22-250 twist

[velvethunter]

Savage offers a 12 twist and a 9. Seems like the 12 would give me more bullet options than a standard 14. But it also seems a 9 would stabilize anything so why not just go with that. However common sense tells me if there were no disadvantages to the 9, everyone would just get that.
So..
Would a 9 "overspin" standard factory loaded offerings?
Are there even factory loads available to make a 9 twist worth bothering with?
Does a faster twist reduce barrel life?
Other things I haven't considered?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Savage offers a 12 twist and a 9. Seems like the 12 would give me more bullet options than a standard 14. But it also seems a 9 would stabilize anything so why not just go with that. However common sense tells me if there were no disadvantages to the 9, everyone would just get that.
So..
Would a 9 "overspin" standard factory loaded offerings?
Are there even factory loads available to make a 9 twist worth bothering with?
Does a faster twist reduce barrel life?
Other things I haven't considered?

Depends....The 9 should spin almost everything, but for the Berger 90 VLD's they recommend a 8-twist. I think the 9 might be ok out to 500 or so, maybe further.

If you were shooting an 9 twist with light bullets I wouldn't use anything lead with a short jacket on it... I'd use a HPBT bullet with a full jacket on it. But with a 9 twist, I would shoot 77gr and up.

I don't know of any factory offerings that offer bullets heavier than about 55gr for the .22-250. To take advantage of the heavies and the 9 twist barrel you'll have to handload.

90gr VLD's in a .22-250 would be a nasty SA whitetail rifle.

 

[B23]

After having had rifles rebarreled and making the mistake of not going with fast enough twist to shoot, within reason, all the different bullets available, I now use the general rule of when in doubt go with the faster twist.

If you get the rifle with the 9tw, IMO, it will only open up MORE bullet options. I've shot all the way down to 40gr 22cal bullets in a 9tw rifle with no problems at all.

Get the one with the 9tw. I highly doubt you will have any trouble shooting the lighter bullets and it will give you the option of shooting the heavier bullets that the 1-12tw won't.

 

[Fiftydriver]

If you want to shoot the tipped 55 gr bullets up to the 80 gr match bullets, the 1-9 would be the best choice.

IF you want to shoot conventional 40-55 gr bullets, the 1-12 will be perfect.

I have seen on a couple occasions where a 9 twist 22-250, after having 400-500 rounds down the barrel was ripping apart pretty much any light jacketed bullet in the 40-50 grain range including the berger, V-Max and Blitzking. These rifles did however shoot the Ballistic tips of all weight very well at this point.

Just need to decide which bullets you want to use, conventional varmint bullets from 40 to 55 gr, no need for anything faster then the 12 twist.

If you want to shoot the heavies or stouter lighter bullets, 9 twist would be just fine. but it may be a bit hard on some lighter bullets with thin jackets at top speeds once the barrel gets a bit of wear on it.

 

[B23]

Kirby, were those bullets you were ripping apart by chance shot out of a 3 groove or were they factory 1-9 barrels?

Bryan

 

[Fiftydriver]

One was a savage rifle just like the one we are talking about. The other was a 5R barrel from Rock, at least that's what the owner said was on his rifle.

Not all Savage barrels will do this but some do with thin jacketed bullets driven very fast, especially once the barrels get a bit of wear on them.

If your wanting to shoot 40-60 gr bullets, the 1-12 is best all around. If you want to shoot 55 to 80gr, the 1-9 would be a good choice.

Most of the 1-9 rifles I have shot in 22-250 or large chamberings shot the 75 gr A-Max and 80 gr SMKs very well. In a 223, that 1-9 would be very marginal. That said, I built a 223 AI for a customer that has a 1-9 twist barrel and it shoots the 75 gr A-Max AMAZINGLY well out past 1/2 mile.