22-250 to 600 yards max, does anyone do it?

[gunners]

I have a Remington VSF with a 7-21x40 Bushnell 3200 with mill dot crosshairs. Usually groups 3 shots in the .3-.4 range @ 100 meters, with 50 gr V-max's so it's plenty accurate. I'm stepping up the performance with Hornady 53 gr V-max that have a b.c of ".290" in front of the new XBR 8208 powder which hopefully should be running around 3900 fps although not chronographed yet sighted in for 200 meters my ballistic program shows a bullet drop of about 46 inches 2.15 mil, windage @10mph of 33 inches 1.57 mil and a velocity of 1967fps @ 550 meters ( 600yards). Do you think these figures would allow me to shoot that far consistently off a Harris bipod if I have rangefinder need recommendation as well, probably a Leupold 1000 TBR or Lieca CRF 1000r and what other bits of equipment would/ should have.
I don't really want to get another rifle as this is so easy to shoot accurately. If you compare those figures to some other calibers I think they are not bad? Primarily used for wild dogs which are a big problem for some farmers
Should have put barrel is a 1-14

 

[Browninglover1]

Your twist is slow enough that you might not be able to stabilize the 53 grain VMax. I shoot my 22-250 out to 660 yards regularly. It's surprisingly accurate at that distance as long as there isn't much wind.

 

[gunners]

It has shot 55gr factory loads before no problem. I can't remember what brand now. It would not stabilise 50 gr Barnes varmint grenades though, went though the target sideways. Bullet bearing surface was to long or something like that.
What bullets do you use to get out to 660 Browninglover 1

 

[benchracer]

It has shot 55gr factory loads before no problem. I can't remember what brand now. It would not stabilise 50 gr Barnes varmint grenades though, went though the target sideways. Bullet bearing surface was to long or something like that.
What bullets do you use to get out to 660 Browninglover 1

The 53g VMAX is longer than most 55g bullets and requires a 12 twist to stabilize reliably. While some shooters have reported good results from a 14 twist, others report that it will not stabilize in their 14 twist rifles.




Before you go too far, try the 53's in your rifle to see if they will stabilize. If not, try 52g AMAX or 50g VMAX. You could also try 55g Sierra Blitzkings, though they have a reputation for fragility that may make them better PD bullets than coyote bullets. I have personally had them come apart on paper @ 100 yards, splattering the target with fragments after hitting nothing but a cardboard backer. They have a good bc, though, and may work better at longer range. You might also consider the Berger 55g Match Flat Base Target bullets. They, too, have a decent bc.

 

[CB11WYO]

I just tried a load last weekend for my buddy's 22-250.
It's a factory savage model 16, 22" barrel, 1 in 12 twist, 53 gr Vmax and Hodgdon Benchmark.

I too wanted to try the 53 gr Vmax for the awesome BC. We're not getting near the velocities you are shooting for (our load validated @ 3350 fps). But is it good to 600 yards?? Heck yeah! On paper we had 1/2 MOA @ 200 yds and sub MOA @ 600 yds.

To further validate our velocity I took it out monday and demolished milk jugs @ 500 and 625 yds.

I have heard much the same as has already been said, about the 1 in 14 twist barrels not stabilizing. The 1 in 12 we're using works fine though.

 

[benchracer]

I just tried a load last weekend for my buddy's 22-250.
It's a factory savage model 16, 22" barrel, 1 in 12 twist, 53 gr Vmax and Hodgdon Benchmark.

I too wanted to try the 53 gr Vmax for the awesome BC. We're not getting near the velocities you are shooting for (our load validated @ 3350 fps). But is it good to 600 yards?? Heck yeah! On paper we had 1/2 MOA @ 200 yds and sub MOA @ 600 yds.

To further validate our velocity I took it out monday and demolished milk jugs @ 500 and 625 yds.

I have heard much the same as has already been said, about the 1 in 14 twist barrels not stabilizing. The 1 in 12 we're using works fine though.

