What twist for 22-250?

The 1 in 12 twist should work very well for the 50-55 grain bullets.

Several bullet manufacturers recommend twist rates for their products. Berger recommends 1-12 for their flat-base 60 gr varmint bullets (http://www.bergerbullets.com/Products/Varmint Bullets.html) Nosler recommends 1-14 for their 60 grain bullet (http://www.nosler.com/Reloading-Data/22-250-Remington-60-Grains.aspx)

If you want to go with heavier bullets for better wind-bucking at longer ranges, the 1-9 twist would be preferred. You should still be able to use the 50-55 grain bullets at full-power, but others may have better info.

Look at the bullet makers' site for a recommendation. However, if you are going to limit yourself to 50-60 gr bullets, the 1:12" barrel will work. If, on the other hand, if you think that you might want to shoot heavier bullets, take the 1:9". It will allow you to shoot some pretty cool bullets up to about 75 gr (maybe not the 75 gr VLDs or AMaxes).

Dan

Go with the faster twist rate

I write this assuming you will not be using it for bench rest competition.
If you ever want to shoot heavier bullets the faster twist rate won't be noticed unless shooting a very lightly constructed low weight bullet.
Having the ability to shoot a heavy bullet to buck the wind with a high BC would be important for me.
The new Very Low Drag VLD bullets made for the .223 for high power competition make the 22-250 a very interesting long range rifle.
The National Rifleman had a article several years ago on a fast twist rifle built in 22-250?
You might check what is the max length cartridge for the action you are building before choosing a twist rate for a bullet that won't fit.

And a match made in Heaven for my 1:14" Ruger 22-250.

For ME, the whole idea of using 22-250 instead of say, a .223 AR, is to get more velocity out of it. To get more velocity, I will be using the smaller bullets. I use 1/12. If I were willing to use heavier bullets and lose velocity, I would probably just use my AR. Of course, my little world is unique and esoteric.

mljdeckard said:

For ME, the whole idea of using 22-250 instead of say, a .223 AR, is to get more velocity out of it. To get more velocity, I will be using the smaller bullets. I use 1/12. If I were willing to use heavier bullets and lose velocity, I would probably just use my AR. Of course, my little world is unique and esoteric.

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Then, why not go to 35-40 grain bullets and a slightly slower twist to keep them from coming apart on the way to the target?

Lot's of good reasons for the 22-250 in heavier bullets, not the least of which is they will be a lot faster than when launched from the .223 Remington case!

Many of the popular varmint bullets available, have frangible jackets for explosive results on target. When pushed at 22-250 velocities, especially in a fast twist barrel, the lighter bullets, 50-55gr, can fragment prematurely due to the high rotational speeds. It depends on the bullet's construction.
I have a Remington barreled Mauser in 22-250 and it has a 1in14" twist barrel and is very accurate using the 52gr A-Max.
If the OP is primarily interested in the lighter bullets, then I would recommend the 1in12" twist for all around use.



NCsmitty

Are you hunting, or shooting paper? If you want to get into the Amax for paper punching go with the 1-9, but if you are pelt hunting varmints and want 1 hole in and none coming out you want to use the 40 gr Vmax and load it to near .220 Swift velocities, the Vmax will stay to gether with 1-12 twist at 3500-3900 fps. and will drop coyotes in their tracks out to 300 yds if you can beat the wind.

But you can also shoot the 40 gr Vmax out of the 1-9 just back it down to .223 Rem velocities, then if you want to shoot the heavier longer bullets at greater distance your good to go there too. Some pelt hunters are using FMJ and target HPs or ballistic tips so they don't expand, that way you just have 2 small holes to stich up.

For ME, the whole idea of using 22-250 instead of say, a .223 AR, is to get more velocity out of it. To get more velocity, I will be using the smaller bullets. I use 1/12. If I were willing to use heavier bullets and lose velocity, I would probably just use my AR. Of course, my little world is unique and esoteric.

Click to expand...

+1 to the above. I have a .22-250 for varmint hunting and use light bullets. I sold a .223 with 1:9 twist because 69 gr bullets for varmint hunting don't make it.

My rifle has 1:14 twist, but I wish it had 1:12 to handle the 55 gr bullets better.