The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - velocity of 22-250 compared to 223

**44 AMP** · May 10, 2006, 03:02 PM

Long range shooting (600 yards) with a .22 centerfire (let alone .223) is a fairly recent developement considering the 80+ years of "varminting" with .22 centerfires. Only in the last decade or so have the ultra long heavy bullets and twists to stabilze them been commercially available. Things have certainly improved. Back when I was actively varmint shooting, the heaviest bullet commonly available was a 63gr semi-spitzer. Only the .22-250 and the .220 Swift had the powder capacity to make good use of these bullets, and they were considered the "bigger game" bullet for the .22 cal.

Every cartridge is designed to get maximum performance from a particular weight class. Even the .223 was designed to perform with the 55gr bullet. We have since discovered that good performance can be had with heavier bullets and twist rates intended for them. Put one of these 1 in 9 twist barrels on a .22-250 and see how it performs. I believe you will see a significant increase over the the .223.

Comparing a .223 set up for long range and a standard .22-250 is not essentially a fair comparison. Factories set twist rate based on what they consider to be the primary use of the cartridge. The classic example from a few decades ago is the .244 Remington. Intended to compete with the .243 Winchester, Remington thought it would be a fine varmint round. And it is. But gun writers (who convinced the public) thought of these 6mm cartridges as "dual purpose" (varmint and deer) for which they work well.

The .243 Winchester's faster twist rate (1 in 9 or 1 in 10) wroked well with the varmint bullets and the 105gr "deer" bullet. The .244 Remington with a 1 in 12 twist while fine with varmint bullets often would not shoot well with the 105gr deer load. People wanting a dual purpose rifle bought .243s, and not .244s. With sales in the toilet, Remington changed the twist rate, but the damage to the round's reputation had been done. Nobody wanted the .244. Remington changed the name of the cartridge to the 6mm Remington, and it has had a modest following ever since.

Factory .22-250 rifles have barrels intended to give best performance from the 50-55gr weight bullets. Twist rates are usually 1 in 12 or more often 1 in 14.

Compare equal bullets (and appropriate twists) and between the .223 and the .22-250 and I think you will find the higher velocity of the larger case will make a difference.

May 10, 2006, 03:02 PM	#22
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	.22 cal long range Long range shooting (600 yards) with a .22 centerfire (let alone .223) is a fairly recent developement considering the 80+ years of "varminting" with .22 centerfires. Only in the last decade or so have the ultra long heavy bullets and twists to stabilze them been commercially available. Things have certainly improved. Back when I was actively varmint shooting, the heaviest bullet commonly available was a 63gr semi-spitzer. Only the .22-250 and the .220 Swift had the powder capacity to make good use of these bullets, and they were considered the "bigger game" bullet for the .22 cal. Every cartridge is designed to get maximum performance from a particular weight class. Even the .223 was designed to perform with the 55gr bullet. We have since discovered that good performance can be had with heavier bullets and twist rates intended for them. Put one of these 1 in 9 twist barrels on a .22-250 and see how it performs. I believe you will see a significant increase over the the .223. Comparing a .223 set up for long range and a standard .22-250 is not essentially a fair comparison. Factories set twist rate based on what they consider to be the primary use of the cartridge. The classic example from a few decades ago is the .244 Remington. Intended to compete with the .243 Winchester, Remington thought it would be a fine varmint round. And it is. But gun writers (who convinced the public) thought of these 6mm cartridges as "dual purpose" (varmint and deer) for which they work well. The .243 Winchester's faster twist rate (1 in 9 or 1 in 10) wroked well with the varmint bullets and the 105gr "deer" bullet. The .244 Remington with a 1 in 12 twist while fine with varmint bullets often would not shoot well with the 105gr deer load. People wanting a dual purpose rifle bought .243s, and not .244s. With sales in the toilet, Remington changed the twist rate, but the damage to the round's reputation had been done. Nobody wanted the .244. Remington changed the name of the cartridge to the 6mm Remington, and it has had a modest following ever since. Factory .22-250 rifles have barrels intended to give best performance from the 50-55gr weight bullets. Twist rates are usually 1 in 12 or more often 1 in 14. Compare equal bullets (and appropriate twists) and between the .223 and the .22-250 and I think you will find the higher velocity of the larger case will make a difference.