ruger hawkeye 22-250

[wildman]

recently traded for a ruger 77 hawkeye 22-250 ,I free floated the stock the gun appears to be in near new condition . I have begun working up loads with 52 gr. Amax ,55 gr vmax ,55gr sierra gamekings, 50 and 55 gr. nosler bt . been working with h380 powder federal and cci lr primers ,played with c.o.a.l .The best group i have gotten is 1 1/4 at 100 yards ,could someone point me towards a load that might make this gun shoot tighter groups ?

 

[sako2]

Might want to try imr3031. I'm work on a load now using Alliant varmint powder and a 55gn hornady.

 

[truck driver]

What stock is it in, wood or factory synthetic? It could use a good bedding job if wood and a replacement stock if it's a factory synthetic.

 

[1Shot]

If you have some Varget give it a try. I have a buddy that uses it and 55 Nosler BTs in three 22-250s and he loads it for a friend of his and they all shoot bug holes.

If you got the gun used the accuracy problem you are having may be the reason that it was put up for sale. If you bed the stock and still have problems I would take a good look at the crown on the barrel. I have fixed a number of poor shooting rifles by using a proper size BRASS round head bolt chucked in a drill with some valve grinding compound applied to the bolt head. Turning the drill at a slow speed press the bolt head into the muzzle for a little bit. Check often to see when you have cut a new crown. It don't take much and the round head bolt will center it self.

 

[ShadeTree]

Could be an easy enough fix in the end, but I'd be looking at something other than a different powder. You tried a gamete of bullets in a weight range that was made for the 22-250 and H380.

If your best group was 1 1/4", that means others were who knows what....2", maybe more? Changing powders is flirting with the edges at that point. If a gun or in this case a 22-250, shoots 2.5" for example at 62,000 psi with one recommended powder, it's not gonna magically shoot 1/2" groups at the same 62,000 with another powder. At least that sure hasn't been my experience.

Try checking the simple things first. For example twist rate. Could be that gun was built for the lighter varmit bullets and has a slow twist.

 

[ShadeTree]

Wildman, my post jarred my memory a bit......there is no shortage of 22-250's with a 1 in 14 twist for example. If you read blogs on that, you will find some guys not knowing what the rest of them are talking about as they have a 1 in 14 twist and never had a problem shooting 50-55 grain bullets. Others most definitely claim their gun with that twist would not shoot those weights and went down to 40-45 to clear it up.

Might not have a thing to do with what you're dealing with, but simple enough to check and easy enough to fix. Also as others mentioned, check the crown. Another thing if that gun is factory synthetic stocked and is not bedded, and you free floated it, you're asking for trouble. You didn't mention if it was synthetic or not, but just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[wildman]

well fellers thank for your replies, my stock is walnut and I free floated it back to the action like i do all my wood stocks that have pressure points on the barrel .The crown of the barrel looks perfect the blueing hasn't even been shot off it yet .My next move is going to be trying a 40 gr vmax and varget powder maybe try working back up through the bullets i have already tried with varget , keeping my fingers crossed hoping i can see some improvement. thanks Geo.

 

[truck driver]

Seriously have someone glass bedded it since they are not that easy to do and get a fat wrench some hex or torcx head screws and torque the action screws. Ruger says 90 inlbs front and 45 inlbs rear. I have mine 60 front and 45 rear on my wood stock tang safety that has been bedded and the barrel is floated. My M77 Hawkeye 338 Win is in a H&S Precision stock with a full bedding block and those screws are torque 90 inlbs front and 45 inlbs rear and it will shot 3/4 groups.
If these screws are loose you will never get it to shoot good.

 

[NYDAN]

Wildman,

The April issue of "Handloader" magazine has a feature article on loads for the .22-250. The author, Brian Pearce, lists over 300 loads of various combinations of bullets and powder for it. Although I think H-380 was very popular for the 22-250 back in the 1970's, he only lists a couple of loads using that powder now. Maybe something in his article will be helpful for you. Dan

 

[ShadeTree]

Seriously have someone glass bedded it since they are not that easy to do and get a fat wrench some hex or torcx head screws and torque the action screws. Ruger says 90 inlbs front and 45 inlbs rear. I have mine 60 front and 45 rear on my wood stock tang safety that has been bedded and the barrel is floated. My M77 Hawkeye 338 Win is in a H&S Precision stock with a full bedding block and those screws are torque 90 inlbs front and 45 inlbs rear and it will shot 3/4 groups.
If these screws are loose you will never get it to shoot good.

