Short barreled 22-250AI velocities?

[MHWASH]

I've had my 22-250AI for about a year now. It's a Ruger MKII with a 24" Hart barrel. I have about 20 fireform rounds left to shoot. I'm considering cutting the barrel back to 18-20". I plan on using either the 80 or 88 grain ELDm. I'm curious what kind of velocities I might achieve with a shorter barrel.

The main purpose of this rifle is predator calling.

 

[DLT]

If it helps I run a 22” with 52match pills running right at 3500

 

[DLT]

Sierra claims with a 24” barrel. If you go 20” roughly account for 25fps loss per inch. That will get ya a rough estimate

 

[AckleymanII]

I run a 24" 12 Twist on my 22/250 AI that was a new 223 700 barrel.

Noise and concussion on 19-20" would be horrendous to say the least. So much so, you may have trouble with a follow up shot.

 

[MHWASH]

That's helpful DLT, thank you.
I should mentioned that I use a suppressor.

 

[xswanted]

I've had my 22-250AI for about a year now. It's a Ruger MKII with a 24" Hart barrel. I have about 20 fireform rounds left to shoot. I'm considering cutting the barrel back to 18-20". I plan on using either the 80 or 88 grain ELDm. I'm curious what kind of velocities I might achieve with a shorter barrel.

The main purpose of this rifle is predator calling.

I have a 20” Brux barrel in 22-250ai.

75 Bergers will run 3250 with a stout load of R17

Works well with the suppressor for the same purpose you’re looking for.

 

[MHWASH]

Very nice!

 

[B23]

My 22-250 is just the standard, not an Ack Imp, it wears a Brux barrel but mine is only a 12tw. It started out as a 24 but I had it shortened to 18 and I run it suppressed 100% of the time. It's definitely louder than it was before and even suppressed it's not what I'd consider hearing safe without ear plugs. A few shots, 2-3 maybe, without ear protection hunting coyotes isn't bad but if I'm out shooting it more than that in a short time frame I'll have some sort or ear protection in/on.

Mine only being a 12tw I shoot the 53gr Vmax but I also use RL17 and I'm right at 3600 in my 18in Brux.

The more overbore something is generally the more they loose per inch of barrel. You'll probably be closer to 35-40 fps loss per inch of barrel on a 22-250AI then 25 fps. With a powder like RL17 shooting 80gr ELD-M's from a 20in barrel a high end load will probably be in that 3250-ish range.

For what it's worth, a varmint/coyote gun that is being used suppressed all of the time, I will gladly give up velocity and a little added noise for a shorter more convenient and much handier handling rifle. A coyote isn't going to be anymore deader'er at 3250 VS 3400 with a 80gr ELD-M.

 

[boltfluter]

My 22-250 is just the standard, not an Ack Imp, it wears a Brux barrel but mine is only a 12tw. It started out as a 24 but I had it shortened to 18 and I run it suppressed 100% of the time. It's definitely louder than it was before and even suppressed it's not what I'd consider hearing safe without ear plugs. A few shots, 2-3 maybe, without ear protection hunting coyotes isn't bad but if I'm out shooting it more than that in a short time frame I'll have some sort or ear protection in/on.

Mine only being a 12tw I shoot the 53gr Vmax but I also use RL17 and I'm right at 3600 in my 18in Brux.

The more overbore something is generally the more they loose per inch of barrel. You'll probably be closer to 35-40 fps loss per inch of barrel on a 22-250AI then 25 fps. With a powder like RL17 shooting 80gr ELD-M's from a 20in barrel a high end load will probably be in that 3250-ish range.

For what it's worth, a varmint/coyote gun that is being used suppressed all of the time, I will gladly give up velocity and a little added noise for a shorter more convenient and much handier handling rifle. A coyote isn't going to be anymore deader'er at 3250 VS 3400 with a 80gr ELD-M.

While mine is an 8 twist, 20" barrel, in .22BR shooting 75 A-max at 3050 fps, coyotes seem to be just as dead as when the barrel was 24" long! Short and suppressed is the way to go in my opinion. Have fun!
Paul

 

[AckleymanII]

I will not give up performance for a can...never. 22/250 AI with 75's at 3450 is real world performance on a 24"-25" barrel, H4350.

Short barrels and cans are the New Wokness that has invaded into the shooting, and that crap is not for me.

You do what you got to do, I will do what I do. I am not going to UNLEARN the hard lessons learned of flat shooting trajectory on targets that you have absolutely NO time to range find to get a distance on.

 

[alf]

Short barrels and cans are the New Wokness that has invaded into the shooting, and that crap is not for me.

