H-380 in 22-250

R

rebrick99

New member
I loaded some 22-250 loads using H-380. I used 38.0grs and 50gr
v-max bullets. The accuracy out of my savage 12fv was just ho-hum.When i switched to varget powder and same bullet it did much better. Does anyone know of a good powder to use that gets great accuracy with the 50gr v-max bullet besides varget?
 
Years ago my pet load for my Rem 788 22-250 was H380 and a 52 gr Sierra HPBT match bullet. It would consisently put 3 in a 1/4" hole @100yds.
 
Try speeding it up a bit, my last 22-250 liked 39.3gr
of H-380 and a 55gr bullet and my current 22-250 likes
40.5 with a 52gr A-max.
You have the H-380 so give it a try.....with a 50 grainer
38gr is gonna be a bit slow IMHO

IMR 4895 at around 35.5gr also works.
 
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You've basically written off a great 22-250 powder based on a single starting load. I have been lucky before and have had excellent results from my first loads of a given cartridge but that is a rare moment.

You can try increasing your loads by .5 grs increments up to at least 41.0 grs of H-380 and get a better assessment. You may find that H-380 doesn't work in your Savage but it may also prove to be outstanding.

H-380, Varget, IMR-4064, H-4895 and IMR-4895 have all produced excellent loads in my 22-250 with bullets ranging from 45-60gr.

YMMV
 
Ditto what BigMo said. 39.3 grains of H380 is the exact same load I'm using out of both my 22-250's. The Tikka T3 shoots the 55 grain Berger target match close to 1/2" and the Stevens 200 shoots the cheap MidSouth 55 grain Varmint Extreme soft points under an inch, not bad for a truck gun! Actually I bought the Stevens to be a truck gun and it shoots so well that I camo'd it white and made it my winter/snow gun.
 
H-380 usually works great for me....5 maybe 6 22-250's now
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and it's all I've used in this caliber for years.
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Try actually working up loads with that powder starting at the middle and working up in .5g increments before you totally right that powder off.

Like another guy said, you cant just load up 1 load and expect it to shoot .5" groups, it very rarely works out that way. There is usually some type of load development involved.

I've not had the best luck with H380. It was always inconsistent velocity wise for me with ES's of over 100fps, and it was never the most accurate powder for me either. I really like IMR4895 in the 22-250, shoots great with 40-55g bullets and was always more consistent for me.
 
When you first set out to "work up" a load you must use a methodical approach and change one thing at a time. Choose 50 grain bullets, then powder (in this case H380), I have never been a fiend on primers and cases and have always had good luck using CCI and cases on hand. Then you must choose a starting powder charge (you said 38 grains which is like a 327 chevy in a camaro, peas and carrots), cartridge overall length for the bullet you chose. Then determine the increments of powder you want to increase your load by up to the "book" max load. In the 22-250, 38 grains is not always the magic load but you need to try a scientific approach to developing a good shooting load. It is ok to ask people for pet loads but don't assume they will work in your gun. Have fun and be safe.
 
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