22-250 to 22-250AI

[Mike in Oregon]

I'm currently in the process of buying a Winchester Model 70 Varmint 22-250. The gun dates back to 1993 to 1999 and looks to be a very clean rifle (I have detailed pics being sent this evening). The only concern is the unknown round count. The current owner has a documented 239 rounds fired. Before that is unknown.

So, here are my thoughts. By buying this gun it will kill two birds with one stone! First, I believe a 22-250 should be in every varminters arsenal. Second, I have always wanted a Winchester.

Now to the point. My thoughts are to rechamber to AI, shoot however many pcs of brass I think I might want (250-500), as this will be a rock chuck setup and dbl for PD's (if I ever I ever decide to make a trip to Montana or Wyoming). If it ends up being a shooting and I can develop an AI load, then I'll run with it as-is till the barrel life starts to go away. At what point I will rebarrel to a desired twist and already have my fireformed brass.

Right now, I'm thinking a 55-grain NBT, Blitz, Vmax or a 62-grain ELD-VT. If anyone has any info on the 62-grain ELD-VT, I would love to hear them!

 

[Tommie]

62 ELD-VT in 1-14” twist?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

IF, you want to SEE, the "Splodies" with, a .22-250 Rem., in an 8 to 9 Pound, Walking Varmint, BRAKED, Rifle, Use,.. 50 gr V-Maxes, 52 gr A-Maxes/ Bergers or, 53 gr. V-Maxes ( 12-14 Twist ), Pushed at, NO More than,... 3,600 FPS !
And,.. Set Scope for,. 18-20 Power, Max.
IMO,.. There's No need for, the Ai Version,.. Except to, cut down on,.. "Trimming" cases.
H-4895, IMR 4895, H-380 and Varget, are "Good", Powder choices in the .22-250 for, the sub 55 grain bullets.
Size the Case with, a Minimum of shoulder "Set Back" for, Best Accuracy in, the old 250 !
There's NO need to spend, a Lot of Money on Expensive Bullets to, Shoot PD's and Sage Rats !!!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

62 gr vt don't waste your money, needs much quicker twist rate. I wouldn't even try the 53 vmax either. The old 52 amax shoot good out of 1/14's.

 

[B Nettesheim]

The brass in the ackley version will last a long time and they are super accurate. My go to is the 50 grain nosler bt for small vermin. 14 twist is plenty

 

[Mike in Oregon]

62 ELD-VT in 1-14” twist?

Read my post closer. If I rebarrel, I will do what twist is necessary.

 

[Tommie]

Read my post closer. If I rebarrel, I will do what twist is necessary.

Ok got it.
Having done a 22-250AI I would recommend a 22 Creedmoor for a host of reasons.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Ok got it.
Having done a 22-250AI I would recommend a 22 Creedmoor for a host of reasons.

Got one! I knew the CM would come up. Yup, have one in a Ruger No. 1 custom.

 

[TAJ45]

Know this: For maximum throat life, the longer the case neck couple w a 30° shoulder minimum I'll give you a tremendous decrease in throat wear.
Have a Bud who did pd's in the glory days, a week or two atta time w we'll smithed, well barrelled rigs. His 6mm Rem AIs always lasted longer than his .243 Als...ALWAYS.
He put together a long necked 6XC (.400") and had less than .007" wear after 700 rds of 107s at 2 nodes - high end 31xx and 33xx low side. He really likes to push things and the brass was beyond double digit firings.
If anyone wants to chat w him and get more precise #s, pm me.
He used Palma brass for the small primer rim strength.
He also tried weighting his 224s to see the air time. 16# and he still wasn't seeing it all. I know not at what power.
Itsa fun ride, enjoy it....
Tom NRA
Life '76

 

[357Mag]

I'm currently in the process of buying a Winchester Model 70 Varmint 22-250. The gun dates back to 1993 to 1999 and looks to be a very clean rifle (I have detailed pics being sent this evening). The only concern is the unknown round count. The current owner has a documented 239 rounds fired. Before that is unknown.

So, here are my thoughts. By buying this gun it will kill two birds with one stone! First, I believe a 22-250 should be in every varminters arsenal. Second, I have always wanted a Winchester.

Now to the point. My thoughts are to rechamber to AI, shoot however many pcs of brass I think I might want (250-500), as this will be a rock chuck setup and dbl for PD's (if I ever I ever decide to make a trip to Montana or Wyoming). If it ends up being a shooting and I can develop an AI load, then I'll run with it as-is till the barrel life starts to go away. At what point I will rebarrel to a desired twist and already have my fireformed brass.

Right now, I'm thinking a 55-grain NBT, Blitz, Vmax or a 62-grain ELD-VT. If anyone has any info on the 62-grain ELD-VT, I would love to hear them!

Mike -

Howdy !

RX :
If your rifle has a 1-14 barrel 24 - 26” lg barrel, I suggest you shoot H414/WW760 under
55gr varmint bullets…. whether FB or BT. These days, you might be more likely to find 6.5 StaBal…. another Winchester powder….. just 2 “ burn rate “ rankings “ slower “ than the first two listed.
I also suggest also, giving FED Large Magnum Rifle Match ( GM215M j primers a try.

