Budget 22-250

[1972RedNeck]

Looking to add a 22-250 varmint rifle to my collection. Would be used solely for ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Budget is $750 for rifle only.

What is the most accurate bolt action 22-250 rifle for less than $750?

[NHSHOOTER]

If tikka has a 22-250 I would go for it, ruger american are inexpensive but shoot lights out, you might look into a cz...there are a ton to pick from..

[stagpanther]

You might also want to think about what twist rate you want since the "modern" 22-250 is capable of launching more than just 55 gr bullets.

[1972RedNeck]

You might also want to think about what twist rate you want since the "modern" 22-250 is capable of launching more than just 55 gr bullets.

1:12 is good with me. It's going to be a varmint only rifle and from what I have read, 1:12 is about perfect for that. 1:9 would work for 55gr bullets but is a little more picky about loads from what I have gathered.

[1972RedNeck]

If tikka has a 22-250 I would go for it, ruger american are inexpensive but shoot lights out, you might look into a cz...there are a ton to pick from

That's the problem. Too many to pick from.

I should add that I would prefer a heavy/bull barrel as well.

[taylorce1]

I doubt you'd stay in budget with a Tikka T3 varmint rifle. I'd probably go with a Ruger AP and a decent optic for $750. You can probably pick up a NOS Remington 700 ADL Varmint for $600 +/-.

@stagpanther, you make a good argument for the .22 ARC!

[1972RedNeck]

I doubt you'd stay in budget with a Tikka T3 varmint rifle. I'd probably go with a Ruger AP and a decent optic for $750. You can probably pick up a NOS Remington 700 ADL Varmint for $600 +/-.

Budget is $750 for just the rifle. Scope will be on top of that.

[44 AMP]

Somewhere around 40 years ago, I bought a Winchester Model 70 varmint, .22-250. Twist is 1-14, the standard varmint twist. Totally "stock", no work (other than a trigger adjustment) and using my handloads (basic, no chasing the lands, seating .xxx off, no ladder testing for accuracy or anything like that)

Rifle goes 1inch to 3/4 inch groups with 55gr sp bullets and 3/4 down to 1/2" (on a good day) shooting 52/52gr HPs. How accurate do you need?

[bamaranger]

My experience with the 22-250 is similar to 44AMP. Bought a used Ruger 77V, early model with tang safety and red butt, topped with a Weaver K12. No loading experiments, rifle came with a test target and a load......52 gr MHP and 4064, shoots bug holes.

Were I in the market for a new one, I'd look hard at the Ruger Predator. Everybody says they shoot great......mine in .308 sure does.

[taylorce1]

@1972RedNeck, I kind of figured your budget was rifle only. My comment on the Ruger American Predator is that you'll have about $300 of that budget left over for the optic.

Tikka Varmit rifles start around $1000, the compact is around $750. Savage Axis and Mossberg Patriot will be your cheap rifles. Ruger American will be your middle of your budget. Savage 110, Remington 700 ADL/SPS, CVA Cascade, and Howa/Weatherby Vanguard will round out the upper end of your budget for new rifles.

[1972RedNeck]

Predator definitely checks all the boxes. How will the accuracy compare between it and an Axis?

[44 AMP]

How will the accuracy compare between it and an Axis?

I don't see how there can be an honest answer, as a general thing. Each rifle and load combination has its own potential, and then there is also the shooter, when it comes to practical results.

Like they say in football, "on any given Sunday..."
Any individual rifle might out shoot the individual rifles you are comparing it with. If you could compare results from hundreds (or better yet thousands) of rifles, you might find some statistical level of difference, but when it just two rifles in your hands, flip a coin. They will be the same for accuracy, or one will be better than the other. This might switch back and forth with different loads.

Which one is more accurate?? flip a coin, you can't know until you shoot them for yourself.

Or at least, that's the way I see it.

[1972RedNeck]

I don't see how there can be an honest answer, as a general thing. Each rifle and load combination has its own potential, and then there is also the shooter, when it comes to practical results.

If you could compare results from hundreds (or better yet thousands) of rifles, you might find some statistical level of difference

Yes, I know that. But, while everything on the internet should be taken with a large grain of salt, a forum like this one is a good place to get results from a larger number of rifles than I will ever be able to get my hands on.

