I'm debating on building a 22-250. There are a LOT of options out there, but I was curious if i decided to build a fast twist to utilize a little heavier bullet, would i need to use a long action to fit a longer bullet or would say a .308 action work? i assume the bullets with the higher b.c. would be longer and more sleek. This will be for hunting, and i want to utilize the magazine. Thanks for any help!
short action or long action for 22-250?
- Thread starter chuxta
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Sully2
Well-Known Member
The hangup is the magazine. You can seat long slugs WAAAYYY out....but they wont feed thru the magazine
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
Use the short action.
No need to complicate things. The case capacity is generous in the 22/250 and bigger bullets that are magazine lengths still have enough capacity for max loads.
Twist should be 1 in 12 for biggest bullets (1 in 14 is normal for 55 grain and down).
You might want to look into a 3 grove barrel also.
J E CUSTOM
Berger shows bullets for a 7, 8, and 9 inch twist.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
Those twist rates are not for all 22 cal cartridges. They work well on the 223s because of there velocity.
Some of the guys that went with the 1 in 7 twist in there 223 are going back to the 1 in 8 for best accuracy. some even tried the 1 in 6 and as far as I know they did not work at all.
The 22/250 is a much faster more powerful cartridge and you can over rotate bullets and destroy
there jackets if to much twist is used.
Just My Experience
J E CUSTOM
What is the benefit of a three groove barrel?
orwapitihunter
Well-Known Member
I would go with a short action.
When you say a heavier bullet, do you know what you want to shoot?
If you are thinking 75/80 gr Amax go 8 twist.
You may have to give up some of the lightly constructed lighter weight bullets at max velocity (stuff like the Hornady SX) with the faster twist.
If you are looking for a slight step up, the Hornady 53 gr Vmax has a good BC for its weight class and a 12 twist should work nicely and still let the other lightweights run full speed without flying apart.
I'm not a fan of fast twist, light jackets, high speed and 3 groove barrels.
When you say a heavier bullet, do you know what you want to shoot?
If you are thinking 75/80 gr Amax go 8 twist.
You may have to give up some of the lightly constructed lighter weight bullets at max velocity (stuff like the Hornady SX) with the faster twist.
If you are looking for a slight step up, the Hornady 53 gr Vmax has a good BC for its weight class and a 12 twist should work nicely and still let the other lightweights run full speed without flying apart.
I'm not a fan of fast twist, light jackets, high speed and 3 groove barrels.
benchracer
Well-Known Member
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I have a 12 twist 22-250 built on a '98 Mauser. I haven't blocked the magazine for the shorter cartridge and don't see a need to. There is supposedly a theoretical advantage in the rigidity of a short action, but I don't believe it is enough to be seen in real world shooting. My long action Mauser works just fine. If I decide to set it up for something else when it's time to rebarrel, my options are wide open.
A short action for a short action cartridge is fine if that is what you have. If starting from scratch, I don't see the point in limiting yourself by using a short action.
A short action for a short action cartridge is fine if that is what you have. If starting from scratch, I don't see the point in limiting yourself by using a short action.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
The three grove barrels are for high velocity and longer throat life. The lands are wider making
them last longer from throat erosion. they are also known to be a little faster.
The down side is that if the twist is to fast they are hard on bullet jackets.
J E CUSTOM
