[jkbt1]

Well as much as I appreciate everyones help and opinions here I dont want to se this turn into a drawn out "i know better than this guy or that guy" thread. And Im not expecting my homework to be done for me...rather asking opinions of people on here who I know are very knowledgeable on the subject at hand is part of my homework.

These calculators asking for specific bullets are great for figuring all of this out but Im also not one to stick with one or two bullets for everything either. I like to "tinker" and will probably play with weights from 40 up to 60 grains like I do with everything else. Im not a long range guy in the sense that I shoot 800-1000 yards or more. I punch paper at 100-200 yards and prairie dogging we get to stretch out to 500-600 once in a while when the wind isnt too bad. So if a 1in10 twist would be optimal for the bullet thats length and weight are on the upper end of what I'd use , and 1in14 is basically the standard for this caliber , would a 1in12 be a good compromise for what I'mnlookkng for?

 

[BCB]

I have an Encore pistol barrel in 22-250 Remington cartridge…

T/C puts a 1:12 in their 22-250 barrels, or at least the used to do so. The same is true with the 223 barrel that I have for my Contender…

Both will shoot the 45-52 grain bullets into ½ to ¾ inch at 100 yards the vast majority of the time. IMR-3031 for the 223 and H-380 or H-414 for the 22-250…

MGM puts 1:8 or 1:12 in their Encore barrels. Apparently someone shoots some pretty heavy bullets with the 1:8 twist…

Good-luck…BCB

 

[jsid6g]

I am a small timer in this stuff but I do have a question , do the ATF people require all rifles to have a 16 inch barrel or longer or is that a miss no mer I picked up over the years , an I am out in left part of the woods
will please do fill me in , I was told a few years back a rifle has two measurements, barrel length an over all length could be wrong so take it easy with me

 

[Darkker]

Can't recall the specific lengths, but yes. The ATF calls a rifle about 16", and a shotgun is another length if memory serves.
If you want shorter, you gotta filll out paperwork for a SBR.

 

[jsid6g]

thanks for the up date I am not crazy

 

[joeb33050]

I think this is the right place to ask this...

What twist would be optimum for a 15" or 16" barreled 22-250? Loads will remain in the varmint bullet weights for handloads and factory ammo such as Hornady varmint 50-55 grain.

I do believe Remington kept the 1 in 14 twist in the 22-250 XP but that doesn't mean they are necissarily right either. Dunno?? Thats why im asking.

striker.

I'm in the middle of a slow speed jacketed bullet test.
I have been shooting 22-250 in 9", 12" and a 14" twist Savage Striker. The Striker averaged 5 shot 5 group 100 yard with the Midway Dogtown 55 gr .700 long bullet of 1.075"-two 5 group targets. This with Titegroup, 7.0 gr for 1 target, 7.5 gr for the other.
The Striker averaged .884" for two targets, Nosler Varmageddon 40 gr bullet, 7.0 Titegroup.
The Hornady 50 and 53 gr V Max bullets went throuh the target sideways, Striker and 7.5 gr Titegroup.
The 50 gr is .772" long, the 53 gr is .825" long, the 55 gr V Max is .815" long, no boattail.
I have more, many more target records.
I just ordered a Shilen 22-250 barrel with a 9" twist--there's some evidence that slower twist barrels shoot more accurately than faster twist, I think the difference is small and hard to find. So, I'll keep shooting 9" twist 22-250 barrels that will stabilize many bullets at slow speeds.

joe b.

 

[Lefthook]

Back to the OP's original question, I would go with a 16" barrel if I were the OP and pick a twist. That would not be my personal choice, but with all the available ammunition and reloading components you will have the fun of finding something that is accurate. My .22-250 is an All Weather Ruger M-77 Mk-2, I think it's called a Hawkeye now, but that was fun working on accurate handloads. If you don't reload, buy a bunch of different ammo and have fun finding out what it likes. Go for it and enjoy shooting it, that is what it's all about.

 

[langenc]

Thanks for all that info. So just to make sure im reading all this correctly , the 1in10 would give the best overall using 50-55 grain bullets then?

I had a 12" barreled 221 built about 1 1/2 years ago and on a whim , went with a 1in10 also instead of the usual 1in12 on those guns figuring the slower velocity would benefit from a bit more twist with 50-55 grain loads and still shoot the 40's ok too. It shoots like a dream! Not sure exactly why but it does! I have the basics down on ballistics but nowhere near a lot of you guys here on the forum. I appreciate it!

Doesnt some govt agency say that gun barrels must be 16" or MORE??

 

[shreck]

We have the same rule in Australia, rifle minimum barrel length of 16 inch.
I'd to do a shorty project but i'm scared of how loud it will be.

 

[kdub]

Rifle barrels must be of 16" minimum. Pistol barrels may be of 0" to infinity.

IIRC, shotguns must be 20".

Yes the BATF has these federal requirements.

 

[jkbt1]

Thanks for all the added info here. And to answer about the barrel length...this is going on a Rem XP100 handgun so there is no need to worry about being long enough which is 16" for a rifle and 18" for a shotgun btw. I had a discussion with one of the ballistic techs at one of the bullet makers about it and the answer is to go with a 1in12 for anything they make from 40 to 65 grain.

 

[axlenut]

Being limited to lead free bullets for hunting, I found that those bullets are more accurate than the cup and lead core variety, but also require a faster twist. My most used bullet in the .22-250 Remington and .22-250 Ackley is Barnes 50 grain Varmint Grenade. I have tried a 1:10" twist for the .22-250 Remington, and a 1:9" twist for the .22-250 Ackley, with the 1:9" twist producing the tightest groups. Both barrels are Pac-Nor Super Match SS varmint contour one on a Remington 40X and the other a Remington 700 prefit installed with a barrel nut.

Using the JBM Stability Calculator we find that the 0.857" long 50 grain Varmint Grenade at an average velocity of 3,650 fps, in the 1:10" twist has a Stability Factor of 1.223, or marginally stable. While in the 1:9" twist the Stability Factor increases to 1.510, or stable. The results mirror these numbers in my rifles, although in 24" barrels. Were I to build a pistol on my Wichita Bolt Action Silhouette Pistol, with a 15" .22-250 barrel, I would select the 1:9" twist as that same long bullet would remain stable from 2500 fps (1.331 S.F,) to 3000 fps (1.414 S.F.), with other weight and shorter length bullets fairing just as well or better.

I have another .22-250 Remington barrel with a 1:12" twist that will not shoot the 50 grain Varmint Grenade too well, but will handle the Berger 50 grain flat base bullet as shown below in two test targets after installation. The red diamonds are 0.5" on a side:

We should also not discount the 1:10" twist for the long 50 grain Varmint Grenade, while it may be marginally stable, a ten shot group at 100 yards provides some utility as a varmint rifle:

Switching to the 36 grain Varmint Grenade in the 1:10" twist shows how additional stability will tighten groups, although the lighter bullet decays quicker over longer ranges:

So, my advice is to select the 1:10" twist at the minimum, and the 1:9" twist for the greatest range of bullet weights and lengths. I have found that erring with a too slow twist can not be compensated satisfactorily by adjusting loads with lighter, shorter bullets, while the faster twists handle everything better.

 

[Lefthook]

Nice report axlenut. Great info and graphics.

 

[jkbt1]

Yes Axlenut...good info and thanks for taking the time to post all of that.