Redoing load development on the 22-250?

[wisconsinteacher]

I have a Ruger M77 22-250 that I have had for a number of years. I have been shooting 55 V-Max bullets with IMR4064. One day I will get a .4" group and the next time out it will be 1.4". I have never been able to develop a day to day load that is 1 MOA or better. This rifle was one of the first that I ever reloaded for so I really had no clue about how to do it correctly, which is why I am starting over.

I loaded up some Winchester brass with Win LR primers and some IMR4064 yesterday. I started with 35.0/35.5/36.0 grains and set the bullet .075 off the lands due to mag length.

My question is, do you know what the twist is on the Ruger 22-250 and will it stabilize the 55 grain bullet?

Any other ideas to get a consistent load? I have a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 on the rifle. The scope has a thicker reticle but that should not be the deal breaker.

I would also like to stick with IMR4064 and 55 V-Max bullets for a bit because I have a lot of them to work with.

 

[257 Ackley]

Those Rugers had 14 twist barrels, so you are getting close to the max weight/length with a 55 grain bullet of that design. My Ruger #1 would stabilize some 55's, but not all.

 

[SJB358]

Cartridge : .22-250 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 55, Hornady V-MAX FB 22271-72
Useable Case Capaci: 39.754 grain H2O = 2.581 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.350 inch = 59.69 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4064

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 83 28.80 3011 1107 33367 8039 89.9 1.230
-18.0 85 29.52 3083 1160 35598 8279 91.2 1.199
-16.0 87 30.24 3154 1215 37973 8510 92.3 1.167
-14.0 89 30.96 3225 1271 40502 8733 93.4 1.133
-12.0 92 31.68 3297 1327 43194 8945 94.5 1.100
-10.0 94 32.40 3368 1385 46061 9146 95.4 1.067
-08.0 96 33.12 3439 1444 49115 9336 96.3 1.037
-06.0 98 33.84 3509 1504 52369 9513 97.0 1.007
-04.0 100 34.56 3579 1564 55838 9677 97.7 0.979 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 102 35.28 3649 1626 59538 9827 98.3 0.951 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 104 36.00 3718 1688 63487 9962 98.8 0.925 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 106 36.72 3787 1752 67706 10080 99.2 0.899 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 108 37.44 3856 1816 72216 10183 99.6 0.875 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 110 38.16 3924 1880 77042 10268 99.8 0.851 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 112 38.88 3991 1945 82212 10336 100.0 0.828 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 114 39.60 4058 2011 87757 10385 100.0 0.806 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 104 36.00 3868 1827 74452 9720 100.0 0.863 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 104 36.00 3513 1507 52709 9754 93.9 1.005


I don't remember ever using 4064 in the 22-250, but it looks decent in QL, speeds look pretty good and the load density is there. Good luck WT.

 

[257 Ackley]

Another powder to try would be the new IMR 4166. It is supposed to have a similar burn rate to 4064. How many rounds are through the barrel at this point?

My favorite powder for the 50-55 grain bullets in the '250 was Reloader 12 from Hercules...obviously not an option anymore for most.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I don't know what the round count is. I would guess 800-1200 maybe. I could do some back counting in my log book but that would take some time.

 

[257 Ackley]

You should be able to get at least 3000 rounds out of the rifle before it really goes South on you. I would try some 50 or 52 grain bullets and see if you can get a consistently accurate load. My favorite bullet for p-dogs back in the day was a 52 grain Speer HP that had a hollow point big enough to stick your head in...well almost . I went through 2 barrels on the #1 before I turned it into a 22BR. Burn that barrel up and order a fast twist barrel from one of those great companies you have in sconnieland.

 

[SJB358]

You should be able to get at least 3000 rounds out of the rifle before it really goes South on you. I would try some 50 or 52 grain bullets and see if you can get a consistently accurate load. My favorite bullet for p-dogs back in the day was a 52 grain Speer HP that had a hollow point big enough to stick your head in...well almost . I went through 2 barrels on the #1 before I turned it into a 22BR. Burn that barrel up and order a fast twist barrel from one of those great companies you have in sconnieland.

Another huge fan of the 52 grain Speer! Awesome all around 22-250 bullet. It's deadly.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I have some 52 Custom Comps I can try out. I am doing my best to burn it up so I can rebarrel it.

 

[FOTIS]

My 220 swift (also 1:14) loves 50 gr BT but ADORES the 40 gr BT at 4300 fps.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I had the same rifle when I first started out chuck hunting. Could never get better than minute of pie plate with the thing. Hope you can figure something out