22-250 barell length

[Montey]

I'm having my 22-250 rebuilt it was a 24in 1in 14 twist which should have shot the 50g well but only stayed consistent with 55g. I'm thinking of going much longer to 28 or 30in. But I already have a 223 that's 30in the same spec ( Bartlien barel Nesca Action in a 3-5 Mac Millan stock ) its very acurate but heavy, the 22-250 with the 24in barel handled much better.

What's the shortest I can go to shoot the 50g heads in people's experience with constant accurate grouping top of my list? The reason for wanting to shoot 50g heads is its used with my night shooting rig,so the flatter the better.

[gbal]

RE 'flatness'-at night shooting ranges,there really isn't any difference to be much concerned with,in a fast rifle like a 22/250 especially.Here is some SAAMI data drop/drift 10mph,200 zero-you'd likely use 100,but the point is just the same: (loads are as similar-vmax etc as possible,only 50 and 55g):

 

Hornady 50Vmax @3800 100 +.8/.9 200 0/0 300 4.9/9.4

 

Hornady 55Vmax @3680 100 +.9/.9 200 0/0 300 5.2/9.2

 

If you have foxes etc that can tell the difference,they are ballistic wizzards.(Shooter ditto!!)

 

Just for fun,lets look at a faster cartridge,204 Ruger:

 

Hornady 40g Vmax@3900 100 +.7/.9 200 0/0 300 4.3/700

Hmmm you might see a smidgin more 'flatness' beyond 250y....but its about 1/2 inch at 300-only. (100 ft lb less energy of course.

These data are all with 24 inch barrels.An inch less will 'cost' about 30fps,an inch more will gain even less,progressively. At 200y the 22/250 loads have around1000 ft lb of energy- a 223 Vmax load has about 760,and is generally pretty effective.

The case for a 5g less bullet,and a longer barrel seems ......illusory,given the handicaps of manoeverability and weight.

Hope this helps decision making.

 

gbal

[happyhunter]

How is your night shooting conducted Montey, on foot or by pickup/Landy?

 

All my foxing is done by foot so I keep the rig as lightweight as possible, just a bog standard t3 lite in .22/250 with the factory barrel (22"?)

 

With either varget or h4895 I'm getting 3780fps with the 55grn v-max and 3920fps with the 52grn a-max so no need for a hugely heavy/long barrel (imagine the 50grn v-max would hit 4000fps) This rifle with these loads has exellent accuracy and is used solely for foxing with nv so doesn't see long strings of shots the barrel will last a long time.

 

Have a look back at .22cf post on his rebarreled .22/250 pushing the 69grn tmk's @ 3640, real good fox medicine.

[Montey]

Thanks for the replys and data I see what you mean it putts it all in perspective re 50g or 55g for the 22-250 ill go for a 26inch barell as its mainly in the truck with some walking. I've got a 204 and find its not the best round for stopping foxs but I do only shoot 32g heads in that as it dosnt like the 39/40g heads

[srvet]

My 22/250 wears a 20 inch tube and seems to stop Charlie just fine. NV only so ranges above 250 yards are irrelevant

[gbal]

32g 204@ 4225 (hornady vmax load) 24 inch barrel has about 625 ft lb at 250yds, compared to the

22/250 running say 53g@ 3500 fps from a 20 inch giving maybe 750 ft lb,a fair bit more clout from a heavier,bigger bullet.-maybe just a bit more reliable.

gbal