Is an 8 twist too fast for a 22-250 with 50-55 gr bullets?

[Larryh128]

I want a lightweight 22-250 but can only find a 8 twist blank in a #2 contour. Worried about over rotating light bullets. I love 8 twist in 223 but this is 5-600 fps faster.

 

[BradY]

My experience says no not the 55’s BUT you need to keep the throat clean and not be disappointed if they start coming apart early in the barrels life. Probably wouldn’t run any sort of thin jacket ballistic tip. 55gr sierra game king soft points hold together I know for a fact but at that rpm they act more like a varmint bullet.

 

[Ackman]

I want a lightweight 22-250 but can only find a 8 twist blank in a #2 contour. Worried about over rotating light bullets. I love 8 twist in 223 but this is 5-600 fps faster.

All my 22-250's have been either 14 or 12 twist, there've been several both standard and AI, and most are / have been 14 twist. And I mostly shoot 50 BT's through them. I wouldn't use an 8 twist but that's just me. The slower twist is forgiving and it's easy to find fast accuracy. Shooting 50's and 55's, W760 powder worked. Now I use Reloder 15 in both the 22-250....50BT@ 3925, and the 22=250AI....50BT@ 4200. Most accurate loads. I think 2700 would also be good also but I"ve never felt the need to try it. Again, it's just stupid easy finding accuracy with the slower twist and lighter bullets, I'd go with a 12.

 

[okie]

I wouldnt shoot fast strings---like in a prairie dog town--see gray mist after it heats up.
depending on barrel might see them break up out of cold bore...

 

[urbanrifleman]

No.

 

[Hotshot]

I put an 8twist on my 220Swift to shoot 60grain and heavier bullets. When I did barrel break in and set zero on my scope I just used some 55vmax loads that I had from the previous barrel. Wow! They shot under 1/2 inch at 100. Nice surprise since I have about 800 already loaded.

 

[SteveOak]

How fast are you thinking?

Also, with a twist faster than is necessary for the bullet length you will hit pressure limits at a lower MV and you would with a slower twist.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Thru the Scope of My BRAKED, 14 twist, Rem 700 with, the "Sporter weight, Barrel" 8 lb., .22-250 using,..
50 gr. V-Maxes and 52 gr. A-Maxes, I CAN see, Sage Rats explode ( NO, Muzzle Jump ) at, 3,550 FPS !
And,.. I AIN'T,.. changing it ! ( Next Barrel would Be,.. a 12 Twist )
IF needing, Bigger Boolet's, I Have,.. a 6 XC !

 

[Larryh128]

Thanks for the replies, the issue I'm having now is finding a #2 blank in 12 twist.

 

[Larryh128]

How fast are you thinking?

Also, with a twist faster than is necessary for the bullet length you will hit pressure limits at a lower MV and you would with a slower twist.

In the 3500-3600 range. I don't need screaming or yurtle loads.

 

[SteveOak]

3,600 FPS is 324,000 RPM

 

[Ackman]

The guy I shoot with hast 22-250, either 12 or 14 twist, he can't remember. Shoots 52 Speer hp (the ones with a huge hollow point) and what those things do to a mature rockchuck is beyond belief. Looks more like it was hit with a fast 6mm, nothing but a gutpilee.
My first 22-250 was a Rem varminter which I believe was 12 twist. I shot both 55Bt's and 50's. Later, about '90 or so, I started using the 22-250AI. Since then I've had everal, all 14twist. Current std 22-250, the only one, is a factory Savvage sporter from early 90's, 14 twist. Not as accurate as the AI's I have and have had, but still plenty accurate for my purposes. The load I use, one group at 75yds then the same load again at 100 just to see. Almost identical.

 

[Gary in MD]

I mostly shoot the 77 grain TMK in my 8 twisted tikka 22-250 but the 55 grain Blitz Kings shoot very nice @ 3700. They are like bombs when they impact with ground hogs

 

[1911nut]

I shoot 80g Bergers in my 8 twist 22-250

5 shot group @ 100

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Bullet selection will be the answer. I have a 6.5/06 AI varmint rifle that will turn some bullets to grey mist but others are fine. I mostly use Nosler BT's and avoid soft, thin walled pills. Works well on deer with Nosler Partitions and Lapua's.

 

[Frankm]

For a 50 grain Blitz, Hornady SX, etc (thin jackets for 222 and 223 velocities) yes, 8 is most likely too fast. For a 50 gr Blitzking, Hornady VMax, Nosler BT and so forth, no, they ll likely shoot like a house a fire!!

Like someone mentioned, just pick the “right” jacket on lightweight bullets and that high velocity 8 twist!

 

[ricco1949]

I had a brand spankin' new 9T Shilen .224 in 22-250 that blew up factory 45g Winny's after about 10+/- rounds but would shoot 40g VMaxes without a single blow up.

I simply pulled the bullets on the case of OEM Winny's and reseated 40 VMs.

So I guess the answer to your question is....It depends on the bullet and brand.

 

[cb186]

I shoot 53 V-Max's out of my 12 twist 22-250ai at just under 4000. I also have an 8 twist 22 Creed. Out of curiosity, I loaded 5 or 6 53's for my Creed with the same load as the Ai, to see if the bullets would come apart. I didn't chrono them, but I will assume the were at least 3800. They all stayed together and even made it to 1000 yards with decent(for a tiny bullet @1000 yards) grouping.

 

[ranger3]

All my 22-250's have been either 14 or 12 twist, there've been several both standard and AI, and most are / have been 14 twist. And I mostly shoot 50 BT's through them. I wouldn't use an 8 twist but that's just me. The slower twist is forgiving and it's easy to find fast accuracy. Shooting 50's and 55's, W760 powder worked. Now I use Reloder 15 in both the 22-250....50BT@ 3925, and the 22=250AI....50BT@ 4200. Most accurate loads. I think 2700 would also be good also but I"ve never felt the need to try it. Again, it's just stupid easy finding accuracy with the slower twist and lighter bullets, I'd go with a 12.

I built a 8 twist 22-250. I have a load with 55 gr. Bullets that is very accurate. I’ve shot this load at pd’s with good success. I use 4064 powder. Got this load from this forum.

 

[nr123]

I can only speak for my 1-8 twist Tikka, 22-250. It will shoot 40 gr Nosler and V-max with no issues. I've also shot 50, 53, 55 gr Varmageddons and v-max. Currently, I'm shooting 62 gr VT's for coyotes.
Early on, one bullet mfg said no way it would shoot 40's, that they would blow up. I had already shot them, and told him he was wrong.
I am completely sold on my 1-8 twist, and if I wear it out, will go back with another 1-8.