Any Experience with 22-250?

I'm in the market for a new varmint rifle. I have shot several 22-250's and was extremely impressed with the cartridge. I have my choices narrowed down to the Savage 12 varmint series, not sure exactly what model yet, and a variant of the Remington 700 varmint. I know I want a longer barrel, preferable a heavy 26" which both companies offer. My question is this. What twist rate? Do I want a 1:12 or a 1:9? I know the 1:9 twist rate will allow me to shoot a heavier 75 gr bullet, but will it "limit" the effectiveness of the lighter 50 gr bullets? And visa versa if I go with a 1:12 what is the max grain that would still deliver the MOA accuracy I know these rifles can deliver. I will do most of my shooting between 200-500 yards. There is a lot of info on the web, but was hoping someone here had some real world experience. Any advice?

I have a 1980 Remington 700 BDL that will constantly shoot under 1" 4 shot groups at 100 yards. I have a target hanging up that has a 3/8" group at 100, nothing but the X on the target. It loves 50 grain ammo, even the cheap stuff. I have no idea what the twist rate is but the 22-250 is one flat shooting you know what. I believe the 22-250 is good to about 400 yards.

Personally I would go with the faster twist rate...gives more latitude for bullet weights. A fast twist rate can stabilize a short bullet (usually lighter weight) and a long bullet (usually heavier weight), but a slow twist rate will not stabilize a long bullet.

BTW - The most recent Hornady load manual has a section for slow and fast twist rates.

How's it do at longer distances?

The .22-250 is pretty good out to about 500 yards (depending on load and target) in a good rifle. The Savage and the Remington are both outstanding choices.

DR505 said:

Personally I would go with the faster twist rate...gives more latitude for bullet weights. A fast twist rate can stabilize a short bullet (usually lighter weight) and a long bullet (usually heavier weight), but a slow twist rate will not stabilize a long bullet.

BTW - The most recent Hornady load manual has a section for slow and fast twist rates.

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My only fear with the faster twist is bullet failure in the light 40-50 grain loads. Especially since it is such a high velocity round. I'll check out the Hornady manual. Thanks for the heads up!

I have fired a 22-250 one time. Took a 275 lb deer, running, at approximately 400 yds. He ran about 50 yards more after being hit with a classic behind the shoulder shot. Autopsy revealed nothing but mush where the heart and lungs should have been. Remington 700 which belonged to my former Father-in-Law. Pretty impressive cartridge.

Here are the specs on my 22-250. It is a tack driver at 200 to 300 yards with varmint bullets 55 grains and under. It does not like the longer 55 grain FMJ bullets designed for a faster twist in a .223. On a day with light winds it will hold it's own out to 400 yards with my .308 Remington Model 700 VarmintMaster which has been tricked out, and has a better scope. I use the Winchester 22-250 for head shots on squirrels at 200 yards, the .308 Model 700 is for serious long range work.

kwselke said:

Here are the specs on my 22-250. It is a tack driver at 200 to 300 yards with varmint bullets 55 grains and under. It does not like the longer 55 grain FMJ bullets designed for a faster twist in a .223. On a day with light winds it will hold it's own out to 400 yards with my .308 Remington Model 700 VarmintMaster which has been tricked out, and has a better scope. I use the Winchester 22-250 for head shots on squirrels at 200 yards, the .308 Model 700 is for serious long range work.

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You have a very nice rifle there. A 1:14 twist isn't that common either. I will probably use mostly lighter bullets, but would like the option to reach out and touch something if I want to.

Check out the article in the new issue of Rifle Magazine, where Brian Pierce addresses this issue.

My Model 700 Varmint is 1/12 twist I believe, and likes 55 grain and under. The faster 1/9 twist, from what I have read, will handle 50 - 55 grain bullets well, in addition to offering the down range ballistics advantage of heavier bullets, and so would be my 1st. choice in a new rifle, provided I was a reloader. Might have problems with frangible, light for caliber 40 grain bullets at max velocity, so becomes a question of what end of the spectrum is more important to you?

Larry

The 22-250 is an awesome varmint round. The faster twist would be fun with some of the longer, more streamlined bullets available today. It could pay big dividends in reduced wind drift.

