22-250

English Mike · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:36 pm Post subject: 22-250

I'm going to have another calibre to play with in the near future & would appreciate input regarding the best brass, bullets, primers & powder to use when loading for the 22-250.
It's a new one to me & there's a somewhat 'competitive' angle to the project, as a mate has a .220 Swift which he's adamant is more accurate than any 22-350 could be.
I'm looking forward to proving him wrong. Very Happy

Elvis · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

you could be really different and go 22-.243 there are a few guys running them over here now and shooting deer with them too. talk about projectiles "smoking" out the end of the barrel.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

Best load for my .22-250 to date is a Hornady 52-grain AMax over 39.0 grains of Hodgdon CFE223 in Nosler brass and a Federal large rifle primer. This load produces well under 1/2" groups, with several under1/4", for 5 shots at 100 yards in my Ruger #1 with 1-14" twist. This produces just at 3,900 fps from my 26" barrel. This is very near maximum and should be approached carefully.
Otherwise, IMR 4064 has produced good accuracy and velocity with various bullets.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

English Mike wrote:

would appreciate input regarding the best brass, bullets, primers & powder to use when loading for the 22-250.

English Mike, your biggest limitation on bullet selection will be the twist of the barrel. I've seen some .22-250s come in 1:14 twist which will limit you bullet weights to less than 55 grains. I think Barnes had to make a special TSX just for these conditions. I've also seen some barrels come in 1:8 which will allow you to use 77 gr SMK (maybe 80 gr SMK also) and Hornady's 75gr A-Max. You can really reachout and touch someone with those bullets in a .22-250 with the faster twist rate.

Elvis · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

Slim me old mate.....there is an old ex venison recovery guy( Alex Gale) here in KIWILAND who has meat hunted with a .22-250 forever (well ok not quite when dinosaurs were around but since late 70s anyway) the last load I heard he was using was a GS custom of about 45 grns going stupid fast.
anyone who has shot that many large animals with small calibre sure knows how to place shots and would nt use it if it didnt work as the animals he shot payed the bills.

funnily enough its that fellas book that brought both Radar and myself here to the nut for first time.

English Mike · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

Too late to change caliber as the rifle's on order; a Schultz & Larsen with a 23½" barrel & 1:10 rifling.
I'm looking at bullets in the 50-60gr range, as the main quarry will be foxes, with occasional forays for muntjac & Chinese water deer.
Anything bigger & I have .243 & .270 to use.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

Elvis wrote:

Slim me old mate.....there is an old ex venison recovery guy( Alex Gale) here in KIWILAND who has meat hunted with a .22-250 forever ... using was a GS custom of about 45 grns going stupid fast.

Elvis, I wasn't saying light bullets were not capable just that twist limits the bullet selection. Several of my elk guides use 22-250 for neck shots and they can easily take coyotes if they see one.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

English Mike wrote:

Schultz & Larsen with a 23½" barrel & 1:10 rifling.
I'm looking at bullets in the 50-60gr range, as the main quarry will be foxes, with occasional forays for muntjac & Chinese water deer.

That twist rate will give you some good options. 53 grain V-max or 55 grain GMX. GMX has some wicked expansion (new expansion cavity design). I would not use the 70 grain GMX as its the old expansion cavity. I'd look at their ELD Match if you want to reach out and touch someone.

Elvis · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

yeah Mate.....just knew you were a bit of a fan of the monos,the GS were a really new thing when he started using them.
Mike for foxes that cartridge would be just about perfect inmyhumbleopinion.
Ive always thought of it as a .223 on steriods and the few times Ive fired one at a wallaby it died very quick smartly,there isnt a fox in the world built bigger than one of them bouncy buggas.
biggest issue I see is which way to go.......fmj so you have pencil hole in pelt
or run of mill sp with small inhole and large out hole possibly ruining hide
or a full on varmit/varmint load that will explode and not penertrate more than 4-5 inches and make one heck of a mess,you wont spoil hide with a head shot......and might get away with only an in hole...but dont ask me to skin whats left,wev'e had far to many bone fragments jammed under fingernails from busted ribs. Sad

yes I would love to own one but couldnt justify it without selling the .223 as they would do the same task.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

this is from a few years back:

huntingnut.com/index.p...pic&t=5606

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

22-250 is one of my most favorite calibers. It was the caliber of the first rifle I ever bought, in Ruger #1.

Its all my dad hunted deer with for as far as I can ever remember. He killed a TON of deer with his. I started using it and killed a bunch as well... then got my wife started deer hunting and her 2nd ever deer was with it (first was with my 50cal Thompson ML :D).

Oddly I haven't fired mine in an embarrassing amount of time. I'll have to do something about that soon.

-DallanC

SingleShotLover · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

With the 1-10" twist, I would definitely consider trying the 53-grain VMAX. BC is quite high but won't stabilize in my barrel. Your twist should work with bullets into the 70 to 75 grain range.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

Don't ask me, I'm pulling for the Swift...

I've got an old Ruger 77 in .220 Swift that I haven't shot in forever. The only groundhog I killed with is was exactly 40 (yes, forty) yards away. But it sure did kill him!

I have a .22-250 barrel for a TC Encore that I've never tried.

Elvis · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

at 40 yards if the projectile didnt the muzzle blast would. lol

English Mike · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: 22-250

I'll admit a preference for Sierra bullets, as they've never let me down in the past & despite all the naysayers, the SMK is indeed a damn' good varmint bullet - not yet had a fox that's run after being hit by one (admittedly in .243).