Rifleman Q&A: Twist Rates For .22-250 Rem.

by
posted on January 16, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
.22-250 Rem. illustration

Q. I am looking for the best accuracy with varmint bullets in the 50- to 60-grain range out of a .22-250 Remington rifle, but it appears twist rates range from 1:9" to 1:14". Can you help narrow down what will be best?


A. When the .22-250 Rem. cartridge was developed, it was seen as a rival to the .220 Swift utilizing similar-weight bullets. Barrels typically featured a 1:14" twist rate—and so it was for decades, but there has been a recent trend of building “heavy-bullet” .22-250s for use in long-range shooting and for hunting deer-size game. Once bullet weight exceeds about 60 grains, stabilization in 1:14"-twist guns becomes inconsistent. Even starting at about 60 grains, proper stabilization requires a 1:10" twist, and bullets weighing between 60 and 70 grains require 1:8" twists.

I can’t state what the best option is, but you definitely don’t require a twist rate faster than 1:12" for the weight of bullets you intend to use—1:10" would likely serve well but can cause problems with frangible bullets with thin jackets. Again, if you keep the bullet weight in the range you state, 1:14" will likely be fine. My .22-250 Rem. rifle features 1:12"-twist rifling and shoots less than 1 m.o.a. with 50- and 55-grain bullets.

For experimental purposes, I once loaded some Hornady 68-grain boattail hollow-point bullets. After five rounds, I looked through the scope and saw no holes in the target or the 36" backer. Five more rounds caught one in the corner, about 18" from the center, and the hole shape was a perfect silhouette of the bullet—so I definitely learned to stick with the weights that my barrel preferred.

Latest

SW 1854 30 30 01
SW 1854 30 30 01

Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Now Available In .30-30 Win.

Smith & Wesson expanded its Model 1854 series of lever-action rifles with several .30-30 Win.-chambered variants, just in time for deer season.

Preview: Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket

In Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket, author Peter Smithurst details the tools and processes used to produce this historically significant firearm.

Gun Of The Week: Charter Arms Double Dog

For this Gun Of The Week episode, we’re on the range with a convertible wheelgun from Charter Arms, and it’s one that goes from .357 Mag to 9 mm Luger quickly and easily. Welcome to the Double Dog.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 17, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.