I wouldn't have thought a 12 twist would make it happen at levels under 4000 ft. There's the example. My buddy's cannot stabilize the 69 SMKs at 1000' elevation. Hitting paper sideways at 100 yards. Every gun is different.
22-250 questions, New to the Caliber...
- Thread starter Whiskey4
- Start date
Whiskey4
Gold $$ Contributor
akajiggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I am new to the 22-250 also but my brother has 2 of them and likes them.I have been reading this thread and trying to figure out what twist would be the best over all .See a lot of 9's,12's,and 14's mentioned .It seems to me like that a 10 twist would be a perfect middle of the road twist to shoot a little heavier bullet and still shoot the smaller bullet without fear of bullet compromise. Like I said,I know nothing of the 22-250 but would like to hear from y'all who does. What do you think.
As always, I appreciate your thoughts and information.
Thank you
Jim
As always, I appreciate your thoughts and information.
Thank you
Jim
Personally for me, the 223 will shoot the very light bullets as far as I want to take them. Maybe the 22-250 will carry them a bit further but to me, where the bigger case .224 cartridges shine is at the longest ranges for caliber. I own 12 and 14 twist .224 guns and they do shoot great with bullets up to around 55-60 grains. However those heavier bullets will be the shorter version minus the boattail designed as the hunting class line of bullets. For ranges out to 400-500 yards, they do fine. I can shoot my 223 out to 500 easily and much longer with lighter bullets but without good reliable accuracy in any wind conditions. I use those slower twist guns to coyote hunt at closer ranges as well as ground hogs up much closer. Crows are great targets for 40-50 grain bullets out to 400 yards with explosive results. The 22-250 or bigger cartridges really make the 75-90 grain Loooong match bullets shine in fast twist guns. To me, that's what they were designed for. Pushing them well into the 3000+ fps range and taking coyotes at 600-1000 yards with no trouble. Defying wind ( easier) when it's not gassing too bad and accuracy not suffering from it. Those heavies are like lasers when pushed around 3400-3500 fps.
Bigguy1951
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm shooting the 90 gr SMK out of my 8 twist 22-250 with great success. I know they suggest longer, but if you put the 90 through the Berger twist calculator it comes out comfortably stable. Now that the new 95's are out I will have to consider a faster barrel, but not till I test them. I shoot the 90's to 1000yds with surprising accuracy. I have even won a few of the local club long distance shoots with it.
JBT47
Silver $$ Contributor
Interesting. I tried the 90’s in a 1-8” Brux .22-250. Couldn’t get them to shoot.
Bigguy1951
Silver $$ Contributor
JBT47
Silver $$ Contributor
I ran them all the way up to 3190 fps. Couldn’t get any consistent accuracy from them. Some groups would look ok but wouldn’t hold.
Bigguy1951
Silver $$ Contributor
Did I see 53 VMax with IMR 8208? I do that because it works, tiny targets @ long range!
Should you need to shoot longer match type bullets go to a 1-8 and not surprisingly that will also shoot the 53 VMax well.
I found the Miller twist program works well and I measure the length of the entire bullet including the plastic tip. A 1-12 will handle the 53 VMax. Various 65, 68 grain and up boat tail soft & hollow point bullets would prove to be ultimately failures under all conditions using a 1-12. At best they would fall under the "marginally stable" category - why go there - shoot the 53 VMax!
Should you need to shoot longer match type bullets go to a 1-8 and not surprisingly that will also shoot the 53 VMax well.
I found the Miller twist program works well and I measure the length of the entire bullet including the plastic tip. A 1-12 will handle the 53 VMax. Various 65, 68 grain and up boat tail soft & hollow point bullets would prove to be ultimately failures under all conditions using a 1-12. At best they would fall under the "marginally stable" category - why go there - shoot the 53 VMax!
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Mark W
Gold $$ Contributor
My 1:14 twist CZ 550 Varmint shoots that 63 SMP into sub 1/2” groups with H380 in Winchester brass. I can’t remember the velocity off the top of my head but it’s no slouch.
jimmymac
Jim McGregor
Same here, with the same gun and the same powder. Reloder 15 works equally well in my gun. I want to say velocity is right around 3100 FPS but can't locate my records here at 05:30. Out of curiosity, have you tried the 40 grain Z-Max out of your gun? Completely different animal at 4100+ FPS but my gun loves those little bullets.
17VLD
Gold $$ Contributor
Any of you older guys look at your vintage reloading manuals?
Seems to me the newer ones are more conservative.I found a nice load in an older Hornady manual that I have used on pds in South Dakota,it was 43.0 of H-414 it pushed the 50V-Max along at 4050fps from my ole 26"
Rem 700VS.I realize powder lots change over time,I had a 1lb can that was faster than my 8lb jug,my point is I think you may see a trend if you compare older manuals to the newer ones.Just start safe and work up,you may be pleased.
Matt
Seems to me the newer ones are more conservative.I found a nice load in an older Hornady manual that I have used on pds in South Dakota,it was 43.0 of H-414 it pushed the 50V-Max along at 4050fps from my ole 26"
Rem 700VS.I realize powder lots change over time,I had a 1lb can that was faster than my 8lb jug,my point is I think you may see a trend if you compare older manuals to the newer ones.Just start safe and work up,you may be pleased.
Matt
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Yes I have several older loading manuals that I reference with the new and it has helped me decide on some of the good old powders that are still being used today. H-414 is another very good powder in the 22-250. I have a friend that uses this powder in his 22-250 and he swears by it's accuracy. H-414 would definitely be one of those to consider for sure.
Mark W
Gold $$ Contributor
Is yours a wood or HS Precision stocked Varmint model? I also have found several good loads with Reloder 15 but I seem to get higher velocities with H 380. I haven’t tried the 40 Zmax in this rifle.
jimmymac
Jim McGregor
I have the CZ550 with the HS Precision stock. Glad I bought that gun seeing that they don't put it together in that configuration any longer. Try those little 40 grain bullets. They shoot good for me with more than one powder.
Whiskey4
Gold $$ Contributor
Well here goes again... So i decided NOT to wait.. I just bought a brand new Savage model 10 action that has been trued..I also bought a savage factory 24" barrel 1-9 twist... I will be mounting this in a MPA chassis..I hope to shoot 75 gr vmax with this rig..On top will be a bushnell DMR II i
3-21-50 so i should be able to see..On occasion i will also be using my clip on night vission unit...
So what do you all think ???? Pros,Cons ???
This will mainly be used by one of my grandaughters,But of course i will get to play some too...
3-21-50 so i should be able to see..On occasion i will also be using my clip on night vission unit...
So what do you all think ???? Pros,Cons ???
This will mainly be used by one of my grandaughters,But of course i will get to play some too...
Sounds like you have made a good choice. The 1/9 twist will allow you to stabilize many different bullet weights.
I would bet that you like many here will love the 22-250.
The 1/9 twist will allow you to stabilize many different bullet weights.I would bet that you like many here will love the 22-250.
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