded using 22 Hornet data ?

 

[Ggmac]

Make sure to mic the bore . Some one may have stuck a Rimfire blank on there . I've seen stranger stuff . I hope it's got a .224

 

[mikecr]

55Vmax never tumbled with any of my loads

What are your shooting conditions, altitude, temps?
I'm at sea level, ~90deg. My 14tw will not stabilize 55Vmax bullets.

 

[gambleone]

You stated in your 1st post that your 55gr would not group. Was this at 100yds?
Take it out a ways & watch the groups grow & bullet tumble.

 

['Freak]

And if I reloaded using 22 Hornet data ?

Lighter bullet more often equals a shorter bullet. The determining factor in whether or not a bullet is going to stabilize in your slow, slow for a many .224 caliber centerfire cartridges, 1:16 twist rate barrel, is the bullet’s overall length, it gots nutin to do with bullet weight. A 1:16 twist can’t be made to shoot the long higher BC heavy stuff, but there ought to be plenty shorter, lighter bullets it’ll shoot well. It would be a smart thang to check if there’s sufficient bore diameter for the shootin’ of .224” jacketed bullets. If not, there’s a fair number of .223” jacketed bullets still being made, just be mindful of each particular bullet’s construction.

Use 22-250 load data, and preferably data from the manufacturer of that particular bullet. Some, but not all, older varmint bullet designs were given thinner, so more fragile, jackets that’ll still blow up on striking smallish pesky critters even at relatively pokey velocities compared to the velocity potential of a 22-250. The manufacturers often warn that these bullets might spin apart in midflight if shooting ‘em above a specified velocity level and/or from a too fast twist rate barrel. Look for reduced velocity 22-250 load data if need be.

 

[danyboy]

What are your shooting conditions, altitude, temps?
I'm at sea level, ~90deg. My 14tw will not stabilize 55Vmax bullets.

116 ft altitude, between 75-90F. In winter, -10 to 0 F.

 

[danyboy]

Lighter bullet more often equals a shorter bullet. The determining factor in whether or not a bullet is going to stabilize in your slow, slow for a many .224 caliber centerfire cartridges, 1:16 twist rate barrel, is the bullet’s overall length, it gots nutin to do with bullet weight. A 1:16 twist can’t be made to shoot the long higher BC heavy stuff, but there ought to be plenty shorter, lighter bullets it’ll shoot well. It would be a smart thang to check if there’s sufficient bore diameter for the shootin’ of .224” jacketed bullets. If not, there’s a fair number of .223” jacketed bullets still being made, just be mindful of each particular bullet’s construction.

Use 22-250 load data, and preferably data from the manufacturer of that particular bullet. Some, but not all, older varmint bullet designs were given thinner, so more fragile, jackets that’ll still blow up on striking smallish pesky critters even at relatively pokey velocities
compared to the velocity potential of a 22-250. The manufacturers often warn that these bullets might spin apart in midflight if shooting ‘em above a specified velocity level and/or from a too fast twist rate barrel. Look for reduced velocity 22-250 load data if need be.

Thanks, good info.

 

[AckleymanII]

16T may handle a 45g Sierra spt, this is a great bullet if it will shoot it, I would buy a box and try it.

 

[KMart]

You may want to try some flat base bullets. I had a 1950's Sako in 222 Rem that had a 16" twist. It would shoot 50 and 55 gr flat base bullets fine, but a BT bullet shot patterns and not groups

 

[dedogs]

Thanks, good info.

Harvey Donaldson was able to push 48g bullets to 4000 fps in his .219 wasp with a 16" twist barrel. He used some kind of special throating to achieve this.
You should make a chamber casting of your rifle to find exactly what you have. Then we can make educated recommendations on how to proceed. dedogs

 

[AckleymanII]

Another thing, Sierra makes a 50 & 55g semi point bullets with more bearing surface, a 50g may indeed stabilize with 22/250 speeds, these bullets are amazingly accurate.

 

[danyboy]

You stated in your 1st post that your 55gr would not group. Was this at 100yds?
Take it out a ways & watch the groups grow & bullet tumble.

