Looking for my daughter a hunting and shooting rifle. Looking at 22-250 or 223. I bought a 243 and was to much recoil, petite. At what point(barrel length) does the 22-250 become a 223/flame thrower and the extra powder is not used efficiently? I want the barrel to be 20, possibly 22 at the longest. Let me know please.
22-250 barrel length, what is to short?
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North Idaho Hunter
Well-Known Member
I built a 22-250 ai. 20 inch barrel. 1-8 twist.
70 grain bullets @ 3175 FPS.
This is with 4831sc.
I've tried 4064, and varget with great results but velocity has been low.
I say go 22 inch. I think the 20 inch really is a handicap for this round. I went with ackley improved thinking it would help in the velocity department, however I've been disappointed with the results. I cannot get 22-250 max book velocities with 50-60 gr bullets.
70 grain bullets @ 3175 FPS.
This is with 4831sc.
I've tried 4064, and varget with great results but velocity has been low.
I say go 22 inch. I think the 20 inch really is a handicap for this round. I went with ackley improved thinking it would help in the velocity department, however I've been disappointed with the results. I cannot get 22-250 max book velocities with 50-60 gr bullets.
I would contact a friend that has a 22 250 pencil barrel and a 223 and see if she can shoot them
Thanks for the input
kiwikid
Well-Known Member
At present I have three 22-250 rifles, 1 has a 24" Pacnor barrel, 1 is a 23.5" Schultz and Larsen and the other is a 22" Sauer 202. Normally I use IMR 4895 with either Sierra 55gr GK or Norma 55gr Oryx in the longer barrelled rifles. In the shorter Sauer barrel I have found that 35.5gr (close to max load) of
IMR 8208 XBR gave me 3611 fps with the 55gr GK and sub .5" 5 shot groups at 100m. There is more muzzle flash with the 22" barrel and I wouldn't want to go any shorter. All loads are with Lapua brass and Fed 210M primers.
IMR 8208 XBR gave me 3611 fps with the 55gr GK and sub .5" 5 shot groups at 100m. There is more muzzle flash with the 22" barrel and I wouldn't want to go any shorter. All loads are with Lapua brass and Fed 210M primers.
aushunter1
Well-Known Member
I think the problem with short barrels(20 inch or less) on over bore cartridges is selecting the right powder with the right burn rate so your not blowing unburnt powder out the spout.
On a short barrell 22-250 Id be trying to stay on the faster side for that reason.
Also I recon the noise factor would also increase?
The old 250 does have a decent bark to it even out of a 26' barrel!
On a short barrell 22-250 Id be trying to stay on the faster side for that reason.
Also I recon the noise factor would also increase?
The old 250 does have a decent bark to it even out of a 26' barrel!
Very helpful, thanks
Aoudad shooter1975
Well-Known Member
I'd say 18-20 would be about min. I know a lot of guys shooting 22 creedmoor or 22-250 AIs with a 16.5 to 18 in..but do it because with a suppressor makes it about the same as a 24 in barrel...not for performance
hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
If your thinking short then the 223 might be the way to go. At 300 yards there wont be much difference anyway. Good luck
.223, because when I moved my daughter up to centerfire rifles I found it was the noise that bothered her more than recoil. A 20-22" .22-250 is going to both operate with more decibels than a .223. Ear plugs under ear muffs helps, but I'm betting your daughter will still shoot the .223 better.
Don't worry, once she gets used to shooting the .223, she'll move up quickly. My daughter only hunted two seasons with the .223, then she moved up to the .300 Savage and .308 Win. I've only two seasons left with my daughter before she runs off to the Military and our hunting together will become very limited.
So my best advice is let her shoot what she likes, be there to back her up, and cherish every moment because it goes fast.
Don't worry, once she gets used to shooting the .223, she'll move up quickly. My daughter only hunted two seasons with the .223, then she moved up to the .300 Savage and .308 Win. I've only two seasons left with my daughter before she runs off to the Military and our hunting together will become very limited.
So my best advice is let her shoot what she likes, be there to back her up, and cherish every moment because it goes fast.
What 223 did she shoot?
Stevens 200 22" barrel 1:9 twist, with the stock cut down to 12" for LOP. She never shot without a tripod or bipod rest, but if I had it to do all over again I'd cut the barrel to 20" for use in the blind. She used 55 grain TSX bullets for deer in Oklahoma, and 55 grain SP for everything vermin ages 9 and 10.
When she turned 11 we moved up to a M700 Classic in .300 Savage as she wanted to hunt Colorado where we live, and I told her that Bruiser (her .223) wasn't legal for big game in CO. At 15 I moved her up again to a Howa Alpine .308 Win to give her something a little easier to pack in the mountains. Her favorite bullets for the .300 and .308 are 125 grain NBT/AB and the 130 TTSX.
When she turned 11 we moved up to a M700 Classic in .300 Savage as she wanted to hunt Colorado where we live, and I told her that Bruiser (her .223) wasn't legal for big game in CO. At 15 I moved her up again to a Howa Alpine .308 Win to give her something a little easier to pack in the mountains. Her favorite bullets for the .300 and .308 are 125 grain NBT/AB and the 130 TTSX.
hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
16 and 18 inch 223 are ok and handy also. My 223 ai is 18 inch
