Question on 22-250 reloads - The Firearms Forum

John1 S · 07-11-2012, 06:10 AM

I have some 64 gr WW bullets I'm wanting to load in the 22-250. What would be a good power to us. I have IMR 4064, IMR 3031, IMR 4320???

jack404 · 07-11-2012, 07:18 AM

IMR 3031 is used a lot here on 22-250

suitable are H4895, IMR-8208 XBR, Reloder 15, but change these if you go to a lighter projectile

Sherrer1* · 07-13-2012, 07:37 AM

what is your barrrel twist? my buddy loads 55 gr speer psp and Imr4895 works great he get a dime size group at 100 yards.

Bindernut · 07-13-2012, 08:30 PM

I've never ran anything heavier than 55gr through the .22-250. IMR4064 and WW760 are my powders of choice for 40-55gr. I know several shooters that use IMR3031 for those weights too.

I would probably look at a slower burning powder for a heavier bullet...but that's my general thoughts on reloading most all bottleneck cartridges.
IMR4064, WW760, H414, IMR4320...I'd say any of those are worth trying if you've got data for that bullet weight.

And as already mentioned, pay attention to the twist rate on your barrel. The typical 1:14" or 1:12" isn't going to stabilize the heavier (which also means longer) projectiles very well. 1:12" will do most 60gr bullets in the .22-250 or the .220Swift, but I don't know about anything heavier/longer.
I haven't done the Greenhill formula math but the Hornady manual suggest 1:10" for their heavy .224" projectiles.
Here's one site with a Greenhill calculator but there are quite a few more if you do a web search for them.
http://www.z-hat.com/twistrate.htm

Kevin Rohrer · 07-14-2012, 02:52 PM

4064 and Varget here. I hope your barrel twist supports that big bullet. Most are cut for <60gr.

John1 S · 07-16-2012, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherrer1*

what is your barrrel twist? my buddy loads 55 gr speer psp and Imr4895 works great he get a dime size group at 100 yards.

The gun is a Remington 700 22/250 and I think it is a 1 to 14 twest?????

cpttango30 · 07-16-2012, 07:19 AM

The 1-14 twist will not stabilize the 64gr bullets more than likely. You can always try and see. But I would expect to see Keyholes at 100 yards.

Bindernut · 07-16-2012, 12:27 PM

Yup, Same here. I'll bet it won't group all that well with anything over 60gr.

Winchester's 64gr PowerPoint is a rather short stumpy bullet for it's weight so it just might work for ya. It is worth a try since it sounds like you've already got the bullets on hand.

Are you planning on working up a deer load for the 250? If so, take a look at the Barnes TSX or TTSX bullets. Either 62gr or 55gr.
The 62gr IS a long bullet for it's weight so I suspect you'll wind up with the same stability problems. (Length, not weight, is the determining factor when calculating optimum twist rate. But since a heavier bullet is generally longer twist rate usually gets tied to bullet weight)
The 55gr TSX works just fine out of a 1:14" twist barrel.

John1 S · 07-17-2012, 02:02 PM

OK went today and shot the Remington 700 and it has a 1/14 twist at 100 yds... Did 2 load work ups . Used 64 gr. WW SP , IMR 4320 power, Went from 33.0 gr to 35.0 gr. and the best was 24.0 grs. and 3 shot and .511 group size. Then used IMR 3031 power , went from 33.0 grs to 34.0 grs. in the same bullet. Shot 3 each one and the best was 33.0 grs. and .297 group size. I had now trouble and no key holes. And my 22/250 has a 24 " barrel. Looks like to me it is very stabilize?

Bindernut · 07-17-2012, 11:06 PM

That does look like it'll work just fine for ya.
I really was expecting to see groups in the 1.5" or larger range with maybe some keyhole wobbling at 100yds.

Just for kicks, I hit Winchester's website to see if they still offered their factory 64grPP load (X222502) and I see it's still listed.

Do you have a chronograph? It would be interesting to see what you're getting for velocity.

John1 S · 07-18-2012, 11:42 AM

What helped me on the twist rate and this bullet was a Rotational Velocity formula . I'll try to walk you through it. This formula works o 1/12 & 1/14 twist rate. RV=12/TRN X LV ... ( RV is rotational velocity , 12 is constant, TRN is twist rate number, LV is linear velocity) For a Ex: RV = 12/14 X LV ( 12 div. by 14) , RV = .857 X 2800 , RV= 2399.6 RPS. If you keep the rotational velocity above 2300 it well not key hole. The 22.250 with the 64 gr bullet velocity was about 3400 FPS so the rotational velocity was about 2900. Hope this helps.

