22-250 ai

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altron274XCorporal
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22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
10/29/2014 Last edited 10/29/2014 by altron274

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I recently bought a gun chambered in the 22-250ai as my designated coyote rifle. Im looking for loads that will put down yotes from about 500 yards and in. Fur preservation is also a big goal here so something that is lethal enough for a clean kill but that doesn't tear a big hole in the fur on exit. Thanks guys.
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GawdamnRightXGunny Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
10/30/2014

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altron274 wrote: I recently bought a gun chambered in the 22-250ai as my designated coyote rifle. Im looking for loads that will put down yotes from about 500 yards and in. Fur preservation is also a big goal here so something that is lethal enough for a clean kill but that doesn't tear a big hole in the fur on exit. Thanks guys.​

22-250AI case capacity dupes Swift case capacity,so the load data interchanges. hint.



What twist? What receiver?

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altron274XCorporal
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
10/30/2014

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GawdamnRight wrote:

altron274 wrote: I recently bought a gun chambered in the 22-250ai as my designated coyote rifle. Im looking for loads that will put down yotes from about 500 yards and in. Fur preservation is also a big goal here so something that is lethal enough for a clean kill but that doesn't tear a big hole in the fur on exit. Thanks guys.​

22-250AI case capacity dupes Swift case capacity,so the load data interchanges. hint.



What twist? What receiver?​

Oh, I didn't know that. 1:8 twist in a rem 700 reciever
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GawdamnRightXGunny Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
10/30/2014

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You are in a good place with COAL latitude and an 8" does nice things in that chambering.

It hammers schit.



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GenochristXFirst Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
11/03/2014

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I've been working with my for a little over a month. Like my other ackleys I start with the max for the parent case and go up from there. I've been forming brass with 68gr hpbt and 75gr amax over RL15. The 68 has shown more promise for me. I have a 9 twist though. Once I get through all my 22-250 brass then I might start a more precise load work up but for now it's shooting really well.
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SonicCrackXFirst Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
11/06/2014 Last edited 11/06/2014 by SonicCrack

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My varmint load is, Lapua case, BR2, 38.8 grains of IMR XBR, 55 grain BlitzKing, 4003 fps from a 1-14 twist 28" tube
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CDIBBS

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
01/18/2015

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Mine is a 14 twist, but likes a Nosler 55 BT or 55 Berger over 42 grains of H414. The Nosler is less explosive than a Vmax or Berger MEF, but if you hit a shoulder bone your results may vary widely depending on range and impact velocity. Wish I had gone with a faster twist to use the heavier 22 caliber boolitz. .
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nilescoyote

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
09/16/2015 Last edited 09/16/2015 by nilescoyote

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Since the title says "Coyote loads" AND its a sticky, I thought the OP was calling for me by name, so to Honor his request... I present my new found love in 22-250AI.

The rifle wears a 25" green mountain (I believe) 1:7 twist Remington varmint contour barrel chambered by Apache Gunworks and attached to my stiller by me.

I went to the range and did some load work today. I am using 80 grain Hornady A-Max for the moment and while searching for load data found many were using H4350, H4831sc and H1000. I decided to try H4831sc, leaving my stash of H4350 for my 6.5's

While searching load data I found a poster who declared 39 grains to be were it was at with H4831sc and loaded up three cartridges each at 1% of the target load (1%=.39 grains)and ended up with charges of 37.8, 38.2, 38.6 and 39.0 in my fireformed cases.

Note: At 39.0 grains I still have plenty of room for more powder, possibly another two or three grains or so before I start compressing.

37.8= 2819 SD=12 ES=24
38.2= 2875 SD=25 ES=50
38.6= 2907 SD=23 ES=47
39.0= 2927 SD=10 ES=19

I was shooting at a target at 200 yards and both the first and last weights shot the best. But as you can see from the Velocity data I an in the mildly hot range for a standard 223... So I plan to continue north to my next node or two that should be somewhere around 40.2 and 41.4 while putting me into the 3k range.

After shooting over my magnetospeed I took it off and tried the 39 grain charge at, see below:

700 yards

900 yards

I also had loaded some extra with 37.8 so I decided some practice time from kneeling was called for... but alas, I didnt have my sling with me. Oh well, adapt and over come, Right?!?

