What do you think of a 22-250 with a 1-12 26" barrel

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Bfh_auto

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My 22" sporter barrel is finally losing accuracy. I've been running a 53 VMAX at 3990 in it. I'm kicking around keeping with that bullet and getting a 26" barrel since the terminal performance is unreal.
Option 2 is a 24" 1-8 twist for the longer bullets.
I don't shoot over 500 yards since my property ends at 520. Most of the coyotes I shoot are inside 200.
I also love not having ricochets using the VMAX. I'll worried the match bullets won't break apart as readily and there are cows everywhere.
 
go the quicker twist and 24" , all though 26" is better the difference will be about 100 fps or less, the 22" is kinda short. The .1-8 twist (in an Ackley version) will give you more options and my experience with the lighter bullets in it has been they come apart even better !
 
As a fan of heavy-for-cartridge bullets, I’m hard pressed to say the “normal” 22-250 spec makes sense if you are ordering a barrel. Hard to complain about what the 22-250 can do with 50-55grn pills from a long, slow twist tube though. It’s also possible to tear apart many light bullets with a fast twist long barrel 22-250, so it IS possible to paint yourself into a corner with too much angular velocity.

For what you’re doing, a standard 1:12” tube will be fine. If you’re not carrying it much, 26” is ok, but I wouldn’t even expect 100fps for those 2”, maybe 80.

But...

You ARE ordering a custom tube, so you might as get everything you can out of the process. Going 22-250AI in a fast twist, throated for 77smk’s would be a dandy plan. You should be fine with the 53 vmax still, but if you weren’t, you could simply load to a lower node, and then be able to tell your buddies you load them light so they don’t spin apart 10ft out of the muzzle.
 
Oooooh, do an Ackley! If nothing else they look cool :cool: (... says the guy waiting for his new 24-inch 1:8 McGowen barrel)

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As a fan of heavy-for-cartridge bullets, I’m hard pressed to say the “normal” 22-250 spec makes sense if you are ordering a barrel. Hard to complain about what the 22-250 can do with 50-55grn pills from a long, slow twist tube though. It’s also possible to tear apart many light bullets with a fast twist long barrel 22-250, so it IS possible to paint yourself into a corner with too much angular velocity.

For what you’re doing, a standard 1:12” tube will be fine. If you’re not carrying it much, 26” is ok, but I wouldn’t even expect 100fps for those 2”, maybe 80.

But...

You ARE ordering a custom tube, so you might as get everything you can out of the process. Going 22-250AI in a fast twist, throated for 77smk’s would be a dandy plan. You should be fine with the 53 vmax still, but if you weren’t, you could simply load to a lower node, and then be able to tell your buddies you load them light so they don’t spin apart 10ft out of the muzzle.
Valid points. My rifle was already a little too much for 55 gr SP.
An AI with 8 twist would destroy them.
 
I’d do a 280 Ackley if I didn’t already have 7 Rem Mag.
I definitely wouldn't dump a 7 mag to get one, but I would choose it over a 7 mag if I didn't have either. It's getting 3180 with a 140 in a 21 inch tube. My brother loves it as a truck gun. It has whacked quite a few coyotes since I built it for him.
 
I own a .22-250 with 1:12 twist and 26" barrel. I have the same situation as you with the farms here and shoot 52 gr Sierra bullets. Because of the live stock in this area I would never have a fast twist shooting heavy bullets, the problem is ricochets. I'm a varmint hunter, for that reason I'm not a fan of fast twist and heavy bullets. Last thing I want to do is buy a cow or horse. My favorite barrel length is 24", feels better balanced and easy to carry.
 
I own a .22-250 with 1:12 twist and 26" barrel. I have the same situation as you with the farms here and shoot 52 gr Sierra bullets. Because of the live stock in this area I would never have a fast twist shooting heavy bullets, the problem is ricochets. I'm a varmint hunter, for that reason I'm not a fan of fast twist and heavy bullets. Last thing I want to do is buy a cow or horse. My favorite barrel length is 24", feels better balanced and easy to carry.
I wasn't sure how the balance would be changed. I use a 24" long action and don't notice that much difference between it and a 22"short action.
I always weight my stock to balance on the front action screw. Some of my rifles are light, some are 10lbs to get there.
Have you tried the 53 VMAX? It is levels above the 52 grain hp both on windage and damage to varmints. Coyotes look like you tried driving a golf ball through them.
 
The 22-250 is a highly successful varmint round with the slow twist. This cartridge, as a wildcat, goes back before WW2. How many of the bullets from fast twist rifles are not hunting bullets as are the 50 and 55grain bullets normally used in the 22-250? When one asked "why" the 22-220 they are not paying attention to history. Google 22 WOS. All this 500 yard stuff is great but how much of that goes into real world varmint hunting?
 
I have a large supply of brass and dies already. If I go new, it will be a 6x280 AI
Not 6-284?? How come? Just curious really.
The 22-250 is a highly successful varmint round with the slow twist. This cartridge, as a wildcat, goes back before WW2. How many of the bullets from fast twist rifles are not hunting bullets as are the 50 and 55grain bullets normally used in the 22-250? When one asked "why" the 22-220 they are not paying attention to history. Google 22 WOS. All this 500 yard stuff is great but how much of that goes into real world varmint hunting?
I reckon that depends on what part of the world you're standing in, my coyotes and prairie dogs fall at all kinds of ranges including beyond the 500 mark.
 
When I rebarreled my 22-250 I went back with a 1-14 twist barrel and went the AI route. I use 220 Swift loading data and my fired brass holds about 1 grain less alcohol than a fired 220 Swift case. The choice of the 1-14 twist was because I hunt varmints.
 