You do what you got to do, I will do what I do. I am not going to UNLEARN the hard lessons learned of flat shooting trajectory on targets that you have absolutely NO time to range find to get a distance on.

While everyone is entitled to their opinions, you're pretty short sighted, & paint with a broad brush......

I personally saw no need for a suppressor for the longest time. Night time time thermal hunting changed my outlook damn quick, due to people were hearing shots at night & thinking poachers were at work.

Ain't no woke bullshit going on here....

You realize you can put a can on a 24" tube don't you?

 

[Jeff]

While everyone is entitled to their opinions, you're pretty short sighted, & paint with a broad brush......

I personally saw no need for a suppressor for the longest time. Night time time thermal hunting changed my outlook damn quick, due to people were hearing shots at night & thinking poachers were at work.

Ain't no woke bullshit going on here....

You realize you can put a can on a 24" tube don't you?

20" 22-250AI 55gr bthp H380 3600 FPS

 

[alf]

20" 22-250AI 55gr bthp H380 3600 FPS

18"... 22x47 Lapua...52 Bergers...H-4895...3800 FPS...

 

[AlNyhus]

18"... 22x47 Lapua...52 Bergers...H-4895...3800 FPS...

It'll never work.....

 

[alf]

It'll never work.....

Debbie Downer......

 

[B23]

18"... 22x47 Lapua...52 Bergers...H-4895...3800 FPS...

"that crap is not for me" LOL

But I sure do like it!

 

[AlNyhus]

Debbie Downer......

You know how I am.

 

[AckleymanII]

Alf, you have ALWAYS impressed me with your builds, your knowledge in guns and hunting experience. It seems the rage these days to throw away BC and down range impact velocity by cutting barrels to a ridiculous length. The Can on a longer barrel, I could accept.

I hunted Mexico for years, shot and saw a LOT of coyotes killed and wounded. I have a lot of respect in how tough the coyote is, and the White Tail deer also. I like to hedge my bets in getting the best flat shooting ability that a cartridge with bullet choice can give me. I have shot more than a few that dumped their guts out on the ground with them running off due to range mis estimation. You have NO time to range an animal, they come into the call at all distances and directions.

Between 225-350 yards is where a lot of coyotes are unzipped or hit low, and after seen more than a hundred hit like this, I am prone to shoot a cartridge where it is flat shooting with a bullet that creates a MASSIVE wound. In fact, if I could Shoot the coyote in half, that is even better.

While walking out and making stands, I started off with 30" Rem 870's and Ithaca 32" 10ga. I never had trouble swinging those shotguns, nor the Rem varmint in 22/250. I had two of the Ithaca 10ga, and everyone that went in my truck wanted to carry one of the Ithaca's. My current 12ga Beretta 391 with a 28" barrel is a wet dream come true.

To me and the coyotes that I have shot and seen killed out of my truck, the 22/250 AI with a 55g at 4100-4150 out of a 25" barrel is about a perfect coyote rifle, but it is bested by two other cartridges:
6 Rem AI with 70g Noslers at 4100-4150, 26" 14Twist
6-284 with 55g noslers at 4300 out of 26" 14T

I am not going to cut barrels to 19-20" and throw away terminal ballistics(impact velocity) unless it is a very short range gun for coyotes while hunting in the brush or deer. 200 fps gives a guy one whale of an advantage in permanent wound cavity, and bullets do operate best within certain impact velocities.

This is just a hobby, and everyone has to do things their own way., there is no right or wrong for your hobby as we chase our own dreams.

Alf, again, I certainly have the utmost respect for you and the way you put together guns, you absolutely know what you are doing! That 22-47 Lapua with the 52's at 3800 will flatten coyotes way on out there. I shot the Berger 52's at 3750 out of 22/250s and that combo did a wonder job out to 300 yards, which was a long shot for us in the flood plains down in Az and Mexico. Later on, we went to the 60g Berger at 3700 in a 22/250 AI which is just a monster killing load in what ever case you shoot it in!

 

[Gary in MD]

Keith, nicely said. I agree that everyone has to choose what works best for them.
Having hunted varmints for close to fifty years, I like a good varmint bullet run as fast as I can get with the accuracy needed for the job at hand. I’m not chopping the barrel of a “hot rod cartridge” anymore than I would pull two plug wires off of a nice muscle car and run around on 6 cylinders.
To each his own. YMMV
Gary

 

[Frankm]

+1 to B23 … 22-250 AI quite overbore so I d expect around 35-40 fps of loss per inch. My 26” barreled AI runs 75 s right at 3400 fps… a 20” would probably run 3200 fps with similar loads.