22-250 Handloads, 1:10 Twist

acdundore · November 5, 2013, 10:13 PM

I want to buy a 22-250 with a 1:10 twist rate and a 22" barrel. Any suggestions on what type of bullets work best with that type of twist? I was thinking possibly hornady 50gr. V-max with a boat tail. Feel free to let me know what works for you!

Rimfire5 · November 6, 2013, 09:58 AM

I don't have direct experience with a 1:10 twist .22-250, but maybe this will give you some ideas.

I have a Remington 700 in .22-250 with 26 inch barrel with a 1:14 twist.
It shoots 40 grain to 52 grain bullets exceptionally and shoots 55 grain bullets almost as well. It also shoots 35 grain bullets well but it shoots the 40-52 bullets best. Accuracy drops off with bullets that are heavier than 55 grains.

A buddy has a new Savage 12 with a 1:12 twist that shoots 52 grain bullets exceptionally. It is so new that he hasn't tried 40 grain or 55 grain bullets yet.
I suspect it will shoot the 55s more accurately than my Remington and might shoot up to 65s accurately with the faster 1:12 twist.

I would expect that your 1:10 twist would shoot bullets of 55 grains and above better than the 50 grain V-Max. I would expect it to shoot the V-Max ok but you might have issues with over stabiliztion if you shoot it near max velocities. I expect that a 1:10 would shoot 75 to 77 grain bullets accurately and might even shoot 80 grain bullets accurately.

Let us know how your experiments turn out.

Jim Watson · November 6, 2013, 10:25 AM

You don't need a 10 twist to shoot 50 gr .224s.
The old standard 14 twist is fine, as Rimfire says, and as I have found out.

A 10 twist should handle bullets up to 69 grains according to Ken Waters and Sierra.

A 9 twist .223 will sometimes handle 75 grain bullets. Will the extra velocity from a 10 twist .22-250 do as well? I don't know.

Bart B. · November 6, 2013, 12:23 PM

Jim Watson's pretty much right.

22 caliber 50 through 55 grain bullets have always shot most accurate in .222 and .223 Rem ammo from 1:14 twists in the usually 22 to 24 inch barrel lengths. Shooting those same bullets out a lot faster from a .22-.250 case means the twist has to be slower to spin them just at the right rpm range. I've know a couple folks who got 1:16 twist barrels for their .22-.250's shooting Sierra 52-gr. HP match bullets extremely accurate.

A 1:10 twist in a 22 inch barrel for the .22-.250's best suited for heavy bullets like the 80 grain ones. It'll spin lighter, 50 to 55 grain bullets way too fast and accuracy may suffer due to the more unbalanced bullets jumping off the muzzle axis upon exit due to excessive centrifugal forces.

A_Gamehog · November 9, 2013, 08:13 AM

My 22-250 with a 1-12 twist shoots the 69's great @ 4,000+ elevation easily.
I would imagine you might shoot the 75's or the lead core 80's.

Best varmint bullet 53 V-Max long for weight.
Best Target bullet 69-75's

Varget or 8208XBR powders

603Country · November 9, 2013, 08:52 AM

I don't know what you intend to do with the rifle - targets or hunting, but if hunting is on your mind I know the bullets I'd try. Those are the two bullets that I can't get to shoot in my one in fourteen twist 220, and they are the 65 gr Sierra GK and the 60 gr Nosler Partition. They'll stabilize in your faster twist barrel. Those two are good pig medicine.

November 5, 2013, 10:13 PM	#1
acdundore Junior Member Join Date: June 4, 2013 Posts: 13	22-250 Handloads, 1:10 Twist I want to buy a 22-250 with a 1:10 twist rate and a 22" barrel. Any suggestions on what type of bullets work best with that type of twist? I was thinking possibly hornady 50gr. V-max with a boat tail. Feel free to let me know what works for you!

November 6, 2013, 12:23 PM	#4
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Jim Watson's pretty much right. 22 caliber 50 through 55 grain bullets have always shot most accurate in .222 and .223 Rem ammo from 1:14 twists in the usually 22 to 24 inch barrel lengths. Shooting those same bullets out a lot faster from a .22-.250 case means the twist has to be slower to spin them just at the right rpm range. I've know a couple folks who got 1:16 twist barrels for their .22-.250's shooting Sierra 52-gr. HP match bullets extremely accurate. A 1:10 twist in a 22 inch barrel for the .22-.250's best suited for heavy bullets like the 80 grain ones. It'll spin lighter, 50 to 55 grain bullets way too fast and accuracy may suffer due to the more unbalanced bullets jumping off the muzzle axis upon exit due to excessive centrifugal forces. Last edited by Bart B.; November 6, 2013 at 05:40 PM.

November 9, 2013, 08:13 AM	#5
A_Gamehog Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2009 Location: Central Oregun Posts: 563	My 22-250 with a 1-12 twist shoots the 69's great @ 4,000+ elevation easily. I would imagine you might shoot the 75's or the lead core 80's. Best varmint bullet 53 V-Max long for weight. Best Target bullet 69-75's Varget or 8208XBR powders __________________ "Happiness is knowing the Barred Owl is Eating the Spotted Owl and environmentalists are watching Nature take it's course"

November 6, 2013, 09:58 AM	#2
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 923	I don't have direct experience with a 1:10 twist .22-250, but maybe this will give you some ideas. I have a Remington 700 in .22-250 with 26 inch barrel with a 1:14 twist. It shoots 40 grain to 52 grain bullets exceptionally and shoots 55 grain bullets almost as well. It also shoots 35 grain bullets well but it shoots the 40-52 bullets best. Accuracy drops off with bullets that are heavier than 55 grains. A buddy has a new Savage 12 with a 1:12 twist that shoots 52 grain bullets exceptionally. It is so new that he hasn't tried 40 grain or 55 grain bullets yet. I suspect it will shoot the 55s more accurately than my Remington and might shoot up to 65s accurately with the faster 1:12 twist. I would expect that your 1:10 twist would shoot bullets of 55 grains and above better than the 50 grain V-Max. I would expect it to shoot the V-Max ok but you might have issues with over stabiliztion if you shoot it near max velocities. I expect that a 1:10 would shoot 75 to 77 grain bullets accurately and might even shoot 80 grain bullets accurately. Let us know how your experiments turn out.

November 6, 2013, 10:25 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	You don't need a 10 twist to shoot 50 gr .224s. The old standard 14 twist is fine, as Rimfire says, and as I have found out. A 10 twist should handle bullets up to 69 grains according to Ken Waters and Sierra. A 9 twist .223 will sometimes handle 75 grain bullets. Will the extra velocity from a 10 twist .22-250 do as well? I don't know.

November 9, 2013, 08:52 AM	#6
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I don't know what you intend to do with the rifle - targets or hunting, but if hunting is on your mind I know the bullets I'd try. Those are the two bullets that I can't get to shoot in my one in fourteen twist 220, and they are the 65 gr Sierra GK and the 60 gr Nosler Partition. They'll stabilize in your faster twist barrel. Those two are good pig medicine.