223 Rem and 22-250.

[mjcmichigan]

I have a pair of fluted heavy 26” barreled varmint rifles.

I think this January, I go to work on the song dogs.

Time to work up some dog smoking loads.

I went through inventory of my 224 bullets and surprised myself.

750 50 gn BT
100 55 gn varmageddon
200 40 gn vmax
250 50 gn varmint grenades.

Powder, limited.
RL 15,
Varget
TAC
X-Terminator
IMR 4895
StaBall 6.5

My IMR 4198 is dregs, barely enough to make a couple 223s.

Anyone have a 223 or 22-250 pet load in 40 or 50 gn pills?

Left on my own, I’d use the varget OT rl15 in the 22-250
And for 223, I’d try to get the x-terminator working.. or go buy some 4198 if I can find it.

No mag primers. I have plenty of standard.

Michigan January shooting is 10-25f normally. Plus or minus 20 on extremely cold days or plus 20 on warm days.

Probably uses out the win748.


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[mjcmichigan]

Usually takes freezing of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan for us to get as cold as the upper Midwest...nice blanket of moist air for snow!


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[remingtonman_25_06]

I have a few pet loads for the 223 and Benchmark with 40g vmax, 50g vmax and 55g vmax, and 52g ELDMs. They all like the top end charges and shoot in the .3s and .4s for 5 shots at 100 yards. My 2 favorite loads are the 40g VMAX at 3825fps, and the 52g ELDM at 3475fps. These are from a Ruger Target with 26" bbl.

Not much help on the 22-250. I've only loaded for a couple of them way back and I used IMR4895 with 40g vmax and 55g NBTs. Top end charges was what it liked, again another ruger target with 26" bbl. I'd have to check my notes for specifics, but I know they shot 1/2 MOA and were scooting right along.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

IMR 4895 also shoots the 50g and 55g vmax very well in my 223, just not as fast or temp stable as benchmark.

My 2nd favorite powder in my 223 is IMR8208XBR. It shoots as good as Benchmark with the 50-55s, just lags about 75fps behind. It's also a pretty good temp stable powder as well. I came across it a few years back when Benchmark was non existent.

 

[mjcmichigan]

I got out to the LGS today, and picked up his last 1# of benchmark powder.

So I should have a decent chance of making the 223 move and shoot.

Both guns have shot well for me in the past, just lost all my notes during our “flood”. Keeping a lot more records in the cloud as well, so I have both paper and electronic copies. If I loose files I have paper, if the papers lost I’m not back to square one..

I’ll probably fire test loads this weekend.


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[lhsako]

For me, in my 250, H380 shoots great with the 40 tip. 4,000 fps
RL15 is superb with the 55 Vmax. try it with the 50s

 

[pharmseller]

26.5 grains of Benchmark with 50 grain BT gives me 3400 fps and scary accuracy in multiple .223s. Small rifle CCI primers.



P

 

[mjcmichigan]

Did my benchmarks last night using Benchmark and TAC.

I see why people live benchmark.
I had zero static with it and it dropped into the case nicely. TAC on the other hand, I had to work on my technique to dumb quickly at a steep angle so it had enough speed to not hang on the funnels side walls.

I did load 40 gn Vmax for the 223.
30 rounds between the two powders.

I’ll try reloader 15 and I think Varget on the 22-250. With the Nosler 50gn BT.

If I’m not happy with the VMax I’ll try the Nosler or Sierra BK.(found a couple boxes of Blitzkings in a tackle box in the basement(not my idea of where to put bullets)

Saturday is supposed to be crappy weather here, so the range should be all mine. Will work up the 22-250’s after the bow hunt tonight. Worse case I’ll load Saturday before going to the range.


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[remingtonman_25_06]

Benchmark and the 223 are lovely together. I don't know why more people dont use it. It meters well, its temp stable, its fast, and its accurate. You cant beat it in a 223 period. I just shot a couple 5 shot groups the other day at 200 yards that went .8" with the 40g tipped varmageddons. Not the greatest, but not to bad considering I couldnt feel my hands and fingers lol.

 

[mjcmichigan]

The 223 Rem loves the benchmark. All 5 load steps were SubMOA. It’s the ragged edges of as good as I can hold with a front rest only.

The bottom picture is 3 shots
26.5gn and 27.5gn.

All seated 2.200”.


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[DrMike]

That'll do! Excellent riflery.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Sweet! Told ya Benchmark is the way to go! What bullet is that with?

 

[mjcmichigan]

Sorry so slow. 22-250 with 50 gn NBT

RL15.

Some potential. Given I inherited 750 of these puppies, I’ll put some effort into making them shoot like the VMAX.


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[mjcmichigan]

Sweet! Told ya Benchmark is the way to go! What bullet is that with?

Thanks a 40gn vmax....

Might try it or the varmint grenade in the 22-250.

Quite a difference in barrel condition. The rifles are sisters. Identical except the chamber. I don’t let many people, shoot the 223. I think the former owner competed with it, and the trigger is 12 oz. 22-250 is prob a 2# pull.

Both savage 12’s like this.

Check out what I found on GunBroker.com! https://www.gunbroker.com/item/887352460

I got them for 400 each.. so not sure that price in the gunbroker isn’t someone’s pipe dream.


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[SJB358]

Give Staball 6.5 a try in your 250 with 55’s. I messed around a bit last week in my Tikka and topped 3850 with 55 grain Sierras SBTs. That’s incredible speed and with 55’s they’ll have some reach. I was very impressed by what I saw.

 

[mjcmichigan]

Definitely!

I actually found some 65 staball. That was one I want to try on the 22-250...

So I guess, I’m off to my bench to plan out the next nights loading...

Thank Scotty, great reminder!


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[mjcmichigan]

Bonus. Found STAball 6.5 and Benchmark. I guess they are the next two!


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[gerry]

Nice start, that 223 load with the 40 gr V-max is pretty spectacular already. Be neat to see how Staball 6.5 works with your 22-250.

 

[SJB358]

Bonus. Found STAball 6.5 and Benchmark. I guess they are the next two!


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I haven't shot for accuracy yet, but man was it fast. I was checking Hodgdon's site and a buddy asked what was possible with a 55.. I tried 55 SGK's and Staball. 42 grains netted me over 3800 which is wicked speed for a 22-250. I'll definitely try some on paper soon, just for grins.

 

[AFG270]

Might try it or the varmint grenade in the 22-250.

What is the twist on your 22-250? Barnes recommends a 1 in 10 or faster for the 50g VG.

I just got some StaBall as well and have tried it in a couple calibers, I believe it is going to be a good one.

Nice shooting, Mark!