22-250 Twist Rate
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Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
The average factory 22- 250 Varminter has a 1 in 14 twist a few have 1 in 12 . It all depends on what bullets you intend to mainly use. Around 50 to 55 grain 1 in 14 is good as it helps max velocity while still shooting well and less spin drift at longer range. If you go upto 60 to 70 grain a 1 in 12 would do the job , over 70 grain a 1 in 9 would be good. This is a rough guide as the bullet length is the governing factor not the actual weight .
The 22-250 is not a real long range cartridge and it don't like high chamber pressures as the tapered case will stretch and load up on the bolt face giving harder bolt lift and in some extreme cases stuck cases. However it does let you know when the chamber pressure is getting too high better than some straighter sided designs do .
You have to decide what you are going to shoot at and at what range then select a good weight and design of bullet and then find the twist rate that will stabilise that length bullet .
If you think you will want to use light and heavy bullets then you have to go with the twist rate for the heavy ones .
I have 1 in 14 in my 22-250 but if I was fitting a new barrel it would be 1 in 10 the universal twist rate.
The average factory 22- 250 Varminter has a 1 in 14 twist a few have 1 in 12 . It all depends on what bullets you intend to mainly use. Around 50 to 55 grain 1 in 14 is good as it helps max velocity while still shooting well and less spin drift at longer range. If you go upto 60 to 70 grain a 1 in 12 would do the job , over 70 grain a 1 in 9 would be good. This is a rough guide as the bullet length is the governing factor not the actual weight .
The 22-250 is not a real long range cartridge and it don't like high chamber pressures as the tapered case will stretch and load up on the bolt face giving harder bolt lift and in some extreme cases stuck cases. However it does let you know when the chamber pressure is getting too high better than some straighter sided designs do .
You have to decide what you are going to shoot at and at what range then select a good weight and design of bullet and then find the twist rate that will stabilise that length bullet .
If you think you will want to use light and heavy bullets then you have to go with the twist rate for the heavy ones .
I have 1 in 14 in my 22-250 but if I was fitting a new barrel it would be 1 in 10 the universal twist rate.
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
I think a lot of folks have taken a long, hard look at the .22-250's case capcity and told themselves it's everything the .223 could have wished it was.
They went ahead and set it up with twists for the heavier bullets, and soon found out that while the bullets will shoot sweetly, the chambering overheats barrels too quickly to be practical for the courses of sustained fire that match shooting involves.
One can download the cartridge to alleviate this, but by the time they get to where they don't have the problem, they're back at powder charges that the .223 will contain nicely.
It's a super chambering, but not for match shooting. I would set it up as a Varmint rifle with a 1:12" twist, and leave it at that.
There is a solution, but it's an expensive one. Someday I may try it myself with a 1:8" twist.
Greg
I think a lot of folks have taken a long, hard look at the .22-250's case capcity and told themselves it's everything the .223 could have wished it was.
They went ahead and set it up with twists for the heavier bullets, and soon found out that while the bullets will shoot sweetly, the chambering overheats barrels too quickly to be practical for the courses of sustained fire that match shooting involves.
One can download the cartridge to alleviate this, but by the time they get to where they don't have the problem, they're back at powder charges that the .223 will contain nicely.
It's a super chambering, but not for match shooting. I would set it up as a Varmint rifle with a 1:12" twist, and leave it at that.
There is a solution, but it's an expensive one. Someday I may try it myself with a 1:8" twist.
Greg
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
If the 22-250 is your choice, do youself a HUGE favor and go with the 1-8" twist. You WILL not regret it, period. You will be able to shoot all the light stuff and you can play around w/ the heavy stuff!! I currently have a Pac-Nor 1-8" chambered in 22-250 and it's a Hammer past 800 yards!! My current load is 37 grs. RL-17 under a 75gr. A-Max!! It's currently running 3350+ fps. It still shoots 55gr. NBT's lights out too!! I'm tellin' ya, if you are at the 'decidin' stage, look hard @ 1-8" It turns that ole' '250 into an animal!!
