22-250 barrel advice

09 February 2003, 14:45

I'm building a 22-250 varmint rifle and I see barrels offered in a number of twists from 1 in 7" all the way to 1 in 14". So how heavy a bullet can I shoot in each of these twist rates (7,8,9,10,11,12, etc.)?

Also, I've always had custom barrels made with cut rifling but is there any advantage to this over button rifling, anymore?

Thanks for any and all replies.

09 February 2003, 17:41

cwend

a faster twist will support heavier bullets. in a 22250 varmint rig, you will probably be shooting primarily 40-55gr bullets, and a 1:14 twist is probably about the most common. if you were going to be shooting bullets in the 55gr range primarily, i might go with a 12 twist.

cut vs button rifling is a ford/chevy debate to me. i think each has its advantages and disadvantages.

09 February 2003, 18:02

Pecos

Personally, would get a 1-9 twist, that way ya could shoot bullets from 80 grains down to 45 grain.

I have one and thats the range I shoot, and they all do very well, although I primarily shoot only 60 grain vmax and the 75 grain amax.

Hope this helps.

Pecos

09 February 2003, 18:05

Mulerider

For the Rem 223 in HighPower Competition the twist rates for 80gr is 1/7 or 1/8, the 69-75gr use 1/9 or 1/8, and 50-60gr get by with a 1/12.
The increased velocity of the 22-250 will help somewhat, but twist rate is primary.
The faster twist seldom handicaps you on using lighter bullets; my 1/9 Colt shoots 53gr Sierra MK's wonderful.
Only problem on varminting is all the heavy .224 bullets are match hollow points.

10 February 2003, 13:59

reedg

Hi Fjold:

Here's the recommended barrel twist rates from a major custom barrel maker, for 22-cal. centerfire. Hope it helps. If in doubt, go for a quicker twist, as there seems to be little downside to "over-stabilizing".

8" For bullets heavier than 70 gr.
9" For bullets up to 70 gr.
12" For bullets up to 63 gr.
14" For bullets up to 55 gr.
15" For bullets up to 55 gr. driven 4,100 fps or more
16" For bullets up to 55 gr. driven 4,300 fps or more

11 February 2003, 09:42

<MachV>

A 1/9 as Pecos said is a good choice for the 22-250,especialy if you want to shoot the 75Amax.I have a 1/8 with a standard 22-250 chambering that will shoot ok with most bullets but was throated for the 75Amax for 500yard prairie dogs.I could have gotten a little more velosity out of a 1/9 as the 1/8 tends to tear the Amax apart if loaded faster than 3550fps.
The 75Amax makes the 22-250 a solid 500yard round that bucks the wind great compaired to the 55=CJ

11 February 2003, 12:07

Johnly

quote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
I'm building a 22-250 varmint rifle and I see barrels offered in a number of twists from 1 in 7" all the way to 1 in 14". So how heavy a bullet can I shoot in each of these twist rates (7,8,9,10,11,12, etc.)?

Also, I've always had custom barrels made with cut rifling but is there any advantage to this over button rifling, anymore?

Thanks for any and all replies.

I don't have any problem shooting 60 gr. BT bullets through my 1/14 twist 22-250. It's a factory barrel, but if I was going to screw a new barrel on to the action, I'd opt for a 1/12 or possibly faster if shooting the 75 gr. A-Max bullets were in the game plan. I can confirm that 50 gr. Remington PLHP don't make it 100 yds. when fired through a 1/7 223 barrel. So there are a few downsides to a fast twist and high velocity, if you want to use thin jacketed bullets.

11 February 2003, 14:58

Fjold

Thanks for the information all. I'm getting alot of feedback from people around me and a few have suggested going with the new 223WSSM round to get the most out of the 70 grain and heavier bullets because of the larger capacity of the WIZZEM cartridge. Their logic is that I could push the heavier bullet out at velocities comparable to the 22-250's lighter bullets without worrying about the barrel erosion trying to push bullets above 4,000 fpa or so.
Any opinions?

11 February 2003, 17:31

Lucky Shot

Don't know about the wssm but I do that the old 1-14 didn't like 60g bullets in my gun so I went with a 1-12 on the new barrel. I shoot in the 200 to 400 range mostly so the 60's were what I built it for.

13 February 2003, 01:51

<Reloader66>

I believe the best twist rate for the majority of shooting done with the 22-250 is the 1 in 12" twist rate.

19 February 2003, 20:16

sscoyote

I'm right with Pecos on this topic. Why not have some versatility/flexibility built into the rig? I'm into long-range these days, and I doubt I'll ever get another 12 or 14 twist again, if I intend to shoot to 500 and beyond.