Reloading Barnes TSX 53gr for Remington 700 .22-250

[Bandit1]

I am new to reloading and have two experienced reloader friends helping me get started. I am having serious accuracy problems the Barnes TSX 53 gr. .22-250 bullets. My first load was 36 gr. of H4895 and OAL cartridge length of 2.41" (bullet seated .05 off the lands). Second load was 36 gr. H4895 and OAL cartridge length of 2.45" (bullet seated .01 off the lands). Results for both loads are all over the paper without any consistency. I have loaded 55 gr. Sierra Blitzking BT - 34.5 gr. H4895 - 2.35" with approx. 1" groups. Any advice on the Barnes bullets would be appreciated.

 

[snuffy]

Your twist rate is too slow to stabilize that long-for-weight bullet. I'd bet if you were to closely examine those bullet holes, they'd be oblong, to look more like a slot than a round hole. If your rate of twist is 1-12 you may be able to get them fast enough to stabilize, then work with powder loads and seating depth.

A 53 grain all-copper bullet will be as long as a 65 grain lead core bullet, especially IF it's a hollow point. Few 22-250's will stabilize a 65 grain bullet.

 

[Bandit1]

My twist on the rifle is 1-14 as per Remington. These are hollow points as well. It's disappointing to spend money on expensive bullets only to find out they won't work. Thanks for the input snuffy......

 

[twofifty]

You were on the right track with your choice of bullet, as 52 and 53gr are optimal HP match bullet weights in a 1-14" 22-250.

Give these jacketed HP match bullets a try in your Rem700:

- 53gr Hornady HP Match
- 52gr Nosler Custom Comp HPBT

 

[billybob44]

You were on the right track with your choice of bullet, as 52 and 53gr are optimal HP match bullet weights in a 1-14" 22-250.

Give these jacketed HP match bullets a try in your Rem700:

- 53gr Hornady HP Match
- 52gr Nosler Custom Comp HPBT

^^^+1 My 700 Varmint loves Sierra 52 HPBT Match. (Sierra #1410) With Hodgdon BL-C(2)

 

[snuffy]

twofifty

You were on the right track with your choice of bullet, as 52 and 53gr are optimal HP match bullet weights in a 1-14" 22-250.

Give these jacketed HP match bullets a try in your Rem700:

- 53gr Hornady HP Match
- 52gr Nosler Custom Comp HPBT

With pure copper bullets, you have to consider length as well as weight. Longer bullets demand faster twist rates. Copper is just not as dense as lead.

Bandit, are you trying to load these for deer? Or other game animals? The nosler 60 grain partition should work at top velocities. It's a flat based spitzer shape so it should/might stabilize in a 1-14 twist. Perhaps someone else will chip in with a "it will work post"? I seem to remember loading them for my Rem-700 22-250, they shot just okay, nothing like a good 55 soft point would. They were for a deep woods hunt, so i didn't worry about long range accuracy.

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

I'm about where you are having just recently started loading 22-250s for my Ruger that also has a 1-14 twist,though you are higher up the learning curve since you are seating bullets beyond COAL. I no longer touch the shoulder of the brass when resizing....basically I'm just neck sizing,but using the full-length sizing die that came with my Rock Chucker,and seating bullets to COAL. My best results so far have been with Hornady's 52gr BT A-Max,part # 22492,that is specifically for 1-14" twist,according to the label on the box. Not sure what you meant by "expensive bullets". I bought a box of these for 17.95/100 at a local gun shop. For powder my best groups have been with 35gr Varget.

 

[Bandit1]

Snuffy, this gun is for my kids and we hunt Texas whitetail. I just wanted to try the Barnes bullets based on their reported effectiveness. Since I haven't been able to make the Barnes bullets work, I had to fall back on "old faithfull" factory Remington Corelokt. Today, my daughter made a heart shot on a deer ar 100 yards with the Corelokt. I think I'll stay with the lead soft points in my future reloading, if it ain't broke why try to fix it.

 

[788Ham]

I've reloaded the 22-250 for about 13 years now, shoot an Remington 700 BDL. The 55 grain Hornady spire point will do a job on deer sized animals, we can't use them here in Colorado, caliber is too small and bullet too light, but know they'll spin a coyote round and round when hit. Sounds like your daughter's found herself a new rifle, good hunting!

 

[Jefferson Herb]

I also load .22-250,in rem 700vs.Good Loads: 36-39gr h380 w 52-55gr bullets, sierras or noslers.39grH380 w/55gr nosler ballistic tip will shoot quart oil jugs at 1/4 mile.Nosler 60gr part will shoot,as will 50gr barnes.
Don't waste your time on 62 gr ss109[won't hit a 100yd sight in target]or heavier.45gr tripple shocks work in .218bee,so should work in 1-14 22-250.
It does give you an excuse to rebarrel w/1-9 or 1-8to shoot 70-75 gr vld's and the like.