22-250
- Thread starter bmtoon
- Start date
yes that should make a great starter rig, but make sure you get the one with 9 twist rifling (sku 18468) in sted of the 12 twist (18469) if you intend it for long range. you will be able to stabilize much heavier bullets which usually have a higher ballistic coefficient. with faster twist you can still stabilize the smaller bullets, it just turns faster. but you can not stabilize the heavy bullets with the slower twist.
Why is it that 223 is more popular for long range, and I see very few fast twist 22-250s? Every 223 vs 22-250 thread for coyotes usually states that 250s have more range. Do they really mean they just shoot a little flatter with the lighter bullets, or hold more energy out a little further? Seems to me a heavier bullet would be better at distance than a faster lighter bullet for both hunting and long range precision?
22-250 is an under-rated cartridge. It is one of, if not THE fastest commercial varmint cartridge (204 ruger, 220 swift are right up there) making it have every attribute you want in a varmint cartridge. Long point-blank range makes them great for gophers and coyotes. The down side is it is harder on barrels - lots harder - than a 223. You can definitely make them work with heavy bullets, but for F-Class, this puts you in F-Open, and you simply aren't going to win much with a 223 bullet. The 22-250 is the basis of a few excellent long range cartridges, such as the 6XC, the 6-22-250 and the AI version but until someone decised to sub-classify F-Class by calibers, 223 anything in F-Open will not be a popular choice for competition.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
Mostly because it's a military round, still in use in NATO weapons. NATO countries recognize it at National Matches with Palma, T/R and it has filtered down to F/TR to try and level the playing field, if that is even possible. The cost to build and F/TR or F-Open is about the same and the equipment race in F/TR is well established. The original 1-7" twist has returned and 90grs VLD bullets are doing very well.
If you are using it to hunt coyotes then a 22 250 smokes a 223 any day in the performance department but it will cost you more in brass and barrel life (more powder = more throat erosion), to me it is an acceptable trade off.
If you are using it to hunt gophers and plan on shooting thousands and thousands of rounds in the rifles lifetime then a 223 is a more viable option, and you will have less issue with a hot barrel from shooting rapidly in one session also.
the 22-250 is both faster (with a flatter trajectory) and has more energy at any range. especially when you get out far with the heavy bullets because of the higher ballistic coefficient just makes them more efficient, they will also not have as much wind drift or drop as fast. as far as popularity I imagine it is because of the price and availability of 223 rounds.
If you are using it to hunt gophers and plan on shooting thousands and thousands of rounds in the rifles lifetime then a 223 is a more viable option, and you will have less issue with a hot barrel from shooting rapidly in one session also.
the 22-250 is both faster (with a flatter trajectory) and has more energy at any range. especially when you get out far with the heavy bullets because of the higher ballistic coefficient just makes them more efficient, they will also not have as much wind drift or drop as fast. as far as popularity I imagine it is because of the price and availability of 223 rounds.
Thanks everyone for the posts, especially sask farmboy, I never knew 22-250 could be had with the 1-9 twist. Everything I can find is in the 1-12 twist. It appears you can order the 1-9 but delivery could be 6-9 months away. Will keep looking