If the 22-250 is your choice, do youself a HUGE favor and go with the 1-8" twist. You WILL not regret it, period. You will be able to shoot all the light stuff and you can play around w/ the heavy stuff!! I currently have a Pac-Nor 1-8" chambered in 22-250 and it's a Hammer past 800 yards!! My current load is 37 grs. RL-17 under a 75gr. A-Max!! It's currently running 3350+ fps. It still shoots 55gr. NBT's lights out too!! I'm tellin' ya, if you are at the 'decidin' stage, look hard @ 1-8" It turns that ole' '250 into an animal!!
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
I run a 1:7.75 and it loves 75 and 80gr Amax bullets I have not tried any others....
I getting 3200fps easy w/ the 80's
kt
I run a 1:7.75 and it loves 75 and 80gr Amax bullets I have not tried any others....
I getting 3200fps easy w/ the 80's
kt
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
Go 8 twist. I've shot both 8 and 14 twist 22-250 AI's side by side in prarie dog towns. 50 grain vmax at 4050 out of the 14 and 75 grain amax at 3275 out of the 8. There is absolutely no comparing the performance. The 75's were far easier to hit with.
Go 8 twist. I've shot both 8 and 14 twist 22-250 AI's side by side in prarie dog towns. 50 grain vmax at 4050 out of the 14 and 75 grain amax at 3275 out of the 8. There is absolutely no comparing the performance. The 75's were far easier to hit with.
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: my human host</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go 8 twist. I've shot both 8 and 14 twist 22-250 AI's side by side in prarie dog towns. 50 grain vmax at 4050 out of the 14 and 75 grain amax at 3275 out of the 8. There is absolutely no comparing the performance. The 75's were far easier to hit with.</div></div>
^ this to the "T".
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: my human host</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go 8 twist. I've shot both 8 and 14 twist 22-250 AI's side by side in prarie dog towns. 50 grain vmax at 4050 out of the 14 and 75 grain amax at 3275 out of the 8. There is absolutely no comparing the performance. The 75's were far easier to hit with.</div></div>
^ this to the "T".
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
I already have a .260 that is my match rifle and is great long range, so the 22-250 that I am building does not have to be the ultimate long range 22 caliber rifle.
For those of you that have shot 22-250's with the slow and fast twist rates, what would you go with if you were going to use it solely for blasting prairie dog towns with most shots inside 400 yards and the occasional few shots out to around 600 yards?
I already have a .260 that is my match rifle and is great long range, so the 22-250 that I am building does not have to be the ultimate long range 22 caliber rifle.
For those of you that have shot 22-250's with the slow and fast twist rates, what would you go with if you were going to use it solely for blasting prairie dog towns with most shots inside 400 yards and the occasional few shots out to around 600 yards?
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RMW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I already have a .260 that is my match rifle and is great long range, so the 22-250 that I am building does not have to be the ultimate long range 22 caliber rifle.
For those of you that have shot 22-250's with the slow and fast twist rates, what would you go with if you were going to use it solely for blasting prairie dog towns with most shots inside 400 yards and the occasional few shots out to around 600 yards? </div></div>
RMW,
There is still a place in my lineup for 14 twist 22 centerfires. I have a 14 twist 223 built on a sa 700 with a #8 Krieger. Occasionally, I've shot pastures where a bullet that keeps going and going just wouldn't be appropriate due to livestock or nearby farm activity. Even p-dog country can have a fair amount of human presence and activity sometimes.
That having been said, I'll always take an 8 twist over a 14 in a 22-250 sized case. It will lack the explosive expansion of the light bullets, but the repeatability and consistancy more than make up for that. Hit percentage is higher at all ranges.
The one major drawback that is undeniable is there are only 2 heavy bullets I know of that offer consistant expansion on small varmints at all ranges. They would be the 75 and 80 grain amaxes. I will say that I've always been succesful in getting one of them to shoot well in my 8 twist rifles. I've had good performance with the 80 grain Bergers on coyotes, but I've never tried them on p-dogs.
Some would argue that the barrel life with the heavies will be shorter. I'm careful not to overheat any of my rifles and it hasn't been an issue for me. Hit percentages should be figured in when considering the efficieny of a round.
