22-250 - 1:9 or 1:12 twist rate

[fflmike]

The model 12 comes with the twist rate as 1:9 or 1:12 in the 22-250. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both please? I will mostly be shooting it at the range, but I will take it out in the field too.

[tammons]

1:9 will handle heavier longer bullets like the 80 gr bergers and SMKs better for long distance.
1:12 will probably max out at about 65 gr.

[fflmike]

Thanks for the info

[Captain Finlander]

The 22-250 was originally intended to shoot 40-50 grain bullets at 3800 fps. Only in the last decade has it become popular to hunt larger game or target shoot with this cartridge and the advent of the 60 plus grain bullets have created a new niche for the 22 calibers.

[tammons]

A few years ago I shot a doe in the neck with a 22-250 at about 50 yards and it blew the top of her skull off.

[82boy]

The 1 in 12 will be limited to bullets up to about 69 grs. The 1 in 9 will handle the heavier bullets, and give you the ability to should out to 1000 yards if you wish. The myth is the 1 in 9s will not handle the lighter bullets, and I have never seen any proof of this, in fact every thing I have seen is the opposite. If you go to the front page of this site in the members area look for a few articles. One is project sledge hammer i and II it is under the custom rifles tab.

[Captain Finlander]

The faster twists generate more heat and stress to the thinner jacketed bullets leading to bullet failures. This is not as common today with solid hollow points such as those from Barnes.

[11fcns]

yea its really just the bullet weights you plan on shooting. i have the 1:12 in my 22-250 and kinda wish i had a faster twist for heavier bullets.

[Con]

Historically, 1:12" is fast in a 22/250 when 1:14" has been the standard for many years.

If you see your 22/250 as a dual purpose cartridge, there are advantages to the faster 1:9" predominantly around use of 75gr and heavier projectiles for either long range target shooting, or hunting smaller medium game with the likes of say a 75gr Swift. Most if not all of the light weight polymer tipped projectiles will withstand high velocity and fast twists to shoot accurately ... so you still have the option to push a 40gr Nosler BT at near 4000fps. If your the type that thrives on using bulk bought budget pills, purchased in the thousand ... then maybe the 1:12" is an advantage as cheaper pills pushed fast is what can unravel in the fast twist barrels. You can still target shoot with a 52gr Sierra MKing which is an excellent target/small varmint projectile, but plink with your budget projectiles to your hearts content.

Odds are, whichever you select you'll be happy with. But if you can honestly see an advantage to using the 75gr pills then the faster twist is warranted.
Cheers...
Con

[fflmike]

I'll go with the 1:9. Thanks for all the input!