Yep. I'd say it's something mechanical whether bedding, twist rate, ect. There's never an absolute when it comes to such things with rifles, but if 1 1/4" is the best it will do, I doubt a simple change in powder will work miracles, but who knows. I've yet to discover a magic powder verses others on the list, on a gun I was struggling with. Was always something else, but my experience doesn't mean it's an absolute.

 

[SJB358]

My little brother has a SS Hawkeye 22-250. It’s doing real well with 55 BTs and Varget. He’s loading right outta the Nosler manual. He sent me a group yesterday from 200 yards that shading on 1/2”. It’s running a bit slow at 3300 but it is shooting.

RL15 has always been my favorite in a 22-250.

 

[wildman]

Well feller's don't no 4 sure what the magic spell was, but just shot a group with 36.4 gr. of varget with a 40 gr. v-max easily covered it with a dime .I tightened action bolts ,also made about 10 passes through the bore with a viper bore snake and kroil oil .Going to shoot another group tomorrow with this load ,also going to load some 55 v-max with varget and test .

 

[SJB358]

Sounds like you have something there!

 

[wildman]

Well i have figured out one thing about this ruger it shoots real good as long as it's a 50gr. bullet or under .55gr bullets just won't shoot good in it i've tried nosler ,hornady , and sierra .1 1/4 to 13/4 best i can get them to shoot .Best load i have found is 50 gr. nosler B T with 37 gr. h380 with cci 200 primer .And I'm sure a coyote won't be able to tell the difference a 50 and a 55 .I'm happy with it ...

 

[ShadeTree]

Good deal. Glad to hear it. Always fun and satisfying when you figure things out. Especially when it's not any kind of major mechanical flaw. Easy enough fix to stay with the lighter weights if that's what it likes and like you stated, the receiving end of it wont tell the difference.

 

[baltz526]

recently traded for a ruger 77 hawkeye 22-250 ,I free floated the stock the gun appears to be in near new condition . I have begun working up loads with 52 gr. Amax ,55 gr vmax ,55gr sierra gamekings, 50 and 55 gr. nosler bt . been working with h380 powder federal and cci lr primers ,played with c.o.a.l .The best group i have gotten is 1 1/4 at 100 yards ,could someone point me towards a load that might make this gun shoot tighter groups ?

H414/W760 Magnum primers and 64gr Win Power Points is my Favorite combo. 55gr flat base soft points are normally an accurate bullet. They are a bit more forgiving on powder choices. IMR4895-H4895-Varget work. W748 also. H380 may give better results with a magnum primer.

 

[wildman]

Balz you may be on to something there I haven't tried any flat base bullets in the 55 to 64 weight range .

 

[Dwh7271]

