Powder Puff Loads....Suggestion....22-250

[sublimaze41]

I am looking for the lightest load for a 55 grain FMJ bullet in a .22-250. I want to hunt squirrels

I have some Hornady Vmax but am afraid they will destroy too much meat. I only eat the back legs so if the front of the squirrel is destroyed it won't matter.

Yes, it's okay to insert laughter. I have the usual assortment of .22 etc. I am looking for 100-150 yard ground shots.

Thanks

 

[ants]

Times are tough, eh, Sublimaze?

The Lyman manual has loads using pistol powders that get a 55g bullet about 2000 fps. Those loads are intended for cast lead bullets. That would be just about perfect for small critters at modest ranges.

Or I suppose you can carry a shovel and collect road kill...

 

[NCsmitty]

Do you have a selection of powders that you have access to, or are you open to suggestions to purchase?
Ammoguide lists 21.5gr of IMR4227 with a 55 gr bullet at around 3000fps. You could probably back off a couple more grains to slow it down even more. It should act similar to a 222 for ballistics. If you can get a FMJ to group well, you'll be ok.

NCsmitty

 

[sublimaze41]

The powders I have on hand are

H322
Varget
AA2230
H414
BLC
H4350
H380
H4895
Benchmark
and a bunch of handgun powders

 

[NCsmitty]

Here's more info taken from another site.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_recoil_reloads.htm


NCsmitty

 

[joneb]

I have used Blue Dot, Unique and AA 5744 for reduced loads in my .308 Win. all of these powders have produced very good results. I have not tried SR 4759 but I suspect I would find it a good powder for reduced rifle loads.

 

[sublimaze41]

Any data for Blue dot or Unique, I have both of these powders.

 

[joneb]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Any data for Blue dot or Unique,

Not much, you will be entering uncharted waters
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/526104862?r=526104862#526104862
Sub41, I would start with a load density that would equal or exceed 50% for BD or Unique, but not exceed the max what ever that is ?

 

[Crosswire3]

Sublimaze41: Check your email...I believe that's what you were looking for.

There is a full listing of Blue-Dot loads that work wonders. I will warn you that 5 grains is the absolute minimum limit with my 24" barrel. They start getting stuck at about 4.5 grains. Also, if you can find lead bullets, use those. The lead will take quite a bit less force to get down the barrel than copper jackets.

Either way, stay in the 7-18 range and you should be good

 

[tube_ee]

From Paco Kelley...

The 22-250...using an RCBS 55 grain flat nose bullet...22-055-FN...I get outstanding accuracy with the 22-250...I have always used WW760 with varmint class SX jacketed bullets in my Sako rifle...it has produced the best accuracy and given remarkable velocities...so even though this is a article on fast powders I thought I would try 760 under cast bullets. A BNH 23 level hardness was used...gas checked..noses softened and loaded over 26/760 for 2370 fps...with 1 and ½ inch groups. Raising the powder level to 29grains raised the velocity to just under 2600 fps...and the groups shrunk to 1.1 inches. 29.3 grains tightened the groups to 3/4ths of an inch...that was the best group I could get...these are 100 yard groups...not 25 yards. With 14 grains of 2400 I got 1550 fps...14 grains of SR4759 gave near 1900 fps. Five grains of Red Dot went 1300 fps and kept them in nice little clusters with bullet holes touching at 50 yards.

That last load, 5 grains of Red Dot for 1300 fps with a cast bullet, is about 22LR equivalent. Should be good bushytail medicine if your gun likes it.

I don't own any 22 centerfires yet, I'm rimfire only in that caliber, and I've never tried any of this myself. I've used Mr. Kelley's loads in other guns and been happy, but I can't vouch for these.

--Shannon

 

[sublimaze41]

I reviewed the loads for the Blue Dot and find them to be just perfect, especially because I have some Blue Dot.
I am going to load them down to 22 Mag velocity. Interesting to note that reloading a .22-250 down to 22 Mag
levels is much cheaper than buying 22 Mag bullets.

 

[Jim Watson]

Check your game laws.
Centerfire rifles are not allowed for small game here, they might not be there, either.

 

[rcmodel]

I am going to load them down to 22 Mag velocity.

I suggest you not try that with jacketed bullets.

The reason all low velocity reduced loads you see for rifles use cast bullets is because they have very low bore friction.

Jacketed bullets on the otherhand, do not.

It would be very easy to stick a bullet in the bore with jacketed bullet reduced loads!

rcmodel

 

[sublimaze41]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went with a load that Crosswire3 suggested. I tries 6,7, and 8 grains of Blue Dot. The results were good and I chose this load. Velocities were consistent with the author, Seafire.

 

[sublimaze41]

Jim Watson,
Thanks for the heads up regarding using centerfire guns on small game.
I called New York DEC and it is okay to use centerfire guns EXCEPT during deer season in this county.
In some counties where centerfire guns are okay to hunt deer you can use them all season.

 

[joneb]

I would step up the charge and see if your accuracy improves.