Personally, I feel the 40 and 50 grain bullets are best reserved for 222 and 223 sized cases. The 22-250 has the capacity to push the 75 and 80 grain bullets in the 3200 to 3300 range with reasonable pressures. I feel that's the best way to get the most out of the round.
These are just my opinions.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RMW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I already have a .260 that is my match rifle and is great long range, so the 22-250 that I am building does not have to be the ultimate long range 22 caliber rifle.
For those of you that have shot 22-250's with the slow and fast twist rates, what would you go with if you were going to use it solely for blasting prairie dog towns with most shots inside 400 yards and the occasional few shots out to around 600 yards? </div></div>
RMW,
There is still a place in my lineup for 14 twist 22 centerfires. I have a 14 twist 223 built on a sa 700 with a #8 Krieger. Occasionally, I've shot pastures where a bullet that keeps going and going just wouldn't be appropriate due to livestock or nearby farm activity. Even p-dog country can have a fair amount of human presence and activity sometimes.
That having been said, I'll always take an 8 twist over a 14 in a 22-250 sized case. It will lack the explosive expansion of the light bullets, but the repeatability and consistancy more than make up for that. Hit percentage is higher at all ranges.
The one major drawback that is undeniable is there are only 2 heavy bullets I know of that offer consistant expansion on small varmints at all ranges. They would be the 75 and 80 grain amaxes. I will say that I've always been succesful in getting one of them to shoot well in my 8 twist rifles. I've had good performance with the 80 grain Bergers on coyotes, but I've never tried them on p-dogs.
Some would argue that the barrel life with the heavies will be shorter. I'm careful not to overheat any of my rifles and it hasn't been an issue for me. Hit percentages should be figured in when considering the efficieny of a round.
Personally, I feel the 40 and 50 grain bullets are best reserved for 222 and 223 sized cases. The 22-250 has the capacity to push the 75 and 80 grain bullets in the 3200 to 3300 range with reasonable pressures. I feel that's the best way to get the most out of the round.
These are just my opinions.
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
FWIW, my buddy has a Rem XR-100(is this right?) varminter in 22-250 with the 14 twist. He is shooting it as fast as possible to cook it off and warrant a faster twist barrel, but he did score some serious hits last may in SD on prairie dogs. He used the 52gr amax and some serious velocity. He had a 553 yard headshot and other body shots around the same distance. 400 yards and in was easy for him and really sent the dogs flying.
FWIW, my buddy has a Rem XR-100(is this right?) varminter in 22-250 with the 14 twist. He is shooting it as fast as possible to cook it off and warrant a faster twist barrel, but he did score some serious hits last may in SD on prairie dogs. He used the 52gr amax and some serious velocity. He had a 553 yard headshot and other body shots around the same distance. 400 yards and in was easy for him and really sent the dogs flying.
Re: 22-250 Twist Rate
I have only had a 22-250 with 1/14, although ultra accurate it didn't convince at over 300yds. My 1/8 223 with 69gr seems a bit more consistant over 300yds.
I just came accross a almost new straight taper Lothar Walther super Match barrel that was made for a 223 1/7. So I'm planning to rechamber it to 22-250, re-profiling and making a carbon fibre barrel out of it, find a remmy action and make myself an Ultra Light E-Tac stock with AICS mag. Barrel at 22" with Roedale Ultra light moderator. Not 100% sure if the 22" is long enough but will chance it. Should make a light weight handy long range foxing or small deer rig.
edi
I have only had a 22-250 with 1/14, although ultra accurate it didn't convince at over 300yds. My 1/8 223 with 69gr seems a bit more consistant over 300yds.
I just came accross a almost new straight taper Lothar Walther super Match barrel that was made for a 223 1/7. So I'm planning to rechamber it to 22-250, re-profiling and making a carbon fibre barrel out of it, find a remmy action and make myself an Ultra Light E-Tac stock with AICS mag. Barrel at 22" with Roedale Ultra light moderator. Not 100% sure if the 22" is long enough but will chance it. Should make a light weight handy long range foxing or small deer rig.
edi
