9 twist 22-250 recommendations

[W_sommers]

I’ve decided it’s time I need to start my reloading journey and I’m going to be reloading for my 22-250. This being said it’s a 20” 9-1 twist barrel and from what I’m seeing I won’t be able to stabilize much over 65gr bullets. I have been shooting the factory 55gr vmax rounds and they shoot well out to 500 without much problem but thats only if there is very little wind. I will mostly be coyote hunting and don’t take shots that far very often at all but would like to work out to longer distances on steel/paper. I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on what bullets/powders to start with. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Bater]

If you can twist a 62 ELD-VT that is where I would want to be. Fantastic BC and should hammer dogs

 

[W_sommers]

If you can twist a 62 ELD-VT that is where I would want to be. Fantastic BC and should hammer dogs

Thank you. I’ll give them a try.


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[B23]

As a second option to try, not exactly apples to apples because I'm probably sending them 150 fps slower then a 20in 22-250 will but I shoot the 53gr Vmax in my 22in 9tw 223AI and it not only hammers coyotes but they shoot crazy good.

They aren't crazy long like those 62 ELD-VT's are but he 53 Vmax is a fair bit longer bullet then the 55 Vmax.

I've also shot a ton of Berger 75gr VLD's from a 9tw 22-6mm. Per Berger they aren't optimally stabilized so I'm not getting the full BC out of them but they still shoot really well for me and they hammer coyotes too.

 

[Legend]

I’ve decided it’s time I need to start my reloading journey and I’m going to be reloading for my 22-250. This being said it’s a 20” 9-1 twist barrel and from what I’m seeing I won’t be able to stabilize much over 65gr bullets. I have been shooting the factory 55gr vmax rounds and they shoot well out to 500 without much problem but thats only if there is very little wind. I will mostly be coyote hunting and don’t take shots that far very often at all but would like to work out to longer distances on steel/paper. I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on what bullets/powders to start with. Any advice is appreciated.

I am a bit confused by your question. A 9 twist is pretty fast for .22cal. I would be very confident that it can stabilize a 65grain bullet.

Heck I have tried 65gr in a 14 twist.....that was too slow of a twist and did not work for me.

 

[Gobihawk]

I shoot 55 grain varmageddons. Use H380, 38.0 grains. Not a max load, 3,714 fps out of 22" barrel. Longest known pdog kill is 623 yards.

 

[W_sommers]

I shoot 55 grain varmageddons. Use H380, 38.0 grains. Not a max load, 3,714 fps out of 22" barrel. Longest known pdog kill is 623 yards.

That’s a heck of a shot. Do they handle wind pretty well?


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[Gobihawk]

I use a 6x24x50 scope with mil dots. Mil dots work good. I take a spreadsheet with me pdog hunting. It has mil dot info for elevation and windage. A big help. Need to know muzzle velocity to develop.

 

[W_sommers]

I use a 6x24x50 scope with mil dots. Mil dots work good. I take a spreadsheet with me pdog hunting. It has mil dot info for elevation and windage. A big help. Need to know muzzle velocity to develop.

Yeah I need to buy a chronograph. Is it worth it to buy a high dollar one or do the $175 options do just as well?


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[Gobihawk]

I have a cheap one. Works fine. A friend has a better one than keeps data on his phone. He really likes it.

 

[W_sommers]

As a second option to try, not exactly apples to apples because I'm probably sending them 150 fps slower then a 20in 22-250 will but I shoot the 53gr Vmax in my 22in 9tw 223AI and it not only hammers coyotes but they shoot crazy good.

They aren't crazy long like those 62 ELD-VT's are but he 53 Vmax is a fair bit longer bullet then the 55 Vmax.

I've also shot a ton of Berger 75gr VLD's from a 9tw 22-6mm. Per Berger they aren't optimally stabilized so I'm not getting the full BC out of them but they still shoot really well for me and they hammer coyotes too.

I hadn’t thought of going lighter but I’ll give it a try. I’ve heard good things about the 53gr vmax.


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[PanhandlePilgrim]

What did you wind up with? Looks like Sierra recommends a 1:10 twist for a 69gr TMK if you're wanting to go heavier.

 

[W_sommers]

What did you wind up with? Looks like Sierra recommends a 1:10 twist for a 69gr TMK if you're wanting to go heavier.

I found a pretty decent load with the sierra 69gr original match kings and 32.5gr varget that will shoot a clover leaf group. I was really hoping that their 69gr TMK would shoot well but I couldn’t find a good load with varget and I haven’t messed with other powders yet.

