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Competing with a 22-250?
cw17
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
I've used my 22-250 (14 twist) to do a couple of 400yd competitions recently, but have not been happy with the results. It shoots good groups at 100yds w/Nosler 50gr and 55gr BT and IMR 4350. But when going to 400yd, they are all over the board. Any suggestions on a different load workup that might improve the groups?
Comments
"...they are all over the board."
This could use a little more explanation since it could represent a wide range of interpretations. What size is the group or is it a shotgun pattern?
In general though, The 22-250 is a terrific cartridge for even 1,000 yards if you have the right twist rate in your barrel which allows the use of longer, more aerodynamic bullets. These VLD style bullets require a faster twist in the neighborhood of a 1:8" or even slightly faster for some of the highly specialized bullets, in order to get them to stabilize. The most often used example is the football being thrown as a pass.
Your 1:14" twist is perfect for those lightweight varmint bullets and some limits as far as yardage goes. But those lighter bullets lose velocity faster (drop) and get blown around (drift) by wind more than the VLD type bullets do. If I use your load of a 55 gr. BT at a velocity of approximately 3650 FPS or so, I get a drop of 19" (100yd zero) and a deflection in a 10 MPH wind of 16.5" when I run this through a simple ballistics program. If the wind is off-again, on-again and you don't catch the change, the group will be larger.
You could try a faster load and learning to read the wind changes better but this will still have its limitations due to the lighter bullets and slow twist barrel. A chronograph would be a big help with load development.
The solution is a good barrel with a faster twist using VLD bullets in a tested load. You need a good bench or bipod to accomplish anything really. Techniques of rifle handling and wind reading come into play also.
There is a lot of discussion to be had on this topic and there are some good articles on the internet that can explain most of this in greater detail. Do a search or post back again if you have trouble.
Best.
You're saying what I thought-the twist is limiting for the longer range shooting. I need a heavier bullet for long range that can withstand the wind a little better. It may have to be reserved as a short range varmint rifle and look at an alternative for competition shooting.
Thanks.
quote:Originally posted by nononsense
cw17,
"...they are all over the board."
This could use a little more explanation since it could represent a wide range of interpretations. What size is the group or is it a shotgun pattern?
In general though, The 22-250 is a terrific cartridge for even 1,000 yards if you have the right twist rate in your barrel which allows the use of longer, more aerodynamic bullets. These VLD style bullets require a faster twist in the neighborhood of a 1:8" or even slightly faster for some of the highly specialized bullets, in order to get them to stabilize. The most often used example is the football being thrown as a pass.
Your 1:14" twist is perfect for those lightweight varmint bullets and some limits as far as yardage goes. But those lighter bullets lose velocity faster (drop) and get blown around (drift) by wind more than the VLD type bullets do. If I use your load of a 55 gr. BT at a velocity of approximately 3650 FPS or so, I get a drop of 19" (100yd zero) and a deflection in a 10 MPH wind of 16.5" when I run this through a simple ballistics program. If the wind is off-again, on-again and you don't catch the change, the group will be larger.
You could try a faster load and learning to read the wind changes better but this will still have its limitations due to the lighter bullets and slow twist barrel. A chronograph would be a big help with load development.
The solution is a good barrel with a faster twist using VLD bullets in a tested load. You need a good bench or bipod to accomplish anything really. Techniques of rifle handling and wind reading come into play also.
There is a lot of discussion to be had on this topic and there are some good articles on the internet that can explain most of this in greater detail. Do a search or post back again if you have trouble.
Best.
Bingo, you've got it!
I don't want to start a debate as there are several top cartridges in the 22 caliber class. I use a couple of 22-250's for varminting and I consider it to be just about the best cartridge for general use. I manage to make good hits out to 350 or 400 yards but I wait for the wind to settle down or I use some wind reading skills, as minor as they might be... Other than that, I switch to a bigger, faster cartridge with VLD bullets when I really want to stretch it out.
Good Luck!