Best Bullet Weight for .22-250

[joed]

I've been reloading for a friend's rifle in .22-250 for awhile now. Actually like this cartridge so bought my own gun. What's the best weight to use for varmints?

I have a good supply of 55 gr from the last .22-250 I owned but was wondering if I should try something lighter. I had all the supplies but never got to reload mine as I sold it. And here I am with another rifle chambered for this cartridge.

Also have some of the Nosler Combined Tech 55 gr bullets. Anyone ever use these? Are they any good? What's the advantage of the jacket material on these?

 

[taliv]

Need to know barrel twist

 

[Jim Watson]

Bet you a quarter it is a 14" twist.
Bet you a dollar that if it is not a 14" then it is a 12" so the company can use the same barrel blanks for .223 and .22-250.

Optimized over about 70 years for 55 grain flatbase spitzers and great for 52 grain boattails.

Not to say that you can't blow a lighter bullet out at higher velocity.

 

[brettrow]

I shoot 55 grain too.

 

[Damon555]

My personal choice is the 40 grain Vmax.....it is murder on prairie dogs.

 

[joed]

The rifle is a Rem 700 SPS Varmint Stainless with 1:14 twist I believe.

 

[Bill B.]

As far as accuracy goes the 52 grain match bullets always shot the best for me but I always used the 55 grain Hornady SX's for hunting as they were much safer shooting with livestock in the area.

 

[mshootnit]

I think 55 grain would be ideal for multi purpose shooting, but for strictly coyotes I would go 50 gr Vmax or similar. Sight in dead on at 300 yds with the fastest load that shoots well.

 

[Rokman]

I shoot 50gr. Vmax, 52gr. Amax, 55gr. Nosler btips and 55gr. Sierra Gamekings out of my Ruger 77MKII with a 1:14 twist barrel with great accuracy. The Combined Technology bullets shoud shoot and work just fine. I think the coating on that bullet is to keep the copper fouling down. I have shot many CT bullets out of a .25-06 and they were very accurate for me.

The .22-250 is very fun to shoot and has been pretty easy for me to handload for. I have had great results with H380 and RL15 and pretyy good results with Varget. Good luck.

 

[788Ham]

I've shot Hornady 52 and 53 gr HP's in my 22-250 Rem, 700BDL. The 52 BTHP's shoot better for me, 1-12. I've smacked Pd's out to 500 yds with these loads, 53's if its a tad windy. Never have liked the plastic tips...... JMHO

 

[HOOfan_1]

Shoot 52 Grain Sierra Matchkings out of my dad's .225 Winchester for groundhogs. Plan to try them in my .22-250 too. Not exactly a hunting bullet, but if you are aiming for the head, it doesn't matter. Heck with a 3800+ FPS bullet hitting a 10 pound groundhog anything in the torso is likely to kill it almost instantly anyway.

 

[joed]

Thanks for all the tips. I guess I'll start with the 55 gr Noslers and see how they do. Sounds like anything between 50 gr and 55 gr is the ticket.

 

[joed]

Never have liked the plastic tips...... JMHO

788Ham, curious what you don't like about the plastic tips. I've never used them as years ago I stocked up on .25 cal bullets with lead tips and still have a good supply left.

But I never stocked any .22 cal bullets so this will be my first experience with plastic tips.

 

[NCsmitty]

Try the Hornady 52gr A-Max, that's what works for me in my 22-250.



NCsmitty

 

[kaferhaus]

just be aware that the length of the 55gr Nosler BTs is right at the edge of what a 14T will stabilize. Some 14T guns shoot them very well and others will keyhole them.

FB bullets are usually more accurate out to 300yds or so. No real advantage to a boat tail until you get out there quite a ways.

 

[joed]

Looks like I got a lot of input on bullets, thanks for the replys.

Now, how about powder? I've used H380 in a friends .22-250 but have been wondering there are better choices. Have heard that H380 is temperature sensative, is it?

 

[NCsmitty]

Have heard that H380 is temperature sensitive, is it?

It is not listed as an Extreme Powder, but IMR 8208 XBR, along with other powders, are rated as not temp sensitive, and give great ballistics.
What you use will be up to you and your rifle.



NCsmitty

 

[Shurshot]

Winchester 55 grain Pointed Soft Points make my Ruger MK77 a tack driver whereas Federal 55 grain HI-Shok Soft Point shoot horrible with the best being about a 4" group in the same gun. Bottom line is you are just going to have to test different types. Don't buy a large supply of ammo until you learn which type of ammo that might be for your particular gun. I have a couple hundred rounds of the Federal that I will probably never use unless I end up getting another 22-250 that will shoot it good.