22-250 bullet size help

[bigdawgwill44]

What is a good bullet grain on a 22-250 to stick with for coyotes? My gun is a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special with a 1:14" twist. I've been thinking 55 grain. Any thoughts?

[baltz526]

i buy winchester 64gr power points from midway, but sierra 55gr spbt are also great bullets in my gun.

[YoteHunter]

i have a 1:9 twist remington 700 .223 and i love hornady vmax 50 grain, i am going to burns next week and figure i will stop by nosler in bend on my way down and try some 50 grain balistic tips

[bigdawgwill44]

will the barrel twist affect what size bullet i use? I was looking at Hornady's V-max 55 gr bullets, just a thought.

[OuterLimits]

Hornady's V-max 55 gr bullets are great bullets and have used them for years. The 55 gr bullets have great down range ballistics and velocity. Kind of the standard or go-to bullet for this caliber.

[baltz526]

yes, if you go over 64gr and some barrels like light bullets. your 1-14 twist barrel will most likely shoot 50 52 55 60 63 64 grain bullets well. i do not shoot rats with mine so i stay with the 55gr 64gr

[Chinook Nut]

I like the 55 grain myself in the trophy bonded.

[fishinjay]

If you are interested in keeping the pelts the 55 grain v-max is not your bullet, I know this all to well. Also your twist rate is going to stabilize the lighter bullets from 40 grain up to 55 or 60. I have shot both 40s and 50s at coyote in search of less pelt damage and the 40 grainers sometimes will do zero damage if you dont hit the shoulder. The 50 grain nosler bt are my fave, they shoot very flat and dump coyotes in there tracks. But so will the 55s.

[bigdawgwill44]

Keeping the pelts isn't what I'm looking to do. I just want a good bullet with solid balistics to come out of my barrell. I got tired of shooting coyotes with my .300 win mag, gets messy. I think im going to try the 55 gr. V-Max rounds and stick with those for awhile.

[Hard Cast]

Originally Posted by bigdawgwill44

What is a good bullet grain on a 22-250 to stick with for coyotes? My gun is a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special with a 1:14" twist. I've been thinking 55 grain. Any thoughts?

I shoot a Remington VSSF 22-250 which has a 1/14 twist and 26" barrel. I have tried 40 and 55 grain ballistic tip and 60gr partitions in my gun. The 60gr bullets will not stabilize. They group 2.5-3" @ 100 yards. 55gr bullets group under an inch and 40gr BT's must love each other because they are usually kissing or through the same hole at 100 yards. I have not had a chance to shoot a coyote yet with my hand loads but I will bet the 40gr BT's will put the wood to them just fine. So, I would buy a few different bullets and find out which is most accurate in your gun and stick with that - whatever the weight of the bullet. Considering the velocity of hand loaded 22-250 bullets, I would guess that everthing between the hide turns to mush if a ballistic tip bullet is used.

[elkaholic]

Originally Posted by bigdawgwill44

Keeping the pelts isn't what I'm looking to do. I just want a good bullet with solid balistics to come out of my barrell. I got tired of shooting coyotes with my .300 win mag, gets messy. I think im going to try the 55 gr. V-Max rounds and stick with those for awhile.

That might work well. I have quit experimenting and settled on my best option for my bull barrel Parker Hale. 52 hollow point boat tail match. They dump yotes all day long at 350 yards plus, they generally don't move from where you hit them, and 95% of the time they don't blow a hole out the other side(I hate sewing up holes) Just another option to consider.

[Grantspastor]

Originally Posted by bigdawgwill44

will the barrel twist affect what size bullet i use? I was looking at Hornady's V-max 55 gr bullets, just a thought.

I believe a slower twist rate tends not to stabilize lighter bullets...but could wrong on that

[Dan in Alaska]

I prefer the 50gr V-Max's to the 55-grainers. The 55's are a flat base bullet, and the 50-grainers are a boat tail design.

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by Dan in Alaska

I prefer the 50gr V-Max's to the 55-grainers. The 55's are a flat base bullet, and the 50-grainers are a boat tail design.

Actually, isn't it the other way around Dan?
Not that it matters, both are great bullets.

IMO, the .22-250 w/ a 1in14 twist doesn't really care what weight bullet as long as it's not too heavy to stay super sonic to 500yds and therefore stabilized.

I will say this though, the 50gr copper-plated Remingtons tend to go POOF and disappear.

If it were me, I'd not look farther than the 55gr Ballitic Tip or the 55gr V-Max. Even the 52gr Serria Match HP is a very fine choice. Whatever you choose, do a good load eval and find the perfect velocity/charge for your rifle. Keep in mind that on hotter days it'll go faster and cooler day slower, so center your charge to allow for temp swings both ways.
A few fps off from perfect and your barrel harmonics will ruin that clover leaf accuracy.
Hunt'nFish

[scottishsetter]

Sierra 52 gr HP Yeah that...

[Dan in Alaska]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Actually, isn't it the other way around Dan?

I was pretty sure that's how they were, but I posted from memory, so I went and double checked.......

I had it right. The 50's are BT's and the 55's have a flat base on 'em.
Hornady Link


And, the 50's actually fly flatter than the 55's. From the Hornady site, citing their factory ammo values:
50gr V-Max, BC = .242, MV = 3800fps, 500yd drop = 32.8 inches*
55gr V-Max, BC = .255, MV = 3680fps, 500yd drop = 33.9 inches*

*Note: Hornady lists a 200yd zero for both loads.


What does it mean in the real world? Nothing. I just like the way the boat tail bullets load, so I shoot mostly 50-grainers.

