22-250 or 22-250 AI ? - That is the real question

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Dain

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So long story short, I am now entering into the world of coyote hunting in southern ontario.

Due to the caliber restrictions in most townships in my area I do not have a rifle in the cabinet that I can legaly hunt them with.

So the search was on for a new coyote gun, it proved to be fairly difficult as varmint/tactical rifles in the higher end range seem to be in short supply right now.

I looked into getting one of my existing rifles re barreled and ended up settling on a custom rifle build from "North shore barrels".

Sean at "North shore barrels" has been amasing to deal with and has been willing to work within my limited budget to help me get shooting as quick as possible.

Thats not really what this post is about though.

I have to make a decision between 22-250 and 22-250 AI, I understand the theory and principals of the caliber, and since I reload all my own ammo anyway 22-250 AI seems to be the logical choice.

I am however interested in some input from others that have made this decision in the past, why they made their decision and whether they felt they made a good choice or regreted their decision.

I would like to debate the pro's and cons of both these calibers to help me make a decision and put my mind at ease.

Thanks in advance

Dain
 
Just bear in mind it is contradictory to want a 22-250AI on a budget. You are talking a barrel life of well under 1000 rounds. I would stick with the plain old 22-250 in a 14 twist and use light bullets. FWIW, I use a 204 Ruger on Doggies with 32 grain bullets. Flat as hell out to 250yds. You can also make a 223AI work very well and get 5 times the 22-250 AI barrel life.
 
I have had a .22-250 and currently have an AI version.
If you have a limited budget and want to get shooting as quick as possible the standard .22-250 would be the way to go; dies are cheaper and you can load and shoot right away instead of shooting case forming rounds and then developing loads.
I do carry case forming rounds hunting as they are within 2 inches POI on shots less than 250 yards.

The rounds are within 200 fps of each other so the AI version can do anything the .22-250 can do just a little quicker and flatter and to me the difference doesn't show much under 400 yards. In the Prairies this would make a more of a difference but calling coyotes in Ontario I find most of my shots are 100 to 200 yards and occasionally some enthusiastic coyotes come running in to shotgun range.

My brother in law carries a Sako in .223 which seems perfect for the type of coyote hunting we do, I have taken to carrying my .243 and my .22-250 AI has been regulated to long range groundhog hunting.

Dan
 
I may have mislead you when I refer to a limited budget. I do not have the budget for a full blown custom build at this time (right after christmas), I am still willing to spend what I need to to build the rifle I want. Replacing a barrel down the road will not be a problem, but if a barrel is only good for 1000 rounds that could get frusterating.

Where shawn has been most helpful is in the timing, I'm not by nature a very patient person and would prefer not to wait 4-6 months for a build so he it helping me build a rifle out of his in stock parts.

I would prefer not to debate whether I can afford to shoot A calibur, but the merrits of the round.

That said these are very petinant point to the pros and cons of the round, I realy do appreciate the input, I just dont want this thread to be derailed by a can you afford it type discussion.

Thanks

Dain
 
Although the AI 22-250 has a slightly larger case it is most probable that it will give a longer barrel life compared to a standard 22-250. Similar situation when comparing a 243 Winchester to the 6mm Remington.Even though it has a slightly larger case capacity and gives higher velocity. This is appartly because of a term called turbulance point. The steeper angle of the shoulder tends to burn the hottest flame of combustion in the neck of the case rather than in the throat of the barrel. I am not an engineer but look up the term turbulance point in some of the Precision Shooting magazine articles and you will find it explained.
 
There is not much to debate between the two as the only difference is about 200 fps, calibers are identical.

Probably more thought would go into the bullet weight/twist you want to use.
I use .22" 50 grain bullets and have never needed to shoot over 400 yards, if I want to shoot heavier bullets I go with 70 grains in .243 - either one is bad medicine for 'yotes.

Dan
 
Get the AI. You can load with Lee collet dies, and Lee had a run of AI dies as well for F/L if you choose.

I have found standard 22-250 cases to need trimming often, the AI version never. You can load them to whatever speed you wish, and I don't think barrel life will differ, esp. at similar vel.

The AI will not feed well from some mags, but does well from the single stacks, like Rem. 788. Both mine have 10 twist and shoot the 55 gr. fine.

I use a 204 now, works great with calling, never had a runner once hit.
 
I've personally never really understood the sense in using a 22-250. A .223 will do the same thing (slower velocity, true) but with less powder burned, cheaper brass, and better barrel life. Am I missing something here?
 
I went through 3 barrels on my 22-250AI before I realized that the short barrel life was a fact of life. About 1000 rounds. I was shooting the 80 Sierra at 3400 fps.

If I was going to shoot yotes, I would reach for my 243 and use a medium weight bullet. Less wind drift and much better barrel life.
 