So I went 8 for 10 at 600 on a 24" (3.8 moa) target.

Looks like I should have taken a couple tenths off the elevation turret to center the group

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nilescoyote

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
09/17/2015

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Today at the range I continued to work up from 39.4-41.4 in .4 grain steps... 3 shots each.

39.4= 2985 SD= 13 ES= 25
39.8= 3020 SD= 6 ES= 13
40.2= 3051 SD= 23 ES= 41
*40.6= 3071 SD= 2 ES= 3
*41.0= 3122 SD= 3 ES= 6
41.4= 3154 SD=12 ES=24

*Note, this maybe a nice area to explore 40.4-41.2 along with some changes to seating depths. right now I am just loading everything to -.03"

The 200 yard target.

 

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nilescoyote

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
09/21/2015 Last edited 09/21/2015 by nilescoyote

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Today I continued load work and also hit the first signs of pressure.
41.8= 3164 SD=8 ES=16
42.0= 3199 SD=4 ES=9*
42.2= 3202 SD=4 ES=9
42.6= 3225 SD=7 ES=15**
43.0 only shot two average was 3256 and each headstamp showed ejector swipe.

*= my revised predicted node after finding the much wider node centered around 40.8g, Looks like 42.1 would be the center of this one.

**= one case had a very faint ejector swipe.

So what does the 40.8 look like at 1k

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McNamara0851XCorporal
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
11/29/2015 Last edited 11/29/2015 by McNamara0851

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Subscribed for future reference. I'm waiting on an 8 twist 22-250 AI barrel to be finished now.

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GenochristXFirst Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
12/05/2015

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Finally got around to doing a bit more work with my AI. It was shooting pretty good before with the 68hpbt but I wanted to try 70vlds. At 34.8gr it's shooting 3/4" groups at 200. She really came to life with this combo. Being I have a 1-9 I'll probably stick with the 70s in formed brass. I went to a false shoulder for forming because my smith fucked up and ran the reamer in .040" too deep! Not the end of the world though. Brass is for ing great and accuracy is where I want it. I'll be shooting for 3600fps with formed brass. Ballistics are lookin pretty good.
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shNateO

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
12/06/2015 Last edited 12/07/2015 by shNateO

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Fire formed Win. Brass
75 g. Amax seated .015 off
cci 200
37.8g Varget

TS customs chambered it in an 18" Shilen and shoots in the high .1's at around 3240fps

5 @ 105 yds.

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GenochristXFirst Sergeant
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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
04/04/2016

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Have you tried H4350 with the 75s? I know a few guys having good results with it and the 75s. I ended up going to it with the 70s. 3385fps with a full charge in formed brass. I got the extreme spreads way doing going it it.

I know of more than one person shooting H1000 with the 75 and heavier bullets too. About 44gr with the 75 seems typical. That's a full case no doubt.

I've found that just like my other AIs it tends to like powders that are normally considered too slow for the parent case. I might try H4831sc once our spring shooting season is over, just to split the difference of 4350 and 1000.
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beretta989

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
05/09/2016

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I'm running 38.5gr of H4350 with 75 A-max 26 tube 3420fps tight clover at 100.

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beretta989

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Re: 22-250 Ackley Improved Loads (coyote loads)
05/09/2016

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I tried H1000 43.5 great speed but group was .7 so back to H4350.

 

[Gerry McGinnis]

I've been playing around with a 22-250AI I built last year, and I am finally narrowing loads down to what I intended the build to be for. It's a 21" 1-7 #3 X-Caliber 5R barrel I chambered on a R700 in a Manners EH2. Shot in the .2s with the first H4350/75 A-Max fire forming load I came up with. There's not a ton of info on 90gr bullets, so I bought Quickload to mess around with. After realizing that the H20 capacity was WAY off in the program, I got it adjusted to match my formed Lapua brass, and I got some solid info to start from. I started with H4831SC.


90gr Berger
Formed Lapua brass
WLR
41.0 gr H4831SC
2.660" OAL (touching lands in my chamber)
2998fps

Not really what I was looking for as far as speed, but it too shot in the .2s. I have a bunch of RL17, so I tried that...

