Nosler bullets in Tikka 22-250
- Thread starter Crumster
- Start date
Most likely the plastic tips may be doing you in as they are long bullets for the weight. I am surprised you can't make up the difference with velocity though. I would check the twist with a cleaning rod just to be sure of the true twist. Sorry, that's all I got.
Wish I could help, but my Tikka 22-250 has a 1-8 twist. My go-to coyote bullets were 53 and 55 gr Varmageddon's. However, several years ago I had a Tikka Varmint in 22-250, pretty sure it was a 1-14 twist. My load for it was 36 grs of Varget with a 50 gr V-max. Shot great in my gun, but double check a reloading manual, and of course start low and work up.
I was assuming it was 1:14, bad! Glad you suggested checking. I did and it is 14". The throat is so long that you really can't talk about bullet seating in the normal way (expressed in thousandths of an inch), it just about has to be O.A.L., which is really only a W.A.G. But I think that seating depth is probably the culprit.
I honestly would try a different powder first before you give them up. When i built my 6x45 i tried out the 75gr vmax. With w748 i had about a 12 inch group with 2 different powder charges. I figured they were just bad for my 1:9 twist. I had also loaded some up with N133. Two different powder charges with that powder shot 1/4 inch and other was 3/8 inch. Maybe the powder used just is not working? Its worth a shot if have another powder just to try, throw a load together and see.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
That 50 grain BT is usually a very accurate bullet in a 14 twist. Keep playing with it.
Varget, IMR 4064, WW760, 4895 have all worked great in my 22-250s over the years.
Varget, IMR 4064, WW760, 4895 have all worked great in my 22-250s over the years.
bullseyeshtr
Gold $$ Contributor
What powder have you tried? Varget, CFE223, IMR4895 would be my bets but there is a host of other. On a note with CFE223 some barrels don't shoot with it. My 204 AR barrel hates it makes it about a 5" gun but anything else it will shoot very well.
I have tried Varget with both of these bullets. Ran out of H380 before I got them. I truly hate loading those crunchy powders, but that may be necessary. I also have Berger 52 Target and Hornady 53 Match to start working on. Looking at the Hornady 53's tells me they were designed with 8 0r 9 twists in mind.
Each rifle has its own likes. Let it tell you don’t try to take others experience as the only answer.
I had considerable success with 50 grain Nosler BT's in my 14" twist 22 250 Remington 700, Varmint.
Couple of observations:
Seating Depth: My Remington 700 has a long throat but that didn't hinder my ability to develop a sub 1/2 moa load.
Powder: Varget produced "good" groups as did IMR 4064 and H4895, good being defined at in the 1/2 MOA range. H380 was also good but produced pressure surges in the field during 90+ degree weather. The best groups, at the cost of lower velocity was IMR 4350. Groups were sub 1/2 moa.
Tikka: All the ones I had shot very good, but I never had this brand in a 22 250. If you are shooting the T3X Lite model, the barrel will heat up quickly in sustained fire sequences. Even though the barrel is free floated this could create increase in shot dispersion. Since this is presumably a hunting rifle, I would slow the shot sequence down and see what happens. After all, the cold barrel shot is the money shot in a hunting scenario.
Also, the Remington 700 had a 26" heavy varmint profile barrel and a factory aluminum block bedded stock.
Couple of observations:
Seating Depth: My Remington 700 has a long throat but that didn't hinder my ability to develop a sub 1/2 moa load.
Powder: Varget produced "good" groups as did IMR 4064 and H4895, good being defined at in the 1/2 MOA range. H380 was also good but produced pressure surges in the field during 90+ degree weather. The best groups, at the cost of lower velocity was IMR 4350. Groups were sub 1/2 moa.
Tikka: All the ones I had shot very good, but I never had this brand in a 22 250. If you are shooting the T3X Lite model, the barrel will heat up quickly in sustained fire sequences. Even though the barrel is free floated this could create increase in shot dispersion. Since this is presumably a hunting rifle, I would slow the shot sequence down and see what happens. After all, the cold barrel shot is the money shot in a hunting scenario.
Also, the Remington 700 had a 26" heavy varmint profile barrel and a factory aluminum block bedded stock.
Ive got a 85 sako cousin to yours. It likes 60 gr. BTs and imr 4350 or h4350. John Nosler designed that 60 gr. ballastic tip to shoot in a 1-14 . Its a short 60. If that makes sense, so try the 60 too. Doug
That is a given EXCEPT when the rifle in question has an unusual feature. that makes it kind of unique. In this case, it is an unusually long throat but is combined with a slow twist that would seemingly dictate a bullet with a long bearing surface. There's a lot of experience and expertise to be had here and I'm listening close to everyone.
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Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I have had multiple factory 22-250 with 1/14 barrels shoot 50/55 NBT very well. I would start 35 gr Varget and seat 2.375(long freebore) coal, work up generally I hit great accuracy 36+. H4895 has been very accurate with the 50 NBT and 50 vmax. The 40's run good with 37-37.5 gr Varget.
stay away from the 53's in a 14 twist anything, even a 12 twist is pushing it, the 53 varm/vmax have a secant nose profile and are very long for their weight.
From my prior research, you should have great luck with most 50's and 55's, you could always a try the 52 eldm as well.
i'll second the suggestions to switch powders, you wouldn't believe the difference a powder swap can make, I just had a 6.5 prc go from 3" groups at 100yards to 0.5" going from ramshot magnum to viht n565.
Wow. Ok, I'll see if I can find some. Are they #39473 or #34992?
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39473
SORRY, 34992
Doug Casner
Doug Casner
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