Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .22-250 with Hornady 88 gr. ELD

Kind of already know the answer here but wanted to run my opinion past you folks.

Have been looking without success for any loading data on the Hornady 88 gr. ELD in the .22-250, this in an 8" twist. The Hornady manual and website, Sierra, Nosler, Berger, Barnes, Hodgdon and Ramshot have nada, most of them only go up to 80 grains, although Sierra has some data for their 95 grain HPBT.

Sierra shows H4350 and H4831 getting 2900 fps with their 95 grain bullet and most folks show those powders getting 3000-3050 fps with the various 80 grain bullets. Without an actual published max powder charge to refer to, I'm thinking I could use either of these two powders and work up to 2900 fps out of a 22.4" barreled Tikka as a safe enough velocity. I realize RL-17, Superformance and such show higher velocities in this weight range than the two Hodgdon powders but I'm not looking for absolute highest velocity obtainable and tend to not get powders for single uses, those are the two I have on hand and cover several other uses.

So, sound like a safe enough plan?

OR, if anybody does know of published data for this bullet I'm all ears (or eyes).

'17.

Hint...……..

I’m not a single-use powder guy anymore either. But I use “17” in a couple of rifles (300 WSM, and 284) incl my 8-twist, Tikka 22-250, like you. Sorry, haven’t gotten as far as you but thats the powder I’ll likely start and stop with.

So I’d be interested in your results.

Definitely going to try RL-17 but it's not to be found on store shelves locally and don't want to spend the hazmat fee to order just one pound to try. Will keep looking and get a pound when I can find one.

There's supposed to be a break in the rainy weather tomorrow so I'll take the Oehler out and work up a series to reach my target velocity and do some preliminary accuracy testing at the same time.

Did some volume tests last night and a new Hornady .22-250 case will hold 36 grains of H4350 with room to spare for the 88 grain bullet so that's not an issue since my best guesstimate it that I should find 2900 fps with around 32-34 grains. One nice thing about the .22-250 is that even with the long 88 grain ELD seated out to touch the lands in the Tikka there is plenty of room in the magazine with about .2" or more left in front. Overall length for it and the 75 grain ELD - the other bullet I'm testing for now - are within .005" of each other when both are touching the lands.

No need to "trumpet" Kreedmire COAL virtues...they's KNOWED quantities,in all diameters.

Hint...................(grin)

RL 17 is a dog of a powder for use in hot places, 26 is what I am going to try

I'd look at RL 16 too. Similar burn rate as 17 without the temperature issues

Laughing!

Hint.............

I have used R17 to -20 F while hunting for quite a few years and never noticed a sensitivity significant enough to make a difference on a deer-sized animal....even to a lasered 500 yards, and in which case it was the - 20 F mentioned.

It seems like RL17 is pretty good in most cartridges and then you see spikes in pressure once you get around 80 degrees. I'd give Hornady a call, most manufacturers have some data that isn't published on newer bullets.

The only thing you "shoot",is your mouth and Imagination.

Hint.................

Jim In Idaho,
I'd like to hear what you come up with since I was just playing with the same idea. I have a burned out 22-250 and I'm going to put on a 260 AI. But I could swap out 22-250, 22-250AI, or 243 win into it once I fit the barrels. I've also toyed with the idea of a 284 Win. But I'm in Eastern Oregon so 22 cals are useful out here.

I shoot every chambering cited and a bunch that ain't been mentioned.

Hint...................

I found this thread so you might be able to cross reference and extrapolate a load with it. Let us know what you find. https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/22-250-and-88gr-eldm.6915941/

Them that cain't...simply MUST plagiarize.

Hint..................

If memory serves me correctly Ken Waters had a chapter on fast twist 22-250 loads. But I don't believe there were any bullets in the 90gr area at that time. It's been a decade since I last read his book. I'll try to find it in storage.

Reading ain't doing.

Hint................

I research and then load. I feel sorry for you Bud.

You Imagine and Pretend,which is more than obvious.

Hint...............

Went out this morning to fire the very first shots through my brand new rifle. Tried to stay conservative but still worked up close to my expected velocities with the Hornady 75 and 88 gr. ELD's with IMR4895, RL-15 and H4350.

Showing powder change/velocity, avg. of three shots.
75 grain ELD
IMR4895 - trying for 3200 fps
31.0 / 2971 fps
32.0 / 3052
33.0 / 3126
33.5 / 3192 - bolt lift was decidedly sticky at this point. 4895 gave great groups and while it's nigh perfect for 55 grain bullets is a bit too quick for these heavier bullets.

