22-250 Handload Testing For Deer (Barnes, Nosler and Hammer Bullets)

Dalton lining up at 100 yards to do some testing on a deer sized target to get ready for red tag season.

[@pvtjaxon6367]

I wish there was more content like this I love my 22-250 it is certainly capable of harvesting larger game the nosler 64 grain bsb has worked great on larger white tail

[@Dmcquown]

Check out my deer hunting video with the hammer load on twisted barrel outdoors. I also have a video of me using a 50 ttsx as well taking a deer this spring. Thanks for watching!

[@sylviacandler5541]

63g Sierra stabilize very well in the 14T and 12T -22/250, they kill deer very well. 60g Nosler partitions are awesome killing bullets, and 1.25" groups are about as good as you will get, but that is more than adequate for deer and hogs. 64g Winchester is another excellent bullet for deer and hogs. 55g Hornady SP with the cannelure is a very accurate bullet and I dropped two does in their tracks with the 55g Hornady, and I fill as if this bullet is the toughest of all 55g bullets on the market today in cup and core bullets. I would take neck shots with the Barnes and Hammers. The deer I shot with the 60g Partition looked like they had been shot with a 300 Winchester Mag using a 150g cup and core bullet. I used IMR 4350 with a Win primer with the 60g partitions, and another load with Win 760. You should put the 60g Hornady Sp on the top of the list for the next bullet you try. I bought 500 of the 60g Nosler ballistic tips to try, but I don't know if they will stabalize in my 12 twist rifle which is a 22/250 AI.

[@pvtjaxon6367]

My savage stabilizes them with a 12t haven't hunted with them yet but are fairly accurate out of the 22" savage loaded on the hot side with win 748 well good luck with em

[@Dmcquown]

The 60 ballistic tip will stabilize in a 1-12 twist. I’ve used a 55gr gameking on deer and they did ok they got full pass through sometimes other times you would find them in the hide on the other side. I shot deer with the hammer and ttsx and the ttsx looked like it was shot with a much larger cartridge. I was very impressed. Copper bullets are all I use for game other than varmints anymore.

[@luvtahandload7692]

I have a very accurate 22-250 from H-S Precision and it shoots the 60gr Partition about the same. I'm sure the bullet is fine, it just needs a steeper twist. I'm looking forward to trying it in my 22-250 AI with a 10" twist. Thanks for the vid!

[@Dmcquown]

I’m sure with some development I could tighten that up some. Partitions can be fussy dude to the dual core design but they perform very well on game. Thanks for watching.

[@barrydeacon3551]

I have loaded for my custom 22-250 35 degree shoulder wildcat: and had terrific success with Varget powder…… less sensitive to temperature. I’d give it a try

[@Dmcquown]

I have a few pounds on the bench. I’ll definitely give it a go. It did beautifully in a 220 swift and 35gr hammer bullets.

[@tomhysell596]

I have loaded for the 22-250 and the 22-250 AI for 35 years and have NEVER been able to push a 52 grain projectile near 4,000fps. So I'm calling Bullshit on your reloads!! I have a 26 inch barrel on my 22-250 Ackley Improved, and I use a chronograph with my load testing.

[@daleharvey3278]

Tom..I have a stock 700 vs and due to age and unwilling to change...I use a 55gr nbt w 39gr h380... Untill I seat my last noslers then I'll use sierra and Hornady...due to new noslers management I have lost my loyalty. Fwiw I don't have too much wear...clean w hoppies and sweets...and no brush.

[@Dmcquown]

I have verified this load over a chrono twice now and got the same speed readings. There are other people out there pushing the 51 absolute hammer to these same velocities in a 22-250 and slightly faster in 22-250 ackley and 22 creedmoor. I wouldn’t say you’d get these velocities from a traditional cup and core bullet but due to the design of the absolute hammer additional speed can be achieved.

[@nigelbase1196]

My brother's 22-250 Ackley would launch a 60gr v max at just over 3,800fps (chroned and proven drop data out to 600 yds) so if you've been loading for a great many years and have never been able to get a 52gr over 4000 FPS out of an Ackley then you certainly haven't been doing it right!! 7:41

[@patd.9140]

22-250 and 220 swift are excellent whitetail cartridges. Well placed shots take out lungs and heart without blowing shoulders off the game.

[@Dmcquown]

Absolutely they work wonderful. I’m looking into building a 220 swift with a 1-8” twist for deer hunting for next season.

[@matthewhull9607]

Keep the content coming. A quality controled expansion bullet does way more damage than people think it will. Especially at high speeds. I havenot shot any large hogs with my Savage 22-250 as it is build like yours, target/varmint setup and it doesn't carry well in the woods. But when i am stand hunting, it sure is fun with no recoil and a suppressor to keep it from hurting your ears!

[@Dmcquown]

Definitely, looking at the carcasses I don’t think you could tell me the difference between the 22-250 or a 30-06 when I used the 50 ttsx on em.

[@billhendon1017]

Sweet rifle!

[@sylviacandler5541]

Deer shot with the 60g Partition look like they have been shot with a 30/06 with 150g hornady flat base spt. My deer processor could not believe what I had shot the deer with until I showed him the rifle and box of ammo!

[@yooper7753]

My daughter uses a Thompson Center Encore 24” 223 Remington barrel with a 1 in 12” rifling twist, H-4895 and Nosler 60 grain Partition bullets. I keep here shots under 100 yards and behind the front shoulder double lung. Every deer she’s shot has been a single shot kill. Excellent performance from a well constructed bullet.

