.224 bulllet weight in an 8” twist

[Wind River]

Recently acquired a 1-8” twist 22-250 Tikka for coyotes. I may be regretting buying one with the 8” twist. 52gr Bergers, a bullet that has been my go-to, only reach target about half the time as they fragment due to the centrifugal force. I know it will shoot heavier bullets but has anyone found a relatively light varmint bullet that will hold together?
BTW…….i did not notice it was 8” twist when I bought it, I know it’s all the rage these days but all I wanted was a coyote gun.

 

[CF Junkie]

There is no reason why you should be pushing a 52 grain Berger so fast that it is disintegrating, regardless of the twist.
The 1:8 twist combined with high muzzle velocity is the problem.
Slow down the muzzle velocity a bit with the 1:8 twist and I think you will find the problem goes away.
The 52 Berger FB #22408 is one of my favorite bullets in both the .22-250 and the .223.
They are great target bullets. But it is not a bullet that I would use on coyotes.

With a more standard .22-250 I have shot 40 gr Nosler BTs at over 4,000 fps MV and they were like grenades on prairie dogs. But I think they would be too light a bullet for coyotes.

You should be able to find some 55 gr to 60 varmint bullets that will be devastating on coyotes at a long distance and they should be less susceptible of disintegrating at the MVs you seem to prefer.
In all my years of reloading, I have rarely found a barrel that shoots more accurately at pressures near Pmax with max muzzle velocity than with pressures closer to the middle of the powder load table.

 

[Gary in MD]

My Tikka 8 twist shoots the 55 grain Blitz Kings very well @ 3700 fps using Varget

 

[thatguyshm]

If that bullet isn't working, you can always try different ones. There's a few different 55gr solids, like the tsx or gmx, there's the new 62 eld vt that the 22 Creed crowd is really pushing hard, isn't there a decent 64gr Berger? I'm sure you'll find one that will work.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Just shoot the 75 ELDM. They are excellent on coyotes at those speeds.

 

[vonb]

MV X 720/Twist Rate = RPM

With the bullet you mentioned, 3,400 fps as an example puts you at 306K RPMs. Once you get up above 300K RPMs, unpredictable things can happen. As other said, slow it down or go to a heavier bullet.

 

[ELR LVR]

Recently acquired a 1-8” twist 22-250 Tikka for coyotes. I may be regretting buying one with the 8” twist. 52gr Bergers, a bullet that has been my go-to, only reach target about half the time as they fragment due to the centrifugal force. I know it will shoot heavier bullets but has anyone found a relatively light varmint bullet that will hold together?
BTW…….i did not notice it was 8” twist when I bought it, I know it’s all the rage these days but all I wanted was a coyote gun.

Berger "TARGET"?
or
Berger "VARMINT"?
====================
Up the weight to Berger 80.5's or 85.5's to match your twist and you should be good after that
Sierra "TARGET" bullets often hold up, as they have tougher Gilding metal jackets vs J4's

 

[JPB3]

55 Nosler ballistic tip

 

[longridgehunter]

See if a 53gr vmax will hold together. They work great at 22-250 speeds. After that I would go to the 62 eldvt.

 

[Wind River]

Berger target has been my best shooter in most other rifles. These started to fragment at approximately 3700fps. After posting this I went out yesterday afternoon and did try some different bullets, Hornady 60 Vmax, 68 match and 75 ELVD, all held together although the 60 Vmax did not group very well. The 75 gr. shot extremely well.
I’ll have to rethink my loading, I’m an old man that started shooting back in the ‘60s and for years all 22 centerfires were pretty much 14” twist.
I did some research and found this: https://calculator.academy/bullet-spin-rate-calculator/
A “bullet spin calculator”, the general advice is to keep the projectile under 300k rpm, the above load, ( 52 Berger Match @ 3700 fps),figures at 333k rpm.

 

[jelenko]

FYI. When I was having issues with Hornady's 75 HPBT, the tech told me to keep the spin under 280K
When I asked Sierra about their 69 gr SMK they said to keep it 250 - 260K.

 

[alf]

The 52 grain Berger Target bullet is my favorite for coyotes, & does a fantastic job on them. I shoot them at 3550 out of my 22 DTI for night time endeavors. Anyone that says otherwise has obviously not used them.

My choice in an 8" twist is the Berger 80 grain VLD, & have used them at 3025 out of a 22-204, & 3370 out of a 22x47 Lapua with equal satisfaction. I've also used the 75 VLD on quite a few at 3075.

I'm hearing good things about performance of the 70 VLD out of 22 Creedmoors too, but no direct experience.

 

[ELR LVR]

FYI. When I was having issues with Hornady's 75 HPBT, the tech told me to keep the spin under 280K
When I asked Sierra about their 69 gr SMK they said to keep it 250 - 260K.

I would agree with this
I use to try and go for about 270,000 rpm if I wanted to ensure I stayed in a safe zone

 

[K22]

I am with you on this fast twist craze for the 224 caliber rifles if you are a hunter. I hate it but not an issue for me anymore since I had to give up hunting for health reasons. However, I have taken literally a ton (2, 017) ground hogs and over 100 predators with 12" twist 223 Rem and 14" twist 22 250's using 50 and 55 grain Nosler BTs. Flat trajectories with excellent terminal performances at 300 yards and under with these bullets and twists rates.

With that said, my 8" twist 223 Rem Tikka's shoot the 60 Vmax outstandingly. This is also a very good bullet for coyotes. However, all my experience with predators with this bullet is 200 yards and under.

 

[alf]

Hornady's 62 grain ELD-VT deserves a look as well, but again, no direct experience except on PD's.