RL-15 - also trying for 3200 fps
31.0 / 2885
32.0 / 3021
33.0 / 3099
33.5 / 3151 - think I will try going to 34.0, although groups at each level weren't quite as good as with IMR4895.

H4350 - hoping to hit 3250 or maybe 3300 fps with this one.
33.0 / 2763
34.0 / 2927
35.0 / 3014 - going to take this to 36.0 grains, maybe 36.5. Groups are as good as with 4895 but the burn rate of 4350 is much better suited to this application.

88 grain ELD - going for 2900 fps and only tried H4350 with this bullet weight
32.0 / 2722 fps
33.0 / 2799
34.0 / 2890
34.5 / ?? my chronograph battery died on me so I didn't get a reading but would extrapolate velocity around 2935 fps. Bolt lift still fine.

Started all bullets at .010" and they are showing a two and one pattern. Hardly noticeable at lower velocity with the three shot groups still staying at or just over 1/2", but the 88 gr. ELD really gets tossed out there with two shots close or even touching and the third out 2" or more. Going to seat everything at .030" to see if that cleans up this tendency and go to four shot groups at my target velocities to get a statistically better sample.


The really good news is that I took a road trip this afternoon to the next town over and scored 7 pounds of RL-17, two one pounders and a five pounder. Going to load up another pressure series with both bullets and hit the range again tomorrow morning - with a fresh chronograph battery.

Looks like you hit your goal Jim. Look up on youtube Snipershide shooting the 88gr ELDM out of the valkyre. Those guys shot out to a mile at I think 2880 fps. Sounds like you'll get 2935 fps like you said.

Hey Jim have you ever shot any 53gr VMAX's through you 1-8 twist? I'm wondering how they'll hold up.

This 22-250 is the first 8" twist .22 centerfire I've owned. Was supposed to get a 1-8 Tikka .223 but they changed twists without telling anybody and when mine came in it was 1-10" twist. It does shoot the 50 V-Max at 3400 fps into little groups so I can attest that they hold up. In fact it shoots pretty much everything up to the Hornady 68 BTHP into little groups.

The 88's are a Mind Fhuqk and simply SINISTER for slicing atmospherics.

Hint................

Adding a few data points. Went out again this morning to try a few more loads including some with RL-17. Velocities are average of four shots.

Hornady 75 ELD
34.0 RL-15 / 3191 fps. This one shows promise at this weight. Good accuracy and 3200 is about as much as you can expect from RL-15.
36.0 H4350 / 3096 fps. Still a bit slower but very accurate.
36.0 RL-17 / 3147 fps
37.0 RL-17 / 3228 fps
38.0 RL-17 / 3330 fps. Hornady shows a max of 37.9 gr. at the 3300 fps increment so this is right in line with their data. Good safe, max load.

Hornady 88 ELD
34.5 H4350 / 2914 fps - based on one shot. Put a supposedly new battery in the Oehler 35 but it died after the first shot. Didn't notice that until the end of the string. Replaced it with the other battery in the 2-pack and it lasted through the rest of the session.
32.0 RL-17 / 2698 fps
33.0 RL-17 / 2809 fps
34.0 RL-17 / 2899 fps - this is right at my target of 2900. Need to play with seating depth a bit for best accuracy but it looks promising.

That make the 1-8" twist very interesting for next year. Your results look great, can't wait to see some more loads. I had a couple of hours so went out scouting. Still not a lot of rats out but the chucks were sunning themselves. I didn't get an opportunity to shoot though, they stayed skylined while I was out there.

Flunged a few 88's this morning,outta a coupla mainstays...but mainly was Castin'.



Hint.................

Jim, just get several kegs of 17. When the barrel is toast, go 22 creed with 7T, Peterson brass, 17 again....plug in 3200 fps with 88's that shoot holes clean through deer.

Peterson brass sucks heavy ass and Alpha is simply without peer.

8" will stabilize 88's in said chambering,below sealevel and below freezing temps.

Hint...............

Thank you.

I am absolutely loving the tikka 22/250
Been working up some loads as follows
75 ELDM
varget
32.9. 3160
33.2. 3175
33.5 3210. .8 moa best, wouldn’t go higher

H4350
33.5. 3017
36.0. 3071
36.5. 3086
Could go higher but that is all I had all hovering around moa
All loaded for a square kiss
Win brass fed 210 m
Going to stay with 33.5 varget unless I try Rl 26

Had a bunch of neat looking targets but forgot to bring them home
BTW it also shoots 40 grain V max at 3995 to .6 Moa