70 Grain Speers in 22-250

[Soup]

Folks ,
I've got 300 Speer .224 bullets and want to use them in a few .22-250 Remington rifles.
2 of the rifles are 14 twist -a Remington 700 VLS & a Ruger No.1V, the other is an 8 Twist Tikka Lite.
Speer told me the 70s would work in the 14 twist if I got them going 3000fps. I'm not a speed shooter and lean to accuracy. This sits at both ends of the spectrum 14 twist and 8 twist. Has anyone used these bullets in 14 twist rifles? I don't have any of the Reloader powders but a fair assortment of Accurate -IMR plus VV 133-135-140-150.Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Semper Fidelis
Soup

"Down South 68-69"

 

[marchboom]

I have never heard of a 14" twist being able to stabilize a 70 Gr bullet. But I could be wrong (happened once before). I would use a 9" twist or faster. But if you can get them to stabilize please let us know.

 

[Soup]

I have never heard of a 14" twist being able to stabilize a 70 Gr bullet. But I could be wrong (happened once before). I would use a 9" twist or faster. But if you can get them to stabilize please let us know.

I'm just repeating what Speer emailed to me. The Tikka is no problem, but I've not heard of a 14-twist handling a bullet of that length. You have to remember Speer developed that bullet long before the fast twist craze. Another thing is Speer lists N140@33 grains, and VV lists the max charge for a 69 grain Lapua bullet - 30.6 @ 2999fps.
Soup

 

[marchboom]

I would shoot some and see what happens. Nothing to lose.

 

[Soup]

I would shoot some and see what happens. Nothing to lose.

Don't forget to include the OMS factor-old man shooting 76!!!
Say a quick prayer on Memorial Day.
Soup

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

The Biggest Bullet I was able to get good Accuracy from, was the Flat Based, 60 grain, Sierra Varminter with, a Stiff load of IMR 4350 to Get 3,450 fps.
Usually If, the Bullets OAL is LESS than, .800 Long, they Will "Shoot", in a 14 Twist.
I Had trouble in the Cold Winter months trying the 55 gr NBT's ( OAL .817 Long ) Shot Well in Summer Heat, Lousy groups in,.. Dec/ Jan / Feb,.. in Idaho ! Personally, I'd use the 70's, in the 8 Twist Tikka and Buy some 50 grain, V-Maxes for, the 14 Twist, as THEY,.. Hammer !

 

[jghoghunter]

I have a ruger #1 in 220 weatherby rocket with a14 twist that would shoot the 70gr. speers very well.

 

[Dillon Friend]

Hodgdon.com has load data for this bullet with Hodgdon Superformance powder achiving 3499 fps

Reloading Data Center – Hodgdon Reloading Data Center

hodgdonreloading.com

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Per JBM Ballistics, they are .810 Long and will Be,.. of, "Borderline" stability.
Get the Speed Up to, 3,300 fps min.- 3,400 FPS Plus ( Better ) and Hope for,.. the Best !
Good Luck !

 

[Gary in MD]

The Speer 70 grain is an old style round nosed bullet from back in the day and was supposed to work in the 14 twist. It’s nothing like the newer heavier bullets that need a fast twist. It’s got the BC of a brick

 

[jsn]

Per Speer #13 (2003), BC of .214; COAL of 2.33 tested; twist of 1-14"; do not jam into lands.

What Gary in MD said above^^^^^^.

 

[wildcatter]

I'm just repeating what Speer emailed to me. The Tikka is no problem, but I've not heard of a 14-twist handling a bullet of that length. You have to remember Speer developed that bullet long before the fast twist craze. Another thing is Speer lists N140@33 grains, and VV lists the max charge for a 69 grain Lapua bullet - 30.6 @ 2999fps.
Soup

I shot those over 40 years ago in a 223, my best load in that rifle. But that was a Ruger #3. Ruger made those rifles with a 1-10 twist barrel, and why I chose them, as well as the Sierra 60 grain flat base. But the Semi pointed 70 grain speer, was the best shooting bullet I shot in that rifle. Today I just wish I didn't read threads like this, it reminds me how much I wish I had that little rifle back! But in a 1-14 twist, I am sure it's not going to be enough to stabilize them.

The Sierra if I remember right was slightly longer with it's sleeker hp profile. But both were great varmint loads and I am sure the 70 grain would have been reliable on deer out to 200 yards, it turned the 223 into a hammer with the 1-10 twist barrel. Those #3 Rugers shot good to, I think the barrel band helped the way the #1 and #3 barrels were mounted?

 

[Wild Bill IV]

I'm with wildcatter on this!!! I had a few Ruger Mini-14s (223 early models) with 1:10 twists that were quit accurate with 70grain semi spitzer!!! Those rounds would pull the dogs out of the hole when aiming an 1-2 inches below the top of a mound with a visible nose!! They would get yanked up out of the hole with their limp body spinning!!! An, those loads were good out to 250 on dogs out of the hole!!!

Out of my 1:14 22-250 varmint rifle (26" Rem 700 VLS), the 70s would occasionally print slightly elliptical holes at 100 target!!! Meaning, they hit the target on a slight angle!!! They did not stabilize in that rifle!!!!

However, they did work on dogs less than 100 yards, but were really great at yanking them up and out of the mounds!!! I loved silencing the "barkers" when they showed me their snout!!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Way back when I loaded some of those for a 788 22-250. I shot a little buck running at 75 yards and it did it’s job effectively.

 

[Gary in MD]

Back to the OP
It’s not the 70 grain Speer that you have but I’m getting a little under 3200 fps with the 77 TMK with IMR 4064 and Staball6.5 in a 22 1/2” barreled tikka. So you shouldn’t have any trouble reaching the 3000 fps that you are talking about.