What are your .22-250 pet loads? - The Firearms Forum

Indy Bob · 06-17-2012, 08:47 PM

NOTE; I will not hold anyone responsible for any load posted here.
I just want to try a different powder and don't have retirement resources
to "experiment" too much.
Anything anyone posts here HAS to be checked with loading manuals
by the individual that tries a load posted.

My .22-250 rifle has a 26 inch barrel (med heavyweight), with a 1 in 14" twist. I am shooting 53 gr Hornady Match HP bullets. CCI LR primers.
Right now I have been using 38.0 grains of H-380 with the bullet and primers above.

It seems like 20 years ago when I last did reloading, I was using IMR 4320. Is anyone having any luck with that?

What say you?

Thanks in advance,
Indy Bob

Bindernut · 06-18-2012, 09:12 AM

I don't remember what my results were with 4320, I know I did try it back in the early 90s when I was using 4320 for .243 and 6mmRem.
The manuals showed a little more velocity from 4064 so that's what I usually tried first.
I tried W760 for easier metering through a measure and found a few useable loads too.
After I got my chronograph and seen the speeds I was happy with the velocity and accuracy so I never fiddled with trying anything else.

My go-to powder for the .22-250 was IMR4064 but I also used W760 for a couple loads.

55gr Hornady SP (#2266) pushed with 35.5gr IMR4064 was my Rem788's sub-MOA pet load but it worked good in my Rem700 and Savage110 also.
I used the same charge to push the Winchester bulk 55gr SP and it wasn't quite as accurate as the Hornady bullets but plenty accurate enough for fox, coyote, and prairie dogs out to 300yds.
Velocity was about 3700fps with either bullet.

38.0gr of W760 with the Sierra 40gr HP was another super-good load that pretty much duplicated the old Federal 40grHP Blitz factory load.
My 788 just loved this load, but the 700 absolutely did not like it at all.
Prairie dogs would just plain disappear when that little 40 would hit em!
Gave me about 3850fps from my 788.
Note...this one is on the ragged edge of a max load (depending on what data you look at). Pretty flat primers but no cratering. Very minimal case head expansion...case life was only 4 or 5 loadings with this load. But that was the "sweet-spot" for that bullet in my 788's barrel unless I dropped way down to 3400fps.
This one is MOST DEFINITELY a load to cut back and to work up to on a per-rifle basis! I probably shouldn't even post it online...

I don't run a 22-250 at the moment but I'll probably stick with these loads as starters when I get my next one. I'd also be tempted to try BLC2 for lighter bullets.
For some reason I just plain never tried H380...

Bigr Bang Thry · 06-18-2012, 08:04 PM

55gr SIERRA Spitzer boat-tails with 36.0gr of IMR 4064 powder. The woodchucks and coyotes all agree, it's a deadly combination...

06-17-2012, 08:47 PM	#1
Indy Bob Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 42	What are your .22-250 pet loads? NOTE; I will not hold anyone responsible for any load posted here. I just want to try a different powder and don't have retirement resources to "experiment" too much. Anything anyone posts here HAS to be checked with loading manuals by the individual that tries a load posted. My .22-250 rifle has a 26 inch barrel (med heavyweight), with a 1 in 14" twist. I am shooting 53 gr Hornady Match HP bullets. CCI LR primers. Right now I have been using 38.0 grains of H-380 with the bullet and primers above. It seems like 20 years ago when I last did reloading, I was using IMR 4320. Is anyone having any luck with that? What say you? Thanks in advance, Indy Bob -->

06-18-2012, 08:04 PM	#3
Bigr Bang Thry V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Western New York Posts: 187	Re: What are your .22-250 pet loads? 55gr SIERRA Spitzer boat-tails with 36.0gr of IMR 4064 powder. The woodchucks and coyotes all agree, it's a deadly combination...

06-18-2012, 09:12 AM	#2
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,491	Re: What are your .22-250 pet loads? I don't remember what my results were with 4320, I know I did try it back in the early 90s when I was using 4320 for .243 and 6mmRem. The manuals showed a little more velocity from 4064 so that's what I usually tried first. I tried W760 for easier metering through a measure and found a few useable loads too. After I got my chronograph and seen the speeds I was happy with the velocity and accuracy so I never fiddled with trying anything else. My go-to powder for the .22-250 was IMR4064 but I also used W760 for a couple loads. 55gr Hornady SP (#2266) pushed with 35.5gr IMR4064 was my Rem788's sub-MOA pet load but it worked good in my Rem700 and Savage110 also. I used the same charge to push the Winchester bulk 55gr SP and it wasn't quite as accurate as the Hornady bullets but plenty accurate enough for fox, coyote, and prairie dogs out to 300yds. Velocity was about 3700fps with either bullet. 38.0gr of W760 with the Sierra 40gr HP was another super-good load that pretty much duplicated the old Federal 40grHP Blitz factory load. My 788 just loved this load, but the 700 absolutely did not like it at all. Prairie dogs would just plain disappear when that little 40 would hit em! Gave me about 3850fps from my 788. Note...this one is on the ragged edge of a max load (depending on what data you look at). Pretty flat primers but no cratering. Very minimal case head expansion...case life was only 4 or 5 loadings with this load. But that was the "sweet-spot" for that bullet in my 788's barrel unless I dropped way down to 3400fps. This one is MOST DEFINITELY a load to cut back and to work up to on a per-rifle basis! I probably shouldn't even post it online... I don't run a 22-250 at the moment but I'll probably stick with these loads as starters when I get my next one. I'd also be tempted to try BLC2 for lighter bullets. For some reason I just plain never tried H380... Last edited by Bindernut; 06-18-2012 at 09:18 AM..