Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 8 twist .22-250 loads

I'm building an 8 twist .22-250 and was wanting favorite loads for WT's and hogs.

I have 62 gr. TSX, 75 gr. A-Max and SSII's, 77 gr. BTHP on hand, 80 gr. VLD's ordered. I have most applicable powders.

DF

35 grains of Varget get's me 3500 fps with 62 gr TTSX's

The 75g Amax is an all around hammer. I've killed a few hogs with that bullet.

I have some of those.

What load?

DF

36.4 Grs Big Game with 75 Amax at 2.630" gives me about 3,200+ fps......21" barrel.

Is that a std. chamber, or longer throat for the heavier bullet?

And, what's the jump?

DF

Have you tried that combo on WT's/Hogs?

DF

Heavier VLD type bullets like the A-max give you a shorter throat not a longer one. This is a common misconception. 2.630" with the 75 A-max will work just about perfectly. No jump, I would kiss lands at that length.

Thanks.

Touching at 2.630" COAL is with a std. chamber?

I've killed deer and hogs with VLD's, TSX and TTSX, just not in .224.

I've not killed anything with an A-Max, but have experience with SST's.

Would appreciate terminal performance info.

DF

For the target gun, I'm using 31.5 grs of Varget and 70 gr Berger VLD for superb accuracy.

For the wolf/coyote gun I do well with 35 grs of Reloder 15 pushing a 62 gr TSX........the TTSX was OK but TSX grouped a bit tighter.

Just kissin'. I jammed a dummy round in and started loading to that COL. No pressure in my chamber, but YMMV. Not sure if it's std chamber or not. Douglas barrel was chambered by IT&D for Deerhunter5555. I bought it from him and it's damn near perfection.

But burnin' is correct. Amaxes typically don't require a longer throat, although I typically send a few dummy rounds with my COL to the smith when I'm having them chambered.

ETA: I mistated. This rifle was built by Mickey Coleman with a Douglas barrel for the original owner. But still not sure if it has any special throat length. My guess is "no".

No hogs, but deer and antelope yes. Shot a muley buck last year at around 300 yards if memory serves, and mule and whitetail bucks the 2 years prior with the same bullet, same speeds +/- in the same gun with with an ai chamber. 425, and 135? respectively. Shot an antelope buck in there as well, but can't remember the distance tonight. Point being, it kills like crazy close and far. From my own field experience with it and having seen how it performs I've nothing but confidence in it.

If given a choice for same game would you go 243 or is there any real difference? Wanted to go this route for kids and I do favor the 22-250...

W

I run the 75gr A-Max @ 3300 with RL 15 and the 55gr TTSX @ 3,600 (?).

The A-Max will kill, no doubt. But they are not real consistent in my experience. The further out when they hit, the better. And I'd not aim for bone if using them.



Travis

Have you tried the 62 TSX/TTSX?

DF

Agreed.....

You're very welcome. Review this video about making a dummy round, you may get something out of it.

http://www.gretanrifles.com/knowledge/viewEntry.jsf

All reamers may be slightly different but kissing a 75 A-max at 2.630 is going to be right in the realm of what "normal" is.

Also review this thread from another forum where I am sure you will find what you're looking for. I go by Brazo over there.

Take care.

http://asrealasitgets.net/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=180667&nt=2&page=1

No. I used the 55's because the 62's couldn't be found when I needed them. I've been with Gruff when he uses them and they certainly are a great bullet.

If I was gonna try three bullets it would be the 75gr A-Max, the 62gr. TTSX and the 75gr. Sciorrco.

If you have Varget, RL 15, or H4350, you should be in there like swimwear.



Travis

I have all of the above, well almost (62 TSX, not TTSX).

The SSII and A-Max are favorites in my fast twist .22-204. A fast twist .22-250 should be even mo better with those two.

Thanks,

DF

You're sittin' pretty UBER.




Travis

If you're asking me, I'd say it's a toss up. I haven't seen a pile of game shot with the 243, but the ones I have weren't any deader than with the 250. speaking solely to deer sized game, personally I'll go 22-250 all day long. I wanted to do a fast twist 22-250 for my wrong handed son, but the yute 700 in 243 was priced right and shoots well enough I'll leave it up to him what he wants when it's time to retube.

If you shoot factory ammo, the 243 seems like an easier path to take, but I doubt that anybody (almost anybody?) would put $$ on a fast twist 22-250 barrel with the intent of shooting factory ammo. I have a couple of 1-9" ROT 22-250s and really like them for shooting varmints and medium game, but I leave a 243 at my MIL's ranch so that I can shoot 80 grain Federal blue box ammo that I can buy at the Wal-Mart in Chadron, NE, or in Rapid City, SD. By leaving a rifle there that is chambered for a common cartridge, I save myself the aggravation of flying commercial with ammunition.

If you happen to run into some 69gr. Sierra's H380 is working great for me. 34 gr. .020 off the lands CCI BR primers in Nosler brass. This is mild load with great accuracy.

Just received 80 gr. A-Max and 62 gr. TAC-X to add to my bullet collection.

It will be a while before I get my 8 twist .22-250 Hawkeye project back from the smith.