[The Bloodletter]

I'd say you'll have to do some R&D on the bench. All of the afore mentioned bullets will kill coyotes. Unless you're reloading and checking headspace and other important varriables, you'll likely find that your gun prefers a particular factory round over another. I tried about 5 before I settled on the one my gun liked. As luck would have it, it was the PMC brand w/ Sierra Blitzking bullets which I don't think they make any more. second best were Hornady's w/ V max 55gr. The top 3 grouped under an inch with the best at under 0.5". The worst ones would not hold 1.5" at 100 yards. That has been the experience of myself and two other family members who all have 22-250's of different model but all varmit guns. Each of our guns prefers a different factory round. If you reload you can really get a load dialed in an be sure it's always the same.

[Moe]

I got my first 22-250 back in '69. It was a Sako Forester and I killed close to 400 coyotes with it. I think the 52 grain bullets are ideal for the 22-250 and they do an incredible job of putting them down DRT.

I've been shooting a Kimber 84M and for some reason it doesn't like the Sierra 52 grain HPBT's that I've shot for years so I tried the Berger 52 grain Match Varmint bullets and they do a very good job. I get great velocities and very good groups with them, under 1/2" at 100 yards plus they kill coyotes stone dead. Last year I got a double on one stand and one of the coyotes was lasered at 430 yards. He went right down.

Usually a person who is fur hunting isn't using a 22-250 and the Sierras do leave some big holes especially if you hit bone. Personally, I care more about a clean kill and a coyote I don't have to run after or finish off with a second shot but I got a surprise with the Bergers. They do exit but the holes are relatively small.

I'm on my fourth 22-250 and I've considered using other bullets but these do such a good job I can see no reason to change. With the 52 grain bullets I get between 3750 and 3800 fps. Going up 3 grains I get velocities just over 3600 fps. I know a lot of other callers who use the 55 grain bullets, tho, with good results.

With the 22-250 you have to be concerned about bullet splash on predators. The highly frangible bullets like the V-Max do that. Big entrance holes.

[bigdawgwill44]

Anyone use the 50 gr. Winchester Silver tips? What does a silver tip to when hitting the coyote, is it like a v-max? thanks everyone this is very informative!

[NorthRiver Rat]

Originally Posted by bigdawgwill44

Keeping the pelts isn't what I'm looking to do. I just want a good bullet with solid balistics to come out of my barrell. I got tired of shooting coyotes with my .300 win mag, gets messy. I think im going to try the 55 gr. V-Max rounds and stick with those for awhile.

Can't go wrong with the hornady 55gr v-max thats what i shoot in mine and i love them. But thats just my opinion!!!

[DAB]

I have never tried any bullet lighter than a 52 Gr Sierra HPBT Match and none heavier than the 63 Gr semi point Sierra I have tried 55 grain soft points by Rem. or Win. which I could not get to group worth beans.
I shoot a Ruger Rifle with a heavy Varmint Barrel. With the 52 Gr Sierra HPBT Match and the 63 Gr Sierra Semi Point both will shoot 5 shot groups the size of a Dime and smaller with no wind. The smallest group I have ever shot was with the 63 Gr bullets and all 5 shot would fit inside a circle 3/8" Dia.

I have not killed a yote with eithar bullet as I don't use the 22.250 for yote hunting because it's to heavy and doesn't swing well. But have killed a deer with the 63 Gr bullet with one shot. The 52 grainers do the trick on Sage Rats.

I wouldn't go below a 50 GR bullet or above a 65 Gr for yotes

Any good bullet within those weights that are for yote size animals should work just fine for yote killing. Try a powder that suits the 22.250 and comes the closest to filling the case with out a crushed load.
Try CCI or Federal Primers. Out of 7 rifles I load for, Winchester primers just haven't cut the mustard. Don't over look seating depth either or neck turning.

I trim all my cases to 10 thousands under max. case length before each loading, I debur the flash hole on every new case which has helped grouping. I don't weigh and sort my cases as they shoot as well as I need them to. Just cause I don't sort my cases by weight doesn't me it shouldn't be done.

Have fun and go burn some powder.

DAB

[bigdawgwill44]

Originally Posted by DAB

I have never tried any bullet lighter than a 52 Gr Sierra HPBT Match and none heavier than the 63 Gr semi point Sierra I have tried 55 grain soft points by Rem. or Win. which I could not get to group worth beans.
I shoot a Ruger Rifle with a heavy Varmint Barrel. With the 52 Gr Sierra HPBT Match and the 63 Gr Sierra Semi Point both will shoot 5 shot groups the size of a Dime and smaller with no wind. The smallest group I have ever shot was with the 63 Gr bullets and all 5 shot would fit inside a circle 3/8" Dia.

I have not killed a yote with eithar bullet as I don't use the 22.250 for yote hunting because it's to heavy and doesn't swing well. But have killed a deer with the 63 Gr bullet with one shot. The 52 grainers do the trick on Sage Rats.

I wouldn't go below a 50 GR bullet or above a 65 Gr for yotes

Any good bullet within those weights that are for yote size animals should work just fine for yote killing. Try a powder that suits the 22.250 and comes the closest to filling the case with out a crushed load.
Try CCI or Federal Primers. Out of 7 rifles I load for, Winchester primers just haven't cut the mustard. Don't over look seating depth either or neck turning.

I trim all my cases to 10 thousands under max. case length before each loading, I debur the flash hole on every new case which has helped grouping. I don't weigh and sort my cases as they shoot as well as I need them to. Just cause I don't sort my cases by weight doesn't me it shouldn't be done.

Have fun and go burn some powder.

DAB

Excellent post, however i am not to the re-loading stage of my hunting career. I was asking this question on the lines of factory loads I could pick up at Sportsmen's or Joe's, places like that.

[Moe]

Can't help you there. lol I haven't shot a factory load in any of my rifles in over 43 years.