Some thoughts about the .22-250 Rem.

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Picher

Picher

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Some thoughts about the .22-250 Rem: Many years ago, I bought a .22-250, Remington 700 and used it primarily for varmint hunting, but also killed a few deer with it. I liked the cartridge's velocity accuracy, and flat trajectory, but didn't like the case-stretching exhibited. I won a lot of turkey shoots with that rifle and handloaded for it, but case-stretching was a big downer for me. I threatened to get the rifle re-chambered for .22-250 Improved, which pretty much eliminated stretching, but was afraid it would not be as accurate. I stuck with the original for several years and we ate a lot of turkeys that we got from shooting it...(usually 2 per Sunday shoot).

These days, I shoot both .223 Rem and 6mm Rem rifles, so don't really need a .22-250, but always wondered whether I'd have been happy with the Improved version of the .22-250. Anyone here shooting the .22-250 Improved these days? JP
 
Picher said:
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Some thoughts about the .22-250 Rem: Many years ago, I bought a .22-250, Remington 700 and used it primarily for varmint hunting, but also killed a few deer with it. I liked the cartridge's velocity accuracy, and flat trajectory, but didn't like the case-stretching exhibited. I won a lot of turkey shoots with that rifle and handloaded for it, but case-stretching was a big downer for me. I threatened to get the rifle re-chambered for .22-250 Improved, which pretty much eliminated stretching, but was afraid it would not be as accurate. I stuck with the original for several years and we ate a lot of turkeys that we got from shooting it...(usually 2 per Sunday shoot).

These days, I shoot both .223 Rem and 6mm Rem rifles, so don't really need a .22-250, but always wondered whether I'd have been happy with the Improved version of the .22-250. Anyone here shooting the .22-250 Improved these days? JP
Click to expand...

I ordered that excact rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor
 
I've owned 3 rifles chambered for the .22-250. Never had problems with cases stretching, but then I don't keep cases for 1000 firings. After 6 or 7 firings I'm done with the brass, I don't take chances.

The .22-250 is a cartridge that I always wanted but after getting it lost interest. I have one rifle left in this chambering and it comes in handy for where I live. This is a rural area where there are buildings and livestock fairly close and I do not want something that will ricochet. For that reason alone I keep it.

But the .22-250 has never really impressed me, with 3 rifles chambered for it none of them could produce the high velocity I see in many manuals. Instead of 3800 fps with 50 gr bullets I see 3670 and that is with a 26" barrel.
 
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Back in 1995, I debated for a long time between the .22-250 and the .220 Swift when I was looking at a Ruger No.1 rifle to buy for chuck hunting Ohio farm country. I ended up with the Swift and ended up with the most accurate rifle using factory ammunition I've ever owned (and Ive owned plenty of them). Colonel Townsend Whelen would find my No.1 very interesting.
In terms of practicality, if one doesn't reload, the .22-250 is probably the better choice if only because of more extensive ammunition availability. The comparative ballistics between the two cartridges for hunting varmints is mostly a wash.
Concerning the case-stretching issue, have you had your Model 700 checked for proper headspace? Not a likely problem but you never know til you look.
 
So I'm actually pretty interested in the .22-250AI, it delivers ideal performance on the size game I'm normally shooting at here on the big island. So much so that as soon as I finish this 06ai project I'm probably going hunting for a cheap 700 action to start with.....

Now there's a rub....I may go with the 22CM variant.
It does the same as the 22-250ai, except that you can buy Hornady made 22 Creedmoor stuff now. Since I'd want a 1-7/8 twist barrel or so anyway, a factory rifle is out of the question.
Cost wise the CM will likely be cheaper in the long run simply because your not fireforming.
 
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Pops still has his Ruger #1B in .22-250.
Its an older one (horiz split rings but of the old checkering pattern).
When it comes my way it'll either be rebarreled to .243 win or .35 rem (if the latter also converted to #1A style).

Had a 700 in .22-250 Blued fluted synth (HS stock).
Non catalogued item.
W 12X Leupold it bounced as bad as my ADL synth 243 at 9X.
70 gr Nosler BTs at half inch groups........the ADL was just a better all around rig (not as long and could double for deer).

So away went my .22-250.

Might be better for PD out west. Dunno.
Pops offered to sell me his #1V in .22-250 (stainless lam) and it was hideous (and brand new).

I have ,223 and .243 so just don't need a twofiddy.
Well not the .22 version.

A 99 featherweight in .250-3000 might be kinda cool.
 
