22/250 Barrel Twist & Projectile Recommendation

[tom1]

Our club has a shooter with a 22/250 that has a 1:12 barrel twist & is using 55gn projectiles. He is looking at getting a new barrel with a different twist so he can use heavier projectiles. What are other shooters using in this calibre for target shooting? He is using this rifle in Production Class. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Our range is 300 - 700 yards.
Brad Probert

[Benji]

1:8 stabilizes 80gr eld-m’s in my wife’s .223 they’d be great in a 22-250 with a long enough throat. But his gunsmith who is going to do the barrel work would be the best person to ask.

[KHGS]

Our club has a shooter with a 22/250 that has a 1:12 barrel twist & is using 55gn projectiles. He is looking at getting a new barrel with a different twist so he can use heavier projectiles. What are other shooters using in this calibre for target shooting? He is using this rifle in Production Class. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Our range is 300 - 700 yards.
Brad Probert

I would recommend an 8” twist which will allow the use of any 80 grain match VLD bullets. I have fitted a number of 8” twist barrels for 22/250, 22/250AI and both 220 Swift and 220 Swift AI for the long heavy match bullets.
Keith H.

[Drop shot]

Our club has a shooter with a 22/250 that has a 1:12 barrel twist & is using 55gn projectiles. He is looking at getting a new barrel with a different twist so he can use heavier projectiles. What are other shooters using in this calibre for target shooting? He is using this rifle in Production Class. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Our range is 300 - 700 yards.
Brad Probert

I went down the fast 22-250 path about 3 years ago and did a tribute build of Bob Lee Swaggers M700P from Shooter on it. Figured he'd be the sort of dude to use an optimised traditional cartridge.

Twists are;
1/8 for 75-80 class bullets
1/7 for 85gr+

That's the short answer. The longer answer is the amount of admin that 22-250 requires is more than you would expect.

Traditional stability calculations are becoming less relevant with longer bullets so it's no longer about RPM unfortunately. It makes things a bit harder as typically you want to max out at 300k rpm. The new heavies for 22 class like 22-250/224 Valk/22ARC/ Creedmoor need a fast twist but pick up a lot of MV. This can destroy the bullets by over revving them and compromising the jacket. Bullets that have soft jackets like ELD-M's compromise earlier than Berger, who compromise earlier again than Sierra.

The problem with the 250 in the sort of class we are talking here is the way it handles pressure. There's a lot of forward flow of brass during expansion and loading them hot such as most are want to do for this type of shooting, you really trash your brass life. And I mean, case head separations after 4-5 shots on Lapua Brass.

We are trialling 22ARC atm so a lot of the data correlates, being fast twist heavies. Mate of mine in Jarvis Bay who's ability I trust has just checked to see what 2209 will do behind a 90gr Atip in a 1/8 twist 22BR, and whilst it's not conclusive yet, based on what we are seeing with the slower burn we are theorising that we might get more brass life. This is specific to F-Class barrel lengths, and not "practical" barrel lengths, but just a heads up that 09 is an option for you with a barrel over 22" if you do go the 22-250 route.

We ultimately abandoned the 22-250 project and went with 6mm Creedmoor. Bullets are cheaper and more readily available, pressures are good, modern cartridge case so good life, and the BC difference is marginal. Aubrey from Accurise.com.au has some DTAC 115gr bullets that are at about that max weight area for 6mm and are brilliant bullets.

For quick comparison of 22 Cal G7 BCs
80gr VLD = .233
88gr ELD-M = .274
90gr Berger VLD = .274
90gr A-Tip = .289

Pretty consistent enough BC (YMMV) but you have to REALLY hate money to settle on the Atips
https://www.scopedout.com.au/Hornady-22 ... h-100-Pack

Conversely, 6mm Creedmoor G7 BCs
108gr ELD-M = .272
109gr VLD = .292
115gr VLD = .289
115gr DTAC =.290

Even the most BASAL 6mm creedmoor bullet, being the ELD-Ms is sitting righ there with the hyper optimised high BC 22s and it only gets better from there.

Not to be THAT guy that brings up something other than what you're asking, but the 22-250 uses a standard bolt face, meaning that a calibre change to a differnt 308 base cartridge is literally just a barrel swap. If he has hunting 22-250 dies, he'll probably find he needs a new seater die at a minimum anyhow, so.... in for a penny, in for a pound, I say ditch the 22-250 and go a different cart.

If they do go down the line of a 22-250, let me know, I have some left over 95gr SMKs here. We couldn't get them to work in the shorter barrels but with 22-250 levels of powder and an F-Class length barrel, i'd be keen to see waht they do. Can have for free but needs a 1/7 twist

[disb]

Brad is from WA
Cartridge change under the new laws is not a 5 minute job anymore

[tom1]

Thank you for the replies, I will pass on this info. We discussed yesterday that the 1:8 twist & 80gn projectiles would be a good choice. As previously stated, a calibre change is expensive here now. He is happy with what he's got, but has seen what can be achieved in this sport with the right setup.
Brad Probert

[ErrolW]

I would advise him to go see 1 of the many decent smith's we have here in WA. Local would be Brock , Lance . Then it's into Perth for the next lot Dave Kerr ,DCs ,Beatons ,Biil Hallam and God knows how many more . Even going to Albany and see Dave F he's full.of great knowledge and very helpful.

[disb]

I would advise him to go see 1 of the many decent smith's we have here in WA. Local would be Brock , Lance . Then it's into Perth for the next lot Dave Kerr ,DCs ,Beatons ,Biil Hallam and God knows how many more . Even going to Albany and see Dave F he's full.of great knowledge and very helpful.

DC is now wheatbelt located as well.

[Drop shot]

Thank you for the replies, I will pass on this info. We discussed yesterday that the 1:8 twist & 80gn projectiles would be a good choice. As previously stated, a calibre change is expensive here now. He is happy with what he's got, but has seen what can be achieved in this sport with the right setup.
Brad Probert

Go heavies. You got the power in the case. 80gr is holding you back. 88gr ELD-M is super easy to load for.

Left is 90gr 22-250
Middle is 140gr 6.5 Creedmoor
Right is 208gr 308

Make them heavy, seat them long.

[tom1]

Thanks for the reply Dropshot. 88gn projectiles would be suited to a 1:7 twist?

[Drop shot]

Thanks for the reply Dropshot. 88gn projectiles would be suited to a 1:7 twist?

****** EDITED******
Sorry I should ask, what's your barrel length? 26"+ go 1/8, 24"- go 1/7, between 24 and 26" its a grey area



Yeah mate, 1/7 is the way to go for the 88s.

Make up a dummy cart because they are long. Seat the bullet until only the boat tail is below the neck and send that to your smith to make sure the barrel i's specced right and throated long enough. Don't go standard SAAMI 22-250 or you'll be seating the bullets too far into the case and lose case capacity.

I've got some data in a folder somewhere. If you need it let me know and i'll go looking.