Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Best powder for a .22-250?

Ain't the first braincramp I've had! hang around, I'm sure I'll have another for ya soon enuff! Didn't help me that I wuz just downstairs in my cave with a box of the 55 grainers in my hand.

38.3 gr of RL-15 under molyed 50gr V-max's is what I'm using. I tried a few powders and I got the best velocity/accuracy with this combo.

My 22-250 likes 41.0 gr of H380 behind a Nosler 40gr BT. My chrono says 4008 fps and I got a 5 shot "dime" group.

'15,by a mile.

IMR 4064 has worked very well for me in a pair of 22-250s, over the past 30 years. 50gr and 55gr Hornadys, Sierras and currently, 55gr Btips.

Started out with IMR 3031, switched to 4064 pretty quick and have never changed. IMR 4064 is versatile enough, that I also use it in 8x57 and several other cartridges. Only other powder I've used since in the 22-250, was IMR 4350 for 60gr Nosler partitions.

Went back to IMR 4064/55gr sierra bthp this past weekend in the .22-250 and was pleasently surprised just how well that powder worked before! There are a number of real good powders for this cartridge, but I suppose I'll stay with 4064 and Varget.

Mine likes 4895 for 55 grain but a grain under max. With a 52 grain 760 is the stuff. Go figure.

Varget, Benchmark, 4064 all waiting in the wings. Maybe after I get back from SD.

HM

Sample of two rifles over 37 years:
IMR3031
IMR4320
IMR4064
IMR4895
H-4895
H-380

All were great with 45-60 grain bullets.

1 rifle likes H-380, the other is a shillen bbl and it likes RL 15 and Berger 55 gr flat base.

Varget based on my experience.

H-4831. ???


NOW YOU STOP THAT! Okay ma, I'll stop now.

37 years?

You ARE a slow learner!

I need to resurrect this thread for some help. I've never loaded for a 22-250 but have a fast twist one on the way. Which powder would be best for heavy bullets in the 60-75gr range? Looks like maybe H-4350 or something near its burn rate. Help me out. Thanks.

My 22 250 loves IMR 4895 for anything from 50 grains to 64 grains.

I have one with a 1 in 7 twist, and had it set up to shoot 75 and 80 grain A Maxes and Match bullets out of.

Testing a fair amount of different powders ( mine is on a Ruger Stainless action that use to be a 243 so I have a little longer magazine that a factory Ruger 22.250 ), I was surprised at the results.

I thought I would find a max velocity load with RL 17 or 19, or 4350 or 4831... even trying H 1000, RL 22 and IMR 7828.

instead my fastest velocities with the best accuracy came using IMR 4895 and IMR 4064!

I have to give honorable mention to AR Comp, RL 15, Varget and W 748... sure turned out to be with faster powders than I was expecting, but that is where it was found.

This isn't the first time that results were contrary to where the 'experts' were telling me I'd find something.

Seafire:

The Lyman manuals of 25+ [47th Edition etc. circ. 1985] years ago showed IMR 4895 and 4064 and W-748 to be excellent in the 22/250. AA 2230 is also a great one, and works super in the .223 for those budget-minded multiple caliber hunters.

My Kimber likes H-414/W-760 and Ramshot Big Game. I prefer the 50 gr V-Max for terminal effect.

Hornady does make a 53 gr V-MAX, though. It has a higher BC than the 55 gr.

http://www.hornady.com/store/22-Cal-.224-53-GR-V-MAX/

If we are talking heavy bullets in the 22-250 or the AI, I have gotten great groups shooting H414 or W760. I was fire-forming some once fired Win cases yesterday in my 1 in 7.5 twist varmint barrel built on an old Rem 722 action in a take-off HS Precision stock. This was a throw away barrel originally chambered in .223 which I bought for $ 25 and re-chambered to 22-250 AI. Using Sierra 80 grain bullets in once fired cases with fire-forming loads of H414, I zeroed my scope and then put ten shots inside of a dime diameter hole at 100 yards from this heavy old beast yesterday. Next am going to try some 90 grain JLK bullets and see what they do.