long range 22-250

[longrangefreek]

I have been trying to figure out my next rifle build and I have idea. I have a Savage m12 varmint rifle with a 1 in 12 twist. I have all of the reloading supplies for this caliber and am trying to keep the build as cheep as possible. I am looking to buy a Savage prefit barrel at 28 in finish length with a 1 in 7 twist and shoot 90 grain bergers. it would be a barrel and stock change with minimal reloading supplies need to buy.

I am looking for some input on this type of project. there is not a lot of information out there that talks about this type of round. hoping someone out there could give me some good information. I personally think it would be a great gun for varmints, and antalope with a lot of longrange rock kills.

very interested in what you guys think

thanks

 

[WildRose]

I have been trying to figure out my next rifle build and I have idea. I have a Savage m12 varmint rifle with a 1 in 12 twist. I have all of the reloading supplies for this caliber and am trying to keep the build as cheep as possible. I am looking to buy a Savage prefit barrel at 28 in finish length with a 1 in 7 twist and shoot 90 grain bergers. it would be a barrel and stock change with minimal reloading supplies need to buy.

I am looking for some input on this type of project. there is not a lot of information out there that talks about this type of round. hoping someone out there could give me some good information. I personally think it would be a great gun for varmints, and antalope with a lot of longrange rock kills.

very interested in what you guys think

thanks

I shot a .220 swift for years, three of them actually. Very similar to the 22-50. I shot deer and antelope both with that caliber out to 600yds (neck shots only on the long one's).

Funniest shot I ever made on large game was a doe I killed with my Ruger #1 .220 swift. I'd been watching her for two hours and it was getting dark and she was grazing ina wheat field and just wouldn't get side ways or look up. Finally I whistled and she didn't raise her head but about a foot and a half off of the ground and looked at me.

Pulled the trigger and she did a complete back flip. The bullet had passed through her voice box, ran up between her wind pipe and throat and exploded when it hit her dead center in the spine.

The heaviest bullets I ever used were I think 55 or 60gr Ballistic tips.

It'll do.

 

[dttorres]

the 22-250 ackley improved is a great cartridge and minimal casing stretch. same balistics as the 220 swift.

 

[longrangefreek]

do I just fire form my 22-250 cases to get the ackley case?

 

[dttorres]

Yes,load a normal load and seat the bullet to lightly touch rifling,that helps minamize stretching. Inspectect cases after to make sure you don't have any cracks around the neck.

 

[1984nitro]

I have a 220 swift ai that shoots the 80 amax around 3300 fps on a mild load. This thing is like a laser and is hard to beat when it comes to getting the vaminting done. The .224 caliber and heavy bullets going fast are hard to beat when it comes to rock chucks and yotes. As for the 90 gn bullets I personal would go for the 220 swift ai just to get the full advantage fo the 90gn. If you go 22-250 go with ai for the extra velocity and extra case life.
Hope this helps
Eric

 

[longrangefreek]

thanks for the information guys. greatly appriciate it. I am really going to look into the 22-250 AI.

 

[longrangefreek]

one more question. can I work up loads and velocities while fire forming or do I fire form and then do load workups. hate to waste heavier bullets while fire forming. I have some lighter bullets if I need to waste them.

 

[johnmyers]

Use the cream of wheat method for fireforming, it works pretty well. The 90s should really be an awsome long range load but bbl life will be low. A 1:8 twist shooting 80s a little faster might be better but you still won't have good bbl life. Maybe a 22br just a little slower with a lot more bbl life and more accurate. If you need a repeater the 22br might not work. There are alot of options for you so I hope you find one that works well for you.
John

 

[dttorres]

Use the bullet you' ll hunt with . They will be very accurate ,so sight it in and you can start hunting varmints if you choose so. That way your not wasting bullets. Caution if the bullets are touching the rifling to much, and you eject an unfired round, the bullet might stay inside !!! So make sure you have a cleaning rod with you to push it back out. Other than that, you're good to go. I forgot mine and used my oil dip stick from my engine. Another important note, do not over heat your barrel,be patient,let it cool off when it starts to get hot!

 

[longrangefreek]

thanks guys. appreciate all of the information

 

[SouthPawShooter]

I agree that the 22-250 AI is an outstanding round. The Ackley I had was so accurate it was amazing I shot my personal best shot group with mine at .104@100 and a few.2s pretty easily.But answer you questions the one thing I did while fire forming was sight in with my factory rounds first then after I had some fire formed brass accumulated I did my load development and I would run them trough a chrono-graph I then put that info into a ballistics calculator then run one chart for each load (factory and fire formed)with it sighted in using the factory round at 100 and see were the Ackley round is hitting on factory round setting and start my chart from there and it worked quite well for me but it did not take long till I was shooting only Ackley rounds. Now if you go with a 220 Swift you wont have to put so much time and rounds down the pipe. Remember fire forming puts more wear on the throat and barrel to get the Ackley brass accumulated and a good load developed unless you fireform with oatmeal. I have never tried it I have heard it works well but again I have never tried it. The 220 Swift has the same ballistics and no fire forming not to mention you would save on powder and bullets depending what fire forming method you go with. Again I really enjoyed my 22-250 AI a lot but if I had to do it again knowing what I know now, I would go with a good 220 Swift in a heart beat.
Good luck

 

[longrangefreek]

it sounds like a lot of work. my problem is that a 220 swift requires me to buy all new reloading supplies. I have about 500 new brass and 500 shot once brass in the 22-250. I have the reloading dies already also. I would just need bullets and powder. that is why I thought a 1 in 7 twist barrel upgrade on my 22-250 would be cheaper in the long run. I would put it on a 28" barrel which would help me on velocity a little. the Ackley would be the closest gun to using the brass I already have, not sure if I want to fire form all of that brass. that is a lot of rounds down the tube just to form a high number of brass. Im really going to have to think about this build. you guys have given me a lot of good ideas and advise and I appriciate it greatly. Im definately doing the project I just need to decide, fire form or just load and shoot. decisions decisions. thanks guys for your input.

 

[SouthPawShooter]

Ya I am in the same situation right now on a build.