52 gr. Speer HP Varmint

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I was shooting some of these today in my 22-250 and it seems as if some of these aren't making it to the target. My rifle is a Savage 12 VLP 22-250 with a 9" twist. Seems as if I heard several different places that Speer TNTs, and apparently their 52 gr. Varmints, like smoother barrels. I have never had this happen to me before. I was doing some shooting at 100 yds. and had one not make it to the target and then I was shooting at 300 yds. and only had one of four make it to the target, no marks in the snow around my swinging steel plate or anything. Has anyone else experienced this with this bullet? I have shot 52 gr. Berger Match Varmints and those shoot excellent in this rifle. Thanks!

Mike

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Boy I've been shooting the 52's with they big HP for years they are awesome. Have never seen the problem you're talking about and shot lots of them in my Savage 12 FV .223 1 in 9 twist.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I have had good luck with Speer bullets so far, thats why I bought a box of them to try. Maybe this is an indication that something has gone south in this barrel? Maybe the throat is getting a little rough?

Mike

 

[jonbearman]

What is your load and how fast are you shooting them.If they are top loads(super fast) tone them down and try again.Alot of varmint bullets dont do real well with a fast twist barrel do to higher pressure's caused by the resisitance from making the twist. I have always selected 1 in 12 or 1-14 twist with the 22-250 to explicitly shoot light varmint bullets.You may want to call speer and talk with their tech's to iron this problem out.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Jon: My load is the tried and true 38.0 gr. of H380, went a little different with the primer this time and used Rem 9 1/2M primers, bullet jumped .005" out of FL sized Win brass. RJinTexas ran my numbers through quick load and if my memmory serves me right I'm pushing these bullets about 3,724 fps, not real fast. I think its just the 9 twist and rough Savage barrel that these bullets don't like, probably the rough Savage barrel. Like I told RJinTexas, I can't wait for this barrel to die !

Mike

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Forgot to mention this but, I'm gonna shoot the 38.0 gr. H380 lit by WLR primers with the Berger 52 gr. Match Varmints today and see how they act. They always behaved well for me before with this rifle. If they don't make it to the target, then I know I have a problem with the barrel.

Mike

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Didn't get to shoot Sunday, was too windy. Got to shoot today and the 52 gr. Berger Match Varmints behaved well, as they always do! Guess those Speer 52 gr. HP just don't like the barrel on my 22-250, oh well! Glad to know it was the bullets and not the barrel though!

Mike

 

[pwdrbrn]

no experience w/52 speer in 22-250, but have had a lot of other "varmint" bullets come apart even in 12-14 tw bbls' if not rated for higher velocity. look for a gray cloud (small one) about 15-20 yards in front of muzzle.

 

[bsc4444]

A friend had the same problem on a fast twist barrel over 3400 fps. He was spinning them apart. I have 2 older Speer loading books and there test barrel was 1:14 twist. In my 250 50 and 55 gr. v-max's were outstanding and never had a problem at 3700 plus.

Brad

 

[Ackman]

Speer says the TNT is for 3400fps or less. But it's very accurate doing 3800+ in a 14twist 223AI. They come apart somewhere between 3825 and 4200+ (22-250AI). Speer says the 52hp is designed for Swift velocity. The point is.....what works in your gun is what works, and you find out by trying.

 

[gpoldblue]

CanusLatranSnpr..,,,At 3,724fps,your Speer bullets are spinning at 297,919rpms when they leave the muzzle!!! The formula to find rpms is.....RPMS=12 divided by actual twist rate times 60 times the muzzle velocity. RPMS=12/9 x 60 x3724. I'm glad the Berger's are working for you. Good luck...gpoldblue