22 Creedmoor Powders

[jfjohn77]

Anyone have any knowledge about any powders other that the go to H4350 and Reloader "XX" powders? The Reloader powders seem all but non-existent, and expensive when available. I ran some Parametric powder searches in Gordon's Reloading Tool and several come up at or near the top of the lists with several different bullet weights. I'm only looking at the heavier bullet weights, 70gr to 90gr. So, I'm curious if someone has had any experience using some of these? I don't hear these mentioned much, so maybe they just aren't worth the try... but the powders I am seeing over and over are Vihtavuori N550 & N555, Ramshot Hunter, Big Game & Magnum, Hodgdon LeverEvolution and Winchester 760. Now I have not started loading for the 22 Creedmoor because my barrel has not arrived yet. I'm just gathering powders and bullets at this point. I have dies, brass and primers. And I'm trying work up some ladders on paper for when I can start. If anyone has tried any of these powders with the 22 Creed, I would value your opinion as to their viability with this cartridge.

 

[dk17hmr]

IMR and Hornady both have data published online

 

[rockhound78]

Maybe Varget or VV140 for the 70's. I am using Varget with my Nosler RDF 70's

 

[357Mag]

Anyone have any knowledge about any powders other that the go to H4350 and Reloader "XX" powders? The Reloader powders seem all but non-existent, and expensive when available. I ran some Parametric powder searches in Gordon's Reloading Tool and several come up at or near the top of the lists with several different bullet weights. I'm only looking at the heavier bullet weights, 70gr to 90gr. So, I'm curious if someone has had any experience using some of these? I don't hear these mentioned much, so maybe they just aren't worth the try... but the powders I am seeing over and over are Vihtavuori N550 & N555, Ramshot Hunter, Big Game & Magnum, Hodgdon LeverEvolution and Winchester 760. Now I have not started loading for the 22 Creedmoor because my barrel has not arrived yet. I'm just gathering powders and bullets at this point. I have dies, brass and primers. And I'm trying work up some ladders on paper for when I can start. If anyone has tried any of these powders with the 22 Creed, I would value your opinion as to their viability with this cartridge.

JFJ -
Howdy !

I what barrel length and twist does your rifle have?

Also, what bullet(s) do you have in-mind to use?

With regards,
357Mag

 

[jfjohn77]

I have a 26" X-Cal with 1:6.5 tw on the way.

I will probably be shooting monos because of the twist rate. I have some and some coming. The Barnes 70gr TAC-X, 70gr TSX BT, 77gr LRX & 78gr TSX BT, the Hammer 83gr. I managed to get a few Berger 85.5 gr LR Hybrids and some Sierra 90gr HPBT bullets to try and determine if I can maybe shoot them at some useable velocity without them disintegrating before reaching paper.

 

[jfjohn77]

Maybe Varget or VV140 for the 70's. I am using Varget with my Nosler RDF 70's

Yes, Varget made the list, it was just below the others mentioned. But, I already have that in stock. VV 140 was always down in bottom 1/3 of the 62 powders tested (on paper) for velocity.

 

[Nealm66]

I used 6.5 staball for Berger 90’s and Hornady 88’s around 3150. H4350 was too fast. H1000 was too slow. Currently using staball hd with Berger 85.5’s at mild load 3080. Fed 210’s, all 7 twist criterion barrels. Tried RL22 but started ladder too high. Definitely need to start about 4gr lower than Hornady load data. This with alpha brass. Good results with both adg and alpha brass so far. Hope this helps

 

[Shurefire]

I’ve used N165 extensively with 90’s and 80’s. Both my Krieger and Proof barrels loved 40.5 grains with Petersen brass. Somewhere around 3,000 fps depending on temp with the 90’s, and 2900 for the Sierra 95’s.

For 80’s, H380 is amazing. 34 grains will shoot groups that are phenomenal. Same charge works fantastic for Berger 75 VLd’s as well. Both shoot right around 3,000 fps as well.

I’ve only gone up to 32 g of Varget with 80’s and Berger 75’s. The groups are tiny, but only 2812 fps.

I’ve tried N550 with Sierra 80’s and Hornady 80’s and 88’s. While I can get stupid high velocity (3,400 fps), I can’t get anything to shoot well with it. I can’t run anything above 36.5 gr without a sticky bolt. 37gr and 88’s gave me the best grouping with that powder, but I nearly needed a hammer to open the bolt on a half dozen shots, and it was still 3/4 MOA at best. I’ve gone through a pound of it without success.

I’ve tried Staball 6.5 but never found an accurate mode that was better than 2800 fps.

N165, H380, and Varget have produced the most consistent groups in the .1’s and .2’s with 90’s and 80’s respectively.

 

[Ironworker]

Mine has a 26" 8" twist bbl H4350 for 75-80gr bullets and Re#15.5 for 55-62gr.

 

[Scooby-93]

I’ve used N165 extensively with 90’s and 80’s. Both my Krieger and Proof barrels loved 40.5 grains with Petersen brass. Somewhere around 3,000 fps depending on temp with the 90’s, and 2900 for the Sierra 95’s.

For 80’s, H380 is amazing. 34 grains will shoot groups that are phenomenal. Same charge works fantastic for Berger 75 VLd’s as well. Both shoot right around 3,000 fps as well.

I’ve only gone up to 32 g of Varget with 80’s and Berger 75’s. The groups are tiny, but only 2812 fps.

I’ve tried N550 with Sierra 80’s and Hornady 80’s and 88’s. While I can get stupid high velocity (3,400 fps), I can’t get anything to shoot well with it. I can’t run anything above 36.5 gr without a sticky bolt. 37gr and 88’s gave me the best grouping with that powder, but I nearly needed a hammer to open the bolt on a half dozen shots, and it was still 3/4 MOA at best. I’ve gone through a pound of it without success.

I’ve tried Staball 6.5 but never found an accurate mode that was better than 2800 fps.

N165, H380, and Varget have produced the most consistent groups in the .1’s and .2’s with 90’s and 80’s respectively.

What charge weights were you working with the 88’s and N165? Also barrel length and velocity

 

[Shurefire]

What charge weights were you working with the 88’s and N165? Also barrel length and velocity

38g with the 90’s was 2749. I estimate 40.5g is 2950, based on shotmarker velocity data at 500 yards. 26” Krieger 1/7. This with 90 SMK’s.

I used 38g on my 26” Proof Research 1/7 twist, which chronographed at 2880 on a blazing Summer day last year. I then went to 40.5 once the throat was worn, which was 2820fps after 2,000 rounds.

Neither of my barrels like Hornady 88’s or 80’s, but they like 75 BTHP. The loads are sub MOA, but they throw 9’s consistently at 500 and 600, where Sierras and Bergers do not.

 

[Shurefire]

Hornady 88’s at 500 with 36g N550.

 

[Shurefire]

Sierra 90’s with 40.5 N165. Yes, I called a bad shot on the loose 10.