22-250 Powder

[ArchAngelCD]

A shooting buddy wants to shoot his 22-250 more for practice but the price of factory ammo is too high for him to shoot as much as he wants to. I offered to show him how to load his ammo on my press but the problem is, I don't load for the 22-250 so I'm not sure which powder works best with a 55gr bullet. I know H380 was developed around the 22-250 when it was a wildcat but that doesn't mean it's still the best since there are so many good powders available today.

Before everyone piles on!
Yes I do have load manuals, actually dozens of manuals. (and I read them all)
I did check the powder sites but of course they are prejudice in favor of their product so they all have the best powder for the 22-250.
I'm not asking for load procedures, only powder choices.
Yes I know every rifle and barrel are different, I'm asking for your personal experiences.

Please try to stay on topic and only answer the question I'm asking.

QUESTION: Which powder do you personally find to be the most accurate in the 22-250 shooting a 55gr bullet?

 

[Don McDowell]

The fella's I knew that were big fans of the 22-250 in the early days of the cartridge all seemed to prefer 4895.

 

[Jim Watson]

Mine is about equally accurate with IMR 4895, IMR 4350, H414, and W760. The H414 wants magnum primers, but the 760 does not. Strange, they are now listed as the same product under two labels. But I have some old stock before Hodgdon rationalized the lineups.

The literature favors IMR 4064, and I would not omit Varget if I were trying new stuff. Or Re15 in the same category.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The literature favors IMR 4064, and I would not omit Varget if I were trying new stuff. Or Re15 in the same category.

Yeah, one of the guys at the range mentioned Varget but I don't know him so I don't know how good a reloader he is.

I just want to help my friend make some very accurate ammo and using the right powder is a good start.

 

[Grumulkin]

The best I've tried is IMR 4064 but I don't think my gun shoots as well as it should so I'm also open to ideas. I have tried probably half a dozen powders in my 22-250.

One powder suggestion I've heard if is IMR 4320 which was allegedly a preferred powder in the 22-250 for Jack O'Connor; when I find some I'm going to try it.

 

[PJSprog]

I know that a friend of mine uses H4895 for target, and H4350 for hunting loads, but I couldn't tell you the details of either of those loads. I do know he likes his results with those powders (through his TC Encore).

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use Varget with 55gr.

 

[steveno]

before I switched to H-380 I used H-4895

 

[rodinal220]

H-380

 

[lightning]

H380. Throws well and flows well. Extruded powders are a pain in that small neck.

Pun intended

 

[cfullgraf]

For last summers prairie dog hunt, we loaded for a friend's 22-250 using Accurate 2520. It worked well with the 55 grain Barnes hollow points we were using. Unfortunately, it has been as plentiful as hen's teeth these days.

We may need to work up a new load for him for this summer if 2520 does not return to the shelves.

I might try CFE223 or H4895 as i have both in inventory.

 

[02bigdogs17]

I load a lot of 55gr bullets for 22-250 and have three favorite powders for this cartridge. They are H380, RL 15, IMR 4064. I have just started trying the new Hodgdon CFE 223 powder and have had good results so far. If I had to pick one powder it would probably be the IMR 4064 but RL 15 is a close second.

 

[REB]

I have had excellent results with H4895 and 52gr Bergers

 

[billybob44]

My BEST 22-250 Rem. Load..

I KNOW that you said a 55gr. bullet..

Back in the day when I could hold it, my Remington 700 Varmint BDL would shoot constant one hole groups with a Sierra 52gr. HPBT Match (Sierra #1410, i think??), with enough BL-C(2) to run them @ 3500fps.

I see no reason that BL-C(2) would act otherwise with a 55gr. pill...Bill.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a little surprised 4895 is getting so many posts. For some reason I was thinking slower powders would be better in the 22-250. I'm very glad I asked... I would like to try H380 but I don't have any on hand. I do have 4895, 4350 and Varget available.

 

[RainDodger]

Generally I have found IMR-4064 to be the best all-around in my .22-250, with any load I put in it. Granted I've spent more time with that powder than others, but hey, that's what I've found. I rarely shoot a 55 grain bullet though. I go lighter in that rifle, as I have other calibers for heavier bullets.

 

[foxtail207]

I use H380 with very good results.

 

[JTB]

IMR-4064 is my go to powder in 22-250.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

My Savage 12 in .22-250 isn't picky at all. H380, Varget, RL 15 all shoot excellent groups. Those powders got hard to find, but I've had a good supply of less popular IMR 4320. I had some cheap 55 gr Dogtown bullets, so now I've got a IMR 4320 load with a 55 gr Dogtown bullet that shoots between 1/2" and 1" at 100 yds, which is fun for smacking small pieces of steel.

 

[Ccctennis]

Powders

I shoot the better version of the 22-250 called the 220 swift
55 grain pills really loves 4831 SC and varget.

 

[jgh4445]

Another vote for Varget.

 

[witchhunter]

Varget or 4895 in the 250 seems to work for mine.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I switched from H380 to IMR8208xbr. That leaves me with a couple of 8 lbers to do something with.:banghead:

 

[merrill]

My favorite load for 55 gr. bullets was a compressed load of IMR 4350.

 

[gamestalker]

I recently had some really great performance with Varget.

GS