22-250 barrel length?? Opinions welcome

[BP72]

Right, here's the story I rebarreled my old FN mauser 98 with a new Kreiger barrel with a 1-9 twist earlier in the year. It's a palma profile by the way, I left it at full length 28" . I feed this thing nosler cc's 69 gr and use 2208 to get it all moving at around 3300 fps . Not chronied but reverse checked on strelok and shooter with similar velocities , yes it is cranking but its a safe load in this rifle.
So with this rifle mainly being used to tune foxes and roo's out of a vehicle the long barrel is pissing me off to say the least. What is the ideal barrel length considering the load and projectile I'm currently running ? I could live with a 22-24 " barrel easy enough but will the 69gr stabilise ? I've still got over 600 projies left and don't really want to mess around with another combination as I also feed my 223 with 2208 . I have run a few super roos down the barrel and the noslers shit all over them ,so I would like to stick with the 69gr's .
What do you lot reckon?

[Camel]

22 to 24 would work just as well in stabilizing them mate, its the twist that does that not the length. I would imagine that 28 inches would be difficult in a vehicle, I have a 22inch barrel on my 20/222, and sometimes it is a little long as well. You might loose a few fps, but as long as its accurate you could live with that.

[mick_762]

I would agree with Camel, either 22 or 24" would work.

I like 26" generally in a Varminting caliber, but have had many shorter and they work just fine.
When you get it sorted comfortably in the vehicle, the little extra (26") dosnt get in the way.

Mick

[Ned Kelly]

G'day BP,
I wouldn't have anything over 26" for ute use, and would prefer 24". However with the Palma profile you can easily live with 26"s it is not too nose heavy.
I had a 223 1:8T Truflight HV profile at 26" and I had to ensure I was hanging on to it when I poked it out the window in case it kept going with me with it!
Don't worry about the stabilisation issues, many 20" .223's out there shooting 69gn'ers with no problems. The 22-250 will launch them no worries.
The only issue you may find is the muzzle flash will increase with a shorter barrel. My old Rem 700 VS (26") 22-250 was dazzling at night with a very stiff load of 2208 behind 53gn bullets!
The only thing to do is chop less than you think and suck it and see, because any barrel chop is permanent!
hope this helps
Cheerio Ned

[BP72]

Thanks for that everyone , I might have a crack at 24" and see how it goes. The smith that did the rebarrel only charges $60 for a chop and re crown

[Camel]

Got a suggestion for you mate, seeing as you will be paying the bills and not me, just get him to dock an inch at a time until you find the right mix, you might save us some dollars in the future that way.

[Ned Kelly]

G'day BP,
I think Camel is right, maybe dock to 26", then 25" and 24", only $180 or less is you keep it longer. Remember you cant weld it back on again.................well you can but it probably wont shoot too good!
Also you support a local business each time you dock it!
Cheerio Ned

[matang]

I think I would go with 25-26 with a 22/250 just because any shorter and muzzle flash would be unpleasant shooting out of a vehicle. As long as gun is balanced dont see that length being a problem. I think 23 is about perfect for a truck rifle but in 204R

[trevort]

Why dont you get him to run a reamer in as well and try a 22x47l. That case could take a little bit more powder and send them screaming out, Just think of the muzzle flash!

Seriously, my 22/250 is a T3 lite and they have a 22 and a bit (is it 5/8ths?) barrel.

It doesnt hurt the accuracy but it doesn't scream out pills at top speed (then I am loading a little off max !)

[BP72]

Got a suggestion for you mate, seeing as you will be paying the bills and not me, just get him to dock an inch at a time until you find the right mix, you might save us some dollars in the future that way.

You lot are a bunch of funny bastards! Good thing I didn't ask about a rifle to shoot 400m with a spotlight

[Camel]

Got a suggestion for you mate, seeing as you will be paying the bills and not me, just get him to dock an inch at a time until you find the right mix, you might save us some dollars in the future that way.

You lot are a bunch of funny bastards! Good thing I didn't ask about a rifle to shoot 400m with a spotlight

Why is that mate, Id say there are quite a few on here that do just that, maybe not all the time, but definitely often.

[BP72]

There's a thread on AHN about a 400m spotlighting rifle, been going for 10 pages!

[Camel]

Yep saw that one, some pretty not so "far out" answers, good for a bit of a laugh.
Also saw the one on 22lr max range, although some was pretty tongue in cheek type stuff, it seemed a bit ironic that some were advocating shooting critters with a 22 at 200m but shying away from shooting foxes at 400m in spotlight. Oh well, different strokes for different folks I guess.

[DSD]

Tried shooting a Willie wag tail at 200m once with a 22. It must have heard it coming because it looked up and took off and a puff of dust appeared where he had been sitting so good luck with that.

[HiWall]

Rechamber it to AI and stoke it up. Don't cut the barrel short.