Heaviest grain I can shoot. .22-250

J

Jasun

New member
Picked up a savage 12 fv .22-250 with a heavy barrel. It's a 1-12 twist. What's the heaviest grain bullet I can shoot? I put about 30 rounds of 55 gr vmax through it yesterday and was pleased.
I plan to mainly punch paper and shoot coyotes. Any recommendation for a good all around bullet for both out to 400 yards?
I have it zeroed at 265.
 
Probably 55 gr is the longest bullet you can shoot with the twist rate you mentioned. Any longer bullet may keyhole. You may also find that the shorter bullets could shoot better. Have fun finding out.
 
Look toward flat based bullets and you can probably shoot 65-70 grain bullets. With boat tail bullets probably 55-60 grain bullets will be your top end. If the 55 grain V-Max makes you happy I'd stick with them.
 
I've always had good luck with Sierra 63gr Semi-Pt in the .22-250 even with the 1-14" twist. As mentioned in other posts, heavier pointed bullets usually went wild or key-holed with the 1-14 for me.

BTW: the 63gr will turn a coyot' inside out!
 
Bumble bug is right. That flat based and stumpy 63 gr Sierra SMP bullet will most certainly work in your 22-250. And, since the twist is 1 in 12, just maybe it'll shoot the 64 gr Nosler Bonded Solid Base. My 220, with the 1 in 14 twist will stabilize that Nosler under certain weather conditions, but only barely stabilizes it in the best of conditions.

But for coyotes out to 400 or slightly more, I use 55 gr Nosler BT's and Sierra Gamekings.
 
"I've always had good luck with Sierra 63gr Semi-Pt in the .22-250 even with the 1-14" twist."
Back in the "old days" that was about as close as one could come to a deer bullet in .224 cal. I used that bullet with so-so accuracy for years.

We used the 70 grain round nose in a shot out .223 for 2-3 years by loading it as long as the Savage mag would allow and smashing it into the eroded rifling.
 
"I've always had good luck with Sierra 63gr Semi-Pt in the .22-250 even with the 1-14" twist."
Back in the "old days" that was about as close as one could come to a deer bullet in .224 cal. I used that bullet with so-so accuracy for years.
Click to expand...

I have had a .22-250 Winchester M70 varmint for decades, gun does 3/4" groups with 52-53gr match bullets and about as good with 55gr SPs.

1.5-2" with the Sierra 63gr semi spritzer no matter what load I tried. Good enough for light deer, though.

A 1-12" twist should do better with 60gr+ bullets than the 1-14" I have, BUT every rifle is an individual when it comes to what bullet it likes best.

Buy a box and see.
 
I have a 22-250 weatherby, not sure what the twist is but it will shoot 1 hole groups @ 100 yds with 55 gr vmax bullets "handloaded" when I do my part. I have tried 60 gr soft points with good results but I only target shoot so for me its accuracy I am looking for. I am sure the vmax would do well on a coyote though.
 
Jasun,
I had your exact rifle a few years ago. My load was 35.5gr Varget, 55gr Sierra BTHP, Win cases, cci primers. Verrry accurate load. 34.0gr IMR 4064 worked well also. I believe MV was 3625-3650 fps. Used to take coyotes our around Round Valley[Inyo Co., Ca.]. Stopped 'em cold. You have a terrific rifle. Work with it. I only sold it to fund my shotgun addiction! I could certainly see myself getting another.
 
Thanks for all the input. I have played with H 4895, H380, and varget. All behind a 55 grain VMAX. I'm going to pick up a couple other projectiles and try them as well. I really liked 38 grains of the H380 that I shot last night.

I will try some sierra boat tails and see how they shoot! Thanks for the input!
 
My favorite bullet in the .22-250 Rem, Mod 700 with 1-12 was the Sierra 55 Semi-Pointed, though any 55 shot well. The semi-pointed won a lot of turkey shoots for many years (1/2 min or better).

Sixty grain bullets grouped about 1 1/4 min, so I didn't use them.

JP
 
Yes it's bullet LENGTH not WEIGHT. I did learn some physics ! You still have to pick what the gun likes , ask it !:rolleyes:
 
I asked it the other day!

Shot some Nosler 55 grain boat tails though it and had good results with it being pushed by 39.3 grains of H380. Also shot a few with 36.6 grains of Varget. Going to keep playing.

The local shop has some 52 grain Nosler Match BTHP. Would these work on Coyotes also?
 
I'll tell you what worked for me on coyotes. Obviously, the 55 gr Nosler BT worked great, but I needed something for use around the house. Distance to woods and fences are 100 to 150 yards, and I wanted something that wouldn't ricochet. I went with the 40 gr Nosler BT, and shoot it in my 223. Surprisingly, it knocks coyotes flat faster than the 55 grainers did. All I can guess is that the bullet destructs in the coyote, and all energy is transferred. I haven't tried it in the 220 Swift, but I will. And I've used that little bullet on a few hogs in the yard. Hit em behind the ear and they went straight down.

You can crank that 40 grainer to maybe 4300 fps in your rifle. That ought to do the job on a coyote. And will give a super flat trajectory. I'd use it myself, but often have more pigs than coyotes, so I shoot the 55 gr Sierra GK in the 220 these days as I hunt the hay fields.
 
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