Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 22-250 Blue Dot loads

A while back seafire posted a list of 22-250 loads using Blue Dot. I looked for it but can't seem to find it. Anyone have a link to it? Thanks

yeah...... just be careful with them... as Mom told Ralphie.... You'll put your eye out kid!

hope this helps ya out....



Blue Dot Range Report: 22/250

Firearm Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2

Barrel: 22 inch sporter weight

Case: Remington

Range Tested: 7 grains to 20 grains. 20 % ( 6.6 grains) 60 % ( 19.8 grains)

Full Case Capacity to Rim: 33 grains/

Bullets Used in Test:
46 Win HP, 50 Hornady SP, 52 Sierra HP Match, 55 Win FMJ, 60 Hornady SP
63 Sierra SMP


Test Results:

I. 46 grain Winchester Hollow Point, Win Large Pistol Primer

1. 7 grs: 1721 fps
2. 8 grs: 1895 fps
3. 9 grs: 2095 fps
4. 10 grs: 2264 fps
5. 11 grs: 2390 fps

6. 12 grs: 2537 fps
7. 13 grs: 2675 fps
8. 14 grs: 2781 fps
9. 15 grs: NO Reading
10. 16 grs: 3063 fps

11. 17 grs: 3177 fps
12. 18 grs: 3274 fps
13. 19 grs: 3388 fps ( Consider Max)
14. 20 grs: 3440 fps ( Extractor Mark, Scrapped Case)

II. 50 grain Hornady SP, Win Large Rifle Primer

1. 7 grs: 1722 fps
2. 8 grs: 1911 fps
3. 9 grs: 2057 fps
4. 10 grs: 2206 fps
5. 11 grs: 2328 fps

6. 12 grs: 2473 fps
7. 13 grs: 2627 fps
8. 14 grs: 2729 fps
9. 15 grs: 2856 fps
10. 16 grs: 2940 fps

11. 17 grs: 3116 fps
12. 18 grs: 3181 fps
13. 19 grs: 3271 fps
14. 20 grs: 3354 fps

With this bullet, all the way to 20 grains was reached ( 60%). However, I would recommend max being set at 19 grains or less.


III Sierra 52 grain Hollow Point Match Win Large Pistol Primer

1. 7 grs: 1676 fps
2. 8 grs: 1841 fps
3. 9 grs: 1998 fps
4. 10 grs: 2127 fps
5. 11 grs: 2311 fps

6. 12 grs: 2416 fps
7. 13 grs: 2551 fps
8. 14 grs: No Read
9. 15 grs: 2795 fps
10. 16 grs: 2935 fps

11. 17 grs: 3029 fps
12. 18 grs: 3127 fps
13. 19 grs: 3252 fps
14. 20 grs: 3297 fps

This bullet also reached the 20 grains mark ( 60 %) . However once again I recommend max being set at 19 grains or less.


IV Winchester 55 gr FMJ, Win Large Pistol Primer

1. 7grs: 1636 fps
2. 8 grs: 1800 fps
3. 9 grs: 1986 fps
4. 10 grs: 2126 fps
5. 11 grs: 2247 fps

6. 12 grs: 2392 fps
7. 13 grs: 2504 fps
8. 14 grs: 2631 fps
9. 15 grs: 2738 fps
10. 16 grs: 2872 fps

11. 17 grs: 3003 fps
12. 18 grs: 3095 fps
13. 19 grs: 3203 fps
14. 20 grs: 3250 fps

As again Noted, this bullet also achieved reaching the 20 grain Mark ( 60%). However once again I recommend max capacity at 19 grains or less.


