I have had and sold two rifles in 22-250. Both were fantastic shooters in their own way. I am at a crossroads now contemplating my next varmint gun. I want to be able to use the heavier for caliber pills available. Would you get a barrel with a 1-9 for a 700 action or go out on a limb and try a Savage that already has 1-9 twist? I am leaning towards the Savage. I have not had one in years and never had any complaints. I saw on their website the righthanded-left port 22-250 1-9twist that seems very interesting.

What say ye?

I've been shooting both a fast twist 22.250 and Savage rifles for years and I am happy with both of them.

fast twist to me means 1-7.
1-9 is okay up to around 70grs.

Get the savage change triggers have fun.

With 0.224" bullets, and assuming a muzzle velocity in the range of 2,800 - 3,200 fps., a 1-9 twist will usually stabilize a bullet up to about an inch long.

I say "usually" because it is kind of on the bubble. My Ruger 77 .223 stabilizes the 77 Sierra Match King bullets, and the 75 Hornady A-Max (which is actually a bit longer than the Sierra, just over an inch).

This is at MV 2,800 fps at an elevation of 2,000 feet and shooting in summer at temps of 60F+. However at colder temps or lower elevations it might not be fast enough.

For my circumstances 1-9 works, though if I was installing a custom barrel I'd go 1-8, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who chose 1-7.

Incidentally the Tikka T3 is available with a 1-8 twist in .223, not sure what it is in .22-250. I don't own one but might try and pick one up.

Edited to add, I checked the Tikka site, the T3 in .22-250 has a 1-14 twist.

For load data, check Nosler #7 manual page 141, they have loads for heavier bullets in .22-250. Heaviest bullet for which data is shown is 80 gr. and they used a 1-8 twist barrel.

I always find it interesting the larger capacity 22 centerfires are usually mated with 1-14 twist barrels, while the "lowly" 223 often gets 1-7/1-8/1-9. Do most only see a need for hyper velocities with weightless pills?