Working up a load for .22-250 - 04/22/24
A few months ago, I picked up an almost finished, apparently never fired FN-action, custom .22-250. With her brand new 12x SWFA scope, bipod, and sling, she's a svelte 13.8 pounds with a 26" barrel. I've attached a picture below. The price, even after finishing her up and putting a scope on her, was right. That's all there is to say about that. It's time to sight her in and then work up some handloads. Part of the reason I got this rifle was to experiment with mid-range shooting and start using a scope with turret dials for the first time in my life. I have been very successful using Kentucky windage for hunting, but it does sometimes get a bit hard to make the right holdover or offset at longer ranges, so I want to develop my skills in that regard. I'm only planning to shoot ground hogs and targets (and any coyotes that happen to come out in broad daylight while doing the same) out to 600 yards, so I don't think I need to consider any of the heavy bullets, but I would like to better understand my rifle so I can have the right stuff on hand when I start experimenting. And, as you can see, she's pretty.
As far as I can tell, after measuring it several times, she has a 1-14 twist barrel, which means she was designed to shoot very light bullets, right? That is my understanding after reading this: https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/22-250-twist-rate-chart/#:~:text=For%20.,except%20the%20most%20heavy%20cartridges.
Is the chart correct that I should expect the best results from bullets 50 grains and under?
If so, are there any bullets which people particularly recommend? Ground hogs aren't particularly hard to kill as long as you hit them anywhere in the body, but I would like something that gives accurate results as far out as possible.
I have heard of light bullets tearing themselves to pieces if fired in too fast a twist (I don't think I will have that problem). I have also heard of massive instability issues when using the wrong bullet weights in .22 caliber rifles.
I have also read the following on here:
From: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...342200/re-new-22-250-barrel#Post19342200
As far as I can tell, a bullet would have to be going ~5800 FPS in a 1-14 barrel to get close to 300,000 RPM. For reference, the factory loads I picked up for sighting in the rifle are Hornady 50-grain VMAX at 3800 FPS. Clearly no issues there. But that cannot be the entire story, right? Where does this 300,000 RPM come from? Where does 720 come from? Just trying to understand the science behind the equation so I can gain greater understanding.
I'm also trying to understand the relationship between twist rate and bullet length, because that must play some role, right? A 55-grain all copper bullet is longer than a 55-grain lead cored bullet. Surely that plays a role in the stability to some extent, right?
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.
As far as I can tell, after measuring it several times, she has a 1-14 twist barrel, which means she was designed to shoot very light bullets, right? That is my understanding after reading this: https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/22-250-twist-rate-chart/#:~:text=For%20.,except%20the%20most%20heavy%20cartridges.
Is the chart correct that I should expect the best results from bullets 50 grains and under?
If so, are there any bullets which people particularly recommend? Ground hogs aren't particularly hard to kill as long as you hit them anywhere in the body, but I would like something that gives accurate results as far out as possible.
I have heard of light bullets tearing themselves to pieces if fired in too fast a twist (I don't think I will have that problem). I have also heard of massive instability issues when using the wrong bullet weights in .22 caliber rifles.
I have also read the following on here:
Originally Posted by Direct_Drive
The formula is to stay under 300,000 RPM
MV x 720 ÷ Twist = Bullet RPM
MV x 720 ÷ Twist = Bullet RPM
From: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...
As far as I can tell, a bullet would have to be going ~5800 FPS in a 1-14 barrel to get close to 300,000 RPM. For reference, the factory loads I picked up for sighting in the rifle are Hornady 50-grain VMAX at 3800 FPS. Clearly no issues there. But that cannot be the entire story, right? Where does this 300,000 RPM come from? Where does 720 come from? Just trying to understand the science behind the equation so I can gain greater understanding.
I'm also trying to understand the relationship between twist rate and bullet length, because that must play some role, right? A 55-grain all copper bullet is longer than a 55-grain lead cored bullet. Surely that plays a role in the stability to some extent, right?
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.