.224 bulllet weight in an 8” twist

[Wind River]

Recently acquired a 1-8” twist 22-250 Tikka for coyotes. I may be regretting buying one with the 8” twist. 52gr Bergers, a bullet that has been my go-to, only reach target about half the time as they fragment due to the centrifugal force. I know it will shoot heavier bullets but has anyone found a relatively light varmint bullet that will hold together?
BTW…….i did not notice it was 8” twist when I bought it, I know it’s all the rage these days but all I wanted was a coyote gun.

 

[CF Junkie]

There is no reason why you should be pushing a 52 grain Berger so fast that it is disintegrating, regardless of the twist.
The 1:8 twist combined with high muzzle velocity is the problem.
Slow down the muzzle velocity a bit with the 1:8 twist and I think you will find the problem goes away.
The 52 Berger FB #22408 is one of my favorite bullets in both the .22-250 and the .223.
They are great target bullets. But it is not a bullet that I would use on coyotes.

With a more standard .22-250 I have shot 40 gr Nosler BTs at over 4,000 fps MV and they were like grenades on prairie dogs. But I think they would be too light a bullet for coyotes.

You should be able to find some 55 gr to 60 varmint bullets that will be devastating on coyotes at a long distance and they should be less susceptible of disintegrating at the MVs you seem to prefer.
In all my years of reloading, I have rarely found a barrel that shoots more accurately at pressures near Pmax with max muzzle velocity than with pressures closer to the middle of the powder load table.

 

[Gary in MD]

My Tikka 8 twist shoots the 55 grain Blitz Kings very well @ 3700 fps using Varget