.22-250 H414 / H380 powder

[.22-250Andy]

Hi all, I’ve just got into reloading for my Howa .22-250 and wondered if anyone has a load to start load development for my rifle using ether H414 or H380 powder and whatever heads, mostly used on fox but occasionally Roe in Scotland. Thanks. 

[pasky]

Have you got a stock of H380 or H414? If not I think you will struggle to find any in the UK as they were banned under REACH Compliance a few years ago. You might be better starting out with N140 or N150 and 50-55gr bullets (presuming your using a 1:14 or 1:12 twist barrel)

[miki]

N140 I use with 55gn Sierra's and N135 with lighter bullets (45 and 50gn).

These bullets are/this cal is more suited to fox which I don't mind blowing holes in, I found a .22-250 caused a lot of damage to Roe.
As a foxing rifle/cal it's superb, point and shoot out to 250M

[.22-250Andy]

10 hours ago, pasky said:

Have you got a stock of H380 or H414? If not I think you will struggle to find any in the UK as they were banned under REACH Compliance a few years ago. You might be better starting out with N140 or N150 and 50-55gr bullets (presuming your using a 1:14 or 1:12 twist barrel)

I have got 2 full tubs of each powder. 

[Andrew]

I shouldn't need to suggest this, but Hodgdon would be the best source. There is only a few grain powder range between min and max in most instances. Start at the bottom and work up. ~Andrew

[miki]

17 hours ago, .22-250Andy said:

I have got 2 full tubs of each powder. 

One of the first things you should do is read a reloading manual, and drop the "head" when you are refering to a "bullet" as the 'head' is something else entirely.
H380 was designed for the 22-250 so will be an ideal powder as there is a large amount of recipes and data available on t'internet.
H414 is a slower burning powder suited to the heavier end on the bullet range, which is narrow anyway due to the slow twist rate, I never had much success with 414 in my 22-250, it was better for the larger cals, 25-06 and 30-06 for example.

The main issue is that you will work up a load and then discover that the Hodgsons powders are not available in Europe due to REACH regulations.
Vihtavouri would therefore be a better starting point as @paskymentioned.
However ...
You will get around 200 loads from a pound (you haven't said how big your tubs are) so if you don't shoot much perhaps it won't worry you that you need to start load developing again so soon ?

 

 

[Richiew]

Hi there 

From Berger manual

50 grainers varmint  h380 35-38.8 powder

h414 35.5-39.8 .

52 grainers match and varmint  h380 34.5-38.5 .

55 grainers match and varmint  h380 35.5-39.7. 
 

60 grainers fb varmint  h414 34.5-38.1 .

64 grainers fb varmint  h414 34-37.6.

70 grainers vld h414 32-36.2. h380 31.5-35 .

73 grainers boat tail target h414 32.5-35.9. H380 30.5-34 .

75 grainers vld h380 30-33.4.

All above at 2.350” COAL  . Light bullets upto 3800 fps and the heavier ones 3250 fps from 26” barrel . 
 

Cheers

[Richiew]

Hornady quote 

55 grainers h380 35-40.6. H414 36.4-41.2 .

60 grainers h414 35.4-40.9.

68 grainers h414 33.7-38.4.

73-75 grainers h414 33.6-37.9

80 grain eldms h414 31.5-35.8 

3700 fps for the light ones and heavy s 3200-3300 

COAL 2.35” apart from the 73-80 grain bullets at 2.49”/2.5” 

[miki]

@Richiewstd .22-50 twist rates struggle to stabilise bullets over 18mm long and as your load tables above indicate, H414 (the slower burning of the two) is partnered with the heavier bullets (60gr and above). 55gr soft/hollow point, flat base projectiles are approaching the maximum length/weight ratio. Boat tails struggle as do any of the non-toxic varieties (less dense metal = longer) even @ 55gr.

Suggesting 60gr and above is really not advisable unless you know that @.22-250Andyhas a non standard barrel ?

 

[Richiew]

Hi there 

sorry if it’s misleading but was only quoting directly from the two reloading manuals info . Andy can use whatever info fits in with his barrel/ rifle requirements , as I don’t know what that is I just gave the info for every bullet that has his powders included in its recommendation s . Saves him buying two manual s .