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So, 22-250 or 22-250 Improved?

AccelR8

It's time for me to shop for dies and a reamer.

As I understand it, the main advantages of Ackley Improved cartridges are reduced or eliminated brass flow/case length growth and a little more velocity.

For me, the increased velocity is nice but not that important. I can take it or leave it.

So my questions are, in the real world, how much is brass flow and case length growth reduced? Is this just a theoretical thing or is it real? Is case life extended for more firings or not? From my experience shooting and reloading only standard SAMMI cartridges, I discard cases due to loose primer pocket before any other failure like impending case head separation (I do inspect for that), necks thickening, and all the things I've read to watch out for. I certainly don't mind trimming to length. That only takes a few seconds.

Any down sides to going improved vs. standard 22-250?
 
You are in a good place with having to get reamer and dies anyway. That helps. Like you, I discard cases with primer pocket issues sooner than case length problems (though I usually do have to trim once or twice) with my .22-250. Having fire-formed cases in the distant past for K-Hornets and .218 Mashburn Bees, I wouldn't look forward to starting that process again with the waste of hard to find components. But then again, I will probably be doing a .20 Practical once my .17 Remington barrel gives up, so I shouldn't say that! I guess the question is only one you can answer. The slight increase in velocity and less trimming, or the convenience of ready-made brass. Your choice...and have fun with your choice!
 
Im a little of a 22-250 guru. I have both. Accuracy wise, if its set up right you wont see a difference. I like slower twist barrels for varmint calibers. 14 twist is my favorite for 53 vmax and 52 bergers. Those have anchored every coyote ive shot 100% drop on spot. I like velocity in varmint rigs, another reason slower twist lighter bullet.

I shoot deer in the head with em, less meat loss.

Differences: a tad more velocity, less brass flow, more wicked looking round going AI. I like the straighter taper and sharper shoulder...

Standard 250, honestly, the brass dont flow horribly in the round to start with. Yeah I trim all to the same length, then check them every firing, dont have to trim a whole lot, but its noticable with calipers. Depends how anal you are. Definitely doesnt need trimmed every firing.

In the end... honestly, your looking at a tad more velocity and cooler looking round. Id throw out trimming differences all together as its so minor with either its just not a big deal.

Reloader 15 in either is the 22-250 powder. At least with lighter bullets.

I cant speak for heavier bullets. I dont see the purpose of shooting heaver bullets in a 22-250. If you want heavier build a 6BR for 80s and up.

12 twist barrels like the 60 to 68gr bullet range. 14 twist is where 250s shine tho.
 
Either one works well. I have kept my old 22-250 in the standard version, even though I like the Improved cartridges. 1/12 or 1/14 twist work well and will stabalize, up too the 60 grain Partition bullet (for deer) just fine. 50-55 grain bullets are best for varmints, of all sizes.
 
The 22-250 and 22-250AI are both great cartridges but I'd either do a standard 22-250 or 22 Creedmoor and skip the the 22-250AI. The 22 Creedmoor and 22-250AI are nearly ballistic twins except the 22 Creed is straight load and go where as the 22-250AI requires case forming.
 
I took a 700V 22-250 Ackley in trade about 35 years ago. It was used & abused but got it shooting very well with good velocity (3950 with 53s). Sighted 1 3/4" high @ 100, a standing groundhog will take a belly hit at 450 yds if you hold on the head. It's about on its last legs, hard to stay under 3/4" @100yds., these days. It will be rebarreled to 22-250 Ackley with another 14 twist, or maybe a 12 twist this time.

I cant quantify the case trimming thing, but it takes notably longer than any standard 22-250 I've owned. Fireforming isn't a big deal. A groundhog or ringing steel at 300yds is easy with fireforming loads, but only do 20 or 30 at a time. No prairie dog hunts in my future.
 
Thank you for the replies.

My main goal is increasing brass life. I don't mind trimming or even neck turning if needed but as I understand it (gotta say that again) one of the issues with brass flow is eventual thinning of the case wall just above the web which leads to the cases being kaput. But if I'm going to be loosing cases to loose primer pockets before that issue arises...

I see Lapua is making 22-250 brass but as of yet I haven't found any source that actually has it.

I didn't mention (I did in another thread) it's a 1:9 twist. It was free. That's kind of the impetus of this project. My wife has requested that I try to stop spending so much on my shooting so a free barrel blank, if not ideal twist-wise, is the ticket. 22-250, improved or otherwise, seems to me to be the wisest use for this barrel. If it was an 8 I probably would go with a Creedmoor, or other. I have plenty of 223s.

edit to add: truthfully, given the wife's request, I may decide to sell this when the urge for another project comes along in a few years and I think a standard chambering may be easier to sell...?
 
Last edited:
B23 said:
Google Lapua 22-250 brass for sale and you'll find plenty of places that have it in stock. Here's a couple after about a ten second search.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that but as a rule I do not Google components for sale, what with all the scam sites out there. I stick with sellers I know are legitimate, and there are many of them not just a few. Yours may very well be legit and do appear to be so but again as far as me and google I would rather look where I know.

Thanks again.
 
22-250 AI good choice I think. Never had one but as soon as I clean up a few projects I'm going to build one with a 1-14 twist.
 
I think you will find minimal case growth when you have a concentric chamber cut with a new saami spec reamer, I have a couple 22-250's and a 17 rem with 0-short freebore, the 22-250 appears I will shoot out the barrels before trimming. 17 I don't shoot as much but several cases were shot several times for load work and haven't needed trimming.
 
No reason to not other than the fact that the improved round may not feed reliably. Myself, single shot is how it all works. A Brother in Law went with an improved version and had trouble with feeding. Gary
 
I don't own an improved version and i'm sure they would grow less BUT I have several 22-250s (std) and although you have to trim from time to time, it isn't really a problem that comes to the forefront.
I've only had one swift and it was way worse
 
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AccelR8 said:
It's time for me to shop for dies and a reamer.

As I understand it, the main advantages of Ackley Improved cartridges are reduced or eliminated brass flow/case length growth and a little more velocity.

For me, the increased velocity is nice but not that important. I can take it or leave it.

So my questions are, in the real world, how much is brass flow and case length growth reduced? Is this just a theoretical thing or is it real? Is case life extended for more firings or not? From my experience shooting and reloading only standard SAMMI cartridges, I discard cases due to loose primer pocket before any other failure like impending case head separation (I do inspect for that), necks thickening, and all the things I've read to watch out for. I certainly don't mind trimming to length. That only takes a few seconds.

Any down sides to going improved vs. standard 22-250?
Click to expand...
Really like A.I.
Only downside that I know of is the difficulty reading pressure in load development.
My advice:
Just go really slow trying to go really fast.
 
AccelR8 said:
Thank you for that but as a rule I do not Google components for sale, what with all the scam sites out there. I stick with sellers I know are legitimate, and there are many of them not just a few. Yours may very well be legit and do appear to be so but again as far as me and google I would rather look where I know.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Bullet Central is definitely legit.
 
Bocephus said:
Really like A.I.
Only downside that I know of is the difficulty reading pressure in load development.
My advice:
Just go really slow trying to go really fast.
Click to expand...
I think I found a pretty sane and logical Ackley Improved load development process described on a web page.
 
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