Rifle reloading

[wildfowler.250]

I know of a few folk that reload which is handy. How easy is it to develope a good load? Something that will shoot a tight group at 100 yards? I'm considering buying in components for reloading the .22-250 but I don't want to have to keep going back to said person for adjustments,(purely so as I'm not a hassle).

 

 

What I'm trying to ask is. If I buy in vmax bullets, use a recommended powder and quantity and seat it to a suggested depth, is the round likely to group well? Or does it take a long time of faffing about?

 

 

I figured if I do thinks accurately it will already be an improvement on the factory stuff?

 

I feel this could be a "how long is a piece of string" type question but thought I'd ask.

[JonathanL]

Your final sentence pretty much got it!

 

To be honest, if you aren't getting reasonable performance from factory ammo there is no guarantee that handloading will automatically improve your results. You'll probabably be able to do better but, as you suspect, it's unlikely to be with the first try.

 

What sort of results are you getting at present?

 

J.

[ste12b]

You are right about the "how long is a piece of string" quote, but if you are lucky and choose well, it doesn't take long unless you are after match winning accuracy. I like Viht N140 and sierra matchking bullets and have two nice loads in 308 and 223. I get sub 1" with cheap guns at 100 yards so I am more than happy.

[al4x]

Ok the simple answer is if you get the right person to help you may find it straight forward, a simple few hours in the afternoon and you should be able to get a reasonably accurate load. If they measure the chamber and set the bullet 10-15 thou back odds are it will shoot acceptably with a reasonable powdercharge. Obviously you can play with it and try different measurements back from the lands and also vary powder weight but it is worth trying simple first assuming you are after a hunting load rather than anything else

[kent]

With a factory rifle for 100 yds performance and its very hard to better quality factory ammo, certainly by a meaningful amount. Hand loads become more consistent the further out you go. Jump lengths are largely irrelevant with factory chambered guns with regular type varmint bullets used. The only exception to this is some guns are very ammo fussy and you might not find a good factory for them - more so with less common calibres as there ain't much choice about. With a 22-250 that is frankly not going to be the case

[SPARKIE]

where abouts are you? there maybe someone close by that can run through it with you.

[Alycidon]

where abouts are you? there maybe someone close by that can run through it with you.

 

 

That is by far the best way forward.

 

Meanwhile I suggest you use your cleaning rod to measure your barrels twist rate, how many inches for one full turn, usually 1 in 12 or 14 but can be faster down to 1 in 8, the faster the twist the heavier the bullet used for best results. Sites like Berger will give you the optimum twist rates for different bullet weights. Once you know what weight bullet is likely to perform most accurately then you have started down the road. Most factory barrels shoot 50s - 55s best.

 

Beware though that reloading is a highly addictable hobby within a hobby, you start off reloading to shoot, after a while you can find yourself shooting to reload !!.

 

A

[wymberley]

That is by far the best way forward.

 

Meanwhile I suggest you use your cleaning rod to measure your barrels twist rate, how many inches for one full turn, usually 1 in 12 or 14 but can be faster down to 1 in 8, the faster the twist the heavier the bullet used for best results. Sites like Berger will give you the optimum twist rates for different bullet weights. Once you know what weight bullet is likely to perform most accurately then you have started down the road. Most factory barrels shoot 50s - 55s best.

 

Beware though that reloading is a highly addictable hobby within a hobby, you start off reloading to shoot, after a while you can find yourself shooting to reload !!.

 

A

That may have been by far the best way forward, but the above is by far the best post!

[al4x]

Simply though if you know what weight it likes in factory ammo stick to that its one variable out of the way.

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers for the replies guys. The rifle is a tikka m55 which I 'believe' to be a 1 in 14 twist. I'm getting about an inch or just under at 100 yards,(don't have a rangefinder to confirm) with Norma 50grain vmax. It's probably my shooting that's the limiting factor anyway but when you spend X ammount on a rifle and scope it seems a bit daft not to load it to its optimum. I'm mainly using it around the 100 mark at the moment but if I tightened the group up I would feel more confident with longer range crows ect. Im north of Scotland and know a few folk that I could ask to help me,(just don't want to be a hassle!).