90gr Berger
Formed Lapua brass
WLR
38.5gr RL17
2.660" OAL (touching lands in my chamber)
3190fps

NOW we are getting somewhere. Accuracy was the same as at 3000fps, no real pressure signs and easy bolt lift. Probably has a small bit of room to grow, in my gun at least, but I am satisfied with speed. Anybody wanting to try this, as always, start lower and work up. There's next to no 90gr bullet data for 22-250AI, so I hope this helps somebody out!

Gerry

 

[Farmerbrown32]

Nice loads and great shooting everyone!. Love the 22-250AI caliber. Have had lots of them over the years. Currently have a lilja 24" 1-9 twist that i shoot 53 grain vmax right at 4000. Am going to try some 75 amax out of it now. This thread made me want to play with the 22-250ai again.

 

[Farmerbrown32]

I've been playing around with a 22-250AI I built last year, and I am finally narrowing loads down to what I intended the build to be for. It's a 21" 1-7 #3 X-Caliber 5R barrel I chambered on a R700 in a Manners EH2. Shot in the .2s with the first H4350/75 A-Max fire forming load I came up with. There's not a ton of info on 90gr bullets, so I bought Quickload to mess around with. After realizing that the H20 capacity was WAY off in the program, I got it adjusted to match my formed Lapua brass, and I got some solid info to start from. I started with H4831SC.


90gr Berger
Formed Lapua brass
WLR
41.0 gr H4831SC
2.660" OAL (touching lands in my chamber)
2998fps

Not really what I was looking for as far as speed, but it too shot in the .2s. I have a bunch of RL17, so I tried that...

90gr Berger
Formed Lapua brass
WLR
38.5gr RL17
2.660" OAL (touching lands in my chamber)
3190fps

NOW we are getting somewhere. Accuracy was the same as at 3000fps, no real pressure signs and easy bolt lift. Probably has a small bit of room to grow, in my gun at least, but I am satisfied with speed. Anybody wanting to try this, as always, start lower and work up. There's next to no 90gr bullet data for 22-250AI, so I hope this helps somebody out!

Gerry

How is your 22-250ai doing with the 90 berger now? I just got a curtis custom axiom with a 7.7 twist. Hopin itll shoot the 95 MK.

 

[lestersurv]

Just for some addl FYI... Dominion Rifle Club of Canada published an article in Winter 2008/9 issue about bolt rifle in .223rem w/6.5 twist barel shooting the 90 gr Sierra and the 90 VLDs from the Oklahoma maker. The author fired 15-20 shot groups at 1000yds and achieved 2" vertical grouping.

Dunno about going 7 twist with a VLD. I do recall the 80 Berger was supposed to be a possible mag-length option for AR's, but as I load 77gr bthp I didn't care... Never had a .22-250 ai, but did use a Redding Type S FL die with .264 bushing to size the 6mm/250AI rounds I used in my AR-10.

Back to the Dominion Rifle Club article. The guy had about 16 different 20rd groups he based his 2" vert average on... The 6.5 twist was probably the key reason for such outstanding performance; that and shooter talent... Slower twist might just mask the better results you could obtain; also using a more moderate powder for lesser velocity. Just some thoughts. Domininon Rifle Club does have their back issues on the web. 15rd groups is about 12 more than most here would risk...

 

[Farmerbrown32]

I just got a 6.5 twist bart to build on but i wont build it for a while since i just got a 22-250ai barrel for my desert tech. I did just get a sac 223 conversion with 6.5 twist for my dt though and very excited to try it out.

 

[702lineman]

22-250ai
26in 7twist black hole weaponry barrel
Remington brass
2.025 bto

95gr smk
37.8 gr h4350
3058 fps
Sd 7

90gr berger vld
38 gr h4350
3199 fps
Sd 2
Had them to 3383fps but backed off for prs matches
7.2 mil to 1100 yards

 

[Boogieman84]

22-250ai
26in 7twist black hole weaponry barrel
Remington brass
2.025 bto

95gr smk
37.8 gr h4350
3058 fps
Sd 7

90gr berger vld
38 gr h4350
3199 fps
Sd 2
Had them to 3383fps but backed off for prs matches
7.2 mil to 1100 yards

Thanks for the info. Working on putting a 250 AI together at the moment. So this is excellent. If you don’t mind, what distance to the lands are you ahooting those 90gr VLD’s? Been wanting to try them but I understand tuning their OAL can be tricky.

