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CZ 550 22-250

I have a CZ 550 Varmint Kevlar 22-250 and I'm having difficulties having it group under an inch. It's a 1 and 14 twist, all my scope mounts and rings are tight, shot from a stable platform.

I have 52 grain SMK loaded up but the throat is too deep to seat .0050" off the lands.

50 and 55 grain Nosler BT's did OK but nothing spectacular.

I've been using Nosler brass, CCI BR primers and Varget powder.


Any recommendations?
 
Mustang
I have used Varget for a couple of 22-250's and it usually does pretty well, but some guns may not "like it". I have also received really good accuracy with ww-760 and imr 4895. I shoot mostly 55gr bullets and found they shoot best in my guns at about 3700 fps. Good luck
Gary
 
I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axle about the long throat in your rifle. Long throats seem to be pretty common among 22-250's for some reason. Your choice of 52g bullets is optimum for the 14 twist according to quotes I have seen from Berger and Hornady ballisticians. Your choice of Varget is also a good one.

I have had good luck developing hand loads for my 22-250 using a combination of the OCW method found at the following link:

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

and the method of finding optimal seating depth recommended on the Berger bullets website.

Once you have found your OCW, seat your bullet as far out as you feel comfortable with. Then load a set of rounds for test seated .040, .080, and .120 deeper respectively. At least one of those four groups of loads will shoot markedly better than the others. Using this seating depth as your starting point, you can then fine tune your seating depth in smaller increments if you feel the need.

I have had my best results using 50g VMAX and 52g AMAX bullets with Varget in my rifle. 55g NBT's, VMAX, and Blitzkings also shoot well in my rifle, though many folks claim that the plastic tipped 55's won't shoot from a 14 twist. The only way to know is to try them out. My rifle will also stabilize 60g Hornady Interlocks, but not with enough accuracy to make me consider using them.

When I first started working with my 22-250, it refused to shoot factory ammo into much less than an inch. One factory load shot nearly 3 inch groups. Only one factory load shot under an inch and only just barely. My hand loads developed using the process outlined above immediately cut my groups to around .6 using the same bullets as some of the factory loads. The difference was bullet seating depths that yielded a longer than factory OAL (though still with considerable jump to the rifling).

I have also found it useful to pay close attention to the rate at which my barrel fouls and to watch closely for a shift in point of impact after a certain number of rounds. My rifle would start to foul after about 15 rounds starting from a clean barrel. After 15 rounds, the point of impact consistently shifted lower by about an inch at 100 yards. It would still group well for about another 20 rounds, but at the lower point of impact.

In attempt to reduce or eliminate the point of impact shift, I firelapped my barrel using the 3 finest grits from a Tubbs Final Finish kit. The point of impact shift went away and, to my surprise, accuracy improved slightly with my handloads.

The real shock came later when I bought a couple boxes of ammo in an attempt to find something from the factory that would shoot acceptably if I were to run out of my hand loaded ammo. Four of the five factory loads that I tried shot inside 3/4". Three of those five loads were from ammo that I had left over when I did my initial testing and break-in. All the previously tested ammo showed an improvement in accuracy and all five loads shot under an inch.

My results from fire lapping indicate to me that my barrel probably had a rough throat. If your load development process doesn't yield the results that you are looking for, it may be worthwhile to try fire lapping.

Anyway, your CZ is an excellent rifle. Don't give up on it. I hope that my experience with the 22-250 will be useful to you as you get your rifle sorted out.
 
I ran into same problem with a mauser 98 22-250. Tried berger 52 gr hpbt. Couldn't reach lands, but held about 3/4" at 100yd. This was also a 1-14 twist. I used cci-200 primers with RL-15 which seemed to do a little better than varget. I've been using the Hornady 55gr Vmax on the chucks. My next 22-250 will be a 1-12 twist.
 
I had a 22~250, CZ 550 and bought a Thumb Hole Stock for that gun from "Richards Microfit" http://rifle-stocks.com/ (Wild Cat Type) I did end up selling that 550, the guy offered me a good price for the gun but wouldn't give me anything for the New stock. In other words I still have the Stock.

If you are interested in this Stock for $100 plus shipping send me an E~mail, I Can send you Pictures


Roesner801@Comcast.net
 
Mustang--I have 2 --22-250 s , PD rifles , both are deep throated, if I was to seat a bullet to touch it would hardley be in the neck, I seat the bullet half way down the neck, doesent seem to hurt the accuracy to much, my go to powder is IMR 4064, then Varget, in the 34-35 gr range. One rifle loves Nosler 55 Bal Tips, play with your load a little you will get it shooting. Merry Christmas to all Neil G
 
It's been years ago but +1 on the 4064. Can't recall the load but with that powder & the 52gr Sierra HPBT match, it consistently shot better than Varget or H380 with any bulk bullet.
 

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