[@Dmcquown]

Sounds like a great load.

[@sugargoldy]

Good shooting if you can never get your hands ahold of some speer 62 grain Godot bullets they're the poor-man's Nosler partition they work about the same and there are a bonded soft point bullet

[@Dmcquown]

I’ve heard good things about speer gold dots.

[@dougkahler7152]

22-250 with a 1/7 twist barrel with the new heavy bullets would be fantastic deer medicine. I’m talking a 75 grain Barnes TTSX or similar bullet. That 1/12 twist barrel just isn’t a good barrel for an effective deer caliber. Will it work yes. But your limited to around 50 to 55 grain copper and up to a 60 grain Nosler partition.

[@Dmcquown]

Yes. I have a plan for a 1-8” twist 220 swift for next season to play with the heavier bullets. Stay tuned thanks for watching.

[@docpearson]

Question. Did you clean your rifle barrel between each set of bullets that you’re fired?

[@Dmcquown]

No these were shot consecutively with no cleaning in between. I usually clean this rifle every 35-50 shots.

[@fabulousoffroaddesigns5080]

I have a "25-250" (250 Savage, 250-3000) and use Barnes 80 gn TTSX at about 3300 fps and I believe it is perfect for everything.

[@Dmcquown]

The 250 savage is a underrated cartridge. The quarter bores are dear to my heart as well.

[@Lucysdad66]

For deer maybe try a 1 in 8 twist barrel so you can load the heavy bullets like 77+ grain bullets

[@user-cl7jw7td5q]

Is Cooper still in business? I don’t see them as much. Love the look of their rifles.

[@Dmcquown]

Not cooper if montana. They were sold to Blackhawk customs. They’re still tooling up for production. Cooper is my favorite rifle for sure.

[@TheCrystalJules]

Really interested to hear how both the 50 TTSX and 51 Absolute Hammer work out for you. I haven't seen anyone else talk about the lightest of the .224 TTSX bullets, just the TSX.

[@Dmcquown]

If you go to out hunting page twisted barrel outdoors I have videos up using both of these bullets. The Barnes did an amazing job for me. I definitely recommend it.

[@TheCrystalJules]

@@Dmcquown Nice thanks! Followed!

[@Dmcquown]

@@TheCrystalJules I appreciate it!

[@hunterdooferr7236]

Who made your stock?

[@doghousedon1]

In my state, the minimum legal caliber for deer is .240 caliber. And for good reason.

[@Dmcquown]

Hence my purpose in this series. It’s to show just how effective 22 cals can be when loaded properly and proper shot placement is exercised. But for the general hunting public who aren’t handloaders 6mm cal and up is a good idea. Thanks for watching.

[@nathanieljohnston7160]

There’s plenty of research around 77gr Sierra TMKs and their effectiveness on game.

[@russherbert839]

55gr gold dots have been very effective for my girls to bring down their deer. Just down stretch the range and proper placement is key.

[@Dmcquown]

@@nathanieljohnston7160 man the thread on rokslide about the 223 and the 77tmk makes me want to buy a 223 tikka with a 1-8” twist. Guys killing everything with that combo.

[@patrickjoseph5028]

I killed about 7 or 8 mature muleys with 22-250 and 60 gr Noslers in my youth…I ticked up to 2506 rem for deer and coyotes just for the extra range and wind bucking advantages…the 25 has the same trajectory and 1/2 moa out to 500.

[@Dmcquown]

I too shoot a 25-06 for deer and bear and it’s awesome. It’s definitely one of my favorite cartridges for game.

[@jonm4342]

Shot a medium/large buck with my browning xbolt varmint stalker in 22-250, 254yds middle of the neck dropped instantly, 50gr Sierra blitz at 3850fps, found bullet just under skin on off side, deer are not armor plated, shot placement is far more important than "mowing them down with cannons"

[@Dmcquown]

That’s awesome! I laugh at guys that hunt with big magnums and get knocked from under a hat every time they pull the trigger

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

Works but I'm sure there are more appropriate rounds.

[@davidapple7861]

Increase OAL to tighten groups....

[@williamkoppos7039]

You gonna carry that big ol thaing in the woods?

[@Dmcquown]

No sir this will be used for sitting over crop fields.

[@barrydeacon3551]

50 tax load no good. 60 g partition No Good ….. 40 G bullet Too Light…. I’d try Varget

[@Dmcquown]

The 50 grain bullets did very well on deer.

[@tracynorman3563]

Gonna test a gun for deer use a gun for dee hunting not a target rifle pack it in the woods for a couple years 22 250 is awesome even with a 55 gr bulk soft point to much bs here I have taken deer for 40 years with a 250 no prob

[@russellkeeling4387]

Unless you are a varmint shooter there isn't much use for a 22-250 in Colorado. 22 caliber is not legal to hunt big game here.

[@Dmcquown]

That’s unfortunate. Here in pa it is legal for deer still. I’m hoping by posting videos such as this and following up so the misconceptions about 22 calibers for deer.

[@russellkeeling4387]

@@Dmcquown I seems odd that I can hit a prairie dog at 250 yards with my .223 but am not allowed to shoot a deer with it. I certainly know it has plenty of power. I have seen some astounding shots from a 22-250 of my friends.

[@ZZ-uf4zv]

Too much talking dude, we get the point, get to shootin'. 😂

[@Dmcquown]

You get the point, others may not so it never hurts to explain my headspace. Thanks for watching.