55gr Vmax / 22-250 Load

Ok just getting started into loading and impulse bought these bullets.

Looking for a light load to maybe shoot varmints and shoot paper.

I have varget powder and would like to use it with these bullets.

Anyone have a recommendation to start from?

thanks

Quick look at hodgdons website shows a starting charge of 34 grains with a 55 grain bullet for 3,490 fps and max of 36.5 grains at 3,664 fps.

Id start at the bottom and try a couple different groups going up in .3 grain increments and stop when you find accuracy you like if your not concerned about max velocity.

Im sorry...its a 50 grain...which that doesnt change much.

34.5 starting and 37.5 for max load according to Hodgdon reloading data center. As advised above start with the starting load and work up in .3 gr should get you a useful load.

That combination I would expect to be in the Hornady manual, just don't have one handy

^^what he said^^

When looking at overall cartridge length and I am not basing off of where the lands are right now, what is a good start? Go with the maximum general COL? Or minus .01, since when I trimmed my case I was .01 shy of the maximum trim length?

My factory rounds I shot from this gun were constantly showing signs of over pressure...the primers are flat and the gun would break open. I worked the pivot and shelf and have got the breaking open part fixed, but the gun did have pressure issues.

My intent is not to be mean or insult, but your playing with stuff that could badly injure or kill you.

Did you do the work on the gun yourself?

I cant imagine someone who cant figure out reloading buting out a grinder/file etc. on their rifle and modifying the locking mechanism. I think you need to take a step back and educate yourself a little more before you delve any deeper.

Did you contact the ammo manufacturer that was showing high pressure in your factory gun? It may not be an issue with the gun, they do screw up from time to time.

Graybeards forums has a mass and wealth of information on the breakover handi rifles. All of the information and step by step help on going has been over there as far as altering the gun. The small issues I have had with this gun are very common issues with the breakover rifles from NEF...go visit their forum and you can verify.

I am not just "guessing" without careful inspection, gauging, shimming, etc...maybe I should have clarified that.

I am a very thorough person and thats why I ask a million questions on here, which may present myself as being dumb or ignorant, but I dont attempt or start anything until I steady my mind with a wealth of information first...thats why I ask so many questions, even elementary sounding questions.

Its not that I cant figure out reloading...I just like to hear personally, AFTER verifying alot of information that I have researched and read, from people that have done it with experience.

I am a teacher / coach / and work on small electronics on the side...I am just an OCD person that doesnt like to move forward until I have read, asked, talked about, seen, and etc...of a wealth of information.

I am always grateful for what you guys tell me and am the first to pass along information when people come along in the future.

Good to hear, I wish you luck.

If you have a factory load with that bullet it shoots well would start by duplicating it. Some bullets are more picky than others about where they like to be seated.

I can't help you with load information as every gun is different and what works in one, may not work well, or at all, in another. Only through working up a load specifically for your rifle will you find what is best.

With that out of the way, let me just say that I have been shooting the 55gr. V-max out of my -250 with Varget. I use it for crows, coyotes, skunks, raccoons-anything I want spectacularly dead.. I can tell you that this is one potent combination on varmints.

I realize you corrected the post and that you are now using 50gr. bullets, but I suspect the results will be the same.. That bullet flat out destroys critters. Don't use it for anything you plan to eat as there won't be much left of whatever you are shooting. It is an extremely accurate bullet, and the -250 packs some speed behind it. I've shot crows with it before and they came down in 3 pieces.. Remnants of a body, and the wings separately. It's that explosive. It is very accurate as well. You have picked a great caliber & bullet for varmints.

How hot of a load do you use?

I am shooting right at 36.4 grains for my rifle which is a Browning A-bolt. I worked up to it very slowly checking for signs of over-pressure. I tried going higher but I started to get flattened primers and ejection imprints in the case heads. I had great accuracy from as low as 34.5 grains all the way up to 36.4.

Shot some 50gr vmax with 34gr of varget and had great groups. I'll see how tight I can group it here because recoil wise, it'd be a great load for my kids to shoot and it's still be able to take down most all varmints:

I would suspect that you will find a great shooting load at below max charge. Further, not loading to max makes for longer case life. I can only get about 5 loads out of new brass before the primer pocket starts to get a little loose.

I have had better results by adjusting the loaded case length so that the bullet is set just the right amount off of the lands. Honestly that is like rough tuning and got me closer to the best accuracy than the the final charge weight of the powder which I would consider fine tuning.