New 22-250 barrel 26 or 28 in..varmint hunters step in please.......

[Ks5shooter]

So I am going to buy a new 22-250 barrel for my TC pro hunter. Both are 1:12 twist and I have a choice of 26 or 28 in. stainless & fluted.I stick with 60gr and under for bullet weight and shoot 400 yards max where I varmint hunt. Weight and size of the gun is not a factor. What say varmint gurus?

 

[troy fairweather]

i would get the 28 then you can load lighter to get the same fps as th 26''. that makes a big difference with the 22-250 and barrel ware.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Makes sense to me troy.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Could you get a faster twist rate for heavier bullet weights. More energy down range less wind deflection and easier on barrel throat.

 

[horsey300]

I'd run the 26 with a heavier contour and be selective of my powders use the most efficient ones possible, if your target velocity is 3000, several powders get you there, but some do it with several grains less, run those.

 

[ECVMatt]

28 seems very long to me. I have a 24 and a 26 and they work well.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I'm no guru but will share some stuff from yesteryear. We got a good lesson in factory rifles with the Ruger 77 in 220 Swift with 26" barrels. In the built up rifles we learned some basics. One basic is a minimum chamber and short throat. Also we we went for the longer barrels. The last varmint rifles we had built had 30 inch barrels. These were 6mm wildcats and we picked 1:12 twist for the bullets we planned on using. So in summary here we started with minimum chamber and short throat. Also, we went for longer barrels with 26 inches being minimum. We were using custom barrels in these last rifles where we could pick the twist. Also, somebody can make a barrel shorter but there is no successful barrel stretcher to my knowledge. Good luck on your project. Yotes and Ground Hogs beware!

Addendum: Try to figure the increased velocity per inch for each load. Doing some homework will show the benefits of a longer barrel.

 

[Cemetery21]

A 28 will let you set the barrel back a couple of times and still have 26". Depending on how you use it, you may have to chase the throat (by setting it back) at around 1500 rounds.

Edit: My bad. I didn't realize the rifle in question wasn't a bolt gun. Barrel set back on this one is a no-go.

 

[old heeler]

I shoot PD and most of mine have 26" barrels. At one time I had longer as throat wears, I had barrel set back and new chamber cut. If your trying to use 28" and load to 26" not sure be worth it on throat. I've got little longer on my 243AI but not doing any volume as use for coyotes. I've got little longer on Spec 280AI and that was a plus on doing that. Just never know.

 

[troy fairweather]

remember the op is using a t/c pro hunter, set back is not a option. i think loading light and letting that extra 2'' make up the lost fps. t/c has some nice barrel out wish, i had a action to fiddle with.

 

[Hookeye]

Buy a bolt gun or falling block and go 26".
Break opens and varminting, kind of clash.

 

[doubleh]

I posted on another 22-250 thread about the TC rifle and simply buying a new barrel when the first one goes south. No gunsmithing fee at all. I couldn't find a price for a TC 26 or 28 inch barrel but the 24 is only $260 dollars, one of the cheaper barrels available. 2 or 4 more inches shouldn't be too unreasonable in price.

 

[troy fairweather]

I posted on another 22-250 thread about the TC rifle and simply buying a new barrel when the first one goes south. No gunsmithing fee at all. I couldn't find a price for a TC 26 or 28 inch barrel but the 24 is only $260 dollars, one of the cheaper barrels available. 2 or 4 more inches shouldn't be too unreasonable in price.

think it's about $390 for the one he wants.

 

[Hookeye]

EABCO has the 28" stainless fluted Pro Hunter bbl for $289 right now (100 bucks off)
https://www.eabco.net/TC-Encore-Pro-Hunter-22-250-Remington-28-Stnls-Fluted-Barrel-112_p_15535.html

 

[Ks5shooter]

Good info guys keep it coming.The break open doesn't concern me,and when barrel shoots out I can just replace it. Grabagun has the 28in for for $252 and the 26in for $241.
https://grabagun.com/t-c-pro-hntr-bbl-22-250-28-fltd-sts.html

 

[Picher]

If I owned one, after shooting it for accuracy and comparison, and if handloading for it, I'd quickly have it reamed out to .22-250 Improved. It will eliminate the darned case stretching. That was the biggest problem for my .22-250s, but loved the cartridge for varmints.

 

[troy fairweather]

Good info guys keep it coming.The break open doesn't concern me,and when barrel shoots out I can just replace it. Grabagun has the 28in for for $252 and the 26in for $241.
https://grabagun.com/t-c-pro-hntr-bbl-22-250-28-fltd-sts.html

that's a good deal, id still get the 28'' it's still going to be shorter then a 24'' bolt gun. where do they have the actions cheap for these, kinda like to get one. i don't care for the look of the butt stock tho.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Troy,Grabagun has the best prices I have found for TC components.

 

[Ks5shooter]

They make the stock set in all black as well.

 

[Art Eatman]

Seems to me that it depends on the kind of varmint hunting. Prairie doggers wear out barrels much sooner than those who mostly hunt coyotes. Even at 100 coyotes a year, it would take over ten years before any significant burning of the leade.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Groundhogs at the farm,taget shoot occasionally is all ,gonna retire and sell my Sako Forrester heavy barrel in 22-250. It had an easy life as I didn't want to shoot it much,its too pretty. Love the 22-250 and am going to build this to be a shooter

 

[stillquietvoice]

Good info guys keep it coming.The break open doesn't concern me,and when barrel shoots out I can just replace it. Grabagun has the 28in for for $252 and the 26in for $241.
https://grabagun.com/t-c-pro-hntr-bbl-22-250-28-fltd-sts.html

Buy both and switch back and forth it will take longer to burn out 2 barrels.

 

[Hookeye]

If he burns up a break open, he's already spent a fortune in Mountain Dew.