Took the leap

[ArtyCayne]

So I've set up my reloading station and have begun to reload according to the stickys above. Thanks for those- a great help!

Question:

I'm looking at 22-250 55gr vmax. In the Hornady manual it states that max load for this round with Varget- is 34.6gr. However, in the Lee manual it says to start at 34.0gr and max load is 36.5gr. That's a significant discrepancy. Varget bottle states 36.5gr for this bullet. Why a big difference?

More to the point: Do I start with Lee at 34.0gr?

 

[Suasponte]

Re: Took the leap

Lawyers! LOL!

Always start low and work up! Unless you are going to be shooting 1000yards plus there is no reason for max charges. It over works your brass shortening the life and also burns out your barrel faster. Not to mention beating you up in the process.

I would much rather have a MOA load at 2500fps than a 2MOA load at 2800fps any day.

My 2 cents!

Terry

 

[Chiller]

Re: Took the leap

Standard load ladder.

Back away from the max load and work up to it is some reasonable fashion.

 

[Chiller]

Re: Took the leap

Would likely start somewhere around 31-32 grain and work up in .3-.5 grain increments. Find the accuracy node your rifle likes and refine from there.

 

[270grdeerbullet]

Re: Took the leap

+1 thats what a load ladder is for

 

[ArtyCayne]

Re: Took the leap

Thanks! I planned on starting low and working up to a load the rifle likes. I wasn't planning on any loads near max.

I was just confused as to why Lee would have you start your loads at 34gr when that is .6 away from the Hornady max. I will begin in the 32gr range and see how she likes it.

I had a feeling it was probably liability concerns. I've just never seen load data that far apart for different companies.


SM

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Took the leap

I consider the .22-250/55gr NosBT combination to be an excellent varmint setup for out to about 400yd. My .22-250 Varmint gun was a Ruger 77VT, and it liked 36.0gr of Varget very much with the Nos 55 BT.

The thing to understand about the .22-250 is that it runs too hot to be an effective target/match rifle. You either need to keep the rate of fire well down, or alter your loads well downward.

That said, the .22-250 has a lot to offer, and some of that is performance which mimics tamer rounds, like the .222 and .223. Downloading can result in a part empty case, and that entails a possible accuracy sacrifice. A way around that is to fill the case more full, but use a slower powder, which won't generate pressures and heat as aggressively. Not so efficient, but also, not so rough on the bore/throat.

Greg

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Took the leap

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Standard load ladder.

Back away from the max load and work up to it is some reasonable fashion. </div></div>

+1... When starting on either a new cartridge or even a new powder or bullet, drop down a bit and then work up to where you want to be.

On another note. MAX loads are not always the most accurate in EVERY rifle. Most of my loads are somewhere mid range.

Good luck.