Long Range 22-250 Shots

These are tests with a new varmint load for my Savage 22-250. Hand loaded Barnes 36 Grn Varmint Grenades w/36 Grains of Tac (easiest load to remember 36x36). Chrono'd at 4200 FPS. Grouped well at 100, so tried at some REAL distance. These jugs at 445 yards. You hear me announce 438 I ranged when I was placing targets. Re-ranged after last shot and middle jug was at 445.

With muzzle velocity of Mach 3.7 it doesn't take long to cover 445 yards. Terminal velocity, however would only approximate 1475 Feet/sec (according to Barnes). Not a lot speedier than typical muzzle velocity of a .22lr, and the mediocre impact from the jugs show it.

Previous tests using the same load on jugs inside 100 yards produce virtual explosion with no clear exit from the vaporized bullet. The back of the jugs are fractured every direction. These showed clear evidence of bullet mass exiting the rear, concentrated to about a 1" diameter. Totally expected at the lower velocity, I think the bullet came apart but not in the explosive manner seen at higher velocities.

All in all "GALLONS" of fun!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• shooting
• Longrange
• Long
• Range
• 22-250
• rifle
• target

[BonesTheCat]

Quality camera work. Nice shooting. Like the bullet trail on the second shot.

[juanktkt]

@BonesTheCat I agree that's some of the best camera work I've seen. My son did MUCH better than I've ever done.

[dmonte012]

Great teamwork guys!!  Good to see dads spending quality time with their sons. good shooting and good camera work.

[juanktkt]

@dmonte012 Amen. I hunted a bit as a youth but didn't pickup a rifle again for almost 20 years and then found it was one of the best ways to REALLY connect with my kids.

[darcy32171]

Just bought a 22-250 and bought all the reloading equipment. Never loaded before, how hot is this shell, reason I ask is: The life expectancy on a 22-250 barrel isn`t so great if running a real hot load. Are these standard length shells or is the head space different?

[juanktkt]

@darcy32171 As to the head spacing on my load I've found the best performance by loading the Varmint grenades with < 0.005" headspace. I can feel some loads making contact with the lands when I'm loading the round. My target is to load them just off the lands (or near zero headspace).

[juanktkt]

@brutusbruno The scope is a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5x14.

[Chanse301]

Leeeffffftttyyyyy. I like it :P Don't see many lefties. Good to see the fam getting together and doing some shooting.

[megaretriver]

@juanktkt i eneded up trading for a good deer rifle. Its a sporterized mosin nagant shoots 7.62x54r but thanks for the info.

[juanktkt]

@juanktkt OOps I meant to say I purchased it USED then personally put over 400 rounds through the barrel before making these shots.

[juanktkt]

@darcy32171 I've heard similar concrens. In fact I got this rifle used so I don't know how heavilyt this barrel was shot. I'm using a load that is very easy to remember. 36Grn TAC, 36 Grn Barnes Varmint Grenade. Pushes the fairly light bullet to around 4050 at the muzzle. As to life expectency, I purchased it new and then 400+ rounds through the barrell before making these shots. ALWAY shoots sub MOA 3 shot groups.

[juanktkt]

@megaretriver If I could load it with a 60Grn solid core like the Barnes TTSX. Unfortunately this barrel has a 1:12 twist and to stabilize that heavy of a bullet one should use a 1:9 or faster. If you want a lightweight caliber for deer I REALLY like the .243