22-250 Varmint/game rig

[escopeta]

A friend want me to build a .22-250 for him and he wants to use the heavier bullets for long shots on critters in South Texas. My question would be what twist rate to use and a good heavier bullet type. Still need to locate the proper fluted blank for the project based on best input. Will use Lapua brass only and this will be built on Rem 700 action and McMillan A5 stock. Also best reamer type and configuration.
Thanks all

 

[357Mag]

Esco -

Howdy !

IMHO -
If you think your buddy might be using bullets up to 75gr, then I recommend a 1-8 twist. If he's gonna go w/ even heavier .224's,
then he'd be headed towards 1 - 7.5 ..... or even faster.

A rifle w/ up to a 29" barrel and normal length-of-pull... should still fit in an " Airglide " .


Best of luck in your endeavors !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[escopeta]

Kinda what I was thinking. 1-9 to 1-8. and long, but not too heavy. Just built him a 20" .308 truck axle gun on FN action with Bartlein 5R on a McMillan stock. Just need to find/order a fluted barrel.

 

[Phil]

75-80gr. Amax with an 8 or faster twist......

 

[Minesweeper3433]

Don't overlook doing a switch barrel on the rifle he already has. Being able to just change out barrels and go to town with a faster cartridge is nice especially when you can get all your practice in on one rifle and stock, scope set up instead of bouncing between rifles.

 

[escopeta]

No rifle yet. I need to build from scratch. Just have Remy SA. Still need to locate or order fluted barrel blank and Macmillan A5.

 

[Phil]

I`ve been thinking about necking down some 6 creedmoor brass to .22....

Essentially the same as a .22-243 but with a 30* shoulder already in place.....


Food for thought.....

 

[Chief 101]

I am liking a 1/9" twist that allows me to shoot full bore 50gr accurately and also allows me to shoot 75 gr Amax accurately and everything in between. My basic heavy bullet load is 65gr Sierra hunting bullet and my basic lightweight varmint bullet is 50gr Nos. I haven't shot 1/8" because I don't need to shoot anything real heavy. I am sure that either one will be excellent with heavies...

 

[WyleWD]

I`ve been thinking about necking down some 6 creedmoor brass to .22....

Essentially the same as a .22-243 but with a 30* shoulder already in place.....


Food for thought.....

The 22-243 is REALLY has short barrel life and goes from fun and accurate to WAY too much pressure in a small amount of change. JME. WD

 

[escopeta]

Found new 8tw fluted blank from member here that will be good for my project. Just need to get a stock now.

 

[escopeta]

Found a fluted Broughton 8tw barrel and A2 Manners stock here from other menbers and ordered a 22-250 match reamer, throater and gauge from PTG today. Plan to set up for the heavier bullets to take the South Texas yotes and other critters on the South Texas ranches. I am doing all the work including load development, for my client and will share any success or failure i have later.

 

[escopeta]

As I still need to chamber and throat, what would be a excellent predator factory loading with heavier bullet? I want to throat so the client has the choice of good factory ammo or hand load. How much free-bore?
Tks

 

[benchracer]

I wouldn't bother to throat a 22-250. The standard reamer tends to produce long throats as it is. The heaviest factory loads that I am aware of are 64 grain loads by Winchester and Nosler, neither of which use a particularly long or aerodynamic bullet. Hornady loads a 60 grain soft point, but it is not a long bullet either. Most of the remaining factory loads use 50-55 grain bullets.

My handloads using 53 grain VMAX and 69 grain SMK have base-to-tip OAL's of 2.510 and 2.507, respectively, when loaded to touch the lands on a recently replaced barrel with a round count less than 100. My previous barrel, chambered by a different smith, measured very similarly when it was new. Given that most factory ammo will be loaded to a base-to-tip OAL in the vicinity of the SAAMI specified 2.350, ANY factory load will have a lot of jump.

Throating for a specific bullet, and loading any but the longest bullets to touch the lands, is a waste of effort in the 22-250, IMO. You have enough twist to use the streamlined 75 and 80 grain bullets and enough room in a standard chamber throat to load them long, while still allowing factory ammo to do OK. If you want to make any chamber modifications, I believe that the one that makes the most sense with the 22-250 is to go with the Ackley Improved version. Given the fast twist and the desire to use heavy bullets, I believe the AI is a no-brainer of an upgrade that will still allow for the use of factory ammo.

 

[escopeta]

My reamer is zero free-bore from PTG. So will need to throat.

 

[benchracer]

If the desire is to retain the ability to shoot factory loads with good accuracy, I wouldn't throat it any longer than what a standard reamer would produce.

 

[escopeta]

For now I am going to throat for Federal ammo with Nosler 63grn partition factory. 8 tw barrel and don't think he will load for it, although I gave him Lapua Brass and top grade reloading tools. As I have a separate throating reamer I can always move it out.