22-250 Bullet Choice

[rlandry6]

About to start loading the 22-250. It's a Rem 700 1:14 twist barrel. What weight range bullets am I limited to with this twist rate?

 

[rockhound78]

With my 22-250 1-14, 60gr was as heavy as I could go. Tried some of the 62gr bthp from Midsouth and they were marginal. Might get two in a tight group , then two elsewhere and the 5th back in the first two.

 

[rlandry6]

That's better than I thought. With that slow twist rate, I was thinking down in the 40's for weight. I like being able to shoot the same 55gr pill in my AR's and the 22-250.
What powder(s)are you getting good results with?

 

[Mark W]

The go to load in my 1:14 twist 22-250 is a 50 grain Sierra Blitzking over a stiff load of H-380. The heaviest bullet that I can shoot is the Sierra 63 grain SMP. It’s a short flat based bullet with a semi point that absolutely hammers out to a couple hundred yards.

 

[joed49]

I have a 700 in .22-250 with 1:14 twist. The most accurate bullet it shoots is the 52 gr Sierra. No doubt in my mind that 55 gr will work for you as I've used a few. But I've found nothing beats the 52 gr.

 

[SSL]

I sound like a broken record, but:

52-grain Amax/ELD-M
38.5 -39 grains CFE223 (depending on which rifle)

Both loads are warm, but safe in my rifles. Back off and work up. Consistent .5 - .75" or less groups. Some as low as .25".

 

[rr2030]

Shot a few thousand Berger 55gr FB on top of Varget. 1:14 Rem 700, works well out to 600 yards

 

[7887mm08]

My rem 788 loves the 50 gr nosler BT loaded with imr4064

 

[perazziguy]

I have an old Ruger 77 that likes 50 and 55 grain V-max real well. Also does surprisingly well with 52 grain MK's and Reloader 10x. 3031, 4064, Varget, H380, CFE223 should be good performers.

 

[hunter67]

Try 53gr vmax. one of the better bc's and shoots

 

[charlesasmith]

My understanding is that the 53 gr V-Max requires a 12 twist or faster according to the Hornady tech i talked to. Wish I could use it in my numerous 14 twist 22 cal barrels.

 

[CT10ring]

Shot a few thousand Berger 55gr FB on top of Varget. 1:14 Rem 700, works well out to 600 yards

ditto.

 

[biggun2869]

50gr Nosler BT over 35gr IMR 4064, I've shot this in a bunch of 22-250s over the years. That bullet has always won out.

 

[Patton243]

I had a 1:14 twist factory Remington at one time and it had issues stabilizing a lot of the bullets on colder days. Anything under 50 grains you should be fine with that barrel. The 53 Vmax the guy mentioned above WILL not work in a 1:14. Anything 55 and over that's a boat tail design most likely wont stabilize either. When you re barrel, go with a 1:9 twist. That's what I have on my 22-250 and it's pretty much perfect for everything.

 

[hunter67]

Let the rifle tell you what it will shoot and wont.

 

[lawman29]

H380 and 50 or 55 nosler bt

 

[long40shot]

A 40grn or 50grn bullet over Varget. You could try some 55s, some barrels do great with them, some don't.

 

[Evan]

All my 14 twist 22-250 barrels have shot the 50gn VMAX and any of the 52-53gn flat base match bullets behind 35.2gns of IMR4064 with incredibly accuracy. It's a very moderate load, but it is also a broad node that doesn't need re-tuning. 35 up to 35.5gns or so all shoots the same, 35.2 was just in the middle. I'm talking groups like this:

I chase the lands to maintain a 0.010" jump or so with the match bullets, but the vmaxes are not picky and when you run out of neck to chase with you can continue shooting vmaxes well with larger jumps.

EDIT: to directly answer your question, my barrels could shoot 55 Vmaxes, but nowhere near as well as the 50s. I think the 55s were on the edge.

 

[littlebuddybr]

Most all 50gr bullets will stabilize well.
The 52 and 53 gr smk are a great way to go.
The 55gr nosler Ballistic tips stabilize very well also.
Most other 55gr and heavier won't stabilize.

I have wore out a lot of 22-250 barrels.
And tried a lot of different bullets and loads.

Hope this helps

 

[Tim s]

I had a 1:14 twist factory Remington at one time and it had issues stabilizing a lot of the bullets on colder days. Anything under 50 grains you should be fine with that barrel. The 53 Vmax the guy mentioned above WILL not work in a 1:14. Anything 55 and over that's a boat tail design most likely wont stabilize either. When you re barrel, go with a 1:9 twist. That's what I have on my 22-250 and it's pretty much perfect for everything.[/QUOTE

Got no idea where you got that but it’s incorrect, cannot tell you how many Sierra 55gr boat tail spitzers myself and buddies have sent down 1:14 barrels, Rem and others.