.22-250 Bullet Weight (M77)

[south_ridge]

I have a .22-250 M77 rifle that I've always shot 40 grain bullets through with reasonable accuracy (~ 1" groups with Hornady v-max ammo). It looks like most ammo manufacturers are trending toward heavier bullets. The Hornady stuff disappeared from their website for a while but is now back, even though I can't seem to find the ammo anywhere. Federal has also discontinued their 40 grain offering (I can't remember which bullet).

I believe all of the .22-250 rifles shipped by Ruger have 1-in-14" twist rates on them. Do any of you have experience shooting 55-grain bullets through these rifles? How did they perform? It seems like the 1/14 is set up for the very light bullets and I am worried about accuracy of the longer/heavier ones.

Thanks.

 

[wwb]

55 grain bullets in a 1:14 is right on the hairy edge. 1:12 would be no problem. All I can say is give 'em a try.

If you're a handloader, there are also 45, 50, and 52 grain bullets available in case the 55s don't work..... they may be available as factory ammo as well, but I'm not sure - I haven't bought factory ammo for a good many years (except .22 rimfire stuff).

 

[mcknight77]

The 55s shoot fine in all of my Ruger .22-250s.

I prefer the 50s and 52s, but just because of the extra speed. My fav is the Rem 50PLHP.

 

[south_ridge]

Thanks for the feedback. I've never really considered reloading since I probably only shoot 150 rounds a year (total) through about five different guns. But in the past year I seem to have stumbled into some bad luck with factory ammo being discontinued. It has happened at least twice with Hornady (this .22-250 load, plus their .270 130 grain Interbond load). It's annoying, if nothing else.

 

[mcknight77]

I reload extensively, but where I've found factory ammo that worked well in my rifles I've bought 10 or 20 boxes of the same lot number to have a long term supply. That will last quite some time in a hunting rifle. In varmint calibers, not so long.

The .22-250 is an easy cartridge to load for. Seems to be an inherantly accurate round.

 

[Coop]

All I've ever shot thru my KM77 Mark II VT rifle are either 52 or 55 gr. Hornady V-Max or A-Max bullets. Target picture below is from November 2006.

Coop

 

[Black Fly]

If you don't reload, try the cheapie Winchester 45 grain load in the red, black and white box (40 rounds to the box,supposed to be 4000fps). I picked some up last summer. I forgot my ammo box when I was headed to the range. In my Mark I, they shoot about 1/2 MOA. I have a hard time getting my handloads to shoot as well.
My rifle has not been fond of the heavier bullets I've tried.
Bfly

 

[Hauss]

I have also had a lot of luck with the Winchester White Box 45gr. While I don't have a Ruger 77, my remington seems to group the 45gr bullets better than the 55gr. I don't reload, yet, but when I start I might try and work up some loads for my 22-250.

 

[Anonymous]

I had a #1B and a older 77V in 22-250 and my buddy had a 1B too. About all we shot were 52 gr HPs & 55 gr.SP bullets at about 3400. I use to have a 5 shot group that I shot with my #1 that could be covered with a dime. We sent a lot of groundhogs to meet their maker with those rifles.