3350? That is really strange. The Superformance .223 load with that bullet bests your velocity by 100fps. Did you load it that light intentionally? Or is that the only way you were able to achieve decent accuracy? I have seen guys that slow their 55's down to 3500 or so for best accuracy, but 3350 is REALLY slow for a 22-250.

 

[gunners]

52 grain A-max shoots pretty good too around 0.6inch@100meters from memory. When I first was hand loading for it that's what I started out with primarily before deciding to switch to a hunting/ varmint bullet. Berger supply wise can be a bit of a problem over here, where as Hornady usually has good supply at most gunshops.
Just as well I only bought 1 box of the 53 gr v max. Should make up area more rounds with the XBR powder with different bullets and run them over my chronograph I guess.

 

[CB11WYO]

To answer your other Q's...

If you get anywhere near your desired velocity you'll be plenty fine (as I mentioned earlier I'm running way slower and still banging away at 600 yds) as long as you can stabilize those 53 grainers.

Off a bipod... no problem... that's how I always shoot

Rangefinders... either of the 2 you mention should do, especially if you only plan to go to 600 yds. I currently use a Nikon Monarch 1200. ($400-$450 new)

 

[CB11WYO]

3350? That is really strange. The Superformance .223 load with that bullet bests your velocity by 100fps. Did you load it that light intentionally? Or is that the only way you were able to achieve decent accuracy? I have seen guys that slow their 55's down to 3500 or so for best accuracy, but 3350 is REALLY slow for a 22-250.

I know I've been losing sleep over exactly that. Yes it's accurate but I was hoping for somewhere around 3600 fps honestly. Any ideas? I'm using 35 gr of Benchmark.
Input appreciated...

 

[benchracer]

According to Hodgdon, you are about .4g above max. I have heard of some barrels being 100 or even 150 fps slow, but 400 fps slow? Have you confirmed your velocity readings through another chronograph? Is the trajectory consistent with predicted numbers for your measured MV? What is the round count on your barrel? Are your velocities with another powder type out of whack, too?

If you are able to confirm your velocity numbers, I would say you have dimensional issues with your barrel, calibration issues with your powder scale, or a bad lot of powder.

Those are the only possibilities that make sense to me.

 

[CB11WYO]

According to Hodgdon, you are about .4g above max. I have heard of some barrels being 100 or even 150 fps slow, but 400 fps slow? Have you confirmed your velocity readings through another chronograph? Is the trajectory consistent with predicted numbers for your measured MV? What is the round count on your barrel? Are your velocities with another powder type out of whack, too?

If you are able to confirm your velocity numbers, I would say you have dimensional issues with your barrel, calibration issues with your powder scale, or a bad lot of powder.

Those are the only possibilities that make sense to me.

Alright that all makes sense.

Yes the trajectory and velocity of 3350 have been confirmed multiple times by shooting @ 500, 600, and 625 yards. I don't own a chrono.

For what it's worth... the ammo he was using before was 45 gr winchester factory loads, advertised to fly @ 4000 fps. The best we ever saw was 3700 out of his gun. So maybe gun personality/barrel issues??

As for the scale/powder being the problem, I would doubt it but I'd have to run a few tests to be 100% sure.

We've got 200 rounds down the tube since buying new.

 

[Browninglover1]

It has shot 55gr factory loads before no problem. I can't remember what brand now. It would not stabilise 50 gr Barnes varmint grenades though, went though the target sideways. Bullet bearing surface was to long or something like that.
What bullets do you use to get out to 660 Browninglover 1

I shoot the 50 grain Vmax. I have shot the 55 grain ballistic tip to 960 and I could hit a 2 MOA target about 50% of the time. It was fun to try and shoot a little bullet that far but a mouse fart would blow your bullet 3 or 4 feet.

 

[RMulhern]

I shoot the one on the bottom; 90 gr. Sierra HPBT. Kills yotes a long way off!!


Bullet profiles by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

[gunners]

Well those are some really long bullets, what twist rate are you running. Also what scope I'm thinking I " need" a new one with target type turrets.
I still haven't got to the range yet, still recovering from an ACL injury to my knee