Cartridge          : .22-250 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .224, 55, Nosler BalTip 39526
Useable Case Capaci: 39.837 grain H2O = 2.587 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.350 inch = 59.69 mm
Barrel Length      : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 64000 psi, or 441 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 108 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
ReloadSwiss RS 60 *T               106.9     41.2     2.67    3978   100.0    64000   10308   0.946  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 *T              106.0     40.8     2.65    3956    99.9    64000   10249   0.950  ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17                           106.0     40.8     2.65    3956    99.9    64000   10249   0.950  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511                107.4     42.0     2.72    3884    97.3    64000   10155   0.960  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                     104.9     40.8     2.64    3880    96.4    64000   10133   0.962  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                       104.9     40.8     2.64    3880    96.4    64000   10133   0.962  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 *C                 107.5     40.3     2.61    3879    98.6    64000   10048   0.969  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                      102.9     38.2     2.47    3841    99.9    64000    9432   0.980  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3                         102.9     38.2     2.47    3841    99.9    64000    9432   0.980  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903                      105.2     38.2     2.48    3832    99.8    64000    9350   0.980  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62                  108.0     41.6     2.69    3829    98.0    59458   10053   0.996  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                       102.0     38.3     2.48    3824    98.3    64000    9586   0.974  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355                       105.1     37.8     2.45    3823    99.7    64000    9345   0.977  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                      103.0     37.0     2.40    3816   100.0    64000    8911   0.998  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.6                        97.8     37.0     2.40    3815   100.0    64000    8908   0.982  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520                       95.5     37.0     2.40    3815   100.0    64000    8908   0.982  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16 *C *T           108.0     38.6     2.50    3810    98.2    57448   10005   0.994  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495                       97.2     34.9     2.26    3803   100.0    64000    8632   1.000  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                      108.0     39.7     2.57    3798    98.1    59215    9835   1.009  ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 7                    96.2     37.9     2.46    3787    98.2    64000    9252   0.977  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP *C                       108.0     39.2     2.54    3782    97.9    58239    9790   1.002  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation         108.0     39.2     2.54    3780    97.9    58180    9785   1.003  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 *C                       108.0     41.0     2.65    3776    93.3    61406    9732   0.977  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R901                       97.0     33.8     2.19    3775   100.0    64000    8633   0.986  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2460                       91.4     36.1     2.34    3774   100.0    64000    8716   0.986  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.5                        91.7     36.1     2.34    3774   100.0    64000    8716   0.986  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065                         108.0     38.8     2.51    3773    97.5    63385    9351   0.982  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     108.0     41.0     2.65    3772    96.2    57968    9928   1.002  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907                      106.7     38.4     2.49    3769    95.5    64000    9371   0.975  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7                         106.7     38.4     2.49    3769    95.5    64000    9371   0.975  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                       103.3     38.5     2.49    3768    95.5    64000    9362   0.975  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070                         108.0     39.2     2.54    3742    95.9    60611    9495   1.002  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 518                108.0     41.0     2.65    3740    95.4    56444    9888   1.014  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT *C ~approximation    108.0     40.3     2.61    3722    94.9    58960    9496   1.004  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365                       108.0     39.4     2.56    3715    99.5    51956    9651   1.047
ReloadSwiss RS 70 *C               108.0     42.2     2.74    3712    93.9    54438   10210   1.024
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                108.0     38.4     2.49    3647    98.6    52879    9048   1.042
Raufoss RA4                        108.0     39.7     2.57    3640    91.4    54453    9410   1.030
Bofors RP4 ~approximation          108.0     39.7     2.57    3640    91.4    54453    9410   1.030
Alliant Reloder-26 *C              108.0     42.6     2.76    3612    94.3    46371   10505   1.103
ADI AR 2209                        108.0     39.4     2.56    3601    90.4    52078    9427   1.046