You’ll likely want to do something about the ( factory ) trigger. None of my anti-groundhog / accuracy rifles have triggers rated in “ lbs “ pull effort. I myself like
1.5 - 2oz triggers for that, but hey….that’s just me.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[358WCF]

If it shoots, the regular old 22-250 might be fun until it goes the way of all things. If you didn't know, the barrel has to be set back a thread or two for a proper Ackley, so more work/$$.

An early 90s 700V 22-250 with a 26" bbl. I stumbled into last year was like new inside & out. Yes a 14 twist. A box of 55gr PPU factory loads went about 1 1/2" @ 100yds. Handloads using some '90s era 52gr FB BR bullets (the last of the Rubrights) just short of touch with both N140 & N150 are sneaking up on 4000fps & shooting into <3/8" groups. Pressure is normal. Groups started to get bigger above 4030fps. Barnes 52 Match Burners & Berger 52s will repeat this without changing the seating die. The 52s at 3950+ make me smile. Not sure how much more an Ackley will do & if the itch is worth the scratch. 500 yards is still a fur piece around here. Any farther & a 6mm or even a 25 might be preferable.

I also have a 14 twist 24" 22-250 Ackley with a terribly sloppy chamber. Bought it very used for the $$ of an action in the 90s & started fooling around with it. Surprisingly, it came around. Along with 53 Hornady FB, it was shooting their 50SXs or maybe the Sierra MV Blitz at c.3980fps into tiny little groups with a particularly snappy lot of long grain H4350 or Scot 4351 heavily compressed. Ball powders ran a bit faster, but got too peaky in warmer weather for my liking. When either of the 50s were sighted 1 3/4" high at 100 it was a head hold on a standing groundhog @450 yds to hit it in the throat... about like a Swift.

More recently, this rifle wanted nothing to do with the 53gr V-Max (slightly oval holes in target) right before it finally gave up the ghost. There's a 26" 12 twist barrel ordered. Wondering how much a 26" bbl or a quicker twist will add?

Ayyyyy... would ya look at all that rambling. Good luck with your new 22-250.

 

[B23]

For me I would either leave it be and stay with the 22-250 as it comes or if I was looking for a little more as soon as I got it I'd set it back and re-chamber it to 22 Creedmoor.

The 22CM is a near ballistic twin to the 22-250AI but will save you the time and cost of forming brass and buying another set of dies.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of re-chambering factory barrels especially if you have to pay someone to do it. If you have a lathe and chamber your own barrels then I suppose that could change my mind but if you don't I'd start with a fresh barrel. Factory barrels can be hit or miss. Custom barrels are generally all pretty good and don't cost that much so before I spent any amount of money messing with a factory barrel you know nothing about I'd just skip past that idea and get a custom in whatever twist you want to shoot the bullets you plan to use.

 

[Ackman]

I'm currently in the process of buying a Winchester Model 70 Varmint 22-250. The gun dates back to 1993 to 1999 and looks to be a very clean rifle (I have detailed pics being sent this evening). The only concern is the unknown round count. The current owner has a documented 239 rounds fired. Before that is unknown.

So, here are my thoughts. By buying this gun it will kill two birds with one stone! First, I believe a 22-250 should be in every varminters arsenal. Second, I have always wanted a Winchester.

Now to the point. My thoughts are to rechamber to AI, shoot however many pcs of brass I think I might want (250-500), as this will be a rock chuck setup and dbl for PD's (if I ever I ever decide to make a trip to Montana or Wyoming). If it ends up being a shooting and I can develop an AI load, then I'll run with it as-is till the barrel life starts to go away. At what point I will rebarrel to a desired twist and already have my fireformed brass.

Right now, I'm thinking a 55-grain NBT, Blitz, Vmax or a 62-grain ELD-VT. If anyone has any info on the 62-grain ELD-VT, I would love to hear them!

Sounds like a pretty good plan. Comparing the ywo chambarings. Years (many) ago, the 55gr accuracy load in my Rem varminter 22-250 was was only 3550. The last 22-250 was shooting a factory barrel with 50's at 3925, which is very good for that chambering. I also have a couple 22-250AI's, both 14twist, both 0 freebore and chambered with quite a bit of crush. Shooting 50gr BT's, the 28" Hart does 4246, and the the 25" Walther does 4225. Those are the accuracy loads with Reloder 15. Fireforming loads were doing 4113 and used on critters of different size, including PD's and many many chucks. That's a nice increase in velocity, with excellent accuracy. Deciding if it's worth it is up to you. The standard 22-250 is still a very good cartridge. The guy I shoot with uses 52 Speer HP's in his standard 22-250 and turns a mature rockchuck into hairy gutpile mush with that bullet.. So you take your choice.......I prefer the extra velocity with 50's going faster.

 

[DLT]

Leave it alone and shoot it like it is IF IT SHOOTS !!!!!