22-250 Ackley..

[big6x6]

BOY! Have I been BUSY! :shock:

I got my new rifle, a Kevin Rayhill 1/8 twist 22-250 Ackley Improved. The rifle has a twist and is throated to shoot long 65gr to 80gr .224 bullets. My first impression of the rifle is that it is quality thru and thru. I topped the rifle off with a Leupold VX-III 8.5-25X50 LRT with the varmint hunters reticle.

I bought 250 of the new Nosler 22-250 brass to try. That brass DOES seem to be a cut above Rem/WW brass. I loaded 20 rounds to try and really did NOTHING to the brass but prime it, add powder, and seat a bullet. I loaded 10 each with 34.5gr of AA-4350 using a 75gr A-Max and 10 77gr Match Kings. Of course I am doing nothing more than fireforming brass but I have been told that this round is very accurate while doing so.

22-250 AI on left, un-shot 22-250 on right

First four, 5-shot groups all using 34.5gr AA-4350. Two 5-shot groups using a 77gr Match King and two 5-shot groups using a 75gr A-Max. Pretty good for a first try. I'm going up .5gr and going to load some more with the Match Kings. I ALSO have some 75gr Bergers and 70gr Lapuas I'm going to try..

 

[jims]

Nice looking combination. What type muzzlebrake are you using?

 

[VENISONEATR]

Sweet rig Chuck!!! How do you like the enlarged bolt handle? Please elaborate on your thoughts regarding the scope? I'm curious to know how it responds to multiple elevation and windage adjustments. i.e. if you run it all the way up and down several times and left and right several times does your POI shift after re-zeroing?

 

[nugbuk]

That gun is dandy. :yeah:

 

[Doohan]

Looks GREAT Chuck. What twist is the bbl? How fast ya gonna push it?

Man, that rig would certainly turn a groundhog inside out!

 

[Grouse]

Man, that rig would certainly turn a groundhog inside out!

Maybe even a Turkey :shock:

 

[jcchartboy]

Chuck,

Congrats on the new gun. It definitely looks beautiful....I have got to admit I am jealous. I have been working on a small project gun now for a couple of months, only I farmed out little pieces of relatively minor work to a couple different guys.

I have to say...after the hassle I have gone through with this one I will think twice about doing that again. There really is something to be said for having one top quality guy that delivers a single finished product.

Mind you my issues all seem to be with shipping agents, not the smiths themselves. And for the prices I am paying I won't be complaining once everything is finally together, however, as I said at the top of the post that gun really has me drooling...

Good luck with it in the future....

JC

 

[Grouse]

Very nice Chuck 8)

 

[big6x6]

SORRY it too me so long to respond!

Nice looking combination. What type muzzlebrake are you using?

That is a muzzlebrake of Kevins own design. I've never owned a rifle with any type of muzzlebrake so this is my first. If course I can feel a little more blast and the recoil hardly makes the rifle move at all. Of course the barrel to brake transition is seemless.

How do you like the enlarged bolt handle?

Best designed bolt handle I've ever used. The "knob" isn't as big as some but the bolt is longish which I REALLY like. I'll give you a report on the scope after I've used it a while.

What twist is the bbl?

The barrel is a 1 in 8. Velocities with 77-80gr bullets should be in the 3300+ range. Of course I'm going to use what ever is most accurate but I'm going to TRY to make 70-75gr bullets work. Since this is a hunting rifle I'd like to have a little more velocity which will be more like 3400-3500fps. Those heavier Match Kings have a reputation for being kind of tough on varmints. But if that is what this rifle likes, that's what I will use. Also, once I get a bunch of brass fireformed, I'll be using AA-3100 too. You know that's slow powder for a .22!

That guys for all the kind remarks! I'm probably going back to the range Wednesday!

BTW...
Does anyone have a new Hornady reloading manual? Just wondering if it has any data with the 22-250 and 75-80gr bullet? OR any 22-250 AI data?

 

[VENISONEATR]

BTW...
Does anyone have a new Hornady reloading manual? Just wondering if it has any data with the 22-250 and 75-80gr bullet? OR any 22-250 AI data?

DATA FOR 22-250 REMINGTON IMPROVED 80 GR. BULLET:
AA-3100 From 35.6 grains to 40.8 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
AA-4350 From 33.1 grains to 35.9 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-4350 From 31.7 grains to 36.5 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-4831 From 34.2 grains to 40.6 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
IMR-4831 From 36.4 grains to 41.2 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
RL-19 From 33.6 grains to 39.6 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
RL-22 From 37.5 grains to 40.3 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
**************************************************************
DATA FOR 22-250 REMINGTON 75 GR. BULLET:
AA-2700 From 33.7 grains to 36.9 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
AA-4350 From 32.9 grains to 35.2 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-414 From 32.8 grains to 38.1 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
H-4350 From 31.5 grains to 37.2 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
IMR-4895 From 28.7 grains to 33.4 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
N-160 From 32.8 grains to 37.1 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer
RL-15 From 29.7 grains to 33.3 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

DATA RETRIEVED FROM HERE.... http://www.stevespages.com/page8a.htm

 

[choc-dog]

Chuck,

Very nice looking rifle. Who made the stock??

Greg

 

[big6x6]

Very nice looking rifle. Who made the stock??

Thanks Greg. Kevin Rayhill makes stocks and that is one of his designs.

http://www.stockadegunstocks.com/stocks.html

 

[choc-dog]

Thanks Chuck for the reply. Using a Savage action makes for a very eye appealing custom build.

P.S. I really like the long bolt handle.

Greg

 

[jims]

What is the overall length of the barrel including the brake?

 

[big6x6]

What is the overall length of the barrel including the brake?

From bolt-face to end of brake, 28 inches.

 

[Doohan]

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=22

 

[CORVAIR]

Great looking rifle Chuck!

Does Kevin use the tactical bolt handles sold by SSS, looks like one of Fred's.I have heard nothing but praise for any of Kevins stocks and rifle builds.He does very high quality work.Congratulations on a "sweeeet" rig.

I would agree that using a Savage action is a good way for creating a custom rifle and is not beyond even a novice building one on their own. Have been looking at building something myself after following various posts over on the Savage Shooters website.

Didn't mean to hijack your post Chuck, just talking.
Again, great rifle!!

p.s. I like that stock color and webbing, thinking about a Rayhill stock for my 10ML II using same color combo.

 

[big6x6]

BTW...
Does anyone have a new Hornady reloading manual? Just wondering if it has any data with the 22-250 and 75-80gr bullet? OR any 22-250 AI data?

Well, I just answered my own question.. YES the new Hornady 7th edition reloading manual DOES have 22-250 Remington data featuring 68gr, 75gr, and 80gr bullets! No 22-250AI data though. :cry: