A local club here shoots informal long range matches every month and this month was the 800, 900 and 1,000 yard (15 rounds at distance). Using either Match rifles with open sights or F class rifles with scopes.

I have a Savage 22.250 with a 6-24X Weaver on top and a 26", PacNor SM, 3 groove, 1:10" barrel. I loaded up some 69 grain SMK's with enough IMR4064 to keep them supersonic at 1,000 yards. (2,300 feet elevation)

We had a beautiful day, 50 degrees at 8 AM and no wind. I shot at 800 and 900 yards on the first relay and shot a 147 (out of 150 possible) at 800 yards and a 145 at 900 yards, (5" X-ring, 10" 10-ring, 20" 9-ring, etc)

What fun! No recoil, spotting the impact dust on the back berm through the rifle scope.

Then we pulled targets for the other relay before going back to the 1,000 yard line. By then the wind has started up. Enough wind so that on my first sighter I dialed in two minutes left and was still 20" right at 4 O'clock. I dialed in 2 more minutes left and 2 minutes up and hit 6" high and left at 10 O'clock. The rest of the relay I was holding up to two more minutes left or dead on chasing the wind.

I wound up with a 128 for the 1,000 yard relay. The little bullets can't buck the wind like the 142 grain SMKs in my 6.5x284 but the gun is a lot more fun to shoot.

Anyway, I just though that I'd post about what we do on a sunny, southern California January day.

WTG, Frank!

Nice shooting there buddy, well done.

I'm just a touch envious of your weather though!

Your post brings back fond memories for I also used to shoot the 22-250 at Long Range and Palma. Lot of the guys I shot with then were laughing at me trying to shoot a "22" at those distances, but after the match the laughter went away! Mine was set up a bit different than yours for I had a 30"/Krieger, 8 twist barrel and shooting the 80gr SMK's. With the load and barrel arrangement I found at 8,9,& 1000yds., the wind adjustment was very close to the 308 w/ 155 Palma SMK's. Big difference as you noted, the recoil was so light that at times was not sure the rifle went off. I did a fair amount of long range matches with the 300WinMag and no more after I found the 22-250.
If you you have any 600yd matches, 3x20, there is where your rifle with the 69's will really shine. Deadly accurate and wind issues manageable. Just completed build w/ Douglas barrel in 7 twist/22-250 and only load tested so far, but using the 90's and 80's at 3 and 400yds it's an easy 1/2 moa set up with either bullet. This coming August friend and I are shooting the Canadian Nationals, Long Range, and getting ready for that event. Have never shot F class for when I was shooting that was not legal so to speak, but by August will have some 800-1000rnds through barrel and it should be at it's peak by then. Appreciate report on your 22-250.

So, I have a Savage 110FP in 223.Can I get another barrel in 22.250 for it? Is the bolt face the same? At one point 22.250 did not seem to have a very good reputation for accuracy. I guess Savage changed all that!
Peter.

The bolt faces are differant but you can change bolt heads to make the change. You would also have to change mag parts to feed the 22-250 unless you are just going to use it as a single shot.

I have always thought the 22-250 had a fine rep for accuracy

When I shoot my current 22-250 barrel out I am going to put on a long fast twist barrel and try the VLD bullets.

Thanks p dog. I was thinking about it after I posted. Is the 22.250 based on the 308 case?
peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Thanks p dog. I was thinking about it after I posted. Is the 22.250 based on the 308 case?
peter.

.250 Savage case I think, so slightly smaller but same basic action requirements.

250 sav same base and rim size as 308 30-06 ect

Thanks guys, I originally built this gun for high speed varmint shooting with 70 grain bullets so I went with the 1:10" twist. I was just shooting this match for fun but I think that I've got the itch to do a little more experimenting. So I'm going to order a 1:8" twist barrel and shoot the longer bullets with it and see how it does.

Sounds good mate, keep us posted.

As an aside your idea of going heavier has gotten me thinking, at what does a .22/250 with heavy bullets become better than a 6mmBR or XC with reasonable match bullets?

I'm sure the recoil would end up being very similar.

Not trying to disparage your idea in any way, just wondering out loud as I like your comment about being to spot the shot hit through the scope.

My 308 won't let me do that...

Interesting. I have been wondering about a Cheetah (.22-.308) with a 1:8 bbl and 75-80 gr. bullets. Wonder if it would keep up with the 6 and 6.5mm's out to 800 y or so. They are adding an 800y range to our club and I don't think my .223 with 77 gr. Sierras is going to get it done on a windy day ( not that I can get it done on a windy day anyway).
C.G.B.

Peter,
Bolt face, .473", same as 308. Actually the 22-250 use in Long Range took place some 15yrs or more ago and Savage actions were rare or non existant at the time on the firing line for a variety of reasons. The F class style of shooting was not permitted then for long range, only prone, sling, mat, etc. Then Savage did not have a "short" action and most if not all were based on the lowly Rem. 700 or 722 action. You could pick up an old beater at pawn shop for 2-$300 and go from there. Add barrel of choice, cheap surplus Rangemaster walnut stock(Numrich/GPI,)
add loading tray(single shot) good set of Warner rear and Anshutz globe front and you were good to go.
First barrel Krieger, second barrel Douglas and got something ove 2000rnds through either one before accuracy seemed to drift off. Both shot equally well and load was 30-31grs of IMR4064, 80gr MK's, and gave MV of just over 3000fps. You get get it a bit faster, but accuracy dropped off, for me anyway. Terminal velocity w/ load was just over 1200fps @1000yds. You can plot the 308 155 Palma flight path, 2950fps/Plama load, drop, etc., and there is not a nickel worth of difference, just less recoil.
As for the 6mm variants they do indeed work well at long range but those many years ago were not common on the line.

Gentlemen, thanks for the education! I have a 6mm BR (built for informal bench rest) but it has the old slower twist for the 68 type grain bullets. I suppose I could get it rebarreled with a twist more suitable for the 105's.
Peter.