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power question

2K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  landroverking 
#1 ·
What is the best power for a 22-250 and 40 gr. bullet??
 
#7 ·
I don;t have a chronograph so I rely on the manuals (estimated) velocity. Even so, I don;t reload for velocity as much as for accuracy. I don;t know if I'm failing in some aspect because of that, it's just been my practice thus far.

All rifles are different and like different loads, though it's a pretty safe place to start with a powder or three when they work well often. So..... in my Rem700 in 22-250, these powders work exceptionally well with the following 40gr bullets:

With Sierra 40gr HP-flat Varminters: 36.0 grains of IMR4064 works best. (H380 and IMR4895 were the only others tried).

With Nosler 40gr Ballistic Tip SPTs: 40grains of IMR4007SSC (the only powder tried with these bullets).

H380, from what I've read, works its best magic with 50-55 grain bullets (38.0 grains of it). In fact, using 38.0 grains under Speer's 50gr Varmint SP-flat bullets, I get best accuracy.

Varget and IMR4064 work best for me in 60gr bullets.
 
#8 · (Edited)
don't have a 22/250 but do have a 22 PPC groundhog gun and the best load is exactly what the Nosler manual said 29 gr Varget w/ 40gr BT, so look at their manual and try their best load for bullet weight might save you a lot of time and money, unless you're hard headed like me. And you might want to shoot over chrony for speed, I have a 7SAUM, the Hornady manual said RE-19 gave best velocity but because of short barrel it was actually 100 fps less than H100V load.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I think you'll be good to start with that powder, John. I can't fault the H380 and Varget recommendations, because they have their place in my reloading - all dependant on caliber and bullet, of course. The beauty of IMR4064, for me anyway, is that it works so well in so many calibers (22-250, 25-06, 30-06, .35Rem). It isn;t always the best - sometimes for a particular bullet it's H380, and for another it's 4895 or RL19, or whatever, but Varget and especially IMR4064 can be loaded pretty much across the board as a starting powder, and they'll turn out to be the best more often than not (in my experience).

By the way, the figures I gave you were shot from a Remington 700 VSF, which has the 26" fluted heavy barrel on it. So if yours is like that, you may find a good load pretty quickly.....maybe.
 
#13 ·
Well I reloaded some of the IMR 4064 power today and to get a good load I went from 35.0 , 35.5, 36.0, 36.5 grs... The reloading book said that I can go up to 38.0 grs , but at 36.5 gr the case is full. It is no way you could get 38.0 gr in that case. I'll shot them tomorrow and to see what one is the best. And I seated the bullet and OAL. is 2.375 on the 40gr HP .
 
#16 · (Edited)
If you don't have the drop tube yet, you can also tilt the case slightly and tap the edge of the rim on the bench. That'll squeeze a tad more in.

John, each rifle's throat varies in length. At least try all your loads to make sure they will chamber without any resistance. My maximum OAL measurement in my rifle (for the Sierra 40gr Varminter) is 2.405". That is maximum, meaning with bullet touching the lands to a hard stop. So...the longest OAL I've loaded with that bullet is 2.355".

I'm not saying your cartridges are too long, I'm just recommending you check your chamber length. I use the wooden dowel method to check maximum OAL for all bullets I load for, then I deduct from .10" to several thousandths from that max length for cartridge OAL. I've found that some of my most accurate loads are not so close to the lands, but have a little jump to them. Each bullet and load is different.

Good luck!
 
#18 ·
Very nice group, John!

I checked the Sierra manual for the 40gr HP bullets, and they recommend an OAL of 2.300". As I said, I measured my chamber and my absolute maximum is 2.405", and you are able to get a very nice group (.374" !) with a very short OAL.

You might stretch that OAL a little at a time (say 2.280", then 2.290", 2.300", etc.) and see if your groups get even better (though with a group like that, IF it's consistent, maybe better to leave well enough alone!).
 
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