Hey All,

After a lot of thought I decided to built a 22 250 AI rifle. This will be my predator calling as well as long distance rifle.

It just happens sometimes that a jackal does not want to come closer than 200 to 250 meters from the stand and then I really want to reach out and touch him

I want to build a rifle specifically for my needs. If I buy a rifle it will be rebuilt anyway.

I need suggestions on the best medium action to look at.

As well as the barrel.

What worked for you and what not?

Suggestions will appreciated.

Gerhard

For what you want to do, I'd say a Remington 700 would be pretty hard to beat. They are readily available, as are all sorts of aftermarket pieces and parts (at least here in the States). As far as the barrel goes, I won't comment, that debate will go on forever as to who makes the best. I've had/have 700's in 204, 222, 223, 22-250 and even 375H&H and have been pretty well served and satisfied by all of them.

Mauser 98, any of the better iterations by Obendorf factory. 1908 Brazilian, 1909 Chilean, Mexican Mauser, G33/40...the list goes on.

Rich

I rebarreled a Winchester Model 70 short action, with a Heavy Magnum Contour, stainless steel 28 inch barrel, in 22.250, with the standard one in 14 twist... It is not as heavy as a dedicated varmint rifle, but still stiffer and more rigid than a regular sporter...

It was a compromise between a walking rifle and a varmint rifle...

I shoot 52 grain HP Speers out of it at only 3500 fps ( I can stoke it up to 3900 fps, but I am stretching out barrel life, with the lower velocity.... just my personal choice on this barrel)....

It is topped with a 6.5 x 20 Leupold...

If you can find an importer, it's hard to beat a Stiller "Predator" for the money. It comes with all the "Truing and Blueprinting" already done.

Jakkals,

To achieve the best results for long-range applications you should consider using a boat-tail bullet with a high B.C. These bullets are heavy for caliber and will have a lower muzzle velocity, but will have greater retained speed and energy downrange as well as greater wind-bucking performance. With that in mind I would suggest either a premium action such as Stillar, Borden, BAT or Nesika. If you use a factory action you should have it blueprinted.
As for barrels a 26†varmint weight barrel with a 1-8†twist would allow you to use bullets up to the 77 grain Berger VLD varmint round. Bullets of this class should be devastating on jackals, other small predators, varmints and small antelope out to 500 meters.
Good luck & good shooting,
Dave

Thank you for all the advice guys.

Like I said I am in the research phase of this project and could easily take 4 to 5 years. This all depends on the police issuing me with a license for the barrel.

We are truly blessed in South Africa in this regard

I am sure as I get into more detail about actions and lock time and stuff to ask a lot of questions.

Gerhard

Jakkals: I have several Varmint Rifles in calibers 22-250 and 220 Swift!
I have never owned one myself - but have been a long time admirer of the 22-250 Ackley Improved caliber!
Its efficient, easy on brass and of course has the excellent velocity that makes judging holdover in the field - a breeze!
Two of my close friends shoot them and they could not be happier with them (the 22-250 A.I.'s)! I have shot them and shot along side them on numerous Varmint Safaris.
Having said those things - for your needs I think I would save the considerble expense and "time" involved in getting a custom A.I. built and simply go with either a standard 22-250 or a 220 Swift!
In those two calibers alone I have 9 Varmint Rifles "on line" right now!
Shots of 250 meters (250 to 300 yards!) are simply a snap with any of them, on Coyote sized Varmints!
But, I to have felt the "callings" of the Ackley Improved custom Rifles before!
The last one I had custom built was in caliber 6mm Remington Ackley Improved.
Mine is built on a Remington 700 short action and it has a 26" barrel made by Hart on it.
I would HIGHLY recommend you use this same action if you do go custom, and send for a Darrell Holland extra thick precision machined recoil lug for it!
If you are going full custom send for a Jewell trigger and inquire about the wonderful "under-lever" safety option for it. This "under-lever" safety has the safety lever positioned in front of the trigger - and you simply slip the safety forward with your trigger finger or thumb when a shot is to be taken!
These are wonderful for Varminting!
Best of luck with which ever route you decide to take.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

This a bull barrel Rem 700 short action I had done a few years ago. I already had a single shot 22-250 so I had this chambered in .223Rem AI. Hart 24" barrel skim bedded into a Fajen Ace Varminter stock--has 4 cooling slots cut into the fore end on each side. (You might see a wire coming out of the last slot. It is attached to an Oehler M43PBL strain gage.) Scope is a Burris 8x32 AO with sunshade. Definitely NOT a walking around kind of rifle...it's 13 pounds!

You just cannot go wrong with a kit like this if you can scrounge up a donor action.

I have REM 700 and just took the 22-250 barrel off and screwed the 7mm08 on it so get 2 barrels for versatility. My wife wants me to swithc back to the 22-250 for her. I shot the 7mm08 this weekend for the first time and got a .6 group with 9 rounds on a windy day.

Good luck with your project.

Jakkals,

Good to hear from you again!

Since you asked....some food for thought on your 22-250AI project?

A Savage 12 Model Varminter in a number of it's current variants would be a good starting point, relatively inexpensive by US standards and as recommended a Remington 700 short action plus a T/C Encore. All offer some flexiibility that could perhaps reach all the way to RSA, many aftermarket accessories as well.

The Mini-Mausers will also fit a 22-250AI and that would be a small but effective "light" varminter where you could perhaps find the donor action locally available.

Good luck with your project.

Jakkals,

are you a reloader? If so, might I suggest a two-barrel set? Buy a Savage M12BVSS in 308 Win and a 223 bolthead.
Pull the 308 and fit the 223 bolthead to the action. Send it back to Savage and have them fit a 223 barrel. The 223 barrel from Savage has 1:9" twist...so it will shoot heavier bullets. Rechamber it to 22-243 Middlested or 220 Swift Improved and you can shoot all the way up to 80gr bullets...about as far as you can clearly see to shoot. I have done a couple this way, and love them.

Rich

I would not turn up my nose at a Remington 788 action for such a project.

This is real good advice.

Just the info I am looking for.

Please keep on posting.

Gerhard

As others have posted, the Rem 700 is a very good action for a custom varmint rig but I'd rather go with a 6mm Rem than a 22-250 AI for the cartridge.

I'd install a Doughlas or Shilen #3 contour barrel in either chambering