22-250 AI with 6 1/2 twist for 90 Bergers ?

[Caliche Pit]

In my head I have tossed this around for about 5 years. Has anybody got any experience with this combo, or crunched the numbers. Seems like it would be a sweet mid range competition rig. (600 yards) Expected barrel life?

 

[Rtheurer]

WHooo Hooo that is alot of twist for 22 250! Any reason your thinking of going with that fast of twist. If its because you where told its what is needed to keep the 90's stable, it has been proven that a 1:7 will do it and and in most cases even a 1:7.7 is plenty enough. The old thought of needing a 1:6:5 came from the service rifle shooters who only have a 20" barrel and shooting the some what anemic 223. In a real laymens way of putting it.. you can use a slower twist with the faster speed you will get from the bigger and faster 22:250 cartridge. The 20" barrels really limited the speed and needed the extra RPM to keep them stable. I can say I was involved intimatly with one of the Military teams 90gr program and know first hand how hard it was to make them shoot in a short barrel.
Im going to take a stab at this based off only one other shooters results and say that he got about 1200+ rounds out of his 22-250 barrel and it was toast. Keep in mind that was a XTC used for Rapid fire stage as well... Mihgt give you some insight into how long it will last though.
I have a 22BR that i havnt got around to shooting yet that should do everything the 250 will do. It is a 1:8 however and plan to shoot the 80gr class bullets instead.
Mid range + 6BR ( or varient) + 105class bullets= tiny little groups. And its Sooooo easy to find a good load.
Just some food for thought. Sorry to ramble on
RussT

 

[Caliche Pit]

Thanks, I know some service rifle barrels will shoot the Bergers with a 7 twist, my 7 twist barreled upper did not like them, so am just sticking with the 80's for it. Considering the barrel life, there are a lot better choices out there, like 6BR for a mid range rig. I have always enjoyed shooting my 22-250 I have had for years and years, and was just thinking of trying something a little different when it was time to re-barrel. Guess I will just leave the old gal as a jug buster, as I haven't seen a groundhog in twenty years. Ah, the old days.

 

[MarkS]

Caliche Pit,

I did a 22-250AI in a 8tw. At the time 80gr were the heavest bullet out. It liked the 75gr Amax running 3300 f/s. I shot great. I shot it out to 1000yds hitting clays with ease. Barrel life about 1000 rds. I am now shooting a 223AI 8tw, this shooting light out. I shot a steel match out to 1050yds. You want find anything better than a 6BR for 600 yds or a 6BR imp out to 1000yds.

Mark Schronce

 

[A_Gamehog]

I have a 1-9 twist 22-250 AI, the optimum load is a 60 Grain bullet. The 60 gives you 2,000lbs of energy, below that in weight and above that in weight the energy drops. To me it's a great varmint round not a heavy Bench Rest rifle. The 6BR does it better in midrange with less powder and much longer barrel life. My 9 twist 250ai shoots the 75 Hornady match HP well. The Nosler 7th ed. has great load data for the 250ai as does Sierra. If you don't shoot the barrel hot it should give you 2500+ rds. Mine has.

 

[xswanted]

I'm shooting 80s out of an 8 twist at 3375. Pretty hot load, its setup for hunting, but it performs wonderfully at 600 yards.

 

[Lazydays]

WHooo Hooo that is alot of twist for 22 250! Any reason your thinking of going with that fast of twist. If its because you where told its what is needed to keep the 90's stable, it has been proven that a 1:7 will do it and and in most cases even a 1:7.7 is plenty enough. The old thought of needing a 1:6:5 came from the service rifle shooters who only have a 20" barrel and shooting the some what anemic 223. In a real laymens way of putting it.. you can use a slower twist with the faster speed you will get from the bigger and faster 22:250 cartridge. The 20" barrels really limited the speed and needed the extra RPM to keep them stable. I can say I was involved intimatly with one of the Military teams 90gr program and know first hand how hard it was to make them shoot in a short barrel.
Im going to take a stab at this based off only one other shooters results and say that he got about 1200+ rounds out of his 22-250 barrel and it was toast. Keep in mind that was a XTC used for Rapid fire stage as well... Mihgt give you some insight into how long it will last though.
I have a 22BR that i havnt got around to shooting yet that should do everything the 250 will do. It is a 1:8 however and plan to shoot the 80gr class bullets instead.
Mid range + 6BR ( or varient) + 105class bullets= tiny little groups. And its Sooooo easy to find a good load.
Just some food for thought. Sorry to ramble on
RussT

I lost 74 fps going from a 26" barrel to a 20" in a .223.
gary

 

[PALarson]

Wow, this thread couldn't have came at a better time, I just got a 30" Bartlein and was going for a 223, decided to go to 22-250, told my shooting buddy, and he talked me into going with 22BR. He said that is was the most accurate gun that he ever had, it would shoot groups of 1" at 600 yards, so here I am going with the 6BR of which you have verified for me. Thanks
Paul Larson Mid Range Long Range Hi Master

 

[Rtheurer]

RussT

I lost 74 fps going from a 26" barrel to a 20" in a .223.
gary
[/quote]

I dont doubt that at all. Is that from the same barrel being cut down to 20". The only reason I ask as I have seen some rather large spreads from one gun ( barrel) to another withthe exact same chamber barrel and ammo. Some barrels just shoot faster.
Funny how these things are some times. When you test 60 plus service rifles ona machine rest you get to collect alot of data as proof.

RT