A friend has a heavy barreled Savage 22-250 with 1:8 twist. With a Varget load and 75 A-Max will hold 5" at 1000yds. I had a Weatherby Vanguard VGX heavy barrel, I think it was 1:12 twist, it would hold one hole at 200 Yds with 50 grain Serria Blitzking. I sold it because I have a 22BR with 1:14, that out shoots my 22-250 in every way out to about 500 and a Cooper Model 21 in 223, 1:12 that is that good out to around 450 to 500 (depends on wind). But the best I have is a Savage right hand bolt, left hand port ,single shot in 223 with 1:8 twist. With A-Max 75's I assinate M&M's at 300yards, it also will do 5" or better at 1000 yards. It and my friends 22-250 have also put 3 shots into a pack of cigaretts at 900 yards. These long range Savages will cost around 12-1400 dollars and a good scope will cost about the same or more, and about 100 to 150 in mount and rings. You will also need a very good press, dies & shell holder (think Redding Compition dies). Savage is selling some out of the box fantastic rifles. Nowdays the on Remingtons; the only guns shooting like that are 40x custom shop guns and the cost 2 to 3 times a top of the line Savage. Fantastic performance is going to cost big money, but the Savage 10/12 series heavy varment guns with real high quality ammo are doing pretty good at a reasonable price. There is one more thing you'll need to get these results; PRACTICE. You'll need a known distance, long range to work with, you can lay one out with something safe across a valley into a hillside and use a U.S. Geological Survey map to work out distances. There is always wind, learn to read it (tipically there is a 1/4 hour window of calm at dawn and dusk on a good day). There are all kinds of ballistic programs (some free online) out there, use them! Once you pass 500 yards you'll need accurate enviromentals; temp, atmospheric pressure, direction of wind, direction of shot, volicity of bullet, angle of incline/decline, rifleing left or right twist and rate, and Ballistic co-effiecant and altitude. All that at time of zero, and at time of shot can tell you exactly what your bullet flight path (and scope adjustments) will be. Yes it is alot but start with the best rifle you can get and a decent scope then work up in accessories and out in distance as you can afford it. Somewhere along the way you will need to rebarrel the gun (3 to 5 thousand rounds). Savage is real good about this. Brass wears out too at some point, usually between 10 and 20 reloads, (remember: you can't have good ammo without good brasss). If you want to get on out to 1200-1400 yards you need to be in a bigger caliber, but I have friends doing 7" at 1400 with 6.5x284 and once and a while 10" at 2200 yards with a custom 30 cal. and 230 gr. Matchkings. There are guys shooting prarrie dogs at 3400yds (2 miles) out west. You can do any of this too, but at what price? Have fun decideing. Ivan

Mine is a Rem 700 VS, probably 20 years old. The original 24" heavy varmint barrel was a 1/12 and woud shoot my load of 55 Gr Nosler BT over 36 Gr Varget into 1/4" @ 100 yds. After 6000-7000 rounds it finally eroded enough the accuracy went, and I had it re-barreled with a 1/9 twist. I plan to continue to shoot the 55Gr, but will be playing with the 69 - 75 Gr bullets also. The faster twist will not affect the accuracy of the lighter bullets, but will allow heavier bullets to be used. As far as the Savage is concerned, I have a .243 in a Savage FV varmint. I didn't like the stock it was in so I changed that. The current stock is much better. The 243 is a 1/9.5" twist and I am shooting 75 & 80 gr Nosler under 1/2" @ 100 yds.

Thanks for all the advice. It's greatly appreciated. I'm thinking I will probably go with the Savage 12 FCV. It has the 1:12R twist with a heavy 26" barrel and the Accustock and trigger. I'm not looking for a 1000 yard rifle, at least not right now, but I think this rifle would allow me to reach 500 yards with good ammo and a good scope. Again, thanks for all the input.

BTW - It is the Nosler Reloading Manual (#7) that has sections for both slow and fast twist .22-250's...my error. The Hornady #9 manual only has data for 1:14 twist loads.

158Grain said:

You have a very nice rifle there. A 1:14 twist isn't that common either. I will probably use mostly lighter bullets, but would like the option to reach out and touch something if I want to.

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That thing will reach out and touch, but it may not deliver the message authoritatively. It would be nice to be able to use heavier bullets, but that is not why I bought the rifle. Your selection will fit your wants and needs. You are thinking about it and asking questions.

epj said:

I have fired a 22-250 one time. Took a 275 lb deer, running, at approximately 400 yds.

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I hope you went out and bought a lottery ticket right after taking that shot.

I'm very happy with my 22-250, but I have a buddy who drops coyote with one at 600+ yards. Ask him, there is no other long range varmint round out there.

Had a .22-250 for several years. Have also played with .222 Rem Mag, .22 Savage Hi-Power (.229 bullets, lots of fun finding those!), .22 Hornet, and .218 Bee. For any centerfire small-bore cartridge, my number one recommendation is good hearing protection. All of these little high-velocity small-bores have a report that is extremely sharp and hard on the eardrums.

I have a CZ American 550 in 22-250 and it is a flat shooting rifle that is great out to 400 yards. It's not the prettiest rifle I own but it is an excellent shooter which is all that counts.