22-250 AI 36gr Varmint Grenades. Velocity seems excessive.

[britt2020]

Started developing a load for a new build, 22-250 AI. Very little data, so I found what I could and worked from there. The speeds seem excessive to what I ever expected. I ooched up the charge until I got my first sign of any pressure, which in this case was the primer just starting to flatten, and I mean just starting to as in it’s so minimal that wouldn’t pay any attention to it in any other load I shoot.

I’ve attached pics of the chrono speed and a pic of the 3/8 AR500 plate it shot through.

 

[358WCF]

Crikeys... I had gotten 40s to 4300 just for giggles one day with no pressure signs flogging on a dying 24" 22-250 Ackley after the barrel gave up the ghost.

 

[357Mag]

Started developing a load for a new build, 22-250 AI. Very little data, so I found what I could and worked from there. The speeds seem excessive to what I ever expected. I ooched up the charge until I got my first sign of any pressure, which in this case was the primer just starting to flatten, and I mean just starting to as in it’s so minimal that wouldn’t pay any attention to it in any other load I shoot.

I’ve attached pics of the chrono speed and a pic of the 3/8 AR500 plate it shot through.

Britt -

Howdy !

Velocity aside….. mic’ing the base of your fired cases to check on case’ expansion,
is a more reliable method; than doing a visual inspection of the fired primers.

This would be location on the case notionally around the .200” point up from the rim face.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[RegionRat]

A 22-250 is typically around 1650 to 1750 ft*lbs of muzzle energy depending on the bullets, powders, pressure, and bbl length being used.

A 36 grain bullet going 4829 fps is 1864 ft*lbs.

I would back it down to roughly 4675 fps and even then be careful.

 

[tbs]

I'm suprised the bullets didn't Gernade before they got to the target. What twist is your barrel?

 

[Savagenut71]

I'm suprised the bullets didn't Gernade before they got to the target. What twist is your barrel?

My 22-250 AI " poofed" them at 3900...........about 25 yards from muzzle

 

[britt2020]

I'm suprised the bullets didn't Gernade before they got to the target. What twist is your barrel?

It’s 12 twist

 

[Orr89rocz]

Run it thru quickload or grt?

 

[ebb]

I ran a big heavy 29 inch aluminum arrow through a chronograph and it said 630 FPS. New batteries in the crono made it read in the back in the 270s where it belonged. Just a thought?

 

[MQ1]

Don’t believe everything it says. With only 5 shots of data, I would be very suspect of the >4800 fps shot. Not that it isnt possible. If you have decent reloading practices and used the same components of the same quantites, I would doubt an extreme spread of >400 fps. Be sure to update the software….my Garmin gave me some initially weird readings until I updated the software.

MQ

 

[britt2020]

Don’t believe everything it says. With only 5 shots of data, I would be very suspect of the >4800 fps shot. Not that it isnt possible. If you have decent reloading practices and used the same components of the same quantites, I would doubt an extreme spread of >400 fps. Be sure to update the software….my Garmin gave me some initially weird readings until I updated the software.

MQ

Each of those 5 shots was a different charge. Started at 39.5 and ended at 42.3

 

[searcher]

My 22-250 AI " poofed" them at 3900...........about 25 yards from muzzle

What was your twist? Those VG's can typically go at insane speeds without coming apart. For that matter, most of the lead-free bullets from Nosler and Hornady also seem to hold speed better than the leaded counterparts. I believe this is due to heavier jackets used to allow the compression of the sintered metal material. just my guess.

 

[Sniper338]

You make me wanna pull out my 22-250AI again! Been a while since I played with it.

 

[britt2020]

Run it thru quickload or grt?

I didn’t. I’m pretty methodical about load development. Chasing these types of speeds was never anything I intended. I found some old nosler data and worked from there. I’ll get a better data for you guys this weekend. I’ll prolly run it up .2 grains measure everything then drop back down below starting load and do some .4 ish ladders. I’ll post virgin and fired brass measurements, pocket tension, primer pressure, and closeups of the heads to see what y’all think on pressure.

 

[209jones]

Seems to me I've seen a 30gr Barnes run to 5k+ somewhere, 48 probably isn't too terribly crazy, think they hit 5K with a different cartridge with the 36 too.

 

[just_jon]

I think you are right where you should be. I’ve shot the 35 grain hammer hunter in my 22-250AI as high as 4865 fps before accuracy went sideways. They blast through AR-500 steel like a shaped charge.