Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 50 gr TNT

Speer says this bullet is not recommended at speeds above 3400 fps. It is very accurate in my 225Win/33gr Varget. Never have chronoed this load, but pretty sure it exceeds 3400fps.

Anyone have any experience with this bullet at 22-250 velocities? would apprecite any input.

I've shot quite a few bunnies with this load and never seen any problems. Thanks in advance.

I love the TNT in my .223, but don't have any experience with it in my .22-250. I'm sure that there is a bit of cushion built into the 3400 fps figure, but that they'd probably not work well at 3700 fps. The rate of twist probably factors in there, too, I suspect. I usually go along with the manufacturer's recommendations.

I use 50 gr Ballistic Tip or V-Maxs in my .22-250. I understand that the 52 gr Speer HP works well at higher velocities.

I used to shoot this bullet out of a .22-250 in a Ruger M77.

Unlike many Rugers, this one had a very nice smooth barrel (which I think helps a lot when you are trying to push a bullet beyond its design limits). This barrel cleaned easily, and felt smooth all they way through when I was cleaning it.

I don't have my old loading data at hand, but I am fairly sure it at around 3600fps that particular Speer bullet shot very well indeed (about 5/8 inch groups at 100 yards).

However, with a max load (I think it was 3770 fps?) about one out of 3 or 4 bullets would fail to reach a target 100 yards away. I gave up on loading this bullet any hotter, but even at 3600fps it would sometimes fail to exit a groundhog on a broadside shot -- very impressive destruction inside though! I always have to do a field necropsy to satisfy my curiosity, and it was always gruesome!

Not only did this bullet show fine accuracy, but it disintegrated when it touched anything (even a blade of grass, which cost me nice fox once!). At 3600 fps, richochettes just don't happen so it is good bullet for settled areas (the crack of the mighty .22-250 notwithstanding!).

Thirty years later (and thousands of .22 bullets of many makes!) I still use this same bullet in a fine Sako .222 Rem. It is one of my favourites. If a rifle won't shoot this bullet fairly well, I've never found it to shoot anything really well.

John

Speers 55 grain TNT states right on the box that it is designed for 22.250 and 220 Swift velocities...

Even tho the 50 TNT is their most popular of the two by a wide margin... they do make the 55 grain TNT and their 52 grain HP will take higher velocities also, and is just as accurate and just as explosive...

I use the 52gr hps in my 22-6mm at just shy of 4100fps they make things go pop.

southtx-yes I have a lot of experience in using the 50's out of Swifts and '250s and at a lot more gas than 3400.

The only time I've had any issues is with a barrel that has a rough throat, then they can come apart about 30 yds downstream.

Other than that I would have no worries whatsoever. This bullet is far and away my fav rodent bullet and accuracy bullet for the 223-Swift.

Dober

Kinda like Hornadys SX bullet,they are manufactured with a paper thin jacket which makes them very explosive on impact,all you can do is give em a try and see if they function correctly at your chosen velocity and if they come apart in flight back off the gas until they stay together and there you are..........

Another excellent bullet! Some rifles like this better, some like the Speer version better. My current .222 Rem doesn't care so I buy the bullet that is cheaper!

John

Gentlemen: thanks for the feedback. This particular rifle seems to like 50gr bullets better than 55. The 50 Vmax, 50gr Speer, and 50 gr Speer TNT all perform very well. Never found a 55gr that has done as well (although to be fair I probably haven't tried real hard.)