 

[TxLite]

I have an 18” 9tw 22-250 and 55gr vmax was decent. Anything under that had poor accuracy. I settled on a 60gr vmax over varget that has been doing well for me. The 69tmk did ok but nothing special.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

I found a pretty decent load with the sierra 69gr original match kings and 32.5gr varget that will shoot a clover leaf group. I was really hoping that their 69gr TMK would shoot well but I couldn’t find a good load with varget and I haven’t messed with other powders yet.

I wonder if the 73gr ELDMs would work. Their website doesn't give a recommendation on twist rate though. Thats a bummer the tmks didn't work. The 62gr ELD-VTs seem like they'd be a good fit for that rifle as well.

 

[W_sommers]

I wonder if the 73gr ELDMs would work. Their website doesn't give a recommendation on twist rate though. Thats a bummer the tmks didn't work. The 62gr ELD-VTs seem like they'd be a good fit for that rifle as well.

I also tried the 62gr ELD VTs and couldn’t find anything that worked too well but I am by no means an expert at reloading, I have only been doing it for about 4 months now. From what I’ve read those are extremely long for a 62 gr bullet and need an 8 twist to stabilize. Seems like some guys with a 9 twist can make it work and some can’t.

 

[TxLite]

I also tried the 62gr ELD VTs and couldn’t find anything that worked too well but I am by no means an expert at reloading, I have only been doing it for about 4 months now. From what I’ve read those are extremely long for a 62 gr bullet and need an 8 twist to stabilize. Seems like some guys with a 9 twist can make it work and some can’t.

I seem to recall speaking with a Hornady rep about my 9tw and these and he said he didn’t have great luck with them in his

 

[W_sommers]

I have read several posts with people having similar conversations with Hornady. I also saw a post that said some guys are able to stabilize them with a 9 twist if they are at higher altitudes. That doesn’t help me much though since I’m from Kansas lol.

I seem to recall speaking with a Hornady rep about my 9tw and these and he said he didn’t have great luck with them in hisI’ve read a couple of guys that said similar things. One post I saw thought some guys are having better luck at higher altitudes with the 62 eld vts and 9 twist barrels. The hat doesn’t help me much since I live in Kansas though lol.

 

[TaperPin]

I also tried the 62gr ELD VTs and couldn’t find anything that worked too well but I am by no means an expert at reloading, I have only been doing it for about 4 months now. From what I’ve read those are extremely long for a 62 gr bullet and need an 8 twist to stabilize. Seems like some guys with a 9 twist can make it work and some can’t.

Congrats on getting into reloading. Many of us are jealous at the fun involved in learning all the things as you work up over the learning curve. It’s ironic that reloading is at an all time low, while the resources and equipment available are at an all time high.

You’ll find different rifles are stabilizing bullets better or worse, but also some of those on the ragged edge with a heavy bullet shoot fine up close and at range the bullet goes wonky and isn’t worth a damn. It’s the joy of tinkering. The 22-250 and fast stepping explosive 55 gr bullets is such a great small varmint combination it’s hard to improve on, but I can see a fast twist replacement barrel in your future. What you’re learning about pushing the limits of the 1:9 twist are well worth it in the mean time.

With all the new chronographs on the market, there are many really good older models just sitting on shelves going unused. If you keep your eyes peeled one may fall in your lap for not much more than shipping. I’ve seen a few this past year that were offered up to a good home that way. The accuracy of any of the popular optical models has been quite good, but they are more susceptible to the angle of the sun and take longer to set up. It’s always amazed me that in terms of electronics, measuring velocity is quite easy. Of course electronics don’t last forever, so be careful with guys selling 30 year old models for 10 year old prices.

Keep up the good work.

 

[W_sommers]

Congrats on getting into reloading. Many of us are jealous at the fun involved in learning all the things as you work up over the learning curve. It’s ironic that reloading is at an all time low, while the resources and equipment available are at an all time high.

You’ll find different rifles are stabilizing bullets better or worse, but also some of those on the ragged edge with a heavy bullet shoot fine up close and at range the bullet goes wonky and isn’t worth a damn. It’s the joy of tinkering. The 22-250 and fast stepping explosive 55 gr bullets is such a great small varmint combination it’s hard to improve on, but I can see a fast twist replacement barrel in your future. What you’re learning about pushing the limits of the 1:9 twist are well worth it in the mean time.

With all the new chronographs on the market, there are many really good older models just sitting on shelves going unused. If you keep your eyes peeled one may fall in your lap for not much more than shipping. I’ve seen a few this past year that were offered up to a good home that way. The accuracy of any of the popular optical models has been quite good, but they are more susceptible to the angle of the sun and take longer to set up. It’s always amazed me that in terms of electronics, measuring velocity is quite easy. Of course electronics don’t last forever, so be careful with guys selling 30 year old models for 10 year old prices.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the advice.