 

[702lineman]

Touching, but my gun needs a longer throat. It's just a standard reamer

 

[Boogieman84]

Touching, but my gun needs a longer throat. It's just a standard reamer

10-4, thanks. I made up some dummies for throating for the new AI barrel last night. I came up with CBTO of 2.100, hope my gunsmith can accommodate. In my standard chamber I’ve been shooting for a while my CBTO is 2.030 which is 5 thou off the lands. Not far off of what you’re running.

 

[702lineman]

Mine is 2.025 bto

 

[Geno C.]

22-250ai
26in 7twist black hole weaponry barrel
Remington brass
2.025 bto

95gr smk
37.8 gr h4350
3058 fps
Sd 7

90gr berger vld
38 gr h4350
3199 fps
Sd 2
Had them to 3383fps but backed off for prs matches
7.2 mil to 1100 yards

No problems with the 90s blowing up? Most guys I know that shoot them have problems with way less speed than you’re pushing them

 

[702lineman]

I've never had a problem, but I have heard of people having this problem.

 

[Geno C.]

What style rifling?

 

[702lineman]

That's probably why, it is a black hole weaponry barrel with polygonal rifling.

 

[Boogieman84]

Tested and found my fire forming load load this evening.

80gr A-Max
36.4grs of H4350
Virgin Lapua Brass
2.100 CBTO
2.650 OAL
26” Bartlein 1:7 Twist

 

[Liberator52]

I love my 22-250 AI , but I want to go to a 1-8 twist. [ currently 1-12 ] I'm hoping the 1-8 will like the 75 ELD. What's my chances ?

 

[Idaho-5R]

Liberator52, I'd guess that a 1-8 twist 22-250AI should shoot a 75 ELD just fine. In the past, I've shot some good groups through a 1-8 McGowan barrel screwed onto an older Savage action with the older Hornady 75 V-Max. Also had pretty good luck with the Nosler 80 Custom Comp.... Reading this makes me want to play with that rifle some more!!!!!! Idaho-5R

 

[Liberator52]

Thanks for the reply. My 1-12 really likes 52 ELD s and I will have a hard time changing. I'm just itching to try the 75 ELD s to help with the wind a little better.

 

[Geno C.]

My 1-8 223 will stabilize an 80vld so at 22-250ai speeds you should be golden with the 75gr

 

[Farmerbrown32]

1-8 will easily stabilize the 75 eld. I have had two 1-9 twist barrels that shot the 75 amax very well.

 

[Liberator52]

Thanks for the posts guys.

 

[Boogieman84]

Shot this 5 shot group yesterday at 100 yards with the above mentioned fire forming load. Continues to print in the .3’s. Took it out to 700 yards on steel with no issues.

 

[demonjigger]

22-250ai
26in 7twist black hole weaponry barrel
Remington brass
2.025 bto

95gr smk
37.8 gr h4350
3058 fps
Sd 7

90gr berger vld
38 gr h4350
3199 fps
Sd 2
Had them to 3383fps but backed off for prs matches
7.2 mil to 1100 yards

What is the length of the 95 gr Sierra bullet? Please and thank you.

 

[702lineman]

I cant tell you. I sold them all. Its LONG

 

[Holland375]

I cant tell you. I sold them all. Its LONG

The 95 s are 1.28

 

[Birddog6424]

Anyone have feedback on barrel life running 7" twist and 80gr plus bullets?

Interested in trying a 7" twist and 88gr ELDMs at 3k fps for PRS.

 

[Boogieman84]

Anyone have feedback on barrel life running 7" twist and 80gr plus bullets?

Interested in trying a 7" twist and 88gr ELDMs at 3k fps for PRS.

