Bullet choice 22-250 - looking for better wind performance

[hockeyref]

Have a Savage 112 BVSS
Factory barrel ~1x12 twist

Shoots Sierra 60 gr flat base varminters and 60 gr Vmax really well ~3/4 moa @ 500 yds for 10 shots. I'm looking for a little better windage for mid range and F-class (best I've shot with it was a 599-32x with the 60gr Sierra's and at times held off in the 7 ring due to wind). While I haven't tried them, I doubt that the tube will stabilize 69 SMK's. The 55gr fmjbt seems too offer a little bit of wind advantage over the 60 grain bullets, but I wonder about the accuracy if the bullet itself. I happen to have a thousand of them sitting around, but wanted some opinions before I wasted time, powder, and barrel life on them.

So tell me what your experiences are.... Once I burn out this barrel I can get a proper fast twist tube but as long as she shoots I'll run with her.....

 

[357Mag]

HockeyR -

Howdy !

I'm not "up on " Savages, much as I should be. What is your rifle's twist rate ?

If a 1-14, any custom 60s > .75" long most likely won't stabilize.

If a 1-12, then I suggest you try using Sierra 65SPBTs.

When I switched my shot-out .224" calibre wildcat' barrel from 24" 1-14, I went w/ a 28"
1-8... and same wildcat chambering. I used 75"A"-Max exclusively in that barrel, for both paper punching and live varmint ( " soybeanus digestus " ). I was very happy w/ the 1-8,
and with the 2-fold range increase in engagement range that it provided ( over the 24" 1-14 ).

With regards,
357Mag

 

[hockeyref]

It's a 12' twist... maybe a little faster.. measured it when I got it about 8 years ago but don't remember what it was exactly.

I'm well versed on heavies and fast twist .224's.... I shot JLK 90's at 1000 yards from a 6.5" twist AR service rifle... I would love that this tube were a 1x7" or 1x8" to shoot the 75-80 gr match bullets..... It will be once it burns out. The rifle is my poor man's switch barrel prone gun. I don't want to burn a krieger 6mm tube and expensive 115gr 6mm bullets on basically a mid range fun\practice match...

Once I get a new 22-250 barrel for it, I'll probably shoot the 75gr Amax out of it. Good for paper and pasture poodles .... Also looking at a 6BR tube and a Palma tube for it at some point. Anyway, the theoretical ballistics on the 55 fmjbt are in between the 60 Sierra and the 69 smk (which interestingly enough according to Sierra loses BC above 2800fps)... The benefit to them is that I have 60's and 55's sitting there on the bench, but the 55's are obviously suspect when compared to a good varmint or match bullet.

I guess the thing for me is that I DON"T have the experience at distance with the lighter\intermediate weight bullets. Being a competitive shooter I always went straight for what gives me the accuracy and performance at distances that are considered long for the varminter-hunters but are everyday no big deal for a mid\long range competitor. Doing so by basically building the rifle as needed rather than adapting to a factory rifle.

 

[robbor]

you might try the 53 vmax, lighter but with a high bc for small bullet

 

[hockeyref]

Thanks,
I missed them. I'll see if I can find some... they are nearly the same claimed G1 BC that the Sierra 69smk has .290 vs .305..... and I should get a few more fps with them to make up the difference..... I can almost see the bottom rung of the mid range ballistic ladder!

 

[ShaneG.]

I shot some 69smk's in my 12t Savage 22-250.They would make nice rounds hole in targets,but picked up a few 69g PRVI hpbt and they would go thru sideways every so often. Might pick up a few off someone and give them a try.

 

[hockeyref]

Yeah,,, working on (literally) finding a couple 69's...I haven't shot the 69's since Sierra brought out the 77's but I might have a couple rolling around my loading bench (or sitting on the floor behind it...) I'll end up buying a box or two of the Hdy 53's.

Edited to note that I found enough 69's to see if they'll fly.... now to get some Hornady 53's....

 

[m500]

If you want to spend the money you might try these. I don't know if they are availible or not. I would'nt waste them on a factory barrel though. I would try the 53 vmax as suggested. Good luck.

http://www.swampworks.com/jlk/JLK%20Low%20Drag%20Bullets.html

 

[hockeyref]

m500,
I pretty familiar with JLK's.... I have about 2k .224 90's sitting on my bench... the 60 grain JLK looks a lot like the 60 grain Sierra...... I never really thought about looking at them as they are more $$ than I want to spend on this barrel. Jimmy Knox sold JLK bullets a couple years back... They are still in business and IRRC the current owner is a HP\LR shooter.... posts occasionally on the US Rifle team boards.

I agree with not wasting time on a factory barrel, but I'm not going to Perry this year - and I'm bored .... I have this barrel sitting here and it shoots pretty good.... IMHO really good for a factory tube. I found targets last night from load testing that are ~.75 - 1 moa out to 500 yards with the 60 grain Sierras. 500 yard groups were good enough to clean the 500 yard F-Class target with some room to spare.... I know that I had trouble finding no wind conditions to test so I suspect that it might shoot a little better that what the groups show. ...... I'm just trying to get closer the wind that a 77 SMK gets out of my AR service rifle.