When actively ground hogging the majority of our shot went 300 yards or less due to terrain. Sometimes the range was longer. Using Sierra or Hornady 50 and 55gr. bullets we generally did not have an exit wound. Expansion was described as "explosive."Match bullets of that time behaved like a FMJ bullet. Our accuracy was excellent. When we hunted with heavier caliber rifle it was 257 Roberts or 25-06. I still have my 6mm-06 "Bull Gun". The 22-250 and 220 Swift were tops. I took much game with a .222 Varmint Special with Unertl scope. On the larger caliber rifles we used slower twist adjusted to out bullet weights. The factory rifles were stock as a doorknob. Shots or game taken?
 
Not 6-284?? How come? Just curious really.

I reckon that depends on what part of the world you're standing in, my coyotes and prairie dogs fall at all kinds of ranges including beyond the 500 mark.
I already own a 280 AI reamer that is about to need resharpened. I would just get it ground down when I send it in.
 
Not 6-284?? How come? Just curious really.

Would not this cartridge be like a 6mm-06 improved? We used the standard 6mm-06. The round was also known as the 240 Gebby Supervarminter. Top loads in my rifle with the 85gr. Sierra was a chronographed 3700 fps. The rifle has a 30" Shilen barrel with 1:12 twist. Long barrel minimum chamber and short throat does make a difference. This rifle configuration was still used then but the benchrest guns were showing up with short barrels.
 
The 1/12 is good but do not go over a 1/9 with the 1/9 you can shoot most weight bullets Good Luck
 
Would not this cartridge be like a 6mm-06 improved? We used the standard 6mm-06. The round was also known as the 240 Gebby Supervarminter. Top loads in my rifle with the 85gr. Sierra was a chronographed 3700 fps. The rifle has a 30" Shilen barrel with 1:12 twist. Long barrel minimum chamber and short throat does make a difference. This rifle configuration was still used then but the benchrest guns were showing up with short barrels.
It would, just shorter/fatter/more efficient powder use, can't remember what I'm pushing 85s to right now, have to get back with the fps later, the .284 uses just a Lil less powder to get the .280 levels
 
The 1/12 is good but do not go over a 1/9 with the 1/9 you can shoot most weight bullets Good Luck
We were doing this in an era where you had to figure if you were dealing with a varmint bullets or larger animal bullets. Things are different now. Building a rifle today I'd go with the 1:12 which works great for 75 and 85 gr bullets. For varmint hunting at varmint hunting ranges here the lighter bullets do very well. For running a large number of rounds it will wear hard to the throat. One old timer here said that ground hog hunting with the overbore rounds you will wear out more shoes than rifle barrels. That comment applied to here not with prairie dog hunting. Don't know much about that.
 
Would not this cartridge be like a 6mm-06 improved? We used the standard 6mm-06. The round was also known as the 240 Gebby Supervarminter. Top loads in my rifle with the 85gr. Sierra was a chronographed 3700 fps. The rifle has a 30" Shilen barrel with 1:12 twist. Long barrel minimum chamber and short throat does make a difference. This rifle configuration was still used then but the benchrest guns were showing up with short barrels.
Once we get past the 6mm Remington, it's pretty much splitting hairs. It takes a lot more powder for my 240 to beat the 6mm. The 240, 6-06, 6-284 are so close that it doesn't matter.
When you go to the improved ones, the 280 steps a fair bit ahead of the rest because the shoulder is farther forwards.
I don't want any it these until my 240 barrel dies.
Right now it seems people are evenly split on fast twist vs 12 twist. There is no way I'm going with 14.
 
Would not this cartridge be like a 6mm-06 improved? We used the standard 6mm-06. The round was also known as the 240 Gebby Supervarminter. Top loads in my rifle with the 85gr. Sierra was a chronographed 3700 fps. The rifle has a 30" Shilen barrel with 1:12 twist. Long barrel minimum chamber and short throat does make a difference. This rifle configuration was still used then but the benchrest guns were showing up with short barrels.

While interesting, seems if you are leaning hard on the .243/6mm, the path of lesser resistance would be a 25-06. Have one buddy with a 6/06 and he’s running heavier bullets, a shade under 100grs.....my 25-06 seems to have more horsepower and runs 75-90 grain bullets that are only, what.....014” difference in diameter? Something to consider.....
 
Once we get past the 6mm Remington, it's pretty much splitting hairs. It takes a lot more powder for my 240 to beat the 6mm. The 240, 6-06, 6-284 are so close that it doesn't matter.
When you go to the improved ones, the 280 steps a fair bit ahead of the rest because the shoulder is farther forwards.
I don't want any it these until my 240 barrel dies.
Right now it seems people are evenly split on fast twist vs 12 twist. There is no way I'm going with 14.

I’ve always wondered what a good 270 case necked down would be like. I sure do like that long neck!
 
the path of lesser resistance would be a 25-06.
We are talking some old time stuff. Loaded to equal pressures the 257 Roberts does not give up anything to 243 or 6mm. When I hunted with the Roberts the 75gr. bullet was doing a chronographed 3500fps. That was with a 1:12 in a Douglas #5 weight barrel on a 98 action. Game is as dead with the 6mm's as the 25 calibers. I think if you take a look at varmint hunting bullets weights the difference between 6mm-06 and 25-06 narrows seriously. Sure enough the path of least resistance be a 25-06. Rifle looneys do not take the path of lease resistance.:) Incidentally, the chamber in my 6mm-06 was cut with a reamer that allowed use of the 270 case.
 
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