Shot a couple matches this year with that exact setup. I’ve got a little over 400rds down the barrel, 1:7 Twist 26” Bartlien running 80’s at 3,130 for fireforming and 88gr ELD’s at 3,060 with my formed brass. I’m expecting 1,200-1,500rds max. With the AI case running 88’s at 3-3,100 is barely pushing it. Shoots lights out with both bullets.

 

[Birddog6424]

Shot a couple matches this year with that exact setup. I’ve got a little over 400rds down the barrel, 1:7 Twist 26” Bartlien running 80’s at 3,130 for fireforming and 88gr ELD’s at 3,060 with my formed brass. I’m expecting 1,200-1,500rds max. With the AI case running 88’s at 3-3,100 is barely pushing it. Shoots lights out with both bullets.

I was hoping the "barely pushing it" aspect would translate to better barrel life.

I actually really like the 22BR. I shot the exact same load for 2000 rounds. 28.5grs of Varget under the 88gr ELDM. But the feeding issues are driving me nuts. I'm on my 3rd magazine trying to get reliability, and it's just not happening.

So I'm exploring other options. 1300 to 1500 rounds falls under my litmus for barrel wear. It's not the cost that gets me, I hate having to load develop and break in at every turn.

Going to need to take a look at the GT it sounds like.

 

[Boogieman84]

I was hoping the "barely pushing it" aspect would translate to better barrel life.

I actually really like the 22BR. I shot the exact same load for 2000 rounds. 28.5grs of Varget under the 88gr ELDM. But the feeding issues are driving me nuts. I'm on my 3rd magazine trying to get reliability, and it's just not happening.

So I'm exploring other options. 1300 to 1500 rounds falls under my litmus for barrel wear. It's not the cost that gets me, I hate having to load develop and break in at every turn.

Going to need to take a look at the GT it sounds like.

Don’t take my uneducated guess as gospel. I’d wait for people that have actually burnt out a barrel to respond. Realistically I would think a 22-250 AI with 88’s wouldn’t be any better or worse than a fast 6mm cartridge as far as barrel life. That said, I would be pretty surprised to see 2,000rds before the barrels done. If that’s still less than you want, yeah you might wanna look elsewhere.

 

[Birddog6424]

Don’t take my uneducated guess as gospel. I’d wait for people that have actually burnt out a barrel to respond. Realistically I would think a 22-250 AI with 88’s wouldn’t be any better or worse than a fast 6mm cartridge as far as barrel life. That said, I would be pretty surprised to see 2,000rds before the barrels done. If that’s still less than you want, yeah you might wanna look elsewhere.

I ran a 6 Creed for a couple years. Great round, but short barrel life made it finicky and needy. Constant barrel swaps were irritating. So the search is on for the perfect round...

 

[David.C]

I was hoping the "barely pushing it" aspect would translate to better barrel life.

I actually really like the 22BR. I shot the exact same load for 2000 rounds. 28.5grs of Varget under the 88gr ELDM. But the feeding issues are driving me nuts. I'm on my 3rd magazine trying to get reliability, and it's just not happening.

So I'm exploring other options. 1300 to 1500 rounds falls under my litmus for barrel wear. It's not the cost that gets me, I hate having to load develop and break in at every turn.

Going to need to take a look at the GT it sounds like.

I have a fast twist 22-250 (1:7 IBI Barrel), and I regularly shoot 80 – 90gr pills (Berger & ELD-M). I’ve been trying very hard to keep an accurate round count. I’m currently at 1228 through the barrel. No loss of accuracy yet.

Both loads average 3200fps (Hornady brass, CCI 200 LRP)
80gr bullet, 36gr IMR4831
90gr bullet, 36.6 IMR4831

 

[Geno C.]

Tested and found my fire forming load load this evening.

80gr A-Max
36.4grs of H4350
Virgin Lapua Brass
2.100 CBTO
2.650 OAL
26” Bartlein 1:7 Twist

Where did you settle with formed brass. I haven’t checked speed yet but we’ve found a node at 37.6 gr in formed brass. Probably leave it there since it shoots so small no matter what speed it’s at.

 

[Boogieman84]

Where did you settle with formed brass. I haven’t checked speed yet but we’ve found a node at 37.6 gr in formed brass. Probably leave it there since it shoots so small no matter what speed it’s at.