Well I have been shooting the 250 since about 1986. I don't recall case stretching being an issue, but we reloaded out of necessity. I still have my same rifle and just was hunting with it today. It is a Remington 700 ADL that someone bedded, worked the trigger, and added a recoil pad (not sure why other than LOP). I picked it up in a pawnshop north of Dallas to my advantage, just a few days short of payday for some poor soul. Today, I made a pretty good shot on a jackrabbit and got a couple of other small varmints; not a banner day, but fun none the less. Not knocking anyone, but sometimes I think folks overthink things. When Walmart was two hours away and the internet didn't exist, we were happy with whatever ammo we could get or make. Even using Midway took a few weeks. We ordered in bulk, hunted brass from known shooting spots, and generally had fun shooting. Once sighted in, we shot at ranch pests and only checked zero if we missed a couple of times in row. I don't know much about the 250AI, but the good ole 250 still works great and is often overlooked by newer and arguably sillier cartridges.
 
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LoonWulf said:
So I'm actually pretty interested in the .22-250AI, it delivers ideal performance on the size game I'm normally shooting at here on the big island. So much so that as soon as I finish this 06ai project I'm probably going hunting for a cheap 700 action to start with.....

Now there's a rub....I may go with the 22CM variant.
It does the same as the 22-250ai, except that you can buy Hornady made 22 Creedmoor stuff now. Since I'd want a 1-7/8 twist barrel so anyway, a factory rifle is out of the question.
Cost wise the CM will likely be cheaper in the long run simply because your not fireforming.
Click to expand...

You might consider the Tikka 22/250 with the 1/8 twist. I am very close to pulling the trigger on this one.
 
ECVMatt said:
You might consider the Tikka 22/250 with the 1/8 twist. I am very close to pulling the trigger on this one.
Click to expand...
I had actually considered it, and its one of the few t3x offerings that actually made me pause. While the twist is right, im not interested in the standard .22-250, and its a full length long action for a sub 2.8" cartridge which would bug me to no end.
 
LoonWulf said:
So I'm actually pretty interested in the .22-250AI, it delivers ideal performance on the size game I'm normally shooting at here on the big island. So much so that as soon as I finish this 06ai project I'm probably going hunting for a cheap 700 action to start with.....

Now there's a rub....I may go with the 22CM variant.
It does the same as the 22-250ai, except that you can buy Hornady made 22 Creedmoor stuff now. Since I'd want a 1-7/8 twist barrel so anyway, a factory rifle is out of the question.
Cost wise the CM will likely be cheaper in the long run simply because your not fireforming.
Click to expand...
A 22cm project sounds fun. I've shot a lot of deer with light 22s so there heavy ones should be great for your game animals.
 
Back in my youth in the 60’s I had a one in 700 Remington. 10x scope. Killed hundreds of groundhogs. Back maybe a dozen years ago I had another, a 700 VS. First time out with hand loads it put all five in one slightly oblong hole. Got it for Prairie dogs.

Problem was that, after the first couple shots every dog would go down for at least 15 minutes due to muzzle blast. I sold it and moved to a .204 and .223. Similar performance with far less blast.
 
The 22-250 did nothing for me for many years. A couple of years ago I started liking them and now want one with a 1:8 or 1:7 twist. It’s about 4th on my wish list so it’s doubtful I’ll ever get one at my age.
 
Of course; I just had to jump into this thread. Got a 22-250 41 years ago this coming spring. A gently used late 1960's Mod. 700 Varmint Special in .22-250 to help in the fight against encroaching woodchuck populations. Still got it but I can't even seat a bullet out far enough to even get near any lands in the barrel anymore. But it's always been a good shooter and still is with the one and only load it ever gets anymore. A 55 gr. Ballistic Tip and a medium strength dose of IMR-4320 still runs about 3550 fps and still hits things. Although it hasn't even been aimed at a 'chuck in a few years because they seem to be pretty scarce around here, at least in huntable environments. Never had much case stretching or any other problems and the 22-250 was the cartridge that got me into handloading about 35 years ago. Still consider a new barrel possibly in 22-250 AI and a faster twist but no decisions yet. Back in the day a couple buddies had 220 Swifts and back then while I considered the Swift to be "King Of The Hill", I also considered the 22-250 to be in the same ball park. Shows that Jerry Gebby was on to something way back then.
 
The enablers here on THR convinced me to build a 22-250 Ackley last year. I've been too busy to shoot it much yet, so can't speak to case stretching. My initial brass has only been fired twice thus far, first to fire form and second for early load testing. Haven't settled on a load yet.

Here is a lengthy discussion of the cartridge I kicked off early last year.

And here is the build thread.
 
Newtosavage said:
I often wonder if anyone under the age of 40 shoots a 22-250. It seems like a round whose days are numbered.
Click to expand...
It's had *its day* a couple of times in the past. One period of it being - for the most part - the end-all-be-all commercially accessible *varmint* round and also having been taken up by the Bench-Rest weirdos.

Maybe it'll get a third-act yet.

.220 Swift which generally outperforms it will likely disappear first as a harbinger of the -250's doom.

I figure there will always be a passel of folk lining up with lesser cross-section + velocity as being a wind beater while others go with mass + speed.


Todd
 
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