Twist Rates for .224

[David2011]

I'm ready to order a barrel to build a .22-250. I would like to be able to shoot heavier, high BC jacketed bullets, at least to 70 grains and maybe 80 but don't want to give up the ability to shoot a 50-55 grain bullet. I was thinking about a 1 in 8 twist. Does anyone have any practical experience with 50 or 55 grain bullets at that twist?

Thanks,
David

[Doc Highwall]

It will work. I have 1-8" twist in my 223's and I have shot the 55gr bullets with good accuracy. Both of my Remington 40X 223's were test fired at Remington with 52gr HPBT Sierra MatchKings

[GabbyM]

Not done it myself. but the fast twist 22-250 followed right on the heals of the long bullets being introduced for HP match rifles. Mostly in 223 Rem.
What I’ve read is most shooters give it up as the barrels just burn out to fast to be practical. Rounds like the 6mm BR and 6.5mm Creedmoor or even an 1-8” twist 223 get it done better. Of course as soon as I say that we’ll hear a different opinion. Like I said I’ve not owned a fast twist 22-250.

What I do know about is having a rifle where the barrel wear cost more than the match grade bullets you are shooting from it.

You could down laod the 22-250 but what's the point in that?

[David2011]

One consideration is that I'm using a Mauser '98 action. The bolt face is suitable for .22-250 but won't fit a .223. The build consists of the Mauser action, a Shilen barrel, Timney trigger, laminated thumbhole stock and a scope to be determined. I do all of my own work so gunsmith charges are not an issue.

I've already built a Mauser '98 and chambered it in 6.5x55 so I don't need another 6.5. It has a 1-9" twist and it works very well with 120 or 140 grain bullets but it does like quality bullets.

David

[Doc Highwall]

With a .473" bolt face why not consider a 6mmBR with a 1-8" twist and shoot 107gr Sierra MatchKings. The 6mmBR does not use much powder and the 107gr MatchKings will out shoot anything you could load with a 22-250Rem or 308Win and have long barrel life. Check out 6mmBR.com for some great articles.

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

[deltaenterprizes]

Interesting cartridge for sure!

[S.R.Custom]

Given the higher velocity of the .22-250 over the .223, a 1:9 twist would be more appropriate; a 1:9 twist would get you pretty much the same spin as a 1:8 twist in the .223.

And being not quite as twisty, the 1:9 would be easier to get light bullet accuracy.

[Doc Highwall]

You still need the 1-8" twist for the 80gr bullets. Sierra even makes a 90gr bullet for 22cal but I would chose the 6mmBR first because the 6mm bullets are better and the barrel life will be much longer. I have both 6mmBR and 6mmXC and the only advantage of the 6XC over the 6mmBR is I can shoot 115-117gr bullets and I have a 30" barrel to do it with.

[David2011]

Doc,

Thanks for the advice but I'm building a .22-250. With the 6.5x55 that I built a couple of years ago I can't see that a 6mm would be any gain over the excellent ballistics of the 6.5. It is extremely accurate but excessive for prairie dogs and coyotes. I have a good shooting AR-15 in .223 but want a .22 cal centerfire bolt gun.

If I were to build in the 6mm range it would definitely be another .264/6.5mm something. Probably a .260 Rem or a 6.5/284 but I'm happy with the 6.5x55. With it, I see no need for a .30 caliber anything but I do taking the Garand out for a spin now and then. If I need more power than the 6.5x55 can muster I have a .375 H&H ready to be stocked and bedded.

I'm still interested in any known issues with shooting 50 to 55 grain .224 bullets in an 8" twist.

David

[deltaenterprizes]

I have a Rem 700 with a 1 in 8 twist barrel you are welcome to try.

[David2011]

I have a Rem 700 with a 1 in 8 twist barrel you are welcome to try.

Hoping it will be warmer soon! I'll give you a call but in the mean time, what range of bullets have you shot in it?

Thanks,
David

[deltaenterprizes]

If I shot 50 rounds through it it was plenty. Most probably 55 gr to get the scope on paper at 100 yds.

[David2011]

I guess a little more thorough research was in order. Seems like almost all of the jacketed bullets over 70 grains are target bullets. Homogeneous bullets like Barnes are another matter. Now, I love punching holes in paper but the .22-250 is for shootin' critters so maybe a 9" twist is more appropriate. It's easier on the smaller faster bullets and still fast enough for 70 grains.

I guess I'll go with a 9"twist to improve the results with 50-55 grain frangibles.

