22-250 for long shots
- Thread starter Daryl308
- Start date
I call my .223rem custom precision rig a one kilometre plinking gun. I shoot the Berger 80gr VLD’s out of a 26” 1:8” twist. It works very well at distance as long as the wind isn’t too bad.
What twist are most factory 22-250 barrels?
What twist are most factory 22-250 barrels?
Hollow Point
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
most 22-250's have a 1 in 12, or 1 in 14 twist rate. although there are some manufactures that are moving toward 1-9 twist (some model Brownings and Rugers). I believe Tikka uses a 1-14 in their varmint models. The slow twist rate won't stabilize heavy bullets. But you can always try it and see what happens. I have found shooters calculator to be accurate enough for calculating bullet drop and drift (its free and easy to use). Just type in your numbers and see what you get.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
The hornady 60gr vmax is probably the highest bc you'll get to stabilize if it's a 12 twist. The 53gr vmax also has a decent bc for its weight but pretty low compared to the heavy for caliber options. I've had my 22-250 out past 1km but it's an ackley improved version shooting 75gr eldm at 3450fps.
I just spent a few matches at Mons Range, CFB Borden with the ORA this past season shooting my B14 HMR, 24” .22-250 with a 9” twist barrel. 
I chose the Hornady 75 grain HPBT (I know it’s old technology, but I wanted to start somewhere) and I found a decent load exiting that 9” twist barrel at 2950 fps, give or take. I’m loading IMR 4320 powder which (on the burn scale) is adjacent to Win 748 and Varget for burning rate. Something in the middle I decided.
It’s grouping into 0.6” regularly with a couple of 5 round groups into the 0.4” but that’s very lucky, so I kinda ignore those sweet looking groups. That’s observed at 100 yards, so It’s All Good! All the way out to 700 yards, it’s dead nuts accurate and often any impacts outside the V-Bull or Bull 5 are MY errant wind calls, and mine only.
At 800 yards, the booolits begin to go sideway on the target board (no surprise BTW). So Out comes my 6.5 CM and my fake man bun under my ball cap.
Now that B14 is going out all winter long on my coyote hunts….
Lemme see if I can grab a photo of the B14 HMR .22-250, with a Spearhead 4 Gill brake by the Chou Brothers here in S. Ontario.
Hope this helps. Oh yeah, if you’re unsure about this 75 grainer HPBT and it’s wind bucking ability, research it’s BC G1 and compare it to other ELD options. All good.
Peace Be The Journey!
I chose the Hornady 75 grain HPBT (I know it’s old technology, but I wanted to start somewhere) and I found a decent load exiting that 9” twist barrel at 2950 fps, give or take. I’m loading IMR 4320 powder which (on the burn scale) is adjacent to Win 748 and Varget for burning rate. Something in the middle I decided.
It’s grouping into 0.6” regularly with a couple of 5 round groups into the 0.4” but that’s very lucky, so I kinda ignore those sweet looking groups. That’s observed at 100 yards, so It’s All Good! All the way out to 700 yards, it’s dead nuts accurate and often any impacts outside the V-Bull or Bull 5 are MY errant wind calls, and mine only.
At 800 yards, the booolits begin to go sideway on the target board (no surprise BTW). So Out comes my 6.5 CM and my fake man bun under my ball cap.
Now that B14 is going out all winter long on my coyote hunts….
Lemme see if I can grab a photo of the B14 HMR .22-250, with a Spearhead 4 Gill brake by the Chou Brothers here in S. Ontario.
Hope this helps. Oh yeah, if you’re unsure about this 75 grainer HPBT and it’s wind bucking ability, research it’s BC G1 and compare it to other ELD options. All good.
Peace Be The Journey!
Attachments
Bill Wylde (of the .223 Wylde chamber fame) used a .22-250 to win the F Class championship one year in Ottawa. He screwed a 1:8” twist barrel on a Musgrave action, topped it with a 16x super sniper scope and shot 80 gr Sierra bullets. I think the shooter had more to do with the win than the equipment used.
That sounds like a good combination, although in today's F-Class world it'd be at a disadvantage against the 308's with heavy bullets.
I'm using a factory 8 twist 223 with 80 gr Sierra's and 80.5 Bergers to "compete" in F-Class. The "compete" in quotations is because it's really not competitive in the true sense. The small case volume combined with a short throat limits your performance, plus the 1 in 8 twist would be better as a 1 in 7 for the Sierra 90's and Berger 85.5 hybrids.
Having said all that, I can keep the 80 Sierras supersonic at 800m in the rifle's factory configuration (24" barrel), the 80.5 Bergers are much the same.
I've said that the 22-250 with a faster twist barrel (at least 1 in 8, 1 in 7 would be better) as a target rifle with heavy bullets would be a good experiment.
As it is, 1 in 12 or 1 in 14 barrels severely limit which bullets will remain stable.
