22-250 advice

[BigFrank]

I have a Sako .223 set up for night time foxing and use my Heym .243 for roe and daytime foxing. Looking for a dedicated rifle for daytime foxing and thinking about getting .22-250. Never had one but I understand that the barrels have a short life so I’m tending towards new..Bergarra B14 I think. However, there are a few nice used guns out there..Sako I like…trying to avoid buying a problem gun. Any advice appreciated. R

 

[Tim.243]

I have a Sako .223 set up for night time foxing and use my Heym .243 for roe and daytime foxing. Looking for a dedicated rifle for daytime foxing and thinking about getting .22-250. Never had one but I understand that the barrels have a short life so I’m tending towards new..Bergarra B14 I think. However, there are a few nice used guns out there..Sako I like…trying to avoid buying a problem gun. Any advice appreciated. R

Get a second .223 as you understand your one and only the rifle to add.

 

[sako]

hi l got two 22-250 one for night time and one for day had a 223 but still went back to the 20-250 been shoot them for a very long time they are a very flat shooting and do not take prisoner

 

[Worthy130]

22.250 is an excellent flat shooting foxing round, very forgiving at night when everything looks further away than it is. They go pretty cheap 2nd hand and for the price, even if they only last a year or 2 they pay for themselves. Or as above get another .223.

 

[NP435]

I have a Sako .223 set up for night time foxing and use my Heym .243 for roe and daytime foxing. Looking for a dedicated rifle for daytime foxing and thinking about getting .22-250. Never had one but I understand that the barrels have a short life so I’m tending towards new..Bergarra B14 I think. However, there are a few nice used guns out there..Sako I like…trying to avoid buying a problem gun. Any advice appreciated. R

Barrel life being short? I have a CZ550 22-250 with approximately 4800 shots down the barrel. Shoots sub half inch, yes, the throat is eroded and unless I see keyholes on paper I will not be changing the barrel.

 

[CookM]

I bought my Rem 700VS 22/250 from Greenfields, Salisbury,new in '99.
Shot a lot of rounds through it.
Not changing yet.
It doesn't half sting them.

 

[BigFrank]

Thanks all…not interested in another .223. I have 5 rifles, 3 rimfire plus the .243 and .223. I reload and have my own range at home. Like the thought of trying out the 22-250. Quite happy to buy a used gun…I have a Sako S491 that got for the price of the weaver scope and bipod…the barrel is like a rusty drain but it shoots 53g v max sub moa every time….so as long as it shoots ok I’ll be happy..it won’t get a lot of use anyway. Trying to avoid the short barrels..I don’t shoot out the vehicle or use a moderator and don’t want muzzle flash or unburnt powder in the barrel.

 

[Len the dog]

Put it this way, with a 22-250 you won’t have any runners.

 

[jb1]

You got to scratch the itch.

Really don't understand the hesitation.

I've got 2, out with 1 now after munty. The other is more set up for NV snd fox's

 

[BigFrank]

You got to scratch the itch.

Really don't understand the hesitation.

I've got 2, out with 1 now after munty. The other is more set up for NV snd fox's

Thanks..what make & model you own?.

 

[Lancaster]

204r, less powder, less bang, no recoil, happily knocks over foxes and vermin at silly ranges,.
Longest trio was a group of well grown cubs playing in a margin on the edge of a Rape field late evening, shortest 337yds, longest 361yds, all in the space of less than half an hour.
OK, I was protected from wind by a hedge on one side and the Rape on the other, but it shows the capability of the cartridge.

 

[jb1]

Thanks..what make & model you own?.

Sako 75, from new. re-barrelled 26" 1-12 (wish i'd have gone 1-9) 53g VMax 3750, tad on the heavy side, not for walking about with. just a truck rifle.

Tikka M55 26" 1-12 for 53 VMax 3550 fps recently put on a Pard ds35. Unsure if it will be staying on it though.

 

[BigFrank]

Sako 75, from new. re-barrelled 26" 1-12 (wish i'd have gone 1-9) 53g VMax 3750, tad on the heavy side, not for walking about with. just a truck rifle.

Tikka M55 26" 1-12 for 53 VMax 3550 fps recently put on a Pard ds35. Unsure if it will be staying on it though.