DF

One would think RL-17 would be a good 80 gr. .22-250 combo. Can't seem to find much on it.

I read somewhere that Sierra has IMR 4831 as their accuracy load with their 80 gr. If 4831 works well, Superperformance should work. I don't see much data on that one, either.

Any info with those powders and 80 gr. would be appreciated.

DF

I've got R15, H4350, and IMR-7828sc to try behind 75gr Amaxes. I'm running a 24" 8twist Bartlein 2b. I guess I'll just work up to 3200 or so and see how things go...

John

I have one with a one in 7 twist...

I like the 80 grain A Max, for a heavier bullet choice... mine shoots those better than the 75 A Max, and a hair better than the 75 BTHP from Hornady....

For some reason for accuracy and velocity, my best results were with powders in the RL 15, IMR 4895, 4064, Varget, H 4895 burn ranges....

AR Comp has been the "leader of the pack" recently, displacing 4064...

Another combo that I have learned to like, is a long seated 60 grain Hornady SP or a 60 grain Sierra HP, charged with H 322 surprisingly...got it out of a Single Shot Pistol load from the Sierra Manual...

That fast twist, and 3500 fps or so, really does some serious thumping when it gets to its destination...

I tried the routine slower powders first, but didn't get the velocity or accuracy that the cartridge was capable of...

35 grains of AR Comp, and a 53 V Max is another very VERY accurate combination, and very flat shooting, and fairly high velocity...used it on a rock chuck over in Klamath, and it looked like it had been hit with an RPG.. was about 250 yds

Seafire, seems you've been an advocate of faster powders for a while. They seem to work for you. Interesting.

That 7 twist would probably stabilize a 90 gr. VLD. Have you tried it? I see on Load Data that they can be pushed around 3K with the right load.

DF

If .224 is legal in your state and you just plan to hunt deer sized critters, I doubt you'll notice much difference. If you plan to take the kids on out of state hunts, 243 is the legal minimum in some states for deer, and most of the state regs that I've seen have had a minimum of 243 for elk.

I've used the 62 TSX on hogs (from .223s) with fine results. The TSX has given better accuracy than the TTSX for whatever reason. I've also never had a TSX fail to expand though I'm not saying it couldn't happen.

I have no doubt a 62 TSX from a 22-250 would be and absolute hammer.

I also get better accuracy from the TSX vs TTSX.

The best accuracy out of my 26 Nos, so far, has been with a 120 TSX at 3,450 fps., half MOA at 400 yds. I just got some more, now called the TAC-X and I got some TAC-TX's to try, both 120's.

The 120 TSX narrowly out shot the 120 E-Tip, which out shot the 127 LRX which is also tipped. The 129 ABLR couldn't stay in the competition with these three monometals. It may just be this gun, as the 26 Nos was built around the 129 ABLR.

It will be interesting to compare the TAC-X and the tipped TAC-TX.

I'm told that the TAC series is the same as the TSX series, they changed the name for a govt. contract. Go figure...

DF

A 120 TSX at 3450 is going to leave a mark…

This is going to be my next build. I have already purchased a SS Select Match # 4 Shilen barrel with 1&8 twist and i already have a new PTG Piloted 22-250 Reamer . I have a Left Hand Varmint 700 in 22-250 and will be pulling the barrel and getting started soon . I believe i will cut the 28 inch barrel to 24.5 inch's. I have already purchased 500 75 gr A-Max's for this project.

Yep.

Exactly what happened to this 200 pound sow at 180 yds. This ragged piece of meat is what's left of her heart.

DRT.

This was a 120 E-Tip, should be about the same performance.

DF

Hawkeye??? Where did that come from...

How about Mohawk...

Must have had a senior moment...

DF

Never shot much other than head shots with 80 jlks, but they worked very good, out of the 22-250 fast twist.

Its been so many years, but I recall it being a pretty good laser to 1000....

I'm looking forward to trying 62 TAC-X/TAC-TX (TSX/TTSX) as well as 75 SSII's, 75 and 80 A-Max's in the 8 twist.

I have Superperformance and RL-17, but don't see much said about those in a fast twist .22-250. Superperfromance is close to 4831 which is listed as an accuracy power with 80's. 4350, the new 4451 and Hybrid 100V are also on hand to try. Those are pretty close to H-414/760, known to be good .22-250 powders.

It's gonna be interesting. Just got a new Magnetospeed to check'em with.

DF

Want one now. Thanks...

W

If I could only own one rifle it would be an 8" twist 22-250.




Travis

FWIW mine is in a model 600 and a Mcmillan Rem Hunter stock. It's about the only thing that gets any attention any more.

How does the 8" Twist work with lighter 45-50 gr bullets?

That will be interesting. I have a 14 twist, factory 700 ADL to compare to the 8 twist Shilen.

I've read that hyper spun varmint type bullets tend to be more explosive. Others may want to chime in.

The plus for very fast twist is we now have better bullets than when I stated reloading and shooting a "few years" back.

DF

Works great.



Travis

Sure does!! Just as well as a 14.....

Any accounts of a hyper spun varmint bullet messing up critters mo worser than a slower spun projectile?