That's the 22-250's heritage as a varmint cartridge showing through. Fast 40-45 grain bullets are the cat's meow for blowing up groundhogs, gophers, and coyotes. They don't have the legs for long range shooting unfortunately. And pushing them to 22-250 velocities in a fast twist barrel may leave you with a cloud of exploded bullet fragments after it leaves the muzzle.
I had sold my 1/14 22-250 for a 1/8 223 which had better reach with 69/75gr. Also had 243's but wasn't too happy with them. Finally got a T3 re-barrelled in 22-250 1/8 22" which seems perfect for our fox across valleys out to 600m + using 75ELDM. Apparently supersonic to 1200m and I can get out to 1100m with my little 1" tube 6.5-20x50 Conquest. This is turning into my all time favourite fox/crow rifle.
edi
edi
I burned up a couple cut rifled 27" 1:8" twist 22-250 chambered barrels running Sierra 80's,JLK 80 & 90 VLD's at 3200+fps shooting NRA OTC Matches in the mid 90's.
Both barrels were 1/4MOA capable.
IMR 4350,RL19 burn rate powders performed the best for group & velocities.
I shot the same rig (40X Repeater) in a few 8,9,1000 yd prone matches also....once caught in the afternoon wind w/ 19MOA wind dope at 1000yds.
Both barrels were 1/4MOA capable.
IMR 4350,RL19 burn rate powders performed the best for group & velocities.
I shot the same rig (40X Repeater) in a few 8,9,1000 yd prone matches also....once caught in the afternoon wind w/ 19MOA wind dope at 1000yds.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
For fun, I was plinking with a 223 and Hrn 55gr SPs out to 600yds with ease. You will have no issue getting to 700+ with your 22/250. A while back, a local shooter had a Rem in 22/250 and the same 55's... large pizza box at 1000yds was in big trouble.
tune at 200 to 300yds for the smallest groups with lowest vertical on target... the low vertical will matter more vs the itty bittiest groups that string up and down.
Dial up and go have some fun. When you decide that LR shooting is really for you, then spin on a faster twist barrel... launch heavies and targets inside 1200yds are in big trouble.
Jerry
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Windy is the best time to go shooting....
Jerry
Jerry
I just spent a few matches at Mons Range, CFB Borden with the ORA this past season shooting my B14 HMR, 24” .22-250 with a 9” twist barrel.
I chose the Hornady 75 grain HPBT (I know it’s old technology, but I wanted to start somewhere) and I found a decent load exiting that 9” twist barrel at 2950 fps, give or take. I’m loading IMR 4320 powder which (on the burn scale) is adjacent to Win 748 and Varget for burning rate. Something in the middle I decided.
It’s grouping into 0.6” regularly with a couple of 5 round groups into the 0.4” but that’s very lucky, so I kinda ignore those sweet looking groups. That’s observed at 100 yards, so It’s All Good! All the way out to 700 yards, it’s dead nuts accurate and often any impacts outside the V-Bull or Bull 5 are MY errant wind calls, and mine only.
I tried the "old school" 75gr HPBT bullets in a 9-twist, 20" .223 and they shoot great! 5 shot groups into about .8" pretty consistently. Velocities are much, much lower than yours though, closer to 2700fps.
I've taken them out to 600 meters and they seem to shoot well to that distance, when this barrel is smoked it'll probably be replaced with a 26" .223 AI in a 1:8 or 1:7 twist for a bit extra oompf (and possibly 80gr+ bullets) but I'll likely work up from the same load to start and see where I end up.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
If bore life is a concern, then throttle back your loads. Performance is still wonderful and bore life can be extended substantially.
Tune around the starting loads...
Another option would be the 22 BR family which is right in between the 223 and 22/250
223 Rem.. under 25gr. 22BR under 30gr. 22-250 under 34gr
for inside 1000yds, low cost, recoil and high barrel life, pretty hard to not go 223 Rem and the many many bullets from 68gr to 82gr. the 75's are likely the sweat spot for giggles per dollar.
Note, the furthest I have pushed a 223 Rem was 1 mile and it got there with decent accuracy, but was bullet picky and conditions were very calm.
Jerry
Tune around the starting loads...
Another option would be the 22 BR family which is right in between the 223 and 22/250
223 Rem.. under 25gr. 22BR under 30gr. 22-250 under 34gr
for inside 1000yds, low cost, recoil and high barrel life, pretty hard to not go 223 Rem and the many many bullets from 68gr to 82gr. the 75's are likely the sweat spot for giggles per dollar.
Note, the furthest I have pushed a 223 Rem was 1 mile and it got there with decent accuracy, but was bullet picky and conditions were very calm.
Jerry
Tikka T3X chambers a 22-250 in the varmint with 1:8 twist which would run heavy 80gr bullets about 300 FPS faster than the 223 and should easily get out to 1000 yards, more powder and faster bullets will of course be harder on the barrel but that's one of the trade offs if you want faster and flatter