1:12 twist should be perfect for 45 to 55g…1:9 is better for 60 to 90g. I’m looking at 1:14 which is great up to 50g.

 

[Neilhicking]

I have a Tikka T3X in .22 250. A great rifle - had no problems from new. Shoots less than 1MOA and is very flat. Zero'd at 175yds - only 1/2 inch high at centre of the loop (approx 125yds) , so put the crosswires on and shoot out to 200yds. Ballistic tips like Hornady Vmax 50gr shoot best. Is fussy about bullet weights. Best and most accurate at 50gr though.

 

[jb1]

1:12 twist should be perfect for 45 to 55g…1:9 is better for 60 to 90g. I’m looking at 1:14 which is great up to 50g.

I would go 1-12, you have more options than 1-14 i can see some more knowledgeable than i saying 1-12 or faster

 

[Len the dog]

T3X also, I’ve had fantastic accuracy from Federal 40gr Vmax, Hornady 50 & 55gr, Sako 55 soft points and best of all, Norma 50gr Vmax.
I’ve since started reloading and had brilliant results with both 50gr Vmax and 55gr Blitzking over CFE223.
I zero 3/4” high at 100yds so shoot straight all the way from zero to 240yds.
You should hear the thwack when that bullet hits the fox, lights out before it hears the bang.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Much as I love my 222, the last rifle I will ever part with is my Sako 75 22/250. I bought it with the intent of rebarreling to a fast twist. 12 years later it’s still going strong. Standard stainless synthetic. I had the barrel cut to 19.5” re threaded and recrowned when I bought it.

 

[mealiejimmy]

I have a Sako .223 set up for night time foxing and use my Heym .243 for roe and daytime foxing. Looking for a dedicated rifle for daytime foxing and thinking about getting .22-250. Never had one but I understand that the barrels have a short life so I’m tending towards new..Bergarra B14 I think. However, there are a few nice used guns out there..Sako I like…trying to avoid buying a problem gun. Any advice appreciated. R

I have a Bergara B14 HMR in 22-250 and it's a great rifle
However, when I bought mine they were making them with a 1 in 9 twist barrel- which works with any bullet weight from 35gn up to 69gn.
For some reason, they changed to 1 in 14 for the newer models and I don't think those slower twist models will handle bullets much above 55gn
There are still some 1 in 9 twist new rifles lying around in various RFD throughout the country but the take a bit of finding
This is 5 shot group with the B14 HMR at 100 yards using 69gn TMK bullets and a Wulf 3-24 digital day/night scope


Cheers

Bruce

 

[BigFrank]

I have a Bergara B14 HMR in 22-250 and it's a great rifle
However, when I bought mine they were making them with a 1 in 9 twist barrel- which works with any bullet weight from 35gn up to 69gn.
For some reason, they changed to 1 in 14 for the newer models and I don't think those slower twist models will handle bullets much above 55gn
There are still some 1 in 9 twist new rifles lying around in various RFD throughout the country but the take a bit of finding
This is 5 shot group with the B14 HMR at 100 yards using 69gn TMK bullets and a Wulf 3-24 digital day/night scope
View attachment 329265

Cheers

Bruce

Useful..I thought the B14 was 1:9! I actually prefer the 1:14 which is great for up to 50g, would have preferred 1:12 though. R

 

[Miki]

thinking about getting .22-250. Never had one but I understand that the barrels have a short life so I’m tending towards new. <snip>

The 22-250 is a necked down 250-3000.
It's can be loaded to offer over 4200fps with a 50gr bullet.
The standard twist rates (1:12 or 1:14) limit you to 50 or 55gr projectiles (@mealiejimmy says you need a faster twist for a larger bullet) but at that speed they are a very 'flat shooting' rifle.
I have a T3X in 14:1
They turn rabbits into red mist, strike foxes with a real "thowk" (that they wont get up from) and make a bit of a mess of Roes shoulders.
Due to the charge size they are louder than the other .224 rifles so you will need a largish, many baffles, moderator.

Shooting them 'hot' will erode the barrel quicker than if you loaded to below 4000fps and faster than a .223 or other .224 calibre
Mainly because there is more powder burning for longer.
A 22-250 isn't a plinking rifle, a couple of groups of 5 and the barrel needs a cool down/rest.

Unbeatable as a dedicated night/foxing rig (IMHO)