So my goal was always to run the 88gr ELD’s with this rig and the formed brass. I had a good amount of 80 A-Max’s left from a previous barrel which is why I figured I’d fire form with them. At the time I found that load barrel had maybe 100rds down it. Would you believe that load/chrono data from March sped up from 2,996fps to 3,130fps? Crazy but I knew it would speed up some.

So to answer your question no I haven’t finalized my formed load yet with the 88’s. I rushed a small node together of 35.4 to run a couple matches with the 88’s at the end of the summer. But I have a .6gr node from 36-36.6grs for an ES of 17 with the 88’s that I’m going to test further. Loaded up 30rds of 36.3grs to test. Speed should be about 3,100fps which is exactly where I wanted to be. Curious/funny that it’s basically the same charge as my fire forming load with the 80’s.

I’m guessing your 37.6grs with 80gr bullets correct?

 

[Geno C.]

Yeah, 80 amax. I have a bit over 6k of them left. The idea is to keep recoil light for my 8 year old.

 

[Geno C.]

Now we’re at 37.9gr of h4350 and the 80 amax. 3070fps. Which is fairly slow. I ran some up just to see where it could go. Went up to 39.2 and didn’t run into pressure and at 338 yards, the vertical of all shots from 37.9-39.8 was less than 1” looks like another node at 38.8-39.0 at 3135ish FPS, but I’ll look into that after he’s shot up what’s already loaded

 

[Holland375]

I was running WMR, old very old and now I am running IMR 7828, 44gr with 80 gr nosler and sierras. 1 in 8 twist. Right st 3400 fps. Very consistent at distance.

 

[Boogieman84]

I finally tested my 88gr ELD load of 36.3grs of H4350 today over the chrono. Can’t shoot paper or steel all the ranges are shut down. It’s slower than I wanted it to be but I’m not gonna touch it. It should help extend barrel life and throat erosion. Very happy with the results. I just hope it’s as impressive accuracy wise as it is over the chrono.

 

[Holland375]

I finally tested my 88gr ELD load of 36.3grs of H4350 today over the chrono. Can’t shoot paper or steel all the ranges are shut down. It’s slower than I wanted it to be but I’m not gonna touch it. It should help extend barrel life and throat erosion. Very happy with the results. I just hope it’s as impressive accuracy wise as it is over the chrono.

If you use a slower powder, you could increase speed and erosion could be a touch better. Go slower than h4350 and or imr 4350. I haven't tried w760 but it looks very appealing. I have used r22, vit165 and imr 7828.
For fire forming on a junk barrel I have I use the faster powders, varget, h335 and the 4350. Just a thought.

 

[waspocrew]

I got bored with my Savage 22-250 AI and swapped some things around - ended up buying a Bighorn TL3 and since my barrel only had about 200 rounds through it, I figured I'd just screw it on the Bighorn for now. I had it cut from 26" to 22" as well as threaded. LRI does excellent work!

Before:

After:

I have a 1:8 twist and had read mixed reports on the sierra 95 SMK stabilizing - I had a box, so figured why not. These suckers are long! Also loaded up some 88 ELDMs. Seen here compared to a 55 gr Vmax in the middle:

Started with 39 gr of RL-26 and got a ~ 14" group at 100. Red circles are from the 95s. Decided I'd shoot the rest of the 95s at a later time and moved on to the 88 gr ELDM.

88s shot great out of the gate at 38.5 gr of RL-23. Didn't get through all my charges but will hopefully get out again soon.

 

[BeardedBastard]

Recently had a 22-250 AI built on a CZ550 action and spun up with an X-Caliber 27" 1-7 twist MTU contour. My plan was to shoot 69gr SMK for varmints using the extremely fast rpm generated by the 1:7 to cause those bullets to act like a typical varmint bullet. That worked great but wanted better long range ballistics than I could get with the 69s so I switched to testing the 75gr ELD as well as 90gr VLD for fun and maybe a match or two.


This was after the initial load work up and started playing with seating depth on the 90gr VLDs. This wound up being .001 off the lands, very touchy bullet but worth the tweaking for the BC advantage.

