22-250 remington

[Berger Man]

I have a 22-250 Remington model 700 and I shoot berger bullets. I use 38 grains of hodgen 380 when I reload. I shoot less than a minute of angle some days and a little bit more on other days. I try to shoot on calm days when I shoot to see why it is different. I clean the gun very good every time I shoot. Can anyone tell me why the grouping is different?

 

[Berger Man]

I forgot to say that I shoot a 55 gr berger bullet.

 

[Jud96]

A clean bore will shoot different than one that is slightly dirty. Also, on a rifle that is not free floated the stock can push against the barrel differently leading to inconsistent results. If a different rest is used or the stock sets different this can possibly cause inconsistent results but I haven't experienced this while swapping from bags to a bipod or setting the forearm in different spots in the front bag.

 

[mustang58]

You are checking the mirage aren't you?

 

[storeyteller]

Some days I shoot tighter groups than others too...I chalk it up to operator error!

 

[Berger Man]

Sand Bag vs Bipod

I bought a Harris bipod to put on my gun. I liked it because I did not have to carry a sand bag for the front of my gun. I did not shoot good every time I went shoot. I decided to go back with a sand bag in the front of my gun and shot under a minute of angle. Can not wait to see if I can do it again next time. Hope the bipod was my problem.

 

[Jud96]

Re: Sand Bag vs Bipod

I bought a Harris bipod to put on my gun. I liked it because I did not have to carry a sand bag for the front of my gun. I did not shoot good every time I went shoot. I decided to go back with a sand bag in the front of my gun and shot under a minute of angle. Can not wait to see if I can do it again next time. Hope the bipod was my problem.

The only bipods I have shot off of were Harris which are good ones but I never liked them. I just don't feel comfortable or confident with them. Just not as solid or steady with them as I am with bags. My Dad loves them, but he has practiced a lot with them and I really never did, I may try them out more this summer and see if I get good with them but probably going to stick with a small rear and front sandbag for now so they're portable but I can be as accurate as possible.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Re: Sand Bag vs Bipod

I bought a Harris bipod to put on my gun. I liked it because I did not have to carry a sand bag for the front of my gun. I did not shoot good every time I went shoot. I decided to go back with a sand bag in the front of my gun and shot under a minute of angle. Can not wait to see if I can do it again next time. Hope the bipod was my problem.

I highly doubt its the bipod. I shoot with a harris bipod and have never had a problem. I really like harris bipods. I shoot off the bipod with a rear bag and i shoot ragged hole groups. Bipods are a whole lot more portable than a sand bag lol. I dont think you should clean the barrel after every time you shoot. Your barrel needs to have some copper fouling in it in order for it to find its sweet spot. Atleast thats been my experience. I can clean my barrel but then it takes a few rounds to get it back to were it needs to be.

 

[Rem700]

I have a 22-250 Remington model 700 and I shoot berger bullets. I use 38 grains of hodgen 380 when I reload. I shoot less than a minute of angle some days and a little bit more on other days. I try to shoot on calm days when I shoot to see why it is different. I clean the gun very good every time I shoot. Can anyone tell me why the grouping is different?

It's most likely the powder changing from different temperatures causing the group size to change. My 25.06 does it with IMR4831, it will drastically open up if the temps drop below 55.
H380 It is not listed as weather stable powder. Here is which Hodgdon powders are. Extreme Rifle Powders
You may want to try one of those listed.

 

[Hired Gun]

I have tried every powder suitable for the 22-250 in the last 35 years and I keep coming back to H-380. My rifle is near 8000 rounds and still shoots .250" MOA. I use CCI-250 magnum primers. H-380 needs a magnum primer for consistent ignition. The power is temp sensitive but never minute by minute. If it starts shredding bullets or showing signs of pressure I just back it down a grain or 2. With 50 grain bullets I use 38 to 42 grains depending on the weather.

Try 50 grain V-Max's, SPSX's, Sierra Blitz Kings, Nosler B-Tips or any other non target 50 grain bullet. I never have had good luck with Berger's, Speer HP Match or SMK's in the 22-250.

My Ruger 77V 22-250 is one of my most favorite rifles. I could build myself any custom creation I want for shooting digger squirrels but I just love this Ruger. It doesn't like bi-pods either. I just shoot over a bag or stump, a hood, out the window, over the bed and kill squirrels like a guided missile.

 

[limige]

How did you work up your load?

As mentioned h380 is not temp stable. If you aren't loading the the node those slight velocity changes can show up big time on target. Thats why its important to ladder test at long range. 1-1.5 gr in powder change and still hold a minute of accuracy.

You can get outstanding groups loading outside the node but a slight powder change causes a flyer.

Berger bullets are outstanding in their tolerances. Havent needed to sort much. Do you sort your brass?

Now first i heard about mag primers and H380. Anybody else do this?