[al4x]

Your options are to see if someone will help or buy the gear but to improve on that level of accuracy you really need half decent gear. Really with that you are fine on most things to 200 yards easy and further on foxes once your confidence builds

[JonathanL]

Cheers for the replies guys. The rifle is a tikka m55 which I 'believe' to be a 1 in 14 twist. I'm getting about an inch or just under at 100 yards,(don't have a rangefinder to confirm) with Norma 50grain vmax. It's probably my shooting that's the limiting factor anyway but when you spend X ammount on a rifle and scope it seems a bit daft not to load it to its optimum. I'm mainly using it around the 100 mark at the moment but if I tightened the group up I would feel more confident with longer range crows ect. Im north of Scotland and know a few folk that I could ask to help me,(just don't want to be a hassle!).

 

If it's 1/14" I think that 55grn is about the heaviest bullet you'll manage to stabilise.

 

J.

[wildfowler.250]

Ok thanks for the input. I should maybe just keep practicing shooting paper. Maybe drawing out a crow shaped target and shooting at that would also give me a better idea than worrying about groupings.

 

 

I'll speak to a few friends and see if they'll help me out over the summer as well.

 

 

Cheers for all the opinions

[coyotemaster]

Lots of good advice, there are some loads that seem to work in a lot of 250's. Varget powder 36 gr.+/- 50 Vamx / Blitz king -.015 off the lands would probably get you close to what you seek.

[Dougy]

If its a M55 and has the original barrel I would guess it's had a few rounds through it, it's over 30 years old. Your grouping as you say an inch at 100 yds is very good considering.

Find a reloader near you for advice. And don't get chasing rainbows

[wildfowler.250]

Lots of good advice, there are some loads that seem to work in a lot of 250's. Varget powder 36 gr.+/- 50 Vamx / Blitz king -.015 off the lands would probably get you close to what you seek.

Thanks, ill look into that

 

If its a M55 and has the original barrel I would guess it's had a few rounds through it, it's over 30 years old. Your grouping as you say an inch at 100 yds is very good considering.

Find a reloader near you for advice. And don't get chasing rainbows

You're close. Someone had it squirreled away and never used it. So I bought it second hand but never fired

[kent]

Good luck finding some Varget at present, its like Hens teeth

[wildfowler.250]

Any reason for that kent? I've heard H380 is good for the .250 too

[kent]

Any reason for that kent? I've heard H380 is good for the .250 too

Yep, the Yanks bought it all fearing a ban. as they are by far the biggest market and will be re-supplied first it could be a long time before we see any as its not just their back orders but also their stock. Hogdens won't build a new line etc to achieve this so I shouldn't develop a load with it at present. Vhit is also ending production of its powders due to loosing money. Its a bad time, to be frank if you don't use a stack of ammo and are only hunting sub 1" will do it! So get two years supply of factory in IMO if you can

[wildfowler.250]

Well that's less than ideal. Maybe I should buy 200 bullets in the one go then problem is I'm still tinkering with different brands.

 

But on the other hand, if it will shoot around 1" or 1.5 inches then it would do for stalking

 

 

Does anyone suggest a soft point round besides the sako game heads that are likely to work in this gun?

[JonathanL]

Yep, the Yanks bought it all fearing a ban. as they are by far the biggest market and will be re-supplied first it could be a long time before we see any as its not just their back orders but also their stock. Hogdens won't build a new line etc to achieve this so I shouldn't develop a load with it at present. Vhit is also ending production of its powders due to loosing money. Its a bad time, to be frank if you don't use a stack of ammo and are only hunting sub 1" will do it! So get two years supply of factory in IMO if you can

 

No it isn't. This was a rumour that got started a few months back but no one seems to be able to work out why. I belive that the boss of the company (possibly the US subsiduary) has stated quite unequivically that this is not the case.

 

J.

[kent]

No it isn't. This was a rumour that got started a few months back but no one seems to be able to work out why. I belive that the boss of the company (possibly the US subsiduary) has stated quite unequivically that this is not the case.

 

J.

No one British guy with connections at HQ warned us, the Americans totally slated him on the net and now its happened- REF vhit powders.

[bk]

No one British guy with connections at HQ warned us, the Americans totally slated him on the net and now its happened- REF vhit powders.

Kent, has this been confirmed that they are definately closing production or are selling the powders business off for someone else to continue production? If they are stopping I'm screwed, I use Vhit for all my rifles.

[kent]

Kent, has this been confirmed that they are definately closing production or are selling the powders business off for someone else to continue production? If they are stopping I'm screwed, I use Vhit for all my rifles.

I was told of this by a large and well respected RFD the past week, who got it from his supplier / importer and the thread on ukvarminting has been updated recently by the OP

[al4x]

If you an get sierra blitz kings in 50 grn they are excellent and as for varget availability it is on back order but it is still getting through. I got another load last week as a mate was at a game fair so basically just buy it when you see it.