07-11-2012, 06:10 AM	#1
John1 S V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 70	Question on 22-250 reloads I have some 64 gr WW bullets I'm wanting to load in the 22-250. What would be a good power to us. I have IMR 4064, IMR 3031, IMR 4320??? -->

07-11-2012, 07:18 AM	#2
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads IMR 3031 is used a lot here on 22-250 suitable are H4895, IMR-8208 XBR, Reloder 15, but change these if you go to a lighter projectile

07-13-2012, 07:37 AM	#3
Sherrer1* Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Selma Alabama Posts: 41	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads what is your barrrel twist? my buddy loads 55 gr speer psp and Imr4895 works great he get a dime size group at 100 yards.

07-13-2012, 08:30 PM	#4
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads I've never ran anything heavier than 55gr through the .22-250. IMR4064 and WW760 are my powders of choice for 40-55gr. I know several shooters that use IMR3031 for those weights too. I would probably look at a slower burning powder for a heavier bullet...but that's my general thoughts on reloading most all bottleneck cartridges. IMR4064, WW760, H414, IMR4320...I'd say any of those are worth trying if you've got data for that bullet weight. And as already mentioned, pay attention to the twist rate on your barrel. The typical 1:14" or 1:12" isn't going to stabilize the heavier (which also means longer) projectiles very well. 1:12" will do most 60gr bullets in the .22-250 or the .220Swift, but I don't know about anything heavier/longer. I haven't done the Greenhill formula math but the Hornady manual suggest 1:10" for their heavy .224" projectiles. Here's one site with a Greenhill calculator but there are quite a few more if you do a web search for them. http://www.z-hat.com/twistrate.htm Last edited by Bindernut; 07-13-2012 at 08:32 PM..

07-14-2012, 02:52 PM	#5
Kevin Rohrer V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 281	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads 4064 and Varget here. I hope your barrel twist supports that big bullet. Most are cut for <60gr. __________________ An armed society is a polite society--Robert Heinlein via Jeff Cooper Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, Varmint Hunters Assn, American Legion, ARCTA, & South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Assn.

07-16-2012, 07:19 AM	#7
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads The 1-14 twist will not stabilize the 64gr bullets more than likely. You can always try and see. But I would expect to see Keyholes at 100 yards.

07-16-2012, 12:27 PM	#8
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads Yup, Same here. I'll bet it won't group all that well with anything over 60gr. Winchester's 64gr PowerPoint is a rather short stumpy bullet for it's weight so it just might work for ya. It is worth a try since it sounds like you've already got the bullets on hand. Are you planning on working up a deer load for the 250? If so, take a look at the Barnes TSX or TTSX bullets. Either 62gr or 55gr. The 62gr IS a long bullet for it's weight so I suspect you'll wind up with the same stability problems. (Length, not weight, is the determining factor when calculating optimum twist rate. But since a heavier bullet is generally longer twist rate usually gets tied to bullet weight) The 55gr TSX works just fine out of a 1:14" twist barrel.

07-17-2012, 02:02 PM	#9
John1 S V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 70	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads OK went today and shot the Remington 700 and it has a 1/14 twist at 100 yds... Did 2 load work ups . Used 64 gr. WW SP , IMR 4320 power, Went from 33.0 gr to 35.0 gr. and the best was 24.0 grs. and 3 shot and .511 group size. Then used IMR 3031 power , went from 33.0 grs to 34.0 grs. in the same bullet. Shot 3 each one and the best was 33.0 grs. and .297 group size. I had now trouble and no key holes. And my 22/250 has a 24 " barrel. Looks like to me it is very stabilize? Attached Images

07-17-2012, 11:06 PM	#10
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads That does look like it'll work just fine for ya. I really was expecting to see groups in the 1.5" or larger range with maybe some keyhole wobbling at 100yds. Just for kicks, I hit Winchester's website to see if they still offered their factory 64grPP load (X222502) and I see it's still listed. Do you have a chronograph? It would be interesting to see what you're getting for velocity. Last edited by Bindernut; 07-17-2012 at 11:07 PM..

07-18-2012, 11:42 AM	#11
John1 S V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 70	Re: Question on 22-250 reloads What helped me on the twist rate and this bullet was a Rotational Velocity formula . I'll try to walk you through it. This formula works o 1/12 & 1/14 twist rate. RV=12/TRN X LV ... ( RV is rotational velocity , 12 is constant, TRN is twist rate number, LV is linear velocity) For a Ex: RV = 12/14 X LV ( 12 div. by 14) , RV = .857 X 2800 , RV= 2399.6 RPS. If you keep the rotational velocity above 2300 it well not key hole. The 22.250 with the 64 gr bullet velocity was about 3400 FPS so the rotational velocity was about 2900. Hope this helps.