Twist rate of 22-250 question

Pruson

Pruson

New member
Been playing around with several 22-250 rifles of different twist rates. Shooting heavier longer bullets as opposed to shorter light ones. It appears to me and several others that I've discussed this with that the 12 twist is about the most versatile for this caliber.

Currently looking at a Kimber Montana with a 1 in 14 twist. Does anyone have any experience with this rifle or the 14 twist rate in 22-250. I am assuming it would best handle 35, 40 grain bullets better than they heavier bullets. Would it handle a 50 gr bullet and stabilize it and maintain accuracy? Comments, opinions welcome.
 
i had a 1:14 twist 22-250 and it really liked the 40gr vmax, but it did shoot the 50's well. (not as well as the 40's)

I agree with your comments about the 12 twist rate being better, meaning more bullet choices versatility.

I was starting to work up a load for the 53 vmax, given the different design and higher BC, it was showing good promise. but, nothing definitive as far as loads.
 
I have Sako' and Tikka's with 1/14 twist. They shoot 50's very well and some 55's along with 52's. Not sure about the 53 vmax as it has been said that it needs faster twist.
The new lead free noslers are also longer by about 9/100 inch, so not sure yet.
 
I have a few Remington 700 22 250s. They all like the 40'same but I have not had much luck shooting anything heavier. My 12 twist savages all handle 53 to 60's very well.
 
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Originally Posted By: TheshedhunterIt is ridiculous that manufacturers still make 22-250's with 14:1

Not really, some of us still like shooting light bullets really fast. If I wanted to shot heavier bullets, I'd use a different caliber.
 
I'm like pyscodog, can't see going above 55 grains with my 22-250. I had an extensive discussion with my smith as I was looking at details for a 22-250 build.

He asked what bullets I plannned to shoot, mostly. I told him 50 grains. He said with that planned bullet I would be best to stick with the common 1/14" rifling. It's just one smiths educated opinion, but I have no regrets.

By all means if going with the heavier/longer bullet, a faster twist may be called for. After a bit it just seems easier to grab the 243.
 
People will always be changing calibers and cartridges to what they want. Nothing wrong with that.
I choose to shoot it for what it was made, to shoot light bullets which it does well. It worked flawlessly to kill another huge pile of coyotes last week with 50 grainers.
 
I am glad someone brought this up. I have thought about rebarreling my M700 22-250 to get the benefit a more carrying rifle. Not sure what I will do but this VS is darn heavy.

So from what you all are saying a 12 twist would be best? I normally shot the 40 or 50 grainers and I feel if I need to go heavier that is why I have a couple of 243's.
 
I have had two different 14 twist 22-250's both shot 53 SMK and lighter extremely well. I have always been in the mind set of if you need a heavier bullet, get another rifle. Cant have enough.
 
Its not about the weight....thats the part many fail to understand. A 75gr VLD .22 cannot be replaced, or even matched, by a 75gr .243...or an 85gr....or even a 95gr...

Fast twists offer a lot, and give up nothing.
 
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I have no problems with getting a larger cartridge if I want to shoot a heavier bullet for hunting purposes. My choice of a larger cartridge/bore diameter won't "give up nothing" against a heavier than normal bullet in a smaller bore diameter.

The 22-250 has worked just fine for years with 55 grain and lighter bullets for hunting purposes in 1 in 14" twist barrels, in spite of what you read on the internet. I actually prefer shooting bullets that are slightly lighter than normal, traveling at a slightly faster than normal speed, rather than a heavier bullet traveling at a bit slower speed for practical hunting ranges. I know there are arguments about velocity rate drop (Bullet BC), etc., at extended ranges, but I firmly believe that this combination will offer the best overall performance for 99.9% of all normal hunting ranges and purposes for which the 22-250 was designed for.

For normal hunting situations and ranges nothing is "practically" gained with a heavy for caliber bullet in a 22-250 versus a larger cartridge such as a 243 Win cartridge with the same weight of bullet. Bullet BC, etc. is highly overplayed on the internet for practical hunting ranges.

A 1 in 12" twist barrel will likely allow you to shoot ~60 grain, but for every increase in barrel twist rate you lose a bit of velocity and also a bit of barrel life. That said, a 1 in 12" twist 22-250 is not a bad idea for a hunting rifle.

If you plan to use the 22-250 for over the course (long range) competition shooting, a fast twist barrel with long and heavy VLD bullets will serve you best. Or if you have a need to set a new long range "world record" for PD shooting from a rest, the faster twist barrel with VLD bullets might be a better choice. However, at extended ranges, a supposedly better bullet spinning faster is still at the mercy of a lot of factors that the shooter can't always discern and can't control anyway.
 
I have several Remington 22-250s which are all 14 twist. I've not been able to get any of them to shoot anything heavy than 40s. However they all shoot the same 40 grain load very well. My 12 twist savages shoot wonderful with 53 vmax and 60 ballistic tips with very little load work. My vs swift handles 50 and 55s well. I'm not a 14 twist 22 250 fan but I only need heavy pills since I only hunt coyotes with these rifles.
 
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I never had any problem getting my 14 twist .22-250's to shoot extremely well with 50's or 55's. My working loads in all of them were with 50's and 55's. For coyote, the 1365 Sierra 55 has always been my favorite .22-250 bullet and it's worked well in 14 twists.

If getting to choose, I'd probably take the 12, just because. But I would not shy away from a 14 like the Kimber that Sonny asked about. All the 14's I've owned have been just fine with the bullets he's asking about.

- DAA
 
Originally Posted By: varminter .223I have several Remington 22-250s which are all 14 twist. I've not been able to get any of them to shoot anything heavy than 40s to shoot. However they all shoot the same 40 grain load very well. My 12 twist savages shoot wonderful with 53 vmax and 60 ballistic tips with very little load work. My vs swift handles 50 and 55s well. I'm not a 14 twist 22 250 fan but I only need heavy pills since I only hunt coyotes with these rifles.
It is very odd to me that I hear guys complain a 1/14 Rem won't shoot medium weight bullets. Yet all .22-250's I've owned do.
So I have to wonder if Rem puts an extra 1/4 twist or even a 1/16 twist.
There must be a mechanical explanation for this. Like yesterday a friend had issue with a Rem .243 and after researching he discovered that Rem put an extra 1/4 twist on that model.
 
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