.223 rechambered to 22.250 for 1-9 twist

[Hunternz]

Hi all,
been a while since I posted but have been visiting on a regular basis, does it make sense to rechamber a 223 with a 1-9 twist barrel to a 22.250 to  better suit heavier projectiles "60-70gr" than the H&R 22.250 which from memory has 1-14 twist, what do you think?
regards Howard.

[Steve P]

I would pump up the .223 loads and leave it alone.  At 3-400 yards, most critters on the other end of your barrel won't know the difference in whichever brass you are using.

If you modify a .223 to another standard caliber, you really don't increase the value of your barrel.  If you opened it up to a 5.56x50R, .223AI, or similar wildcat, you will better your chances at increasing the value.

Good luck on your choice.

Steve

[Hunternz]

I Have ordered the rifle .223 with the 1-9 twist will see what the .223 cartridge can do with the heavier projectiles, I already have a .22 hornet that shoots 40gr bullets really well, but I would sometimes like a heavier and  stronger constructed bullet for feral Goats and Wallibies  and if I feel I need more powder I can always go to plan B and rechamber,
regards Howard.

[LaOtto222]

If you really want to shoot heavier bullets, why not a new 243 barrel? It will not cost a whole lot more than a rechamber of a 223 and you will have a 223 and a 243. If you really have your heart set on shooting a 22-250 with heavy bullets, it is an option.

[Jimbo47]

Why not just order a 22.250 barrel?

[RonO777]

I was going to do the same thing but I was going up to a 220 swift. But after talking with my gunsmith on how much it was going to cost I decided against it. You might check on the cost of the rechamber first.
Ron

[quickdtoo]

Howard lives in New Zealand, so no accessory barrels are available to him and he already has a sweet shooting 243 Superlight. Savage offers the 22-250 with a 1:9" twist, so it should work fine Howard!!

Tim

http://www.savagearms.com/12Varminter.htm

[NFG]

Why not step up to the 22-243 Middlested?  Better ballistics than a 220 Swift, you already have cases, as easy as doing a 22-250 and with the 1-9 twist you can shoot most of the heavier bullets at least up to 70gr with hunting accuracy.  I've been shooting the Midd for a very long time and like it much better than any 220 Swift or 22-250 I've ever had(at least 3 in both sizes).  My present Midd is a rechambered 22-250 T/C Encore SS 1-10 twist that shoots the stubby 70gr bullets very well.  It prefers 60 gr Noslers and does bugholes with that bullet, but the Sierra 63-65 gr and 70 Speers will stay within 1".

Each rifle likes one or two bullets better than others and the only way to be certain is to work out the loads AFTER you do the rechamber.  No easy way to get anywhere seems like sometimes.

You already have a 243 so I would probably just stick with the 223 and 55 gr bullets.  I tend to go with the 223/40 g Vmax for most varmint hunting, 50g Noslers for Coyote size game, my Midd with 63-70 g and 243 with 65 Vmax for the longer ranges and 70-80 g for deer.

Last year I used my 17 FB and 6mm BR stubby barrels for more shooting than all the others.  Sometimes more choice is a PITA...I get dizzy standing in front of the rack trying to decide.  Hahahahaha.

My Sav 223 and 243 HB's are two very accurate shooters, but are heavy and get tiresome hauling around.  I usually use them when I can set up for a few hours of bench shooting.  I really like the 17 FB and 6mm BR for 200-250 yds on varmints, and both nail coyotes handily within the same ranges, but I've have four 223 rifles in the past two years and usualy grabbed the light weight Ruger first for walking.  The 223 may not be the "best"...more like a jack of all trades...but it always did it's job and therein lies the crux...generalize or specialize...with the 223 right smack in the middle.

[Hunternz]

Well I will keep you all informed how it goes, Quick is right, I have a sweet shooting superlight .243 shooting the 95gr hornady sst and a .22 hornet shooting the sierra 40gr varmint bullet, so the in between is a .223 or .22.250 that can can shoot 60-70gr bullets accurately,
regards Howard.   

[BillDan]

I think it's a geat idea. I've wanted to push the heavy .223 bullets faster and, to my way of thinking, rechamber to 22-250 is the logical way to go. Lets us know how it works out.

Bill

[Tallwalker]

NFR : When I was about 15-16 the guy I worked for loaned me a 22-243 for the summer to shoot chucks with. For a kid used to a .22LR that thing was a real eye opener! I took chucks out to just under 400 yards with it, and it sure was explosive. I doubt I could hit a chuck prone with a 4X scope like that had these days. BTW, what "lightweight" Ruger .223 do you have........ the ultra light? I've been interested in one, but wonedered how they shot.

I didn't mean to hijack the thread, but it's the firs time I've heard the 22-243 mentioned since the days when I shot that old Winchester 70.
 

[NFG]

Yeah, Tallwalker, the 22-243 is one of those "oldies, but goodies, from the musty, rusty, dusty file"...not many still around that know about it.  Everyone is all Jones'n for the 22-250 AI.  The Ruger was a SS "all weather" with their lightweight barrel...close to a #1 contour, and that UGLY squashed in stock.  I had to send it back to Ruger to be restocked and a new barrel installed. 

The original throat was way wrong, I couldn't get ANY bullet to touch the lands and still be in the case, and I was lucky to get a 3 shot group to stay below 2".  The re-vamped rifle shot 1" and less....mostly much less....with 40 gr VMax. 

That Ruger  became a "switch barrel" and has a 7mm-08 on it right now, plus 308 and 260 barrels and is in one of Richards Gunstocks early laminated and modified "wildcat" stocks.

My first Midd was a rechambered Ruger Tang 220 Swift 1-14.  It shot 1" with just about any weight bullet...just like the original chamber.  Wouldn't get any smaller no matter what I did...and I did everything I knew and a bunch  of old timers suggestions.  The second was a rechambers 22-250 Ruger barrel...did the same thing...the third was a 26" Douglas premium air gauged 1-12 straight taper #7 and it stayed around 1/2 most of the time with just about any bullet but would do bugholes if I spent a lot of time on prepping the ammo.  This last one is a 1-10 twist and does 3/4" with the heavier bullets and 1" or less with the 40 gr VMax and does XXXX...I won't even post the velo because no one will believe it...I don't sometimes.  I still shoot high a few times before I get situated especially after shooting rifles in the 2800-3200 f/s range for a while.

The Midd works fantastic out to about 300-350 yds...maybe a little farther...with the 40 gr, but drops of so fast after that it is hard to hit anything.  I keep about 10 rounds of 60-70 gr Hornady, Nosler, or Sierras loaded for those 400 plus shots and swap around between it, the 243 and the larger cals for out around 600 yds...I don't have much success much beyond that off a PU, even using a bench.  Make'um jump tho' and have a hard time shooting more than a couple because I'm laughing so hard at them running over each other.  hahahahahahah

Anyway...I keep pushing the Midd for the advanced reloader or someone wanting a rechamber, but the 22-250 is probably a better choice since ammo is readily available and I don't recommend wildcatting for anyone but the hardcore reloaders.