I've read that claim, have no such experience to report.

DF

Yes. It makes a difference. A big difference.




Travis

Well, if we like to blow up critters, there's not much utility in 12 and 14 twist .22-250's.

The 8 twists will shoot 80 gr. bullets good for WT's and such. And will also shoot lighter varmint type bullets with even more gusto and splash.

So, what's not to like...

You can't shoot every type of varmint bullet that fast twisted that hard, not that it's a worry given the many that do work.

This thread is making me want an 8 twist toofiddy......

74, despite all the praise of the fast twist, I had one.. It did nothing for me exceptional.. The most accurate load was a 55 gr. Sierra HPBT, but it was no more accurate than my 1-14's.. As for ringing steel at 800 yards, I suppose it would be excellent, but that is not my thing..
The very best heavy bullet load I developed was the 75 gr. Hornday.. Then I found that about one third to half the rounds I was firing came apart before they hit the target!! Finally gave the barrel to a 'smith and told him the best use for it was a tomato stake.. If I need to shoot heavier bullets, I will use a larger caliber..

That's very odd and far from the norm. If I had same experience I'd likley do the same thing.

I really like mine. Great deer rifle that sure bucks the wind with the amax. I started playing with 75's and hunting with 62's. I quit that after killing a few deer with the 75 amax. I just use it for everything. Does great 223 223AI and 22-250AI

The 75 amax and the 62 ttsx are the ones that I believe I could like.

Kaleb,

Ever try the 80 Amax?

I just got some to try along side 75 Amax's and 75 SSII's.

DF

Any reports on tipped vs. non-tipped 62 gr. Barnes?

DF

Exactly!!

that just seemed to be the results...

I started out with what I called 'the standards' for this type of service...

4831, 4831SC, IMR and H 4350, RL 19, RL 22, RL 25, RL 17, 7828 and 7828 SC, H 1000

Honorable mention goes to H 414...

all were accurate enough.. but velocity seemed to get further with those mid range powders... not what I was expecting, but that is what the results show..

maybe its just that the 22.250 case works best with those powders....

a deceased friend who had one, that got me going on this... found the same thing out... but had also built a fast twist 22/243 and also a 22/284....

Told me it took those cases for the slower powders to come into their own...

barrel life wasn't too good on the 22/284.... 500 to 600 rounds and it started throwing them...

Love this thread. I have a 22-250 project that I am about to finish. Just need the free time to bed the action and mount the scope. It's a stainless Model 70 with a 24" Krieger barrel
1-8" twist. Really looking forward to shooting it.

Wsmnut

Having never used an amax on anything but paper or steel how does typically behave on deer?



Thanks

I haven't used the 80amax. I wouldn't think it would suck but hate to guess.

I've shot deer pigs and coyotes with the 75's and have no complaints yet. I aim for lungs though. If you prefer to break shoulders then I'd go with the 62's

I really like the 62's it's just easier maybe im lazy to shoot one bullet.

Just sent a Lapua .22-250 case w/ a 75gr A-MAX dummy round to JGS for a fast twist project. The bullet was positioned so the bearing surface / boat tail junction was just a few thou out of the neck shoulder junction. This is what they came up with. I look forward to getting this project underway. The rifle is going to be built on an adjustable McMillan Game Scout, Surgeon 591R & Krieger 1:8 RV @ 24".

I started my project today . I pulled the barrel off my Rem LH 700 22-250 Varmint . I face the action , cleaned up the threads and Lapped the Lugs . I have the Shilen SS, SM # 4 Barrel 1&8 twist indicated in the Lathe and now ready to cut the Tenon and Thread, i'm using a Holland SS .250 Recoil Lug and ditched the Rem Factory Lug . I also ordered from Midway 100 pieces of Lapua Brass, and a new Gre-Tan Light Firing pin assembly to go with the Timney Straight Trigger I'm replacing the Factory trigger with , I also ordered a Black Laminate Stock from Boyd. I may cut the chamber tomorrow, but may wait until Tuesday. I will post photos when I'm finished. I'm going to start with either Hod 4350 or Rel 15 and the Hornady 75 gr A-Max. I will need to find some loading data for Rel 15 and the A-Max if i decide to go this route .

The Boyd stock i ordered with with a custom LOP. Boyd said a extra seven to eight days to ship. Rifle is now chambered and the barrel cut and crowned at 24.5 inch's and installed on the action waiting for the stock to arrive to finish the build.

any updates or data for the 75 AMAX with H4350?

Just finished mine.. Gave it a go with 35.8g to 36.4g in .2gr increments of H4350 with 75gr AMAX's & didnt find anything worth a [bleep]..

My rifle loves the 75 gr A-Max and IMR 4831, grouping in .2 and .3 . IMR 4350 grouped almost as well, but the 4831 was better.

PM BillyGoatGruff.




Travis

I prefer the 1-7" twist and shoot the Sierra 90 gr. HPBT!

My rifle shoots the Sierra 80 gr just as well as the A-Max but I prefer the A-Max for hunting coyotes

Bump in case any updated info out there. Figuring I'll start playing with my 8" twist 22-250 barrel as soon as deer season is over...

John