Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 35 grain NTX Lead Free Bullets & the 22.250 = Fast!

Hornady 35 grain NTX Lead Free Bullets & the 22.250
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I have been testing the 35 grain NTX bullet in the 223 and 22.250. It is a lead free bullet, that is the length of the 50 grain Plastic Tipped bullets. It has shown that not only is it very accurate ( like all the new lead free bullets that I have tested)... but due to the lighter weight, one can step up the velocity on them quite a bit.

My favorite powder with 40 grain bullets in the 22.250 is Reloader 7. It is listed in the Lyman 47th manual as the powder with the fastest MV potential, yielding an MV estimated at 4130 fps. I use this as my "To Go To" powder for bullet weights under 60 grains. So naturally it was my first choice to test the 35 grain NTX and Nosler Lead Free Ballistic Tip bullets.

Accuracy was great, although I only tested it to a 100 yds, and we all know the 22.250 comes into it's own beyond 250 + yards. For velocity, there is a major increase potential with these bullets also.

The following are velocity results from testing loads with RL 7 and utilizing CCI Large Rifle Primers. Cases were Remington, which had seen 10 previous reloads. Firearm used to test was a Ruger VT with a 26 inch barrel and a one in 12 twist.

I started at the max load for a 40 grain bullet and worked up from there. I was surprised not to find any real pressure signs, considering how high the velocity had the potential to get. Hopefully I will be testing these in the near future on some spring sage rats. I am sure they are going to be mega explosive on the little rodents.

Anyone duplicating these loads needs to work up in their own rifle and are trying these at their own risk, as I can not be responsible for other folks loading techniques and safety considerations.

22.250 Ruger VT, 26 inch barrel length
CCI Large Rifle primer.
Remington Brass ( 10th and 11th reloads)
Powder: Reloader 7
Bullet: Hornady 35 gr NTX Lead Free

1). 33.5 grs 4278 fps
2) 34 grs 4417 fps
3) 34.5 grs 4463 fps
4) 35 grs 4469 fps
5) 35.5 grs 4575 fps

6) 36 grs 4640 fps
7) 36.5 grs 4676 fps
8) 37 grs 4734 fps

A big thank you to Fotis for doing a Quick Load analysis for me on this up to the 35.5 grain load.

Cartridge OAL was 63.60mm or 2.5040 inches according to my micrometer.

That is smokin!!

Those are moving, good thing they are a mono or I suspect a SPLAT upon impact.

WOW, those loads are FAST !!

I thought my 22-250 was doing pretty good with the 35 grain NTX, but it is not that fast.

I shoot 38 grains of Varget behind that bullet and get 4300 fps out of my 22-250. Accuracy is great and my what a mess that bullet makes of a ground squirrel or jack rabbit.

I tried the 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade and got up to 4400 fps with Varget and great accuracy as well. However, I found them to be inconsistant on ground squirrels. You might shoot 10 or more and blow them all to pieces while the next one would look like you shot it with a 22LR.

How much does the wind effect these bullets?

Howdy Seafire. Went to the gunshow and they had R7 for $23 a pound so I got some more. This could be habit forming !! I am starting to worry you are leading me astray, ha !

I can just see a 35g NTX out of a 26" barrel at 4700fps as a great deer load!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!