1-16 twist 22-250

[gambleone]

I bought a 22-250& was using 55 gr v max & i couldn't get under 1 inch at 100 yds. I checked the twist & it was 1-16. I switched to 40 gr & have only been out once. I had two touching & 3 to the right about one half to three quarter of an inch. I think it was me due to not having a rear bag. My question is; Will a 1-16 twist stabilize a 55 gr bullet?
thank you, greg

 

[Eddie Harren]

Probably not. Some 14 twist barrels will not work with 55gr. bullets at 22-250 velocities.

 

[AckleymanII]

You may want to check the groove dia, also. 16 twists are usually reserved for a rimfire.

 

[dave7mm]

The 22 CHeetah with a 1-16 twisted Hart barrel will give good results out to 750 yards with 52g Bergers.I've taken a number of woodchucks at that distance.I could not get 55g bullets to work at all at 100 yards.
Im thinking that you need a shorter lighter bullet in the 22-250
dave:wave:

 

[gambleone]

Thanks for the replys. I switched to a 40 gr vmax & went out today & shot three 1" 5 shot groups, & one .59. I was .060 off lands so I'm going to seat deeper & see. The 40 gr did make a big difference.The 55gr grps were about 2" at 100yds.

 

[AckleymanII]

another option is to use a Speer 40g sp, the ogive is much further on this bullet, and it is a very accurate bullet.

You should try a box of 50g Sierra Semi point bullets. The semi point bullets require much less twist than the bullets with less bearing surface.

For instance, I had a 22/250 AI that I shot Berger 60 & 65g Bullets in that had a 15 twist. I got super accuracy to say the least. These now discontinued bullets had alot of bearing surface, not the VLD types that are made now.

 

[gambleone]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to try those speer 40 gr.
Greg

 

[gambleone]

I couldn't find speer 40 gr, but i was able to get the 40 gr nosler bt. I also switched to imr4064 & my grp improved a great deal. avg 4 shot grp is just under 0.5" at 100yds. The 1-16 twist sure didn't like the 55gr. I'm still trying different primers & grains of powder. Thanks guys for all your input.
greg

 

[762willdo]

Barnes 36gr. varmint grenade. extremely accurate.

 

[squirrelduster]

I too have a 1 in 16 twist 22-250.
It took me quite a while to figure out why my rifle would not shoot. My 300 mag was better.
What I have found is that the 40 grn. VMAX shoots great - normally around 1/2 inch. Anything heavier you might as well throw away. I tried several different 50 gr. bullets with no success at all. I am shooting 34 grains of varget. Not a hot load by any stretch. I tried the 50 grain bullets really hot to get them to stabalize them and it didn't work.
One of the barrel manufactures has a calculator on thier web site that you enter information and it figures out if the bullet will stabalize.
I don't know why the gunsmith put a 16 twist on a 22-250.
The little 40 grain bullets really blow around in the wind. I shoot squirrels in northern california and the wind is always blowing.
I have ordered a new 6mm br. barrel for it to reduce teh wind effect.
Good luck

 

[Twud]

I have a Ruger 22-250 that I could not get to shoot. It had a 1 in 14 barrel. Tried about every 55 grain bullet out there. I was at a gun show looking to spend some money and picked a box of 52 grain Sierras. Using the same load and the Sierra bullet my groups went from 1-1/2" to about an inch. HHMMMM Maybe I'm on to something, but how could 3 grains make that much difference. Bought some 50 gain Noslers and groups fell again to a fat 1/2".
This was all a few years, and a bunch of Ground hogs ago, anyway I ordered some Barnes 36 Grain Grenades today. I don't like the idea of a 36 grain bullet, too lite in the wind, but maybe they'll prove my theory.
According to the Shilen twist chart a 1 in 14 twist is too slow for a 55 grain bullet. Ruger and Remington still use a 1/14 twist, Savage has the good sense to use a 1 in 12.
IMHO- Better to spinem' a little too fast than too slow.
Mark

 

[mikecr]

I always assumed 1:12 was the standard for 224.
It's totally weird that gunmakers are even offering barrels so limited in bullet potential.

My Cooper has a 1:14 though.
Will be replacing that barrel soon.

 

[RidgeRunner]

I am a 22/250 man, and for the life of me, can't see the reasoning for the current twist rates in production rifles. Why limit the 22/250 to the lighter bullets? I think it is a super varmint round,but would like to be able to get varmint rifle accuracy from the 55 or even 60gr bullets. The potential is there in the case capacity, to do a good job velocity wise with the heavier projectiles. I have a mod 12 Savage that isn't all that super with them even at the 12" twist. My Remington VSF is a one holer with 53gr Hornady Match HP. The Tikka T3 I have is in love with 52gr HPs too. I have a Savage mod 10 here that may get a fast twist 22/250 pipe put on her. I have been told it is a waste of time, but I need to see it first hand. I'm thinking 9" twist should be fun to play around with. Maybe after deer season. Everyone needs a winter project.