Which factory 22-250 rifle for widely available factory ammunition

[drewdude]

Hello,

I will not be getting into reloading (atleast for the foreseeable future)

Where I live I can access a variety of 22-250 factory loads, but all of them are 40-60 grains. I plan on using only 50-60 grain ammunition as it suits the way I plan on shooting.

I am hoping to range out accurately and consistently to at least 500 yards.

the three rifles I am most interested in at given available twist rates:

1:14 - Tikka t3x varmint stainless (later to receive a KRG Bravochassis, lighter trigger spring, larger bolt, Harris bipod, so on so forth)

1:12 - Savage 12 VLP DBM (later to receive a bell and Carlson target/competition stock with adjustable cheek piece, Harris bipod, potentially a timney trigger, so on so forth)

1:9 - Bergara Premiere HMR Pro (Same price as the previous two guns with the upgrades I plan on giving them)

I am wondering if the 1:14 twist with almost 24” barrel in a tikka varmint would be enough, or if the 1:9 twist of the Bergara would be too fast...I’d really like the tikka in a bravo chassis because of the weight, fit/finish, feel of the action, and guaranteed accuracy or the Bergara because of the fit/finish, feel of the action, guaranteed accuracy and the fact that it is perfect as is for what I’d plan on doing (just unsure about the twist).

I’m not to sure about savages fit and finish, and consistency; it seems like they aren’t quite as refined as the other two.

All three would end up costing me the same.

 

[ZiaHunter]

I have 12VLP-DBM with 26" 1:12 which shoots well with hand loaded ammunition and have never tried factory ammo although no reason why it wouldn't shoot well. No experience with Begara's but the T3's I have been around were accurate. With a 1:12 best to stay in the 50-55 gr. range. The 1:9 would allow you to shoot the heavier bullets with higher BC's but have no idea what factory ammo is available. No issues with the stock on the Model 12 and really no need to upgrade. I did have issues with the Accutrigger and replaced it with a Rifle Basix.

 

[drewdude]

Thank you,

factory ammo available to me ranges from 40-55 grains mainly, but there is one kind of 60 grain ammunition at my LGS that is regularly stocked.

As for stock, I’m hoping to go for something synthetic with aluminum bedding that has a cheek riser and and wide foreend. If I were to get the tikka or the savage, I’d leave the factory stock alone for the first couple months anyways just to see how it is, but I plan on upgrading. It is nice to know that the savage stocks are pillar bedded. If I were to keep a savage stock I’d prefer the BTCSS model with Thumbhole.

would the1:9 allow me to shoot the 50-55 grain ammunition better at longer ranges than the 1:12?

 

[ShtrRdy]

I've got a Tikka T3 Varmint in 22-250. It's a really accurate rifle.

 

[drewdude]

I've got a Tikka T3 Varmint in 22-250. It's a really accurate rifle.

Where’s its sweet spot in factory ammunition?
How well does it handle 55-60 grain bullets?
how well does it shoot 500+ yards with that 1:14 twist?

 

[ShtrRdy]

It likes the 55 gr Sierra Blitzking at around 3600 fps. Unfortunately those little bullets loose speed quickly. I haven't shot it out to 500 yds.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Why 22-250? If a gun store stocks it then surely they have a ton of other stuff too, or just order online and not limit yourself to what’s local.

22-250 with off the shelf ammo and a standard twist us going to suck for mid range shooting.

You could go 223 and take advantage of more rifles to choose from with better twist rates, and A ton of factory match ammo, a lot that you can get two rounds for the same cost as one round if 22-250 ammo. 223 is also going to have 3x the barrel life. A fast twist 223 with heavy match ammo will also have less wind drift than 22-250 since almost all of the factory ammo are with light varmint bullets that suck in the wind.

 

[HMRamateur]

I have a tikka t3 varmint in 22-250 and a 6.5 CM HMR pro. I like the bergara more, but maybe with a few upgrades, the tikka could contend. Better trigger with HMR pro, stock is already on the same level as the krg bravo, action is smoother than tikka IMO.

 

[drewdude]

the problem is I haven’t had much luck finding factory .223 ammunition above 55 grain online or in stores in Canada either.

so the delema is 1:9 twist .223 or 1:12/1:14/1:9 twist 22-250 factory fire arm with factory ammunition. Which one will shoot 500+ the best. I was thinking the 1:9 or even the 1:12 twist 22-250 with 55-60 grain would shoot better and straighter for longer than a .223 1:9 55 grain.

Why 22-250? If a gun store stocks it then surely they have a ton of other stuff too, or just order online and not limit yourself to what’s local.

22-250 with off the shelf ammo and a standard twist us going to suck for mid range shooting.

You could go 223 and take advantage of more rifles to choose from with better twist rates, and A ton of factory match ammo, a lot that you can get two rounds for the same cost as one round if 22-250 ammo. 223 is also going to have 3x the barrel life. A fast twist 223 with heavy match ammo will also have less wind drift than 22-250 since almost all of the factory ammo are with light varmint bullets that suck in the wind.

 

[drewdude]

What kind of range is your tikka effective out to and what kind of ammunition does it like? Ever try anything with 60 grain bullets?

I have a tikka t3 varmint in 22-250 and a 6.5 CM HMR pro. I like the bergara more, but maybe with a few upgrades, the tikka could contend. Better trigger with HMR pro, stock is already on the same level as the krg bravo, action is smoother than tikka IMO.

 

[b6graham]

Why not a 6.5 or 6 creedmoor? Both will be better ballistically than the 22250 and have better barrel life. With wayyyy better factory ammo options

 

[HMRamateur]

What kind of range is your tikka effective out to and what kind of ammunition does it like? Ever try anything with 60 grain bullets?

I'm shooting 45 grain handloads out of it. I'm getting consistent hits out to 500m, I haven't taken it further though. I've never shot anything heavier out of it, and probably won't.

 

[drewdude]

I would, but the issue is in order to take a gun out in my province to shoot coyote (which is the only animal I can hunt for more than 3 months a year is a .224 caliber bullet. It’s to try and keep the poachers away from the moose with say a .243 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

would a 1:9 twist make a 55 grain bullet any more accurate at 500+ yards than a 1:12 twist or would a 1:9 make a gun pickier with the 50-60 grain ammunition because it wants something bigger?

I’m leaning towards the 1:12 savage because I’m thinking it may shoot the 50-60 grain stuff better than a 1:9... is this a true statement?

Why not a 6.5 or 6 creedmoor? Both will be better ballistically than the 22250 and have better barrel life. With wayyyy better factory ammo options

 

[ShtrRdy]

I have a tikka t3 varmint in 22-250 and a 6.5 CM HMR pro. I like the bergara more, but maybe with a few upgrades, the tikka could contend. Better trigger with HMR pro, stock is already on the same level as the krg bravo, action is smoother than tikka IMO.

The Bergara action is smoother than a Tikka? That would be amazing. I have to try some more Bergaras.

 

[HMRamateur]

The Bergara action is smoother than a Tikka? That would be amazing. I have to try some more Bergaras.

That's the bergara premier action. The b14 isn't on the same level as the premier.

 

[b6graham]

The Bergara action is smoother than a Tikka? That would be amazing. I have to try some more Bergaras.

i'd take a tikka all day for smoothness and cartridge options. their triggers are glass too plus just as many stock/chassis options

 

[Alabusa]

I have had great success with my Savage Axis and 55gr bullets. The best factory ammo I have tried is Hornady Superformance.
Caveat.....I did have to change stocks to get under 1 moa. The factory tupperware is all but useless.