22-250 vs 22-250 AI vs 22-243

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

I have an action lying around that needs to be built into something. I want to do something in 22 cal. I have a .473 bolt face and a long action not ideal for a 22 cal but I own it and it needs to be used. I am looking to shoot bullets from 62-75gr through a 26" tube 1-9tw. I will be using it for varmits mostly PDs but maybe the occasional coyote. I have shot the standard 22-250 since I was a kid and love it, but I have a 6mm AI and really like the AI and don't mind fire forming. I am not sure about the 22-243 it might be just a little overkill but I still want to consider it. Any thoughts from those that have experience with any of these?

 

[357Mag]

Hack -

Howdy !

Please read your PMs.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[223Rem]

Plain ole 22-250.........no mess, no fuss.

Is the gain in MV of the AI over the standard .22-250 worth the added wear on the barrel's throat and cost of components to fireform the brass?

 

[2osok]

Hi you will have a job beating a .22 B/R shooting a 75 amax in 1in 9 twist only 30 grains of powder and a follow through with shot ;D
22-243 my friend has one using a 90 vld , but 36 + of powder and a muzzle flip !! :-\
this is what my .22 b/r can do .
read link below put my links on there ,

22br 75 Amax, when rl15 and varget don't work

Hope this might help ;D

 

[acloco]

Thought about a 22/6mm AI?

Mine flings 75 gr AMax in the 3950 range.

 

[macca81]

I'l second the plain old 22/250, with a good chamber job can be a great little outfit.

 

[harry.hacking@kiewit.com]

I really like the 22 BR but I am worried about its length and how it is going to feed in a long action repeater. I have looked at the 22/6 AI but I would like a little less powder and a little longer barrel life(probably not much longer). I would like to get between 3250-3400 fps w/ the 75gr amax out of a 26 in barrel. This matches my main hunting rifles ballistics pretty close (a little less expensive to shoot 22 cal) I don't think I can get this with the 22 BR. Another thought I had was maybe using the a bigger cartridge than I need and shooting reduced loads to hit my velocity marks. Increasing barrel life on a 22-243 or 22/6 AI. any thoughts?

 

[RJinTexas]

Hack, I and 3 other buddies have been shoot p-dogs together for now over 10 years. We all started out shooting 22-250 & 22-250AI's not one of us shoot either of these cartridges now. They simply heated up our barrels much quicker then most other varmint rounds and in my opinion are not well suited for the high volume shooting found in a decent size p-dog town. You'd be much better served chambering your long action in either a standard 6mmRem or 6mmAI. Either one of these rounds are my 1st choice when the wind is blowing and I'm shooting out past 500yds. A std 6mm Rem shooting 88 FB Bergers or 87gr Vmax out to 800yds, or the 6AI pushing 105 Amax out to 1200yds. If ya go with a 9 or 10 twist you'll be able to shoot everything from a 55 to 105 grain bullets. I know that the 22-250 is a great round but it much better suited for shooting yotes then p-dogs. If your set on shooting a 22 caliber I suggest you go with a 22BR but then again a 6BR in a 12tw is the best all around p-dog rifle inside of 500yds. It's darn near impossible to find anything better then 6BR shooting a 75gr Vmax or 70gr NBT's in a dog town inside of 500yds. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Hack, a 6br case doesn't feed worth a damn from a magazine even in a s/a you'll need to install a removable Score High Follower, that will solve your chambering problem. All my dog towns gun are set up as single shots.

RJ

 

[Larryh128]

The 22-250 AI gives better than 22-250 velocity without running as high pressure . Brass life is better & if not run to the firewall, barrel life should be better because of the lower breach pressure. What's not to like.

 

[skeetlee]

Long action, I would say something like a 22-284. Now that would be interesting. Barrel life would be short i am sure. For a coyote rifle i think it would be a winner, for a prairie rat rifle, not so much! Lee

 

[acloco]

I really like the 22 BR but I am worried about its length and how it is going to feed in a long action repeater. I have looked at the 22/6 AI but I would like a little less powder and a little longer barrel life(probably not much longer). I would like to get between 3250-3400 fps w/ the 75gr amax out of a 26 in barrel. This matches my main hunting rifles ballistics pretty close (a little less expensive to shoot 22 cal) I don't think I can get this with the 22 BR. Another thought I had was maybe using the a bigger cartridge than I need and shooting reduced loads to hit my velocity marks. Increasing barrel life on a 22-243 or 22/6 AI. any thoughts?

223 AI slings 69 gr at 3300 and 75 gr AMax at 3150.

My "Super Duece" - 222 Magnum AI slings 80 gr AMax at 3100. Have not shot anything lighter, would imagine 75's in the 3200 to 3250 would not be a problem.

I neck up 204 Ruger brass and fireform while shooting paper or PD's in both calibers.

 

[CaptainMal]

Shot out two barrels with my 40X in 22-250. Recently returned from my first prairie dog hunt with it as an AI. Just finished reloading about 400 cases. One.

One case needed trimmed.

To me that is unreal. 22-250 always stretched the brass a bit. Now, literally nothing. Shot 39 gr. of Rel 22 behind Berger 77gr bullets. Sometimes shot as many as 20 real fast. Never noticed any serious heat or fouling issues either.

Don't smoke it and it may be the ticket.

I know nothing about the 22-243.