Yes at 100 yards. Crazy gun control and few shooting ranges left around here. Our club has 100 yards max.

 

[danyboy]

You may want to try some flat base bullets. I had a 1950's Sako in 222 Rem that had a 16" twist. It would shoot 50 and 55 gr flat base bullets fine, but a BT bullet shot patterns and not groups

Flat base bullets is all I shoot in this rifle.

 

[danyboy]

I have a older version of QL and don't have the 35 & 40gr Nos Var Metal tip listed, but a similar bullet should suffice...

22-250
26" bbl
-----------------------------
35gr Nos. BT Var.
2.350" coal

Varget - 39.5 gr, 59,664 psi, 4,353 fps.
IMR-3031 - 37.8 gr, 59,436 psi, 4,502 fps.
IMR-4064 - 39 gr, 59,986 psi, 4,363 fps.
IMR-4895 - 39.8 gr, 59,543 psi, 4,445 fps.

-------------------------------------------


40gr Nos. Bal.Tip
2.350" coal

Varget - 38.8 gr, 59,442 psi, 4,175 fps.
IMR-3031 - 37 gr, 59,511 psi, 4,298 fps.
IMR-4064 - 38.3 gr, 59,832 psi, 4,184 fps.
IMR-4895 - 39 gr, 59,283 psi, 4,258 fps.

----------------------------------------

55gr V-max
2.350" coal

Varget - 35.8 gr. 59,258 psi, 3,715 fps.
IMR-3031 - 33.8 gr, 59,236 psi, 3,774 fps.
IMR-4064 - 35.3 gr, 59,656 psi, 3,718 fps.
IMR-4895 - 35.9 gr, 59,494 psi, 3,789 fps.

-------------------------------------

Reduce & work up. Watch for signs of pressure etc... QL is a guide just like all other reloading manuals.
Good Luck !

Tried 25 55gr. VMAX bullets with 35.5 gr. of IMR4895: High pressure . Windy and not very accurate.
Then, 25 other same bullets with 34.5 gr. of IMR4895 : no more high pressure. Accuracy not great.

 

[Zero333]

Tried 25 55gr. VMAX bullets with 35.5 gr. of IMR4895: High pressure . Windy and not very accurate.
Then, 25 other same bullets with 34.5 gr. of IMR4895 : no more high pressure. Accuracy not great.

Unfortunately I don't think the 16 twist is enough to stabilize the 55gr v-max and this might be the issue here. Even tho the bullets aren't tumbling.

Try 45gr and lighter bullets.

 

[gambleone]

danyboy, You might try the 50gr sierra semi point that AckleymanII spoke of using a stout load of imr 4064. It's a popular powder used with the 22-250. If this doesn't
stabilize that bullet, try a 45gr with the same powder.

 

[AckleymanII]

I know that the 45g sierra high velocity spt will stabilize. Long ago, I bought a mauzer 22/250 with a straight 30" barrel on it, MHV with a 16T. I fried the barrel on jack rabbits, 50g semi point. I shot all kinds of powders in it. 3031, 4064, ballc2, compressed load of H380...thought that was cool.

 

[danyboy]

Make sure to mic the bore . Some one may have stuck a Rimfire blank on there . I've seen stranger stuff . I hope it's got a .224

Rimfire blank ?

 

[danyboy]

I know that the 45g sierra high velocity spt will stabilize. Long ago, I bought a mauzer 22/250 with a straight 30" barrel on it, MHV with a 16T. I fried the barrel on jack rabbits, 50g semi point. I shot all kinds of powders in it. 3031, 4064, ballc2, compressed load of H380...thought that was cool.

You 'fried the barrel' ?

 

[danyboy]

Harvey Donaldson was able to push 48g bullets to 4000 fps in his .219 wasp with a 16" twist barrel. He used some kind of special throating to achieve this.
You should make a chamber casting of your rifle to find exactly what you have. Then we can make educated recommendations on how to proceed. dedogs

Chamber casting ? I did some on antique guns, when I shot cast bullets, patched bullets.
Here, I neck size all the time. What do you mean by 'special throating' ?