V. Hornady 60 grain SP, Win Mag Rifle Primer

1. 7 grs: 1587 fps
2. 8 grs: 1769 fps
3. 9 grs: 1901 fps
4. 10 grs: 2034 fps
5. 11 grs: 2162 fps

6. 12 grs: 2290 fps
7. 13 grs: 2406 fps
8. 14 grs: 2489 fps
9. 15 grs: 2618 fps
10. 16 grs: 2735 fps

11. 17 grs: 2832 fps
12. 18 grs: 2832 fps
13. 19 grs: 3058 fps ( considered max)
14. 20 grs: 3119 fps ( primer leaked, extractor marks, scrapped case)

Max was achieved at 19 grains. Recommend Max load at 19 grains or less.
Based on tree used as back stop, which had a 6 inch diameter to it, bullets at 15 grains of powder and up were penetrating the tree completely. Based on this I would recommend this point as a potential deer load for youths, keeping range within 100 to 125 yds or so ( 30/30 range). The 63 grain Sierra SMP showed a lot more damage to the tree than did the Hornady, and at a much lower velocity. Use on deer is the personal choice of the shooter or adult. Some argue against 22 Center fire on deer and others are just fine with it. Key is shot placement and range limitation. I am just reporting damage to media, and penetration that I am passing on to the reader.



VI. Sierra 63 grain Semi Pointed ( SMP) Win Mag Rifle Primer

1. 7 grs: 1455 fps
2. 8 grs: 1607 fps
3. 9 grs: 1848 fps
4. 10 grs: 1860 fps
5. 11 grs: 2034 fps

6. 12 grs: 2176 fps
7. 13 grs: 2327 fps
8. 14 grs: 2443 fps
9. 15 grs: 2578 fps
10. 16 grs: 2668 fps

11. 17 grs: 2787 fps
12. 18 grs: 2850 fps
13. 19 grs: 2958 fps ( Consider Maximum!, NO problems observed)
14. 20 grs: 2982 fps ( Popped primer, jammed bolt)


Conclusions:

For training and starting out a youth, I consider the 22/250 a better first choice to start out with, based on the test results as compared to a 223. The 223 has the economy of cheaper brass, but the 22/250 I thought offered more flexibility by being able to achieve higher velocities with heavier bullets than the 223 achieves.

For training of youths to deer hunt, the 63 grain bullet offered a lot of promise of everything tested. Results for a 64 grain Winchester would be close to the same, just recommend working up. Start looking for max with 18 grains or so. As one can see, the increase in fps is not that much, and would make no real world difference, as I consider that 200 yds would be max range. I also feel that training a youth not to take shots over that distance is a responsible habit for an adult to teach younger shooters. Let them learn with experience and practice to learn to shoot at longer ranges.

The 22/250 can be loaded down to levels that are between a 22 Long Rifle and a 22 Mag.
The recoil is very low, but also so is the noise at these levels. Especially the 10 grain loads and under. It can also be enjoyable for an adult. My own 22 mags are going to get dusty, as these loads are not only cheaper to shoot, but are more accurate� plus one can have a bullet of his choice instead of what the factory picks to load. At the lower volumes, such as 7 grains and up, these can also make a very satisfactory load for Squirrel hunting, or similar sized game at appropriate ranges. Consult a trajectory chart in some of the commercially available reload manuals. Even at 2000 fps or under, these would make good loads for calling coyotes if you can bring them in at 100 yds or so.
Game bullets would have the punch to drop a coyote at those velocities.

Important Notes:

These loads were tested in cool weather, moist outside and around the 55 to 60 degree ranges. Work up if the higher loads near max are to be used in hot weather.

Bullets were seated out to the magazine length in the Ruger. If your rifle has a tight neck, or a shorter chamber ( Rugers are generous) then work up your loads. Also seating bullets deeper can increase pressures.

Remember Blue Dot is a faster powder. However no filler is needed and I have tested it down to just 10 % of load capacity ( 3.3 grains and it worked just fine). It is not powder position sensitive in the case either.

This data represents data that I have observed. It is shared as a point of reference.
Outcomes are the responsibility of each handloader, who should be careful in his work.

The 22/250 showed me a lot of flexibility here, moreso than the 223 even.
It would be my pick as a better choice for a first rifle for a youth, utilizing this gathered test data.

Thanks for posting. I’ve played around with reduced loads in a 243 while training some youths to shoot. A lot of fun.

Great information John! Thank you so much for all your work and willingness to share this information.

Thanks a million seafire

My pleasure guys....

