Powder for .22-250

[biggun2869]

I asked that same question in the early '70s and the answer was 35 grains of IMR 4064 with either a 50 or 55 grain bullet. That was my first centrefire rifle, It was a 788 Remington bought used for less than $100 and had a no name 4X scope on and it came with a bucket full of reloads (that weren't guaranteed but they were accurate an worked just fine), Gary

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have had a handful of 22-250's, different brands and custom barreled rifles(1/12 and 1/14 twist) all have shot Varget with various 40-55 gr bullets very well. Really hard not to try Varget first, as it cleans up well with wipe out foam/accelerator, another plus. I have some H4895 and get great velocity/accuracy with it also, but tough to find.

 

[Webster]

A friend of mine recently acquired a Remington 700 in .22-250. It's his first center-fire rifle that he'll be loading for (he loads pistol already), and so is looking for powder recommendations. It's a 1:12 twist barrel so he's looking at 52-55gr bullets. Use case is smacking steel and casual target shooting.

Looking at the lists in the Nosler and Hodgdon load cards, CFE223 looks appealing: it's generally available, meters well, and covers the other calibers he'd be interested in (a .223 service rifle is likely in the cards soon).

Any reason that wouldn't be a good choice, or any other powders worth considering? Since he's new to rifle he wants to keep variables to a minimum and focus on getting a good process in place and have really interested in trying a bunch of different powders at this point.

LOAD MAP data

You are being redirected...

 

[okie]

I have had a handful of 22-250's, different brands and custom barreled rifles(1/12 and 1/14 twist) all have shot Varget with various 40-55 gr bullets very well. Really hard not to try Varget first, as it cleans up well with wipe out foam/accelerator, another plus. I have some H4895 and get great velocity/accuracy with it also, but tough to find.

i switched to varget to help with huge temp swings we have here....were big enough enough to make you miss crows at 200 yds when using h-380. I though it was marketing BS whenever the "temp stabile" powder first hit mkt. it works.

 

[3-300s]

Imr 4064 is what I settled on after a 4-powder test. it has accuracy and speed, pretty temp stable.
I was blowing up bullets with H380, if i shot them when it was hot out.

 

[mtncwru]

Really hard not to try Varget first, as it cleans up well with wipe out foam/accelerator, another plus. I have some H4895 and get great velocity/accuracy with it also, but tough to find.

Agreed re. Varget, except that it's effectively unobtainable these days. I loaded my last bit into a batch of .223 match rifle rounds, then it's back to load dev with a new powder.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

33.1 to 33.5 of, IMR 4895 works, Real Well with, most, 50- 53 grain Bullets, in My 1-14 Twist, .22-250 Rem.
Surprisingly, 38 grs of, IMR 4350 Drives, the 60 Gr. Sierra, Flat Based, HP's into pretty, Tiny Group's , also.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Hodgdon lists Varget available 1 and 8# size. I see it in stores here 55 ish a pound.

 

[mtncwru]

Hodgdon lists Varget available 1 and 8# size. I see it in stores here 55 ish a pound.

Oh huh, didn't know you could order straight from Hodgdon!

 

[Gary in MD]

Yea, Varget is out there and usually my first choice these days for the 22-250.
I've also used, with good results, 4064, ww760, 4895, 3031, Big Game and probably a couple others. If the rifle will shoot, then it will do it with any suitable powder.
Also used the H380 many years ago, too temperature sensitive in the hot summer ground hog fields for me.

 

[pertnear]

I reviewed all my old .22-250 targets & found best groups with: 4320,H380,4895,4064 in that order. If I had to pick 1 of this bunch it would be 4895. 4320 is best but hard to get. H380 is very accurate but seems a bit dirty. 4895 for the best choice!

 

[SSL]

A friend of mine recently acquired a Remington 700 in .22-250. It's his first center-fire rifle that he'll be loading for (he loads pistol already), and so is looking for powder recommendations. It's a 1:12 twist barrel so he's looking at 52-55gr bullets. Use case is smacking steel and casual target shooting.

Looking at the lists in the Nosler and Hodgdon load cards, CFE223 looks appealing: it's generally available, meters well, and covers the other calibers he'd be interested in (a .223 service rifle is likely in the cards soon).

Any reason that wouldn't be a good choice, or any other powders worth considering? Since he's new to rifle he wants to keep variables to a minimum and focus on getting a good process in place and have really interested in trying a bunch of different powders at this point.

In answer to your specific question; CFE223 works like magic in my Ruger #1 (1-14") 22-250's well worn barrel shooting 52-grain AMAx bullets for several years now.

 

[L.Sherm]

My nephews 22-250 i load for, Varget, CCI 200, 52 Berger in a factory Rem SPS.
He sent me a group he shot after putting his scope on that was literally 1 hole.

 

[Soup]

Today I tested some 55 grain( blems) Nosler Varmagdedon flat based bullets in my Ruger No.1V-24" bbl. Using 36 grains of Accurate 4064 I got about a 3/4" group. Using 33 grains the group shrunk to .500. Be mindful it was benched @ 50 yards.
I've tried several (like 10/15) powder / bullet combos and I'm very happy to get these results. Now I can move to 100 yards this week. It was pretty windy today and about 62 degrees. The rifle is a little heavy, but I plan to use it for daytime coyotes on a tripod. Should be good to 150 yards, I think. FNG coyote hunting.
Semper Fidelis
Soup

{Down South 68-69)

 

[jxb]

Oh huh, didn't know you could order straight from Hodgdon!

Hint, if you do I'd strongly recommend waiting for their holiday sale, last year that was 20%off so even with their ridiculous shipping/hazmat it was lowest to the door. 2023 it started about cyber monday and lasted through end of first week of Dec.

Oh yeah, all above. H380 is a fave but remember it's temp sensitive, so those hot spring days keep it out of the sun and cool.

 

[Ironworker]

As far as W-W 760 goes, every time I shot a Prairie dog, the dog's blew up even at 300yds. So avoid that powder

 

[justinp61]

4064 and Varget in my two 22-250’s.

 

[Murray Brook]

I've had several 22/250's and H-380 was always a great powder to use. In my last one I gave StaBal 6.5 a try not long before the barrel throat went and I got very good accuracy and great velocity. JME

 

[Big Mc]

A friend of mine recently acquired a Remington 700 in .22-250. It's his first center-fire rifle that he'll be loading for (he loads pistol already), and so is looking for powder recommendations. It's a 1:12 twist barrel so he's looking at 52-55gr bullets. Use case is smacking steel and casual target shooting.

Looking at the lists in the Nosler and Hodgdon load cards, CFE223 looks appealing: it's generally available, meters well, and covers the other calibers he'd be interested in (a .223 service rifle is likely in the cards soon).

Any reason that wouldn't be a good choice, or any other powders worth considering? Since he's new to rifle he wants to keep variables to a minimum and focus on getting a good process in place and have really interested in trying a bunch of different powders at this point.

I use N135. Tommy Mc

 

[hpshooter]

In answer to your specific question; CFE223 works like magic in my Ruger #1 (1-14") 22-250's well worn barrel shooting 52-grain AMAx bullets for several years now.
View attachment 1600700View attachment 1600697

That is one great shooting #1!!