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Old 04-03-2013, 07:05 PM
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tikka250 tikka250 is offline
 
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Default .224 gopher bullet?

Hey there. I am trying to develop a load for gophers to use in my 22 250 (1/14 rate of twist). my reloading kit is just barely broken in so i have yet to find anything but a decent load for targets. If anyone has any suggestions for a fairly inexpensive yet explosive bullet that would work good for gophers that would be awesome. i tried using the target load that i developed but found that it dosent quite have that "pop" that i was hoping for in the 22-250. I have some nosler 55 and 40 grain pills that i have yet to develop a good load for. that leads me to my next question. when creating a load for good explosive qualities on gophers is it better to have a faster moving bullet? or will it pass through before complete expansion.
Thanks for your help
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:14 PM
trooper trooper is offline
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Try sierra blitzking 50 gn pills they work great in my 223. I'm getting 3200 FPS and I'll bet they'll do great in yours. Have fun.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:17 PM
lannie lannie is offline
 
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I use 55 gr Nosler Ballistic tips and they shoot very well in the same twist barrel in 22-250, CZ 550 Varmint
I always thought that the 50 and 55 gr bullets were an ideal weight for 224.
Speed will change with distance but in the end just get the best accuracy you can and the speed is a secondary consideration to me anyway.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:25 PM
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TehZow TehZow is offline
 
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I have just started playing around with Barnes varmint grenades in both .204 and .223 and so far I am quite pleased with what I am seeing, now if only the gophers would show up for further "testing."


http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...rmint-grenade/
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:30 PM
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normanrd normanrd is offline
 
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50 to 55 grain bullets will likely be the ticket, although I know of at least one 14 twist 22-250 that will shoot nothing heavier than a 45 grain bullet. For explosiveness try bullets designed specifically to be frangible, examples are varmint grenades and vmax bullets. For explosiveness, speed is a large function of the amount of "red mist" you will create. Bullet construction is the other key componenet. Of course you have to hit them first!

Norm
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  #6  
Old 04-03-2013, 07:36 PM
Benelli1 Benelli1 is offline
 
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40 or 50 grain Vmax work very well, they are designed to frag at very low velocities. With the 22-250 even at starting load velocity they are explosive and they are very accurate, at least in my rifle.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:37 PM
Smokinyotes Smokinyotes is offline
 
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I shoot nothing but 50gr v max out of my 22-250. Work great on gophers and coyotes.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:47 PM
eric2381 eric2381 is offline
 
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I love the vmax in my varmint guns. But, I shoot the 55gr Hornady SP W/C in my 223s for gophers cuz they're the cheapest bullet I can get for em, and they for sure blow the gophers up good and shoot accurate. They'd most likely try in your 250 also.
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Old 04-03-2013, 07:52 PM
Loki610 Loki610 is offline
 
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Vmax or varmaggedons are my favorites and the Speer 53grain HP is also effective. Tried the 55grain varmint grenades and was disappointed in the velocity I was able to get before seeing too much pressure.
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Old 04-03-2013, 08:07 PM
duceman duceman is offline
 
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50 gr tnt's, or 50 gr hornady spsx, lee
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  #11  
Old 04-03-2013, 08:24 PM
Soulcousin Soulcousin is offline
 
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I find the 55gr VMAX far more explosive on them gophers than the 40gr Ballistic tip in my 220 Swift. I wouldn't hesitate to try the SPSX either, but the vmax shoots really well so I haven't bothered trying anything else.
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Old 04-03-2013, 08:40 PM
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Nothing blows gophers up better than hollow points. Try 55gr.HP in your 22-250. 50 ft. between the halves is considered a good shot.
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  #13  
Old 04-03-2013, 08:42 PM
bulletman bulletman is offline
 
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Default .224

I use the moly-coated 55 grain Hornady V-Max. The Nosler Ballistic tips and Varmegeddon are also very good.
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  #14  
Old 04-03-2013, 09:13 PM
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tikka250 tikka250 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki610 View Post
Vmax or varmaggedons are my favorites and the Speer 53grain HP is also effective. Tried the 55grain varmint grenades and was disappointed in the velocity I was able to get before seeing too much pressure.
Thanks a lot. I have been trying to find info on the vg bullets for 22-250 for a while.
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  #15  
Old 04-03-2013, 09:32 PM
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I think the most explosive bullets on gophers is the Hornady SPSX. I'd go with the 55gr in a 22-250.
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  #16  
Old 04-03-2013, 09:55 PM
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tikka250 tikka250 is offline
 
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thanks a lot! it looks like im going to have to track down some hornady's and see how they do.
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  #17  
Old 04-03-2013, 10:09 PM
Benelli1 Benelli1 is offline
 
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Hornady advise that the max velocity for the SXSP is 3500 fps before they come apart. Not a hard velocity to reach with the 22-250 or the Swift especially the 50 grns. On the plus side they are cheaper to shoot than the Vmax bullets. Plus of the Vmax is they can be loaded to any velocity and shoot flatter at the longer distances due to the shape of the bullet.
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  #18  
Old 04-03-2013, 10:12 PM
Ceilidh69 Ceilidh69 is offline
 
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55 grain Vmax with Benchmark or H335, the same powder should work great with the Nosler 55 gr bullets
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  #19  
Old 04-03-2013, 10:47 PM
Dadirk Dadirk is offline
 
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Default Calhoon

I have tried and really like Calhoon in the 22 cal stuff with great gopher results the 46 gr work wonders
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  #20  
Old 04-03-2013, 10:56 PM
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normanrd normanrd is offline
 
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My 22-250 likes h4895 and 55 vmaxes. Twist is 12. My swift liked imr 4064 and 55 vmaxes. Twist is 10. both 223's I have really like h322 and 55 vmaxes. 1 is a 9 twist and one is a 12 twist. Fyi
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  #21  
Old 04-04-2013, 11:30 AM
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Default Spsx

I like the 50 grain in my 223 and the 55 in both of my 22-250's (one 12 and one 14 twist)
Tried the blitzking sierras for my 22-250 at one time and the odd one kept falling down into the casing so I miced them at .2235 instead of the .224 I needed. think they might be more effective in a 223 burt now i use the SPSX in everything.
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  #22  
Old 04-04-2013, 11:58 AM
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My 22-250 likes the 50gr moly vmax's over (IIRC) 34.5 grs IMR 4064. Believe it's a 1-12 or 1-14, not too sure. Howa talon

And here's something I found for the varmint grenades for 22-250. Haven't tried them yet though


Mark
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  #23  
Old 04-04-2013, 10:12 PM
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Dean2 Dean2 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benelli1 View Post
Hornady advise that the max velocity for the SXSP is 3500 fps before they come apart. Not a hard velocity to reach with the 22-250 or the Swift especially the 50 grns. On the plus side they are cheaper to shoot than the Vmax bullets. Plus of the Vmax is they can be loaded to any velocity and shoot flatter at the longer distances due to the shape of the bullet.
You are correct with respect to the 50 grain SPSX, however Hornady made the 55 grain SPSX specifically to handle the higher velocity of the 220 Swift and 22-250. Both the 50 and 55 grain are a tremendously explosive bullet, wonderfully accurate all the way to 500 yards plus and very much less expensive than the Vmax, $17/100 versus $23/100. I am a big fan of the Vmax but for high volume gopher shooting in a 221 FB, 223 or 220250 the SPSX is my number one choice.
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