Reloading - Bullet selection vs Barrel Twist

I recently bought a Browning X-Bolt Varmint Stalker 22-250 Rem. Prior to this I had already started assembling what I would need to reload for this rifle. (I plan ahead - mostly, which is the reason for this post).
As part of my preparation I bought 500 Hornady 22 Cal .224 53 Gr V-Max boat tails. Now you can imagine my displeasure as I sit down to begin reloading only to read the caveat in the Hornady 9th Edition manual. These bullets will not stabilize in barrels slower than 1:14. Of course my new Browning is in fact a 1:14 twist.
At this point I am feeling rather ticked at myself and figure the only solution is to learn something from this. So I set about going to read more about how bullet stabilization is measured and applied. In a nutshell it is simply a function of speed and twist to yield sufficient revolution of the bullet as it leaves the barrel. A bullets stability is a function of its caliber and overall length (I am summarizing so please don't think that these are the only factors).
More reading can be done here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling...llet_stability

So, now that I have a better idea of what the factors are, I found two links to help with this.

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

and

http://www.bergerbullets.com/litz/TwistRuleAlt.php

If you are reloading and having issues with accuracy and consistency it may be worth some effort to run the numbers and see if the issue isn't related to twist ratio.

In my case I managed to resolve the problem for the most part by adding speed. With a 39.1 Gr load of CFE 223, these bullets leave the barrel at +3950 fps (I have a chronograph).
They are not as accurate as cheap Remington bulk 55 Gr SP but not as bad as I would have thought.

Sell them to me my new savage has a 1 in 12 twist rate. I always do my research prior to buying guns.

You did say "slower than 1:14", but you do have a 1:14 barrel so you probably are okay, as long as you are obtaining good velocity. The twist rate problem is VERY common in the .250 Savage, early rifles were 1:14, later rifles 1:10. Legend has it that 100-grain bullets are too heavy for the 1:14 twist, but I have always gotten good results even with 100-grainers by keeping velocity up as high as I could safely get it.
Don't write those bullets off yet; they may be excellent performers in your rifle.

Edit....I re-read your post and I see you're already "up to speed", as it were. The cheap Remmy's are likely a hair more accurate because they are shorter, not being boattails. Same is true with my .250's; I can't hit a barn door with a Nosler Partition 100 but Rem flatbase CoreLokts go easily sub-MOA. They are shorter by about .1 inch....

When I run into similar issues I go to a flat based bullet. I don't experience much advantage to boat tails until beyond 350yd to 400yd .

You're on the right track, many barrels will shoot what they aren't supposed too. You just have to do as you did and try them.

Keep in mind temps and air density, I can shoot A max in a 1/9 .223 sometimes, depending on temperature and air density.

My Savage .223 is a 1:9" and the research suggests fast twist=heavier bullets. In load testing, I started with 55gr. and bought boxes of 100 (not 500 :) ) of 3 varieties in 55gr., 2 in 60gr, and a box of 69gr Sierra Match Kings. The heavier I went, the more the groups opened-up. A friend suggested that I try the 53gr. V-Max and guess what~the best bullet in my .223 yet! Haven't tested anything lighter, but with 1 ragged hole @ 100 yards off a bench~don't see the need. Bottom line~I'd be trying those 53s if I were you, you have them anyway. If they don't perform, I can think of someone who might take them off your hands. :)

A lot more factors than twist. I had a 50/90 with a 38 twist that put 600 grainers in one hole all day

Also, just another thing to consider...not all barrels are "exactly" the twist they claim they are. Some 1/9.25 may be closer to 1/10 or a 1/10 may be closer to 1/10.5. I check all of my rifle barrels to see what the actual twist is. Then I try hand loads from the bullets too "light/short" for the twist and too "heavy/long" for the twist to determine the correct bullet for that barrel.

GrouseWhisperer's example is basically the same, try it and see what will work.

I also don't load develop for a barrel until a minimum of 150-250 rds down the barrel.

I dont reload but my Tikka with 14 twist shoots 50 and 55g Hornady factory ammunition very well. 1" or less at 100 yards.

Thanks for the feedback. I have made up a number of loads for different bullet weights including the 53 Gr V-Max boat tails. If I can get them going fast enough (not to the point of risk or danger to me or the rifle) I may be able to use them. I hope to get out this weekend to put a few (10 or more) into paper. Shouldn't take long to see how this story will play out. I also bought a factory box of Hornady V-Max to shoot along side for comparison.

Keep in mind what is most accurate @ 100 yds. won't necessarily be what is accurate @ say 400 yds.

I load test at 300 yds and then shoot from 100 yds to 500 yds., or the furthest distance I plan to depend on that loading, then I true my dope.

I would guess you'd want the 22-250 to have legs out to 400+ yds also.

Also keep in mind that most 22 cal bullets have very poor BC and shed their initial burst of speed very fast. The low BC also allows for more wind play

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skypilot

I would guess you'd want the 22-250 to have legs out to 400+ yds also.

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WOW!!!!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skypilot

I would guess you'd want the 22-250 to have legs out to 400+ yds also.

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Sky
Looking at the ballistics, I don't believe that a 50-55 gr .22 cal bullet will go out beyond 300 yds with any amount of energy.
I am going to toy with a 70 gr load - see how that works. I loaded 10 of the 53 Gr A-Max. All of them keyholed at 100 yds. Sold them in about an hour at Firearmscanada.com

That is pretty bad that all 10 bullets key holed. Since that means they were rolling in the air, its a wonder all 10 hit the paper. If more energy after 300 yards is really what your after, perhaps a larger caliber is what you need. I'm a new guy so you dont have to listen lol

Rambill, you are exactly right. If I need more than 300 yds then go bigger. I have a load of 110 gr V-Max for 30-06 that will do just that. To be honest that is getting beyond the edge of my comfort zone since I don't practice at that range.

What are ya doing up at 4:48...thought I was only crazy person up at that hour....lol

Wanted to be into work early so I can get away earlier. I do have a nice 55 gr load for my 22-250 that I plan to use on a coyote this afternoon. By 1500 hrs today I will be in the field calling...

DGeary- what cases, primers, and powder do you use?

Goose,
Cases are Winchester. Powder is CFE 223. Primers CCI-BR. I have tested this load at the range thru a chrony. I can only say one thing about CFE 223 - for a 22-250 it is like rocket fuel. At 0.3 grains under a max load I clocked one round at 3986 fps on a cold (-5C) day in light snow (made it harder to see the target). My friend shot 7 rounds that all touched - off the bench but not secured in the rest. PM me if you want and I will send you the load data. My rifle is a Browning X-Bolt Varmint Stalker 26" barrel 1:14 twist. At the moment I am just toying with cheap Remington bulk bullets 55 gr SP with cannelure Flat base. They shoot that well I may not have to go looking for something else.
Going out to coyote hunt this afternoon. Hope the yote likes them!

Oh YA...go get em