Do I want a 1:8 twist for my 22-250?

[Crumster]

Let us know how it shoots?… any pictures?
Wayne

OK Wayne. I just got it yesterday, so I have not shot it yet. The seller gave me three ring binder sheets showing virtually every group that was ever shot through this rifle from the day he bought it brand new, and load data to boot. He never took it varmint shooting because "it was too nice". I have attached one of the last groups he shot, being satisfied at that point that he had developed a decent load. I measured it CTC .232.

Unfortunately, all the loading data he gave me for the Tikka 595 is with Accurate # 2015 hasn't been shot since 2019 bought new in 2002), but that's ok as I have plenty of other powders and loading data for them. I finally got to the range here. Windy as always. I took 5 combinations, all to SAAMI specs, with 4 different bullets and 2 powders, Big Game, and H380 powder, and Sierra 52gr, 53gr Varmaggeddon, Sierra 55gr. They were all under .75, with the H380 Sierra 52's at .499, and the Big Game powered Varmaggeddon's at .398. As I said the wind was switchy and it was raining so I didn't feel too bad. The rifle is great. It has the Sako look and feel with nice wood, floated medium heavy barrel, sweet adjustable trigger. I put a 4-12 Leupold on it.

 

[Crumster]

PS: I went back to the range today, with all the same combinations of bullets and powder. I only changed one thing. I seated all of the bullets out .105. just to see what the effect would be. I might as well have stayed home lol.

 

[Crumster]

Never understood the heavy bullet philosophy that now dominates the varmint hunting rifle world these days. The trajectory is like a rainbow. I guess you can dial up to compensate but that usually requires an expensive scope with high quality repeatable turrets. But the more significant issue is the terminal performance of these heavy bullets on a varmint. Also, is there a tendency to ricochet because they don't expand? But as I said in the past, there are a lot of things I don't understand about today's world.

I hunted with the 22 250 for years. Mine was a Remington 700 Varmint Model, 14" twist. With 50 grain Nosler BT's and Varget / IMR 4064, this rifle was a 1/2 moa rifle capable of making shots beyond my capability (300 yards) off a shooting cross stick. It's a great long-range option but was really more than I needed in the areas I hunted. When I eventually burned out the barrel, I never replaced it. However, if I was to replace it, I would go with a 14 or 12" twist for varmint hunting to accommodate the 50 and 55 grain Nosler BT's and not over spin them.

For the past several years I have use 223 Rem's exclusively for my varmint and predator hunting and have been completely satisfied with the performance results. The long barrel life, accuracy and economy for component reloading is a significant factor in my satisfaction.

The 223 seems also plagued with the heavy bullet craze. Fortunately, I have several 12" twist rifles. For my 8" twist Tikka's, I discovered the 60 Vmax which shoots very well, and the trajectory isn't too awful bad. The terminal performance of which I haven't tested on varmints yet, but it is a real hammer on predators.

I can understand the "heavy bullet" philosophy for target shooting but I am at a lost when it comes to varmint hunting which requires a bullet with a light jacket for rapid expansion for optimum terminal performance.

I promised to let all of you know if the Tikka 595 22-250 worked out. See attached.

 

[bozo699]

I promised to let all of you know if the Tikka 595 22-250 worked out. See attached.

You better get rid of that thing!…. I’ll pm you my shipping details…. That’s nice my friend congrats on getting a shooter
Wayne

 

[Crumster]

You better get rid of that thing!…. I’ll pm you my shipping details…. That’s nice my friend congrats on getting a shooter
Wayne

It has just been so much fun syphoning off the experience, humor, and camaraderie on this site. I owe all you guys.

 

[JLT]

Geez, I had no idea a 1:8 twist was such a handicap with lighter bullets. I have a 1:8 twist .22-.250 AI whose regular diet is a 53 gr. V-Max propelled by a bunch of H380, producing muzzle velocities just shy of 4,000 fps. It will pile one on top of another, routinely shooting in the low-to-mid twos for five shot groups. It shoots the 50 gr. V-Max/Z-Max almost as well and it'll send 75 gr. and 80 gr. ELD-Ms at remarkable speeds, and these will go where I point them, too. As for barrel life, I didn't expect this barrel to wear like a .222, but I do have ~1,300 rounds on it and it shoots just as tight as ever. I guess I've been doing it wrong . . .

 

[bozo699]

Geez, I had no idea a 1:8 twist was such a handicap with lighter bullets. I have a 1:8 twist .22-.250 AI that whose regular diet is a 53 gr. V-Max propelled by a bunch of H380, producing muzzle velocities just shy of 4,000 fps. It will pile one on top of another, routinely shooting in the low-to-mid twos for five shot groups. It shoots the 50 gr. V-Max/Z-Max almost as well and it'll send 75 gr. and 80 gr. ELD-Ms at remarkable speeds as well, and these will go where I point them, too. As for barrel life, I didn't expect this barrel to wear like a .222, but I do have ~1,300 rounds on it and it shoots just as tight as ever. I guess I've been doing it wrong . . .

Obviously!….. me too!…
Wayne