223, 22-250 or 22-243 and variants

[Deleted member 46119]

My Vanguard 223 barrel is winding down it's life. With near 5000 rounds it's starting to open up pretty seriously. With it's 12 twist the only thing I have ever got it to shoot well is 40grn V-Max with a case stuffed full of Benchmark. Nothing wrong with that but it has a real world limit of 300 yards. After that it's anybody's guess where the POI will be.

I have a new Pac-Nor barrel ready and prefit, short chambered in 223. I got a 9twist for this. I know more now than I did then and If I were to do it over I'd have gotten a 7, 7.5 or 8 but such is life.

I am not particularly attached to the 223 in anyway except it qualifies for F-TR.
I am fond of V-Max and A-Max bullets. They shoot very well for me.
I believe that chambering it for 22-250 or 22-243 or variants will get me a velocity+twist range that will let me get to the lower end of the 22cal heavies.

I am asking because I an looking for something to sway me one way another.

So the question is..

If it were you:
keep it 223 and live with the mid weight bullet limits
chamber it for 22-250 or 22-243 or a variant there of. AI, SLR (22/243SLR anyone)

It has to be something that will clean up the short chambered 223

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a .223 9 twist that shoots 68 gr. Hornaday hpbt's real good. I have a 1-8 twist .223 that I shoot 75gr. Amax's in for 300-600 yard FTR midrange, it is a hammer. I have shot High master scores at 300 yards, and within 2 points of HM at 600 yards. I have only had it to 600 once. My next .223 barrel will be a 1-7, I would love to shoot the Berger 80.5 Fullbore. My 1-8 is a Benchmark barrel so being button rifled the Berger may be iffy.

 

[Trickymissfit]

too late now, but had it been me I would have gone with the .222 Ackley Improved. Real close to a balls out .223, but much better design in every way. Has a better shoulder neck design to help with the longer bullets. Still I'd go one step further, and chamber it with a .246" neck with a good two degree throat instead of a generic throat. Remember the .222 was the caliber of choice for bench rest shooting till the advent of the 6mm PPC.
gary

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

run the 223 or punch it to 5.56 nato (possibly use a wilde reamer).... As accurate as a 223 if you load for it and you can shoot the heavier charges in it without worry... You should be able to spin a 75 gr hpbt well on a 9" twist; my rifle does....

 

[ShtrRdy]

I have a bolt gun in 22-250 and an accurate AR-15 in .223. The 22-250 bullet has less wind drift than the .223 due to the higher velocities. Wind is probably the biggest variable to get your arms around when making a accurate long range shot.

 

[MOA Chaser]

I had a 22-250 that I just got tired of shooting and it is now being turned into a 6.5 Creedmoor with a No. 6 Krieger barrel. We'll see

Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[gohring3006]

I would stay with the .223 Fred, its very efficient.
I have a .223 AR 1-9 twist and a 12 twist 22-250 I love the way a 55 gr hpbt rings steel at 4000 fps, but i am a broke timbercutter LOL, and every time i pull the trigger on my 22-250 all i can think about is barrel life. With all of your wildcats you could find something with more reach than the .223 in your safe....

Good luck with your choice..