Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .22/250 loads for groundhogs

Hello guys could you please share a few of your best loads. I just picked up a Kimber Varmint .22/250 stainless fluted. Thanks alot!

Varget and H380 with either a 50gr or 55gr VMax. My guns shoots 1/2" 5 shots groups with about any combination with these bullet weights and the above powders.

For 25 years I used a 52 grain Speer hollowpoint with 35.0 of H4895. We are all out of groundhogs these days, so I don't shoot the .22-250 much anymore. If I were starting fresh, I would try H4895 and 50 grain V Max bullets too.


Leon

Remington Mt. Guide .22-250 52gr A-max over 35.3gr of H4895.......

I recently tried Barnes "Varmint Grenade" 36 gr. HPs in my old Sako 22-250 and was pleasently surprised. A charge of 42/Varget gave me 4,120 fps and groups hovering at 1/2 moa. Haven't hit anything with them yet but sorta think it will let the air otta a ground hog fairly well! ???

Hornady 50 gr. Vmax and full charges of IMR-4064 shoots as well, but not as fast of course. They do make a mess out of ground hogs passed 200 yards.

I've never gotten my best groups with H-380 but others do.

My best 22-250 load is 32.6 grains of Benchmark behind Sierra's great 55 grain HPBT, using Federal 210 primers. Bullets seated .010 off the lands, it will drop 3 shots into a 1/4" group at 100 yards. Immediayely behind that load is one using Varget, with the same bullet/primer combo.\Your rifle will tell you what it likes best.
Pick the usual 22-250 suspect powders and bullets and go test. One of my early 22-250 LOVED H-380, along with some brand of 55 grain bullet years ago. My current 22-250 won't shoot H-380 at all.

I have a Rem. 788 and I really like 40gr. H-4831 with a Speer 70 gr. bullet.

Falconduke: I went to the Kimber site and looked up your Rifle - it seems you either have a 24" barrel or maybe a 22" barrel on your 22-250.
All of my 22-250's are either 26" or 27 1/4" long.
So I will only make some powders and bullets recommendations for you instead of an exact powder charge load.
My favorite Rock Chuck Rifle uses Sierra 55 gr. Spitzer Boattails and IMR 3031 powder.
Another of my favorite long range 22-250's use the 52 gr. Berger MEF bullets and Varget powder.
My first load recommendation to you (the Sierra 55 Spitzers) I have been using in that Rifle since 1981!
My point being I settled on that load LONG before polymer tipped bullets came on the scene!
I would recommend these days that you try the Nosler 55 grain BlitzKings in your 22-250. Many of my friends use this bullet in their 22-250's (and 220 Swifts!) on Rock Chucks with great results.
Best of luck to ya!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy