Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 22-250 and 88 Grain ELD-M Loads

I recently took the plunge and bought a Tikka 22-250 with an 8 twist to specifically utilize 88 ELD-Ms. By the way, it does shoot the 75s very well. Anyway, my first foray into researching loads has been abysmal. I noticed that my Hornady 11th Edition and said app, have no information for this combination (22-250 and 88 ELD). A call to Hornady got the same result; "we don't have load data for that combination". So, to shortcut my research and to hopefully have a resource for others similarly situated, I figured I would start this thread in the hopes that others may have already experimented with this combination. Does anybody have any loads they care to or are willing to share. Yes, yes, I know the standard admonition: "these work in my rifle and may not be safe in yours, start low and work up". Starting and end points are helpful.

So, all of that to ask, does anybody out there have: a) an 8 twist 22-250, b) is loading/shooting 88 ELD-M, and, c) is willing to share your load(s) and results?

I recently went through the same thing with a 22-250 AI and settled on RL 17. I don't know how the standard 22-250 would respond to that powder but I am getting 3180 FPS out of a 22" Lilja 1-7 with the 88 ELD-M.

Sorry I'm no help on the standard 22-250 or the 1-8 twist.

BigSky,

I am in a similar boat than you... TMKs have delivered excellent results in my 1:8" 22-250 but I am willing to give the 88gr ELDMs a try!

Sierra publishes loads for their 90gr HPBT Match that can be a good reference.

Here are their two max loads with the two powders I will be trying for a start:

37.9gr Superformance for 3,120 fps
33,4gr IMR 4451 for 2,990 fps

I know it is not the same thing, but starting lower and monitoring speed I would not expect any troubles, especially since I do not chase max speeds any more.

Hope it helps

OP, let us know how the 88's work out for you. I'm pretty happy with the 77 smk/tmk, but I'm not shooting mine at 1,000 either. At 4-600 yards, you are not going to see a huge difference in the real world.. You must be intending to stretch the legs on that Tikka. I want to see some tiny groups at 1,000 yards, if you don't mind.. I just wished Tikka made a varmint model 22-250 with a fast twist barrel. If yours is like mine, it's a light azzed hunting rifle. Not the best choice for shooting 1,000+ yards. IMHO..

yes , pushed with RL 16

Tag… please share the info on the RL16 load

Bumping this one, any results wit R17, H 4350 or Varget, Superperformance etc

RL 16 36gr. 88ELD for some reason I don't have the velocity recorded but if I remember correctly it was 3000 to 3100 fps range

38.8 gr RL 16 75gr. ELD 3320 out of same gun 22" barrel 8 twist
I do not have recorded as ever trying RL 17
but I do have a note superformance did not maintain the accuracy for me..
all loads of a CCI 450 primer

I have been quite surprised at the lack of information available for this combination. Often you'll see powder recommendations with zero information on load data. Anyway, my search has come up with a few and I thought I would share them here. I personally don't know any of the sources. For all I know they could all be complete morons. However, their data at least appear to be reasonably within what one would deem sensible and safe when comparing with similar data from Nosler with 85s and Sierra with 90s. Here are the ones I was able to find elsewhere on the net. Hopefully others can provide information as you/we all move forward.

88gr eldm in lapua brass, with 3 different powders, all of which produces sub 1/2 moa groups.

H4350, h4831sc, h1000

H4350 produced the most speed @ 2956fps with my accuracy load. Started @ 33gr and worked to 35.5gr where I began to see an ejector mark. 34gr was my accuracy load.

H4831sc, to me, is the most accurate @ 2932fps with my accuracy load. Started @ 34.5gr and worked to 37.5gr where I began to see an ejector mark. 36.5gr was my accuracy load.

H1000 gave me the smallest sd of 4.1 and 2904fps with my accuracy load. Started @ 36.5gr and worked to 38gr, just began to crunch powder and hardly any room left. Luckily, 38gr was my accuracy load.

Another:

38gr rl26 and a br4’s primer with 88eldm 0.050” off the lands

34.5 grains of ADI 2209

Tag

Good info big sky. In the 22-250, I'd probably run the H4831sc, since it can be dropped right in the case from the powder measure, relatively accurately.

I have a 22.250 with a one in 7 twist, I run a charge of 33.5 grains of 4064 with an 80 gr A Max...

I dropped the charge down a grain with the 88 ELD....works fine, no pressure signs. haven't chronographed it yet due to winter weather..
It was as accurate as the 80 grain A Max and ELDs....

Today, I tried five loads from the information I provided above. I did not use H1000 or RL26 as my supply of those is below 2 pounds each and they are designated for other rifles and they are currently, extremely hard to come by. So, I used H4350 and 4831sc. I cross referenced the loads in my prior post with those for 85 grain in the Nosler manual and the 90 grain in my Sierra manual/app and determined, in my opinion, that the loads I chose were easily safe. I only did five different loads and I had zero indications of any kind of high pressure on any of the loads. My concern has always been, would an 8 twist 22-250 stabilize the 88s. It is commonly asserted on multiple forums that they will not. Based on information and assertions from Formidilosus and Big Stick that they would, I trusted them and jumped in. All loads were, Tikka T3X Lite 22-250, 8 twist, 88 grain ELD-M, new Norma brass, CCI 200 primers and seated 2.1265 BTO which was just touching the lands in my rifle. I had a left to right, full value, 15-20 mph wind. My loads and group size results are as follows with only five rounds of each shooting five-shot groups:

H4350
34.5 grains - .656
35.0 grains - .951

H4831sc
36.0 grains - .618
36.5 grains - .991
37.0 grains - 1.104

Keep in mind these were only five-shot groups and were only at 100 yards. I have not taken them to distance to true them or obtain velocity or dope and I have not run them over a chronograph. Hopefully this can help others and hopefully others can provide additional load information.

Excellent info. Thanks for sharing. You know you are going to blow the minds of the guys that have a hell of a time shooting in the wind. Let alone getting sub moa groups in the wind. According to some of those types, it's not possible. They think you need a windflag at 100, a wind sock, a flag at 50 and then one tied to your peter as well. Maybe they call that a wind cock, I don't know?? I'm curious to see what those pills do at distance in your rifle before I take the plunge and buy some. Short distance results look great though. Thanks for sharing!!

Well two things bsa, first I did have one wind flag at 90 yards which was a piece of flagging tape hung from a 24 inch stake in the ground. Second, as I stated, I have no dope on any of these loads and the wind speeds I stated are estimates based on my weather app and were not measured via a Kestrel or any other meter.

As a side note, speaking of the wind, this rifle was originally zeroed with 75 grain ELDs. With no adjustments or holding into the wind, all of my groups were right of my point of aim.

Sounds good enough to me man. I just ordered 750 from midsouth. They have them in stock and on sale. Free shipping too, so why not? I have plenty of H4831. I'll test them to at least 400 yards for now. Should see some 1" groups, if they stabilize. You are probably at high elevation. I'm at around 5,500+ where I do most of my shooting lately. I've been wanting to try these out anyway.

I worked up some loads last week with superperformance and RL 17
Sup 36 gn 2923
Sup 37 gn 3010
Sup 38.3 3100 too hot
RL 17 34.5 3020
but didn’t find the accuracy I was after at just over moa

I tried all of those slower powders in the fast twist 22.250 I rebarreled.. but I found the fastest velocity where I wasn't expecting to find it..
with 4064.... have no idea what the pressure is... but I can tell ya, over 15 or more shots out of the brass, the primer pockets are still tight..
Just suggesting to try it out... start at 30 grains and work up... 33.5 gr max is where I've loaded it too...

rifle is a Ruger 77 Mk 2, originally in 243, so it has the longer mag well... barrel is heavy magnum contour, 1 in 7, that I took off of a 223, before I sold it, and had it rechambered for the 22.250.. Pac Nor made barrel, from over here in Brookings OR on the coast.

Can’t get 4064 but Varget is close and what I use with 77s
I plan on trying that and 4350 next
I think 3050 is realistic and would be a great place to be

Any of you other guys buy any from Midsouth? Seems like a good deal on those pills with free shipping. I'm glad to see they were available.