Dan B said:
I have had a .22-250 and currently have an AI version.
If you have a limited budget and want to get shooting as quick as possible the standard .22-250 would be the way to go; dies are cheaper and you can load and shoot right away instead of shooting case forming rounds and then developing loads.
I do carry case forming rounds hunting as they are within 2 inches POI on shots less than 250 yards.

The rounds are within 200 fps of each other so the AI version can do anything the .22-250 can do just a little quicker and flatter and to me the difference doesn't show much under 400 yards. In the Prairies this would make a more of a difference but calling coyotes in Ontario I find most of my shots are 100 to 200 yards and occasionally some enthusiastic coyotes come running in to shotgun range.

My brother in law carries a Sako in .223 which seems perfect for the type of coyote hunting we do, I have taken to carrying my .243 and my .22-250 AI has been regulated to long range groundhog hunting.

Dan
Click to expand...

Even in the flat lands most of the coyotes I shoot are under a 100yds. Most are likely under 50. I have a 204 as well and its really good at range however what I have been using lately is my 9mm JRC. Its quiet and if you hit them they sure do drop quick. I just set up a call in a low spot and sit on the hill and wait it amazing what you bring in.
 
Tikka223 said:
I've personally never really understood the sense in using a 22-250. A .223 will do the same thing (slower velocity, true) but with less powder burned, cheaper brass, and better barrel life. Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...

No your not missing anything, everything you say is true, but your overlooking personal choice.

I like speed and it makes the 22-250 a more effective longer range rifle, has a longer point blank range and a flatter trajectory especially with heavier bullets.

Most importantly asI said earlier, Im impatient. The parts I have to work with are a .224 barrel and a .308 action. Anything else would require ordering parts and that means months of waiting.

This is why I didn't include .223, .243, 6mm, 6 br, ect in the title.

Thanks for everyone's imput, it's been very helpful, keep it coming.

Dain
 
I run both, as well as a 22-243 Middlestead and a 224 Clarke. In the past I have used both versions of the CHeetahs as well. You get a little more speed from the bigger cases, which will buy you a little more distance . The AI case design will help with brass growth, and I've never found a coyote stand where I could burn out a barrel in 40 years of coyote hunting. We're not talking gophers here. Find a good load and you will have many, many years of coyote fun ahead of you . Get the right profile on your barrel and engough length and when it does start to burn out, just recut for another go round. Go with the AI. Easy to form brass (just shoot factory ammo in the chamber) and ballistically it's a 220 Swift with a better case design, and that's not a bad thing to be. - dan
 
Go with AI, better case life and as DB said a post or two up, you will have lots of fun HUNTING with this rifle and not worry about the barrel. I have had two or three of the standard 22-250 and they are great, but if I was in your shoes based on the parameters you gave, it would be the AI for me!

I have two rifles in the works right now with Sean as well, one is hopefully enroute which is a 260 AI, and the other we are waiting for parts which will be a 280 AI. Maybe I am biased!
 
whatever you like to do, and it looks like you have talked yourself into what you want anyway...
I would not bother with the extra work of dealing with wildcat loads. Go .220 swift if speed is needed.
 
An 8 twist 22-250AI sounds very interesting!
Would be interesting to see how well it shoots the 69-80's with the velocity potential of that case.
The 223 WSSM had a critisism of tearing up jackets on the lighter bullets with a 10 twist...always wondered if a faster twist and heavier bullets would have served it better????
Anybody done any real life experiments with a similar set up?
 
I'm planning on using hornady super performance ammo in my 22-250. Should be more than enough speed. I do understand the quest for greater velocities though.
 
Here in central BC the 204 Ruger and the 223 are top calibers for yotes, cheap, accurate and cause less pelt damage than the larger faster cartridges. I have used from the 20 VarTarg to a 257AI, including 223, 22-250, 243 and a Swift, but keep coming back to my 223 because it does the job with minimal pelt damage and flat enough out to 300, although most are taken between 100 to 200. The 204 shoots as flat as a Swift, does less pelt damage than the 223 and also works well on eastern groundhogs, might be worth looking at. Now as far a barrel life goes, I don't think any of us will ever wear one out shooting at yotes, so that is really not a factor in caliber choice. The 22-250 should be kept to a max of a 1-12 twist to prevent the lighter bullets from coming apart, the 223 works fine with a 1 in 7-8-9-10 as powder capacity and velocity are well below 22-250/ Swift standards. I just received a new Montana Varminter repeater (model 54) from Clay in 22-250 with a 1-12 twist, should handle up to about 70 gr, time will tell, I have not had it to the range yet. So, drawing from my own experience over the years with AI cartridges they do increase velocity, some more than others, but the 40 degree shoulder seems to keep case stretch to a minimum.
 
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