Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

[dang472]

I'm looking for varmint and paper target experience with the 52gr AMAX in comparison to the 50gr VMAX and 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. I've done a bunch of OCW and ladder tests with Varget and H380 with both the VMAX and BT, and the difference has been undetectable up to 200 yards. I think I'm sticking with Varget due to lower velocity swings and streamlining my powder stash. I was hoping the AMAX might offer a little more accuracy. The gun is a Savage 12FV and I believe the twist rate is 1/12.

 

[BCP]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

I believe I use 34 varget with a 52BTHP and it is a laser 52 amax should be similar. 22-250 sendero.

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

55 grain Vmax has served me well for thousands of rounds on prairie dogs and other varmints. Honestly you probably won't be able to tell the difference between all those so I would just go with what ever brand you happen to be a fan of.

 

[dang472]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

My rifle seems to like 35.5gr of Varget for 3600fps with a 50gr VMAX. I noticed the BC was a little higher with the AMAX and they are listed a target rounds, so I wondered if anyone noticed a real accuracy difference. I'm done with all the testing and just want to settle on a bullet/powder combo. I think I'll just do the AMAX and be done with it.

 

[heydavemd]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

I'm shooting an FN 22-250, and got some 55gr Sierra GK, and it will outshoot my Hornady 52gr BTHP and Amax's hands down. not sure why, but its not even close. I've found that H4350 will group a bit tighter than Varget.

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

Mine prefers the noslers over the v-max.. But only for shooting groups,
Varmints can't tell the difference.

I had the best accuracy with 52smk and 52amax for paper punching,
And the 52 AMAX worked just as well on fox/rabbits, but NOT the 52smk..
They don't expand very well in comparison.

The AMAX is the best 'all rounder' IMHO

 

[Sauer202]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

In my Savage 12 22-250 12" twist flatbase bullets shoot much better than any boat tail ive tried and ive tried many.
Berger flatbases both match and varmint 50gr and 55gr shot the best followed closely by Varmageddon 55gr tipped

 

[Engine 22]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Varmint Slayer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">55 grain Vmax has served me well for thousands of rounds on prairie dogs and other varmints. </div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sauer202</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> flatbase bullets shoot much better than any boat tail ive tried and ive tried many.</div></div>

55 Vmax for me. I shot out a factory Remington barrel with the Vmaxes over Benchmark. Worked out to 600 if I recall correctly. H380 worked well too, but is pretty temp sensitive.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sauer202</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In my Savage 12 22-250 12" twist flatbase bullets shoot much better than any boat tail ive tried and ive tried many.
Berger flatbases both match and varmint 50gr and 55gr shot the best followed closely by Varmageddon 55gr tipped </div></div>

DIDDO...there are many rifles, especially under 6mm/.243 bore, won't shoot BTs well at all. Been very difficult getting folks to understand it until we go to the range. Seems they have to see it to believe it...I live in the ShowMe state. I use Sierra 53 SMK for target and their 55 SPT for critters & target. Both flat base for 223 Rem. Recently hitting targets at 500 yds with no problems.

 

[Raider Power]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

I learned to reload on my .22-250 and have run a bunch of different bullets and powders through it. I've had good to great results with the 50 grain Nosler ballistic tips using imr 4895 and benchmark. A friend of mine's pet load with this bullet uses the max charge of ww 760. My 52 grain MatchKing load uses a heavy charge of h380 and produces excellent accuracy and velocity. Driven hard and at reasonably close range (300 yards and in is as far as I have shot this bullet), it fragments just like a varmint bullet. The 52 grain amax is the single most accurate bullet in my rifle. I can't tell a difference between it and any of the standard varmint bullets as far as terminal performance.

My rifle does not like the 55 grain bullets. I tried just about every appropriate powder with no luck. I haven't had much luck with Varget either. I recently started playing with 8208 and have seen some promising results so far with 50 and 52 grain bullets.

Based strictly on the numbers, the 53 grain vmax is hard to beat. You have have a fast enough twist to shoot it so you might give it a try too. I've shot it through several ARs with good results. My .22-250 has a 1 in 14 twist so I haven't shot these through it.

 

[rubicon06on33s]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

53 grain vmax will not stabilize in a 1in14 twist. I have had the best luck with 40 grain NBT. I shoot them in my rem 700 and my oly UMAR 22-250

 

[barryaclarke]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

This might be a little off topic, but I thought the information might be useful especially to the person who said he shot the barrel out of a 22-250. I just received an email conformation from Hornady that the V-max and Z-max are one of the same except for the color of the tip. One is read and the other is green and the Z-max is much less expensive than the V-max. I found the lowest price at BeStock.com.
50 grain V-max is $32.43 per 250
50 grain Z-max is $56.17 per 500 which is $28.085 per 250
55 grain bullets are comparably priced. This is over 13% less expensive for the Z-max and could add up if you do a lot of shooting. Hope this helps the bottom line for someone……….

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

I would see no reason to shoot the Amax, it has a lower bc than the Vmax.
If you want violence on critters, shoot the vmax, it has a thinner jacket than Blitz Kings or Ballistic tips. From my experience, they all shoot good, price would be my deciding factor.

 

[Engine 22]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rubicon06on33s</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="color: #FF0000">53 grain vmax will not stabilize in a 1in14 twist.</span> I have had the best luck with 40 grain NBT. I shoot them in my rem 700 and my oly UMAR 22-250</div></div>

Pfffftt.......

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Engine22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">55gr Vmax for me. I shot out a factory Remington <span style="color: #CC0000">(1:14)</span> barrel with the Vmaxes over Benchmark. Worked out to 600 if I recall correctly. H380 worked well too, but is pretty temp sensitive. </div></div>

 

[QRE23]

Re: Best 50-55gr. bullets for 22-250

He's actually right, the 53 Vmax won't work out of a 1-14 anything and alot of 1-12's, unless you're launching them really fast, isn't fast enough either. 1-10tw and faster works best for the 53Vmax.

Those 53Vmax's have a really short bearing surface and are longer than most 60 grainers even.

I've got a 1-9tw on my 223ai and those 53's are all I shoot in it. They shoot into tiny tiny little groups. They blow the shit out of yotes too.