Alliant Reloder-19 *C              108.0     39.7     2.57    3577    90.4    50320    9443   1.066
Rottweil R904                      108.0     39.1     2.53    3575    89.7    53499    9007   1.042
Winchester Supreme 780             108.0     41.8     2.71    3573    91.0    53514    9044   1.042
Somchem S361                       108.0     42.2     2.74    3570    89.4    56313    8812   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           108.0     38.0     2.46    3568    96.2    48861    9246   1.092
Norma MRP *C                       108.0     41.4     2.68    3558    90.6    46193   10040   1.106
Bofors RP14 ~approximation         108.0     39.7     2.57    3540    89.9    49165    9286   1.079
Somchem S385                       108.0     40.1     2.60    3521    91.6    48710    9144   1.097
IMR 7828 SSC                       108.0     40.7     2.64    3508    85.9    47799    9455   1.089
Hodgdon H4831 SC *T                108.0     40.1     2.60    3480    86.3    49107    8892   1.081
ADI AR 2213                        108.0     40.1     2.60    3468    85.3    46867    9240   1.099
Vihtavuori N560 *C                 108.0     40.5     2.63    3465    84.4    44434    9555   1.128
Raufoss RA15 *C                    108.0     40.1     2.60    3451    87.4    43597    9450   1.138
Alliant Reloder-22 *C              108.0     40.1     2.60    3451    87.4    43597    9450   1.138
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation       108.0     40.1     2.60    3451    87.4    43597    9450   1.138
IMR 4955 Enduron *C*T              108.0     38.6     2.50    3433    86.8    48093    8596   1.095
Accurate MAGPRO                    108.0     42.2     2.73    3409    81.6    43272    9331   1.148
Ramshot Magnum                     108.0     43.2     2.80    3387    87.3    44482    9015   1.133
Alliant Reloder-23 *C *T           108.0     38.8     2.51    3366    93.7    39059    9206   1.194
Rottweil R905                      108.0     39.4     2.55    3359    83.7    42218    8836   1.157
Accurate 3100                      108.0     39.7     2.57    3358    91.2    41420    8778   1.187
Bofors RP15                        108.0     39.2     2.54    3340    85.2    39788    9091   1.188
Winchester WXR                     108.0     39.2     2.54    3340    85.2    39788    9091   1.188
Hodgdon H4831 *T                   108.0     38.5     2.50    3319    83.3    42612    8422   1.153
Vihtavuori N160 *C                 108.0     38.0     2.46    3297    85.2    42750    8119   1.156
Vihtavuori N165 *C                 108.0     39.2     2.54    3291    87.3    41079    8297   1.177
Bofors RP5 NT *C ~approximation    108.0     40.4     2.62    3288    79.9    42303    8415   1.161
SNPE Vectan SP 12                  108.0     42.3     2.74    3277    81.6    40338    8899   1.185
IMR 7828                           108.0     38.5     2.50    3270    81.1    39136    8688   1.195
PB Clermont PCL 517                108.0     42.3     2.74    3268    81.2    40127    8870   1.188
ADI AP 2214                        108.0     41.2     2.67    3238    80.5    40771    8430   1.180
Alliant Reloder-25 *C              108.0     39.4     2.56    3234    86.9    36146    9003   1.239
Vihtavuori N565 *C                 108.0     40.7     2.64    3206    80.2    35524    8779   1.261
IMR 7977 Enduron *C*T              108.0     39.2     2.54    3147    73.7    42181    7233   1.176
Lovex S071                         108.0     37.5     2.43    3132    87.1    33544    8173   1.295
Bofors RP30                        108.0     39.7     2.57    3076    77.4    32001    8395   1.314
Norma MRP 2 *C                     108.0     39.7     2.57    3076    77.4    32001    8395   1.314
ADI AR 2217                        108.0     39.2     2.54    3024    75.4    33909    7653   1.279
Hodgdon H1000 *T                   108.0     39.2     2.54    3024    75.4    33909    7653   1.279
ReloadSwiss RS 80 *C               108.0     43.0     2.79    2989    71.1    31427    8168   1.332
Vihtavuori N570 *C                 108.0     41.8     2.71    2988    66.8    31604    8040   1.328
Lovex D100                         108.0     42.7     2.77    2907    65.2    33632    6772   1.309
Hodgdon Retumbo                    108.0     39.9     2.58    2903    74.0    29132    7697   1.376
ADI AR 2225                        108.0     39.9     2.58    2903    74.0    29132    7697   1.376
Alliant Reloder-33 *C              108.0     43.0     2.79    2872    64.5    29581    7535   1.372
Vihtavuori N170 *C                 108.0     39.2     2.54    2867    68.3    29439    6969   1.379
Vihtavuori 24N41 *C                108.0     42.2     2.74    2840    60.1    31606    6668   1.341
ADI AR 2218                        108.0     42.2     2.74    2777    56.7    29584    6595   1.378
Norma 217 *C                       108.0     39.1     2.53    2740    68.7    24468    7295   1.477
Hodgdon H870                       108.0     41.0     2.65    2712    62.1    25374    6872   1.462
Hodgdon 50BMG                      108.0     40.3     2.61    2625    52.2    25522    5931   1.463
Somchem 12.7-0                     108.0     41.0     2.65    2622    53.2    26928    5593   1.442
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 108.0     41.9     2.72    2612    54.0    22983    6413   1.528
Hodgdon US 869                     108.0     42.2     2.74    2606    54.9    25320    5924   1.477
Alliant Reloder-50 *C              108.0     42.9     2.78    2580    56.2    22532    6562   1.539
SNPE Vectan SP 13                  108.0     40.5     2.63    2538    57.7    22621    5882   1.54

 

[SJB358]

Funny, no RL15 on that list.. Always been my go to in the 250 with a 50-55 grain bullet.

 

[preacher]

I used the 50gr Vmax factory load from a 220 Swift ( ala 22-250 pretty much) on coyotes and it was pure poison!