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

[Crumster]

As some of you know, I've been hunting for a Tikka armint 22-250. Almost impossible to find now, but I have located a T3X Lite at a reasonable price. Problem is, it may be a 1:8 twist. Again, not what I'm familiar with, and unsure if I want to go the slow motion route. What is the lightest bullet that would work? (22" barrel).

 

[bozo699]

VAs some of you know, I've been hunting for a Tikka armint 22-250. Almost impossible to find now, but I have located a T3X Lite at a reasonable price. Problem is, it may be a 1:8 twist. Again, not what I'm familiar with, and unsure if I want to go the slow motion route. What is the lightest bullet that would work? (22" barrel).

Idk what you mean slow motion route but my 1:9 22-250 AI will shoot 50 grain V Max in a ragged hole
Wayne

 

[Crumster]

Idk what you mean slow motion route but my 1:9 22-250 AI will shoot 50 grain V Max in a ragged hole
Wayne

By slow motion, I mean bullets in the 60 something range, with velocities in the low 3,000's.

 

[nr123]

I've shot some 40 gr Nosler and V-max bullets in my 1-8" Tikka, 22-250. They were very accurate, and my choice would definitely be the 1-8 twist. I shot 53 and 55 gr Varmageddon bullets for coyotes for a while, but now I'm shooting the Hornady 62 gr VT. I've had really good luck with CFE223.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

I've been down this road and won't do it again.

This combination did a good job with Sierra 55's up to Sierra 80's
but was the worst barrel burner I've ever had.

This was fun while it lasted but no more for me.

A. Weldy

 

[Crumster]

I've been down this road and won't do it again.

This combination did a good job with Sierra 55's up to Sierra 80's
but was the worst barrel burner I've ever had.

This was fun while it lasted but no more for me.

A. Weldy

Holy cow! Tell us what happened (eroded quickly, rusted or pitted or) ????

 

[Crumster]

Stainless or moly?

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Mostly used the heavier bullets with H4350-----very bad erosion.

This was a very well known, high quality barrel that also shot
the Sierra 69's very well.

A 223 might have been a better choice over the 22-250.

A. Weldy

 

[Murray Brook]

@Lucky Shooter
Agree. I've had 2 different 22/250's both 14 twist and I found the round count to be too low for my taste. Throat gone in appx 1200 rds. If I go back to a 22 caliber rifle it will be in 222 or 223. JMO

 

[Crumster]

Mostly used the heavier bullets with H4350-----very bad erosion.

This was a very well known, high quality barrel that also shot
the Sierra 69's very well.

A 223 might have been a better choice over the 22-250.

A. Weldy

We'll understand if there's a reason you don't want to tell us the barrel make, but I'm ready to spring on a Tikka....is that what it was?
Craig

 

[bozo699]

We'll understand if there's a reason you don't want to tell us the barrel make, but I'm ready to spring on a Tikka....is that what it was?
Craig

If you want barrel life buy a .22 Hornet, if you want some barrel life and performance a .222 or .223 is a good choice but if the barrel is a huge concern then a 22-250 should not be a consideration.
Wayne

 

[K22]

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.

 

[boltfluter]

"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".

K22,
When hunting coyotes or something similar many times a long shot is all you get. As in beyond 300 yds and possibly as far as 500yds or so. I run an 8 twist 6 Dasher as my primary coyote rifle running an 87 gr V-max that is amazingly accurate. I have taken quite a few coyotes with this combination at 500 yds or more. Bullet selection is paramount to successfully doing this. The 87 V-max is a light jacket with a plastic tip, which is the key to expansion, as you know I am sure. A slower twist barrel with light bullets will not compete in this arena. Poor BC leads to severe wind drift and erratic groups beyond 300 yds in my experience. I have dropped coyotes with this combination out to 690 yds( longest shot) with one shot and perfect bullet expansion. But, as you know, chosen cartridge and the correct bullet are unbelievably important to do this humanly. Which this combination does extremely well. Hopefully this answers a few of your questions.
Paul

 

[Crumster]

"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".

K22,
When hunting coyotes or something similar many times a long shot is all you get. As in beyond 300 yds and possibly as far as 500yds or so. I run an 8 twist 6 Dasher as my primary coyote rifle running an 87 gr V-max that is amazingly accurate. I have taken quite a few coyotes with this combination at 500 yds or more. Bullet selection is paramount to successfully doing this. The 87 V-max is a light jacket with a plastic tip, which is the key to expansion, as you know I am sure. A slower twist barrel with light bullets will not compete in this arena. Poor BC leads to severe wind drift and erratic groups beyond 300 yds in my experience. I have dropped coyotes with this combination out to 690 yds( longest shot) with one shot and perfect bullet expansion. But, as you know, chosen cartridge and the correct bullet are unbelievably important to do this humanly. Which this combination does extremely well. Hopefully this answers a few of your questions.
Paul

Congrats on some fine shooting!

