Loading for a 22-250

Joined
May 26, 2022
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97
Hello everyone! My grandpa gave me his Christensen ridgeline 22-250 and am fixing to start trying to gather materials up to load for it. I am very new to the caliber. Don’t know what powders most people like or what most people shoot in it so looking for some thoughts and opinions. I was planning on shooting a berger bullet but really don’t know much about what grain to shoot and what most people like. I’m not new to guns and reloading, just this caliber. Thanks
 

Harvey_NW

WKR
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Feb 13, 2019
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WA
Twist rate will tell you what weights you're able to stabilize and you can run the numbers in a stability calculator. In the 50gr range with Nosler BT and Hornady V-Max through 1:14 twist I've used H-380 with decent results, but I think it's a bit temp sensitive. Read good reviews on CFE-223 and plan to try some soon. Varget is also popular.
 

49ereric

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Jun 21, 2022
Messages
834
My Remington 700 1-14 twist shoots a Hornady now discontinued bullet #2275
very well with IMR 4350.
 

B23

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Aug 17, 2017
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Hello everyone! My grandpa gave me his Christensen ridgeline 22-250 and am fixing to start trying to gather materials up to load for it. I am very new to the caliber. Don’t know what powders most people like or what most people shoot in it so looking for some thoughts and opinions. I was planning on shooting a berger bullet but really don’t know much about what grain to shoot and what most people like. I’m not new to guns and reloading, just this caliber. Thanks
Unless it has been changed it's nearly certain your rifle has a 14 twist barrel so you'll be limited to 55gr and lighter bullets. One of my favorites is the 53 Vmax but they typically don't shoot well in 14tw barrels so I wouldn't even recommend trying them.

In 14tw 22-250's the Hornady 52gr A-Max, which is now called the 52gr ELD-M, has always shot and performed extremely well for me using a variety of different powders. With those 52 ELD-M's in a 14tw 22-250 I've used a lot of H4859 or H414.

With 14tw 22-250's I've always had them shoot their best with the 50-52's with the 52 ELD-M being my go to bullet but I've also shot quite a few 40's that shot well in them too. Both H4895 and IMR4895 tend to work well with those weight bullets in the 22-250 but many others do too so what powder you use will likely be dictated by what you have or what you can get.
 

49ereric

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Jun 21, 2022
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1984 info kinda dates me 😂 this was from a deer hunting article46495230-3FAC-4167-834A-00B600211013.jpeg
 
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helipilot

FNG
Joined
Oct 18, 2021
Messages
5
Location
Utah
22-250 is a great gun. I have 2 one standard and one that is a AI. I shot both with H380. Most of my loads were for coyotes shooting Sierra 53 gr Match kings. I had a load with Varget and Vmaxes for rockchucks, Pdogs, and ground squirrels. I still have a few pounds of H380. But have switched over to Big game. H380 is a great powder but is temp sensitive and a little dirty. Ive been thoroughly impressed with Big game so far. The 22-250 is a great caliber!
 

Nails

FNG
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
27
Mine loves Varget, especially with the Berger bullets. I don't have my load data but believe it's 34gr.

several coyotes will attest to the accuracy and results.
 

EdP

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Jun 18, 2020
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Location
Southwest Va
You may find, as I did, that the 55 gr bullets w/plastic tips will not stabilize, but 55 gr HPs or spire points will shoot just fine. The increased length with the plastic tip was the problem.
 

turbo406

FNG
Joined
Jan 2, 2023
Messages
22
I played hell getting a load for my ruger m77 mark 2 1:14 twist, finally got it to shoot sierra blitzking 55 grain over imr 4064. tried varget and v maxes til i pulled my hair out and it didnt like it. Ran the imr all the way up to 37.5 grains without pressure signs at 40 degrees but it shot best at 34.5, next is seating depth and primer and case variables.
 
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