Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles When do you quit

So, I bought a well used 22-250 - stock was rough, barrel was missing bluing, there was a tremendous up-pressure on the barrel.
The bore seemed good though. I stripped the stock and gave it many coats of boiled linseed oil - maybe 50 or more.
I took out the upward pressure on the barrel - free floated it and re-blued the barrel, mounted an old ‘5 star’ 3x9x Redfield, put a Basix trigger on it (went from 5+lb to 1 1/2 lb). I didn’t glass bed it.

My first load was IMR4064 (1/2 grain below book) and a 53 gr hp bullet - bullet seated about a quarter turn from touching the lands.
The first group shot into 45 seconds of angle or about 3/4 MOA on a very windy day 5 shots at 100 meters

I’m thinking that’s mighty fine. This will be a PD rifle, therefore no increment weather and I like the look and feel of oiled walnut. I may play a little with 1/10 grain powder - ladder.

I personally wouldnt have started with refinishing the stock until I knew for sure it was a shooter. I would have glass bedded (1/2 hr job) it first and also freefloated the barrel, but thats mechanics. Start at the foundation, then shoot it, then pretty it up and put new trigger in, but only if it proves its a consistent good shooter. You lucked out, but it could have went the other way with wasted time/effort on a pile of crap. I also dont stop at 5 shots on a varmint rifle. I always test them with 10 shot groups. If you are shooting sub moa for 10, thats where I stop and call it a day.

This is the Fire.
You should know you're not doing it right!

If you're happy with it, stop. H4895 or especially RL15 should give you more speed & possibly better accuracy with 50-53s. Seating depth may shrink groups too unless you got lucky 1st try.

I sure would try H4895, before I loaded up a bunch for prairie dogs.

No flies on IMR-4064 in the 22-250.

For small groups, try H 322 and Benchmark, 30 grains with H 322, and 33.5 with Benchmark...

This coming from a 4064 for every thing, kind of guy.... this turned one of my 22.250s from crap t a real tight group shooting rifle...

Not max velocity but not that far behind....

regular large rifle primer... doesn't matter as long it is a name brand product...

I say you were done burn the barrel off on dogs instead of groups. Mb

The stock had to be refinished! I shot two groups - similar size.

Shucks. I only had one lb of IMR4064 on hand. A friend bought a lb from a widow and I bought that from him. When I poured the powder into the measure a cloud of dust rose. The same throw of powder went from 35 gr to 32 grains. I threw that powder away without further ado. Buying more IMR4064 right now, not likely very easily done.

I have the 4895's, Re15, & H322 on hand besides some other powders in that burn range. Back to the shooting range for more testing. I want to stay away from powders that I've had troubles with when the temperatures got high. Last year we were shooting dogs in well over 100 degrees heat.

REAL Rifle Loonies never quit!

Given the temperatures you mention. I would work with H4895 of the powders you listed. Use a lot of it in .308 Palma loads here in Phoenix during the summer months.

Given you got 3/4 just floating it out of the forend, I'd glassbed and pillar it before finishing a load workup. Might be a pet in the making.

Were mine, I would have cleaned it, shot a couple groups as a baseline, then floated it with shim stock, couple more groups, and if those improved a lot from baseline, gone ahead and bedded the action "properly" which for me includes pillars with the Acraglass. Couple more groups, then I'd go after the stock so it doesn't hurt to hold or look at.

But sounds like you might have a keeper.

Laughin'
I learned my lesson.