Barrel problems in a 22-250 Ackley

[Striper Slayer]

Hello!
I have a Ruger MKII with a shilen 22-250 barrel, with I believe a 1 in 8 twist. The problem I am having is that with 50-55 grain bullets they start blowing up 20 feet in front of the muzzle after 50-75 rounds have been through the barrel. (This gets frustrating on the PDog fields!) The bullets shoot very well in a clean barrel, but go boom through a dirty one.
My questions is, Are they blowing up due to the high twist rate or do you think I have a rough barrel? And if the barrel is rough would one of the Tubbs lapping kits be worth a shot?
I have tried backing the vels down below regular 22-250 vels and still have the same problem.
Any ideas or recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[13red56]

In my experience the 8 twist will shoot the 50-55 gr bullets but u have to keep them clean. I have a 22-243 improved and mine will blow up 80 grain bullets when the barrel gets dirty. So typically after 50-60 shots I clean my barrel. My guess would be that is what u are experiencing. I could be wrong but I know mine has to stay clean.

 

[pacificman]

You may want to run some jb bore cleaner on a patch several times to smooth out any rough spots in your barrel if there are any.
Also some bullets may work a bit better at the higher velocities. I have found that Hornady's v-max will hold up well
at higher velocities.

 

[Striper Slayer]

The 50 Gr Vmax is what I have been shooting. They still come apart. :-[
When I clean the rifle I do it with JB bore paste. I was just hoping I could figure out a way to get more than 50 rds through it on the PDog field. I hate to quit making bio-degradable art to clean a rifle.

 

[pacificman]

I wouldn't run any more jb down your barrel. Also it's starting to sound like you may have to go to a bit heavier bullet for your 1-8 twist. ...or seems you may have to keep cleaning like 13red56 does.

 

[fredo]

Grab you some 75Amaxs, load 'em & enjoy the bullet your barrel was destined to kick azz with...

 

[2dogs]

I agree it wants to be kept clean. 50 rounds of 22-250 AI adds up to a bunch of powder down the 22 caliber bore at one time....

 

[sdnerf]

Try "target" bullets, they have a thicker jacket. I use KG-2 for slightly abnormal carbon and Iosso when things get real thick.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Try "target" bullets, they have a thicker jacket. I use KG-2 for slightly abnormal carbon and Iosso when things get real thick.

I thought target bullets had a thinner jacket?

 

[boltfluter]

You might try moly coating your bullets to help with the fouling. Good luck.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Sniper338]

Try "target" bullets, they have a thicker jacket. I use KG-2 for slightly abnormal carbon and Iosso when things get real thick.

I thought target bullets had a thinner jacket?

No... the thicker the jacket the more it holds together.

What Is The Difference Between Your Bullhinkeret Types? (Target/Tactical/Varmint/Hunting)

Our Target and Tactical bullets are designed with thicker jackets that withstand more stress before bullet degradation occurs. A target or tactical shooter generally fires multiple rounds in a row, causing the barrel to heat up and more stress on bullet. To keep performance high, we give these bullets thicker jackets.

Our Varmint and Hunting bullets have slightly thinner jackets. This means that the bullet will expand more effectively, creating a large wound cavity that devastates the animal using hydrostatic shock.

Straight from the source...


As to the OP - if your barrel is 1:8 you are shooting the wrong bullets.

14 twist for 55gr and under
12 twist for 55gr to 64gr bullets
8 or 10 twist for 64gr plus

The 7 or 8 twist is really for the 75gr plus...

Take that to heart.. ive had a few 22-250s and am reloading for mine as i type this... i have a 12 twist 22-250AI and am running 60 gr berger FB varmint bullets, cci br2 primers, and reloader 15 (again, never found a 22-250 that didnt bughole with cci br2 primers and reloader 15)...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

http://www.sierrabullets.com/resources/bullet-selection/

Heres another source that aligns with all the other mfr beliefs on jacket thickness. Not applicable in all cases of course but in general we use thinner jackets for targets and thicker jackets to expend energy and retain weight on impact

 

[Sniper338]

http://www.sierrabullets.com/resources/bullet-selection/

Heres another source that aligns with all the other mfr beliefs on jacket thickness. Not applicable in all cases of course but in general we use thinner jackets for targets and thicker jackets to expend energy and retain weight on impact

Well there you go. Sierras are way different than bergers like i posted... so with info from both manufacturers and them being completely opposite of each other i guess the conclusion is there is no definate answer, gotta use the bullets that work in your certain rifle..

 

[GrocMax]

Why I gave up on 22-250 for varmints. Too much cleaning, too little shooting.

 

[M14AMU]

For those bullets you need a 1-14 twist!

 

[swd]

Bore scope it to see if has any issues before you do anything else.

 

[TAJ45]

My $$ are on the AMax @ 75gr for the retained velocity, wind bucking etc etc. for that powder capacity. I mean, if you want to shoot 300 and under, why not the 223 with abt 10gr less powder, +/-?

Boresoping is a good idea of course. See what the reality is.

 

[bheadboy]

an old saying around home "you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear"

you twist is designed for heavy bullets, not light, your rifle is built to spec for 70gr and up, shoot them

Bob

 

[Caleb85]

I am with sniper338!
12 twist 3 groove Lilja, 60gr berger FBHP 36.9gr RL15 and I am shooting a winchester primer ......400 yards...LIGHTS OUT!!