HEEEELP

[257 Ackley]

Something isn't right with some new loads that I was testing today and I need some feedback on where to go. The rifle is a Remy 700 LV SF in a 22-250. The only thing done to the rifle is adjusting the trigger down to 3 lbs. It has shot most loads fairly well up to this point with H380, but I have been wanting to try some different powders. Loaded up three different loads using IMR 4895 and Varget using the 55 grain BT and CCI BR primers. Starting load with 4895 was 32 grains and last load tested was at 34 grains. Loads with Varget started at 32.5 grains and went to 34.5 grains. The best group shot today was about 4 inches at 200 yards Some of the shots looked like they were keyholing as they went through the target. Is this bullet too long for the 1 in 14 twist, or are these the wrong powders to use for this bullet?

Thought it might be me, so I shot my Tikka 25-06 after this mess and shot under 1 inch groups (200 yards), so I know it wasn't all me. Nosler #6 manual shows all loads were in an acceptable range. Any advice from someone that has used these powders with this bullet? I checked the scope and everything is tight.

 

[YoteSmoker]

Powder/bullet combos should be great...I suspect the bullet is the culprit. Try 50 BT or 50 V-max.

 

[Powerstroke]

OUCH......!!

The 55gr B-tip shouldn't be too long for the poor twist rate they put on the 22-250 barrels.
I can interchange the 55gr B-tip with the B-kings without any issues. I would have thought the varget to shoot good.....

What about torque on the action screws after adjustment of the trigger? The barrel isn't by chance hannging up somehwere ??

Mine likes an extremely stiff charge of N-140.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I notice you live in Minnesoooocold.
How cold was it?
Cold conditions require a faster twist. Even with a 1/9 twist the 62gr FMJ's will keyhole out an M-16 in artic conditions. With a 1 in 14 twist, I'd switch to a shorter bullet.

 

[rick smith]

The 55gr BT is the bullet my Rem 70 22/250 shoots into snug little groups. I would suspect interference from the stock/loose screws/scope loose. I use H-414 in mine.Rick.

 

[257 Ackley]

Thanks for the feedback guys....it was a balmy 45 degrees yesterday, so i don't think it was the temps. I am going to loosen the action screws on the stock and retighten with a torque wrench. The stock on these rifles is the Bell & Carlson with the aluminum bedding block. The 50 grain soft points shot last Saturday flew into nice tight groups, so I don't think it is the screws either. Going to load up some more of the 50's today and give them a try to see what happens.

 

[R Flowers]

Well, I have to disagree with most posts here, my Remington 22-250 rifles will not shoot 55 grain Ballistic Tips worth a darn either.

When that bullet first came out I had to try them. Found they would not shoot well in my 22-250 rifles. I called Nosler and they admitted that the 55 grain BT was long enough to be right on the ragged edge for use in a 1 in 14 inch twist. They even suggested that they would stabilize if I were shooting them at a higher elevation, as I only live about 300 feet above sea level.

I switched to the 50 grain BT and never looked back. They shoot great in my 22-250's. Performance on varmints including coyotes has been outstanding. Both my Remington rifles shoot them great, however, for the best accuracy I find I have to use Varget in one of them and H 4895 in the other.

 

[yeayow]

my 22-250 will shoot 50 gr bt's better than any other stock rifle i've seen but the 55's will not shoot. its a ruger. I've never tried any other 55's beside the BT's

 

[mladucer]

I have a remington SPS with that same 1 and 14 twist. And i also had some troubles with H380 and the 55 grain NBT. I gave Reloader 10x a try and seated the bullets about .020 off the lands. They shot really good, and it was toward the end of the winter last year. The down side to the powder is that it kinda burns dirty. Groups Measured out .5 or less at 100 yards with 30.5 grains. This was close to max so work up to it.

 

[baltz526]

Remington 1-14" should stabilze a 55gr ballistic tip. I have one idea about why some seem not to. The first OAL i would try is with full bullet grip in neck of case. Once i have this number if it is under max OAL i shoot a few. If the bullet is not fully gripped by neck, i feel the bullet can be slightly canted in the case. Every time you fire these canted bullets, they engage the rifling differently on every shot. I have seen this magnified by a slightly offset press

 

[Guy Miner]

I've run into the same problem with a 1:14 twist .22-250 and the plastic tip 55 grain bullets. Dropped down to a lighter bullet, pumped the velocity up a bit with H380, and suddenly the same rifle was shooting bug holes.

Before that they were obviously going through the target at a slight angle, and were grouping terrible. I think some of these 55 gr plastic tip bullets are just long enough to be on the ragged edge of too long for a standard 1:14 twist. If the barrel ever wears out, it will be replaced with a fast twist barrel for sure!