I can see a need for using BD if you wanted to shoot 52s @2500 in a 22-250. I ran the numbers on QL with the 53gr / 20gr and almost 3300. After adjusting to get the speed with 20gr of BD the pressure was 61,000psi. Most normal 22-250 powders will give that speed with 45,000psi. Yes it can be done, but running BD at the high end dose not seem to be practical. In the 6 or 7 rifles that I have used BD on, the most accurate loads were between 35 and 44% . Above that point the accuracy went to hell. Just my thoughts.

I used 14 grains of Blue Dot under 3 different 45 grain bullets, Speer, Sierra and Hornady. Shot great, couldn't ask for better. This has turned out to be my around the house raccoon and coyote load. Or my dumpster/chicken house protective load.

Easy way to ring a chamber. Be careful

Just what would be the mechanism for “ringing” a chamber with BlueDot? This has happened with reduced loads and a filler or wad (in fact Lyman stopped recommending a filler over 20 years ago), but not to my knowledge with just a high pressure load.

I’ve had great accuracy with the 55-grain Nosler BTip bullet over 17.5 grains of BlueDot, never chronographed it though. As with any fast powder there is a risk of a double charge, but more reloaders blow up their guns from mistakenly using the wrong powder than from using BlueDot. Reloading can be dangerous, be careful!



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Tag

If noted, I have always recommended max charge in a 22.250 with Blue Dot to be 19 grains....
and have ran loads to 20 and over, with no gains.. yet posted the 20 grain loads that failed.. due to primer issues..
just to prove the point of why I recommended stopping at 19 in that particular case...

I like Blue Dot but it has to be measured with a trickler, meaning shot to shot variation is kept to a minimum. Past that I am only 3/4 of the way through my first pound having used it in 45 Colt, 44 magnum, 444 Marlin, 223 and 22-250. That has been a lot of shots!

on the other end of the spectrum... I pretty much used it in the 223, with some minor use in the 243 last year..
average 550 plus rounds out of a pound of Blue Dot....last year was a light year for B/Dot use for me as I was seeming to reach for 4198 a lot more... so I only ran thru 7 pounds of Blue Dot last year....one five pound jug and two single pounders...

My ADL 223, I'm well over 10,000 rounds down the barrel with Blue Dot, and the old gal is still shooting tight groups...
and I've been waiting to burn the barrel out, to pull it and replace with a one in 7 twist...which I wonder if its ever going to happen, since I've got 2 700 take off barrels in 223, with one in 12 twists that have never been shot...

A burnout on Blue Dot? Ain't gonna happen. There's so little extra gas after it hits maximum power, so much of the burn happens in the case, you might as well give those barrels good new homes.

But Seafire's cautions are not to be ignored. Blue Dot's behavior is like a light switch, it's docile until it's a beast. Tenths matter.

Seafire: Is there a reason that you are now using rifle primers instead of pistol primers.?

I can't answer for Seafire, but in my own use, keep in mind that Blue Dot generates RIFLE pressures. Some pistol primers are just too soft, although in small rifle cases they can work really well, just enough spark for good ignition without the primer blast moving the bullet before the powder starts to generate power.
For me, I use small rifle primers with BD. I have a box of Federal pistol primers that I have been using with a Fireball load, with excellent results under Lil Gun and 4198. I forget the number on the primers, but they're just primer primers, not magnum, not match. The cups get flat but no cratering.
If you want to try pistol primers, I would start with those that are recommended in snorty pistol cases, like 357, 357 SIG, 41 and 44 mags, the pistol calibers known to generate stiff pistol pressures. Something that's recommended for say, 25ACP, probably won't be able to handle Blue Dot.

Probably the dumbest answer you'll ever get on the campfire, but its the truth...

I was using pistol primers back when that load data was developed..

Obama is no longer in office.. so I can purchase rifle primers readily...

back when he was in office, pistol primers were often all you could find on the shelves around here..
and I don't think this area was alone in that fact..

everyone on the planet were busy hording them back then....

And now you know you can hoard successfully!

update... not now with the Corona Virus we're dealing with... people are back to hoarding again...

But it would take a couple of years for me to be short of primers of any type I use, since Trump's been in office...