New Here and need some advise

[the bearhunter]

hey guy's kinda new to all this so please bear with me. i have a savage 12 22-250 that i think the barrel is getting shot out. (about 3500 rounds). i would like to put a .204 barrel on it with a fast twist for shooting heavier for caliber bullets. where can i get a barrel for it. i would like a slimmer barrel than my 250 and am planning on getting a new stock for it. thanks in advance.

[possum1]

Jim Brigg's at Northlander.

[82boy]

Welcome to the site.
IMO the 22/250 is a better choice.
The problem is you want a faster twist in a 204, (Cant say I blame you) the problem is all factory barrels are 1 in 12 twist. The only way to have a faster twist is with a custom barrel. (But heck it sound like you want a special profile anyways so, your looking at a custom barrel anyways for that profile.) Many barrel makers make pre fit barrels for the Savage action, and they can contour the barrel to what ever desired way you like it.

Sharp Shooter Supply can everything you could want. You could also try Shilen, and Pac Nor. Northlander would be a good choice if you wanted a Factory barrels, or something with a factory profile. If you don't mind making brass, I would go with a 20BR, or 20 pratical over the 204 Ruger.
again welcome to the site.

[the bearhunter]

thanks for the advice. 8). never have heard of the other 2 mentioned but will look up some info on them. i already have 2, 22-250's and am kinda intriged by the .204 with a higher b.c. bullet. no experiance with them, just what i've read. my wife really got into coyote hunting with me this year and i thought i would get her her own rifle and the .204 sounds interesting. what kind of money are we talking to get a custom barrel to fit a savage??. thanks again.

[the bearhunter]

poked around a bit and could'nt find much. can someone explain the 2 cartridges mentioned and why they would be better than a standard .204. i do reloads for all my rifles but have no experiance forming brass but am willing to learn. thanks again

[dcloco]

Hmmm...gotta love the caliber debate.

204 uses less powder than the 22/250...= less barrel heat = equal longer barrel life = equal more shots downrange/field.

Believe brass is cheaper as well.

If you go with a 1:10 twist, this should stabilize the 50's just fine.

[TnTom]

Check out this site it has tons of info about the 20's and all the trendy calibers. A lot to absorb. The .204 has some advantages and can really be seen shooting some nice group but personally I'd check everything on the link below and make your decision after some extensive reading. I'd suggest something in the 6's. The 20's are a good choice also.

http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html

[the bearhunter]

that is a great link, thank you. i think for now i will stick to the .204 and will go with a 1-10 barrel for shooting 40-50 grain bullets. this will mostly be used for coyotes on the prairie of n.d and mt so long range shooting in wind is the norm. any advice on a strong bullet that will expand without violently erupting. i shoot the sierra 55 gamekings in my .22 rifles and they work awesome. have'nt yet checked yet but if sierra makes a sgk in .20 that should be a great bullet.

[Rooster 50]

hey guy's kinda new to all this so please bear with me. i have a savage 12 22-250 that i think the barrel is getting shot out. (about 3500 rounds). i would like to put a .204 barrel on it with a fast twist for shooting heavier for caliber bullets. where can i get a barrel for it. i would like a slimmer barrel than my 250 and am planning on getting a new stock for it. thanks in advance.


Not being a smartalec but you do know you will need a new bolt head at the very least. If it was me I'd send my old bolt to SSS and let them flute it and install the new bolt head . Then you or your gunsmith can headspace the new barrel.

[the bearhunter]

WOW, i did not think of the bolt face, thanks. right now i'm just thinking (pondering) if i should just get a new rifle but i already have the action so now with the bolt face that will just add to the expense. now one more ?? is there a cartridge that takes a .204 that is based off of a 22-250???and if there is how easy is it to reform the brass. thanks to all 8)

[Don - LongRangeSupply]

WOW, i did not think of the bolt face, thanks. right now i'm just thinking (pondering) if i should just get a new rifle but i already have the action so now with the bolt face that will just add to the expense. now one more ?? is there a cartridge that takes a .204 that is based off of a 22-250???and if there is how easy is it to reform the brass. thanks to all 8)


Bolt heads are way cheap - $19 and change. That is what is so nice about the Savage.

[82boy]

WOW, i did not think of the bolt face, thanks. right now i'm just thinking (pondering) if i should just get a new rifle but i already have the action so now with the bolt face that will just add to the expense. now one more ?? is there a cartridge that takes a .204 that is based off of a 22-250???and if there is how easy is it to reform the brass. thanks to all 8)


I have heard of people making a 20/250, not sure how well that works. 20BR would use the same bolt head as a 22/250. On the 20 practical some call it a 20 tactical, it is the same thing.

[319]

Not trying to stir the pot here, but when I hunt coyote here in ND, I definately don't bring my .204. The wind is usually blowing too much, and I don't trust those little bullets to do the job. I choose at least my 22-250 or even better, my 6MM Rem. 25-06 isn't bad either!!

[the bearhunter]

i'm quite sure the .204 bullets in the heavier catagories would work better than the lighter .223's. i don't shoot past 350 yards so i think yours is a moot point. just looking for something different. i also shoot a .222 and a 280.

[319]

I hope you have good luck with it, but I sure as heck wouldn't shoot at a yote at even 200 in the wind with my .204. I shoot 39gr Blitzkings, and wouldn't trust them to make a clean kill. Not saying they wouldn't I just don't trust em to do it.

[the bearhunter]

i don't plan on using plastic tip bullets. i'm thinking of a well constsructed lead tip. hornady makes a 45 grain spire point. i would think that would knock the socks off a coyote out to 350 yards. am i wrong?? more advise would be great. thanks again.

[319]

I am guessing the 45gr might do a pretty good job. I haven't gotten them to shoot worth a darn out of my mod 12. Also, I am not sure about 350yds either, I consider that a pretty good poke with a little bullet.

I am not trying to cut you down for using the .204 just saying there are better choices at the same velocities. When you get up to the .204 velocity with the 45gr SP you might as well use a 60gr bullet at the same velocity with the 22-250, or a 50-53gr out of a .223. If you get them to work please share your load info as I would like to try loading some more. The 26gr VGs shoot very well, and my fav load is the 39 blitzkings, but the 45s just don't seem to work out of mine.