David

[Bullshop]

We have a 22/250 with a 1/6.5" twist and it shoots 90 Berger VLD's very well.
I have not yet be motivated to try boolits in it.

[DCM]

The Greenhill formula will give you the MINIMUM twist rate required for the length of bullet.

http://kwk.us/twist.html

[David2011]

But I'm looking for the MAXIMUM twist that a 50 grain bullet will tolerate.

David

[DCM]

But I'm looking for the MAXIMUM twist that a 50 grain bullet will tolerate.

David

What type of 50g bullet do you plan on shooting?
Is it a varmint bullet, if so then you will need to keep closer to the minimum twist rate or they will spin apart.
My experiance with a 55g varmint bullet out of a 20" 1 in 7.7" twist 223rem was just that, my scorekeeper got to watch them explode in mid air. We were both puzzled until I figured out that I grabed the wrong box of ammo for the rifle I was shooting.

[David2011]

A friend who shoots a .223 WSSM told me of his experiences of missing the target because the bullet never arrived. I'm currently shooting an AR-15 with a 9" twist and want a bolt action for a little heavier bullet, hence the initial question. The better quality bullets I usually load include:

Hornady: 50 gr. V-Max, 50 gr Spire Pt, 60 gr HP
Sierra: 53 & 69 grain Matchking, 50 gr Spitzer, 63 gr Semi-Pointed soft point
Speer: 70 gr Semi-Spitzer



Frangible bullets have an appeal, particularly for prairie dog hunting. For coyote hunting I would probably stick to a heavier jacket like a soft point to reduce exit damage. I could always run the frangibles through my AR which has a 1:9" twist. Seems like any soft point from 50-70 grains would be about the same on a coyote.

The more thought I give to the rifle the more I'm inclined to build the rifle for 60-70 grain bullets and maybe leave the lighter bullets to the AR or just buy a fast twist for heavy bullets and a slower one for light bullets. Switch 'em out the way benchrest guys do for the task at hand.

"Indecision may or may not be my problem."
JB, Lage Nome

David

[DCM]

Your best bet on the info give would be the 2 barrel setup as the 50g v-max out of a 22-250 would be best with a VERY slow twist (1-12, 1-14) so they do not explode (think RPM). The others would like the faster twist.

[ironhead7544]

The 75 gr A-Max bullet works in the 8 inch twist. Should be good for varmints too. Unless you want to go really long range the standard 55 gr bullet is probably the way to go with the 22-250. Just my .02.

[GabbyM]

I've got 65 grain Sierra Game King SBT bullets for my 9" twist AR. they shoot the same laod as 69gr SMK. Speer makes a 70 grain bullet that should work in a 9" twist and may or may not be better for little Texas deer.

It takes an 8" twist to run the 75 to 80 grain bullets. the 75 and77 grain bullets are designed to load magazine length in an AR. No need for that in a bolt gun. The 80 grain VLD's as you know are very high B.C. of .420 for the SMK. I'd guess you'd need to have your chamber throated to fit the 80gr SMK.

Been plenty of these rifles built for F class and HP rifle match. I got all excited about the idea for a while until more data came in from the field. Of course they were trying to make them into one thousand yard competitive rifles. Tall order there. If you held the powder charge down to a modest level instead of hot rod. Beating the 223by a few hundred fps wouldn’t be hard. Sierra’s 60 gf HP Varminter is another good 22 bullet. With the start load of H-380 a 22-250 will send that at 3,362 with just 44,200 C.U.P. One would think with that low pressure you’d get good barrel life. But I’ve never personally know anyone who held off the top end with a 22-250.

[Doc Highwall]

The Speer 70 grain bullet will shoot with a 1-14" twist out of a 22-250 because it is a semi-spitzer and Speer has loads for it in their manuals. There is an article in an older Shooters Bible IIRC about shooting a bear at 300 yards with complete penetration along with shooting deer.

[David2011]

Finally it occurred to me to ask Sierra for their recommendation. I gave them velocity and rpm information.

(Abbreviating) . . .a 50 grain bullet at 3900 fps / 351,000 rpm / 8” twist and 312,000 rpm / 9” twist. A 55 grain bullet / 3700 fps/ 8” twist / 333,000 rpm and 296K with a 9” twist.

Paul at Sierra Bullets said, "I’d go with a 1-8” twist here.Our lighter bullets can handle this kind of RPM’s with the exception of the 50 gr. Blitz and the 55 Blitz. These two bullets have thinner jackets than our normal bullets have and they may not handle the RPM’s of the 8” twist."
Paul
Straight from the Bulletsmith's mouth.

David