This was during the initial testing of the 75gr ELD bullets. I need to play with seating depth to get the group narrowed down just a little bit. It shot just under .4 inch at 100yds. Really want to try the 88gr ELD as I'm sure I can get similar speeds as this but with a much better BC and the ELD bullets work great as a long range prairie dog or rock chuck bullet, act much like varmint bullets when you spin them fast.

 

[NodakBarbarian]

Does anyone have a fireforming load they could suggest for 88gr ELD’s, H4831SC or RL26, and Lapua brass? Thanks

I have a new 26” Rock Creek barrel from Patriot Valley Arms. It’s a 1:7tw, 5R, button rifled, and hand throated for the 88gr ELD’s.

 

[NodakBarbarian]

Shot a couple matches this year with that exact setup. I’ve got a little over 400rds down the barrel, 1:7 Twist 26” Bartlien running 80’s at 3,130 for fireforming and 88gr ELD’s at 3,060 with my formed brass. I’m expecting 1,200-1,500rds max. With the AI case running 88’s at 3-3,100 is barely pushing it. Shoots lights out with both bullets.

What powder and charge weight did you use when fireforming?

 

[NodakBarbarian]

If you use a slower powder, you could increase speed and erosion could be a touch better. Go slower than h4350 and or imr 4350. I haven't tried w760 but it looks very appealing. I have used r22, vit165 and imr 7828.
For fire forming on a junk barrel I have I use the faster powders, varget, h335 and the 4350. Just a thought.

What powder charge did you use when fireforming?

 

[Boogieman84]

What powder and charge weight did you use when fireforming?

36.4grs of H4350

 

[waspocrew]

Took my 22-250 AI out for a spin in Wyoming this weekend. It's shooting very well with the 88 gr ELDM over RL-23. Right at 3150 FPS. ES of 25 with SD of 9. It'd be nice to get the ES down a little, but for smacking steel, prairie dogs, and predators, this will work!

ETA:
Loading 40.3 grains of RL-23 with a fed 210 primer. Pretty sure I'm .020" off the lands if I recall correctly.

Shot this 3 shot group at 340:

Then this 4 shot group at 560:

Followed up with this 4 shot group at 780:

Turns out coyotes and mule deer don't like that combo either. Took the coyote at 600 yards and muley at 315. Complete pass through on the coyote and made a mess of the vitals on the muley. Absolute hammer and so much fun to shoot.

 

[NodakBarbarian]

Took my 22-250 AI out for a spin in Wyoming this weekend. It's shooting very well with the 88 gr ELDM over RL-23. Right at 3150 FPS. ES of 25 with SD of 9. It'd be nice to get the ES down a little, but for smacking steel, prairie dogs, and predators, this will work!

Shot this 3 shot group at 340:
View attachment 7728477View attachment 7728479

Then this 4 shot group at 560:
View attachment 7728475View attachment 7728473

Followed up with this 4 shot group at 780:
View attachment 7728476View attachment 7728478


Turns out coyotes and mule deer don't like that combo either. Took the coyote at 600 yards and muley at 315. Complete pass through on the coyote and made a mess of the vitals on the muley. Absolute hammer and so much fun to shoot.

View attachment 7728466View attachment 7728468

Nice shooting man!! How many grains powder and what bullet jump?

I’m currently fireforming my brass. Have it throated for 88’s. I have H4350, H4831SC, and RL 26 to try once fireforming is done.

 

[waspocrew]

Nice shooting man!! How many grains powder and what bullet jump?

I’m currently fireforming my brass. Have it throated for 88’s. I have H4350, H4831SC, and RL 26 to try once fireforming is done.

Thanks!

I'm using 40.3 grains of RL-23 with a fed 210 primer. Pretty sure I'm .020" off the lands, but don't have my exact measurements handy. I formed brass with a mix of factory PPU 22-250 ammo and PPU brass loaded with RL-15. Basically loaded near max 22-250 loads and they formed great!

 

[cooper_257]

22-250 AI
Remington brass
IMR 4955 43 grains
Wolf LR primer
Hornady 80 ELDM .023 off the lands
3440 fps