which twist for 22-250 build?

[flexible]

Hi everyone, flexible here.
Starting to plan for a 22-250 custom build. My biggest concern will be the twist rate. The rifle will be for: casual target shooting, varmint hunting and an introduction to centerfire rifle for my 13 year old grandaughter.
I know for bullets in the 30's & 40's the 1:14 will be ok but how fast can i go to stabalize heavier bullets (50's and maybe 60's) without 'exploding' the lighter bullets. Yes, i will be reloading.
thnaks

 

[17VLD]

I would pick a 12 so I could shoot the 53 VMax and since your max weight would be 60 you will be fine.The lighter 30-40s will work as well.Ive often thought a fast twist 22-250 for 75-80-90 grain bullets would be fun but the reality for me is if I need more weight/distance a 6mm will get used.The 53 VMax as well as the newer Sierra BK in that weight range is fabulous for varmints and very flat shooting too.The 14 twist would do 99 percent of what you need but if it was me I’d use a 12, have fun it’s your choice.
Matt

 

[22vartarg]

1:12 is what I did for my build about 1 year ago. Wanted to be able to shoot 60 gr. that required it. Has worked well for me, normally shoot around 50 gr.

 

[BradY]

A 1:10 might be enough to stabilise the 69gr match bullets for target shooting and will be fine for 50-55gr varmint bullets. However if the ranges for target shooting aren’t too long then a 52gr matchking will be fine and a 12 twist will do nicely.

 

[Gary in MD]

Yea, if you only plan to go up to a 60 grain bullet then a 12 twist is fine.
If your target shooting could involve some longer range stuff then an 8 twist that will stabilize the longer bullets would be better and yet still be able to shoot the 55 grain varmint bullets just as accurate.
You can have the best of both worlds.

 

[DLT]

12 twist.

 

[alf]

Hi everyone, flexible here.
Starting to plan for a 22-250 custom build. My biggest concern will be the twist rate. The rifle will be for: casual target shooting, varmint hunting and an introduction to centerfire rifle for my 13 year old grandaughter.
I know for bullets in the 30's & 40's the 1:14 will be ok but how fast can i go to stabalize heavier bullets (50's and maybe 60's) without 'exploding' the lighter bullets. Yes, i will be reloading.
thnaks

12" twist all the way, 53 Vmax for varmints, 52 Berger for targets.

Now that we have that out of the way, be cognizant of proper throating for those bullets.

Somewhere around the .025" mark.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Honestly, the best combination I've seen would be an 8-Twist with the 75 ELDM. They are cheap,they tune well, and they shoot amazingly well. They even blow up very well on varmints. You can also shoot them at 600 yd or more if you ever so choose.

 

[B23]

Flexible, unless you just absolutely have to have a 22-250, based on your description of use, I would favor a good 223 build instead of going 22-250.

Barrel life will be substantially better and it'll have less noise as well as recoil and if your granddaughter ever needs or wanted to shoot some factory ammo the available selection for a 223 VS 22-250 is considerably better. A 8 or 9 twist 223 will give her years and years of good service.

 

[357Mag]

Hi everyone, flexible here.
Starting to plan for a 22-250 custom build. My biggest concern will be the twist rate. The rifle will be for: casual target shooting, varmint hunting and an introduction to centerfire rifle for my 13 year old grandaughter.
I know for bullets in the 30's & 40's the 1:14 will be ok but how fast can i go to stabalize heavier bullets (50's and maybe 60's) without 'exploding' the lighter bullets. Yes, i will be reloading.
thnaks

Flex -

Howdy !

You could shoot a 1-14, and be able to cover .224" bullet weights up to 60gr; as-long-as bullet oal remains below .750" . In a 24" barrel, you'd be good for things like groundhogs out to 425yd; with good confidence for reliable kills on well placed shots.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[K22]

12" twist is what I would choose, and I'd shoot either 55 Nosler or 55 Vmax for varmint hunting. Super accurate with excellent terminal performance.

If you study the ballistics, you will see that the 55's outperforms the lighter bullets once you start to get approximately beyond 250 yards or so.

 

[alf]

12" twist is what I would choose, and I'd shoot either 55 Nosler or 55 Vmax for varmint hunting. Super accurate with excellent terminal performance.

If you study the ballistics, you will see that the 55's outperforms the lighter bullets once you start to get approximately beyond 250 yards or so.

If you study ballistics.......

55 BT - .267 BC
60 BT - .270 BC

55 Vmax - 255 BC
60 Vmax - .265 BC

Winner:
53 Vmax - .290 BC

 

[Gary in MD]

Not arguing but...
For actual varmint hunting (as opposed to what the factories claim for their BC), I'd be hard pressed to bet against the Sierra 55 grain Blitz Kings.

 

[alf]

Not arguing but...
For actual varmint hunting (as opposed to what the factories claim for their BC), I'd be hard pressed to bet against the Sierra 55 grain Blitz Kings.

BC wins the ballistic wars, real or imagined.....

 

[urbanrifleman]

BC wins the ballistic wars, real or imagined.....

75 ELDM is .467.

 

[Clancy]

I’m very happy with a 1:10 for 60-69 grain bullets, but a 1:12 is better suited for your needs.

I would skip the hornady and get Nosler Varmageddons or Sierra Blitzking in the 55 grain weight. Both of them have proven to shoot substantially better than the Hornady bullets- for me anyway.

 

[alf]

75 ELDM is .467.

And my pointed 80 VLD's are .480, but the heavyweights aren't a consideration in the OP's questioning....

 

[K22]

If you study ballistics.......

55 BT - .267 BC
60 BT - .270 BC

55 Vmax - 255 BC
60 Vmax - .265 BC

Winner:
53 Vmax - .290 BC

Good point - I was referring to the 40's that the OP mentioned.

Also, the 55's provide a good balance between velocity and BC plus terminal performance on varmints but you're right, the 60 and 53 Vmax have superior BC's.

 

[nr123]

My Tikka 1-8" will shoot a 40 gr v-max or Nosler just fine. However, I've settled on a Nosler Varmageddon 53 or 55 gr for coyotes. I haven't shot anything heavier than a 60 gr, but it was accurate too.
I talked with one bullet mfg when I was working up loads, and he said there was no way my twist would shoot a 40 gr bullet. Told him he was wrong because I had already shot them, and they didn't blow up or come apart. Bottom line for me, I would go with a 1-8 twist.

 

[urbanrifleman]

My Tikka 1-8" will shoot a 40 gr v-max or Nosler just fine. However, I've settled on a Nosler Varmageddon 53 or 55 gr for coyotes. I haven't shot anything heavier than a 60 gr, but it was accurate too.
I talked with one bullet mfg when I was working up loads, and he said there was no way my twist would shoot a 40 gr bullet. Told him he was wrong because I had already shot them, and they didn't blow up or come apart. Bottom line for me, I would go with a 1-8 twist.

Me too.