1885 Winchester High Wall 22-250

[gary8580]

I bought this rifle because of the excellent breach and 28" barrel thinking it would be a great long-range rifle in 22-250. I didn't realize it has a 1:14 twist which isn't too friendly to larger grain bullets. Anyone else shooting this rifle have recommendations for cartridges? Thanks!

 

[gotcha]

My 1885 is chambered in 38-40. Consider yourself lucky to have a 22-250 ........... My Remy 22-250 HV takes Gophers to about 500 yds w/ 14" twst & Nosler 55grn Ballistic tips. Load it, shoot it & have fun! Just don't expect the gophers to "blow up" at that distance.

 

[CatShooter]

I bought this rifle because of the excellent breach and 28" barrel thinking it would be a great long-range rifle in 22-250. I didn't realize it has a 1:14 twist which isn't too friendly to larger grain bullets. Anyone else shooting this rifle have recommendations for cartridges? Thanks!

I have the same rifle (Called the Browning M76).

You can shoot lengths up to the 55gr plastic tip bullets (~0.830") - any longer will not play.

 

[AR Shooter]

My 1885 High Wall is chambered in 38-56. Full octagon Winchester #3 1/2 profile 32" barrel with a 1-14" twist. Shooting either a 340gr or 325gr bullet it will hold the 10-ring at 600yd when I do my part. Full load of powder is 58gr of Goex FFg black powder which gives a MV of 1385fps. If you think reading wind/mirage is important in high power shooting, give BP a try.

Am thinking the OP is SOL with his 14" twist .22cal barrel. Very nice rifles and Lee Shaver can work magic on the trigger. But, that 14" twist just can't be undone.

 

[gotcha]

Catshooter, Does this mean we actually AGREE on something

 

[CatShooter]

Catshooter, Does this mean we actually AGREE on something

Nope...

...I disagree with everything

 

[jonbearman]

Rebarrel to 6 br and someone will want your old barrel.

 

[CatShooter]

Rebarrel to 6 br and someone will want your old barrel.

It will ruin the value and they are sooooo pretty.

OP... what do you plan to use it for. If varmints at 500-600 yds, you can do very well with the 55gr BlitzKing or the 53 V-Max. You don't need to shoot loooong bullets to make it work. At long range, the very heavy 224 bullets often ice-pick through and don't open up.

Every week in warm weather, there are tens of thousands of woodchucks committing suicide in front of 14" twist 22-250s and .220 Swifts at very long range... and they never notice the length of the bullet

 

[AR Shooter]

Check out High Plains Reboring. They can rebore and cut-rifle most barrels in about anything you want (though, unfortunately, they generally can't rebore to a smaller diameter ;-)). You may be able to go out to a 6mm-250, which is a nice round. Simple enough to rechamber to something else at the same time.

Value will not be hurt with a good quality rebarrel in a popular round. You can always have the barrel done in a proper Winchester full-octagon profile. The one that is on the rifle is not actually a correct Win profile, which I've never understood. Go to all that expense to make a nice rifle and not put on the correct profile barrel.