Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 22-250 AI RL17 Data

Just getting back my 22-250AI with 1:9 twist barrel. Looks like RL17 would be a great choice for bullets in the 68-70gr range. Can't find much out there. Anyone running this combination with any success?

Someone posted almost the same topic a few weeks ago, RL17 never worked all that well in my rifles. My powders of choice for 75-80 grainers is RL19 and IMR4831.

I asked this question awhile back and can't find '19.So if it will ever stop raining,I will get a chance to fireform and will try some '17.

A few years ago, I did some RL17 testing with a few different
calibers. It seemed to be at its best with heavier for caliber
bullets if the twist was tight enough to stabilize the bullets.
My .22-250's 1:12 twist won't shoot 60gr bullets well, so can't
give you any load with RL17 for even heavier bullets, but you
should have good luck with your twist.

It does a fantastic job in the .243 with 105gr A-Max's!!

With a 21" inch barrel,I maxed out at 38gr R17 75Amax at 3320.Accuracy was at 37gr and 3250.Half inch MOA with 4 shot group.Will try some 22 next.Still looking for 19.

For bullets 55 gr and under nothing beats Varget in my 22-250 AI and for heavier bullets i would start with IMR or Hod 4350

Good advice right there!



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RL-17 and 4350 and together on the burn charts. They should be comparable with better velocity going to RL-17. I have some 64 Gr Bergers I will do some testing with this weekend. Looks like RL-19 might be the better choice for the 70 Gr.

The two powders that have given me the best accuracy in my 22-250 Ack has been Varget and Win 760.

Done a little more testing today.Tried R19,Imr4831,and H4831sc.With the 75 amax those three weren't getting near the speed R17 was getting.Then I went back down to R15 and got 3300.Didn't have time for accuracy testing.So far R15 and R17 are giving me the speed in my rifle.

Update to RL19 with 68 Gr HPBT loadwork.

So far I've found 40.5gr of RL19, Fed-210 primer and .02" off the lands with the Hornady 68 gr HPBT is above adequate accuracy but below expectations with velocity. Accuracy is consistent 0.27"-0.38" at 100 yards and 1.3"-1.7" at 300 yards (all 5 shot). Velocity is averaging 3185fps.

Debating about starting over again with Rl17 or RL15.

What is a realistic expectation on velocity? 24" 1:9 Benchmark barrel.

With 41.0 of RL-19, my old Ackley with a 22" tube got a scootch over 3300 with 80's...

I've found some cartridges like really fast or slow powders outside their "normal" powders...

You're leaving lots on the table...

I have a standard 9 twist 22-250.With varget i get 3300 and with superperformance i get 3500.The varget shoots right around an inch at 300. Havent tried the super yet except at 200 but it shows good potential. ED K

Interesting that your velocities are so low, with my latest tube a 1-8" twist Krieger 26" long using Lapua brass and Berger 80gr VLD's 42.0 grains of RL19 is sending them through my Oehler at an average of 3403fps

35.0 gr of RL15 is showing considerable pressure on the primer and my velocity is at 3290 fps.

Trying RL17 now, at 36.5 gr without excessive pressure but only at 3200 fps. I'll work it up to max and see where it goes.

42 gr of RL19 was flattening primers. Starting to look like a pressure sensitive barrel.

Final post for the load work. RL17 at 37.5 gr seems to be as high as I want to go. 38 was starting to get a sticky bolt. Velocity was right at 3300 and accuracy was great. Two five shot groups at 300, 1.0", and 1.1" respectively. Can't say I'm thrilled with the final velocity but 3300 isn't bad considering the accuracy. Also switched from Fed-210 to CCI200 to gain 0.5" on the groups. I'll take it in the field this fall for fur and see how it performs.

760 is KING with 60g and under in a 22/250AI! TINY, Tiny groups at unreal velocities in a 12 twist rigs

50's-4200 in 26" zero freebore chamber
55's-4050-4100
60's-3700 +

BUG HOLE GROUPS!!

This is not just one barrel that has produced these groups and speeds! VERY low extreme spreads!!!

There was a bunch of us that shot this caliber in the Southern California Varmint Calling Association!!!

H4350 and IMR 4064 eats barrels, don't know about R#17

I’ll revive this thread. Had a Tikka T3X 22-250 punched to the AI version but before that had loaded Lapua brass with up to 37.5 gr of R17 Under a Nosler Custom Competition 69-gr HP and Fed 210 primers. This gave me 3300 fps from the normal 22-250 case and ~ .5 MOA accuracy at 300 yds.

In the AI chamber, the load gave 3150 fps and the same very good accuracy which is great. And great fire-formed cases.

Now in reloading the fireformed cases, I’ll start at about 38.5 and work up in .5 gr increments. Should get this finished before the weekend is out.

Thanks George. I look forward to your range report.

Well here is some more informal info regarding my new 22-250 AI, a rechambered Tikka T3X fast-twist. I have only used R17 because I have a bunch of it on hand. As mentioned above my fire-forming load was very accurate (10 in 1”/100 yds) in the doing, and also in the new, bigger chamber.

I arbitrarily started with 39.5 gr and went up .5 gr at a time to a 42-grain end point. For OAL, I started out with all the Tikka magazine would give me with the Nosler Custom Comp 69-gr bullet — 2.49.” I used Fed 210’s and Lapua brass. Rechambering was done with planning on using Lapua brass.

Magneto chronograph.

Five shots with the 39.5-gr load averaged ~ 3300 fps; accuracy 10/1.5”/100 yds
40-gr — interestingly vel’s ran with the load above. accuracy similar.
40.5 — Ave 3380 fps and velocity was good at 10/1”/100. This load had 5 < under .6”
41-gr — I skipped.
41.5-gr — Ave 3575 and accuracy again fell off a bit at 10/1.5”/100 yds.

I’ll probably work on the 40.5-gr load again as I value the accuracy over more velocity for a good coyote load. That plus the LRHS clicks and tracks well. 😉

Anyway, FWIW.