[stagpanther]

Yes, I know that. But, while everything on the internet should be taken with a large grain of salt, a forum like this one is a good place to get results from a larger number of rifles than I will ever be able to get my hands on.

A lot of times these things boil down to simply "luck of the draw" especially with budget rifles. I have a 22-250 axis and have gotten OK results with smaller bullets but I don't mess with it much since the twist isn't enough to stabilize bigger bullets. Somebody out there I'm sure has an Axis that they find shoots spectacularly well for them and will tell you "shoots .5 MOA all day long" (probably at night too when they're asleep).

[1972RedNeck]

A lot of times these things boil down to simply "luck of the draw" especially with budget rifles.

Yeah, I know. It just seems like I have terrible luck. A Smith XVR with an improperly machined cylinder, a Super Redhawk that gave light primer strikes when firing double action, a Henry 22 with a broken firing pin, and a P229 with the feed ramp machined at the incorrect angle. Can't wait to see what's wrong with the next gun I buy...

[Pumpkin]

I would keep my eye open for a clean Savage 10 or 110. Back in the 80’s I bought two new 110E’s, one 223 the other 22-250. The 22-250 is long gone but that rifle would shoot sub 1/2” 100yd groups all day with Federal 40gr Blitz. They both are thin barrel guns with open sights. I gave the 223 to my Dad for Christmas which is why it’s still around, one of my favorite rifles.

[stagpanther]

Yeah, I know. It just seems like I have terrible luck. A Smith XVR with an improperly machined cylinder, a Super Redhawk that gave light primer strikes when firing double action, a Henry 22 with a broken firing pin, and a P229 with the feed ramp machined at the incorrect angle. Can't wait to see what's wrong with the next gun I buy...

All from the same dealer? The vast majority of the time if something truly is wrong with a firearm--and reasonably provable it wasn't my bad--then most manufacturers I've worked with are eager to make good in general. There is one dealer I used to purchase rifles from--and he was the only one I've ever known that actually sold everything above msrp--that foisted off stuff that there was always something wrong with everything I bought from him. I don't buy from him anymore.

[1972RedNeck]

All from the same dealer? The vast majority of the time if something truly is wrong with a firearm--and reasonably provable it wasn't my bad--then most manufacturers I've worked with are eager to make good in general.

Different dealers. I sent them in to the manufacturers and they took care of the problems. No complaints, it just seems that I am good at getting lemons.

[stagpanther]

it just seems that I am good at getting lemons.

I'm wondering if we might be related?

[Mal H]

My story is much the same as 44 AMP's except for the era and the model. About 57 years ago I bought one of the first Remington Model 788 rifles in 22-250 (1:14 twist). I started reloading for it at the same time. I doubt that I have put more than 3 boxes of factory ammo through it, but thousands of reloads. Absolutely no work on it was needed over the years, and it still shoots 1 to 1.5 MOA at 100 yds.

I just checked, and Gunbroker has one on bid right now for $417. In my book, that is a steal. I paid $112 for it which in today's money is more than twice the GB current bid.

Don't trust my experience though, instead read some reviews of the rifle and you might be convinced that is the way to go if you can find one that hasn't been driven too hard.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by Mal H

Don't trust my experience though, instead read some reviews of the rifle and you might be convinced that is the way to go if you can find one that hasn't been driven too hard.

There are rifles in certain chambers I usually won't buy used with exceptions. .223 Rem, .22-250 and .243 Win usually top the list. They usually are "driven" a little hard and I've bought some used up rifles in the past in those cartridges. Then you have to decide what to do with them.

[Mal H]

^^ True, and of those three the 22-250 can be the most worn out. I never push my loads into the hot zone. The only bullets I use that go over the 3,500 FPS line are some occasional 45 grainers, and I don't load those for max vel.

With any used rifle purchase, the purchaser should always be able to physically inspect the barrel for wear. With a cartridge such as a 220 Swift, I would automatically suspect a barrel is worn out until proven innocent.

[44caliberkid]

Ruger American Predator

[wild willy]

What style of hunting you said ground squirrels and prairie dogs are you planning on staying mostly in one spot?If so I’d be looking at the Savage 10/110 heavy barrel rifles

[tangolima]

I probably would pick out a cheap ar-10 in that caliber for less than $600. Easy to change out a worn barrel. 1-1.5moa no problem. Can be better than 1moa with tinkering.

-TL



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