 

[Crumster]

Congrats on some fine shooting!

Boltfluter,
The 6mm Dasher and the 22-250 Remington are different animals.
IMHO K22 is right on re: the "Varminter". The 1:8 has it's place in .22 centerfire, but it's in the .223, shot at paper targets at extended ranges. True, some folks have been able to shoot lighter shorter bullets, but they are the exception.
To demonstrate how out of hand it has gotten, they are selling bolt action rifles in 22-250, with a 1:8 twist, that weigh under 6 pounds. "Neither fish nor fowl" as my old dad would say.

 

[Gary in MD]

My Tikka lite 8 twist shoots the 55 grain Sierra Blitz Kings pretty good @3700 fps and the expansion is as good or better than coming out of the standard 14 twist. The high rpm’s really make the bullet explode. Killed a handful of ground hogs last summer with explosive results. It also shoots the 77 grain TMK pretty good at a little under 3200 fps. Killed a fox and a deer with those this past year, that bullet expands well so far, the plan is to try it on ground hogs in the next couple months and see how it does.
A 22-250 is a big step up in performance from a standard 223 rem.
Get the Tikka
Gary

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I shoot 50 gr vmax in a 223 tikka varmint 1:8 amd its stupid accurate. I shoot 53gr vmax in a 1:8 ar15 and that is sub moa all day everyday even with my dumbass behind the trigger. That same gun shoots 40 gr vmax ok with factory ammo. Im sure I could tune up some hand loads.

IMHO the sweet spot for .224 guns is the highest BC pills from 50 to 60 ish gr. A good balance of MPBR and wind bucking. If you wanna sling 40s, get a 20 cal.

They only seem to do the varmint once a year or less. There are tons of super varmint around right now.

 

[K22]

"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".

K22,
When hunting coyotes or something similar many times a long shot is all you get. As in beyond 300 yds and possibly as far as 500yds or so. I run an 8 twist 6 Dasher as my primary coyote rifle running an 87 gr V-max that is amazingly accurate. I have taken quite a few coyotes with this combination at 500 yds or more. Bullet selection is paramount to successfully doing this. The 87 V-max is a light jacket with a plastic tip, which is the key to expansion, as you know I am sure. A slower twist barrel with light bullets will not compete in this arena. Poor BC leads to severe wind drift and erratic groups beyond 300 yds in my experience. I have dropped coyotes with this combination out to 690 yds( longest shot) with one shot and perfect bullet expansion. But, as you know, chosen cartridge and the correct bullet are unbelievably important to do this humanly. Which this combination does extremely well. Hopefully this answers a few of your questions.
Paul

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I am truly impressed with you making shots at those distances. I assume you are dialing up on your scope at those distances.

Those distances are beyond my capability off a cross sticks. Also, where I hunt, a 300+ yards shot opportunity is rare if not non-existent due to terrain restrictions and overdevelopment. The maximum distance norm at the places I hunt is about 225 to 250 yards. In addition, a light jacket fast expanding bullet is desired to prevent ricochets.

Some of the old timers I use to meet (now I am an old timer ) used cartridges like the 218 Bee and 22 Hornet and were quite successfully around here due to the lack long range of shot opportunities. One old guy I knew was quite successful with a 222 Rem and 50 grain bullets. Both the 222 and 223 Rem with 50 and / or 55 grain bullets seems ideal for this area.

 

[boltfluter]

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I am truly impressed with you making shots at those distances. I assume you are dialing up on your scope at those distances.

Those distances are beyond my capability off a cross sticks. Also, where I hunt, a 300+ yards shot opportunity is rare if not non-existent due to terrain restrictions and overdevelopment. The maximum distance norm at the places I hunt is about 225 to 250 yards. In addition, a light jacket fast expanding bullet is desired to prevent ricochets.

Some of the old timers I use to meet (now I am an old timer ) used cartridges like the 218 Bee and 22 Hornet and were quite successfully around here due to the lack long range of shot opportunities. One old guy I knew was quite successful with a 222 Rem and 50 grain bullets. Both the 222 and 223 Rem with 50 and / or 55 grain bullets seems ideal for this area.

Yes I am dialing for elevation and holding for windage. I will only take a long shot like this in very low wind conditions, as I do my very best not to miss my mark. Fun stuff!
Paul

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My NEXT .22-250 Rem. will BE, a 1-8 Twist, to shoot, High BC, 53 gr. V-Maxes, up to, the 69 SMK's and 77 TMK's !
YUP, another, TIKKA and I just might, ream it out to,.. .22 Creed , tho ! ( LESS ,.. case Trimming ! ).
IF you "Down Load" the Velocity a Bit ( My "Accuracy Node" of, 3,500 to 3,550 FPS with, 50 grain V-Maxes and other 55's ) seems to Help, quite a Bit on, "Barrel Life". VhitaVouri Powders like, the " Cooler" N Series, will Help also.