New or used?

[ovenpaa]

I am looking at a used 22-250 for myself tomorrow, round count is heading towards 1000 and I will reserve judgement until I have bore scoped and shot it. Fingers crossed it is a good little rifle (Walnut/Blued Sako 75 Varmint) I have shot -250's with 2500 rounds through them and still going strong and others shot out at under half this. My view is anything after 1500 is a bonus with most of them however if you are prepared to re-barrel at some stage they are well worth a look.

[wildrover77]

What would anyone recommend?

For what?

For shooting ?

A 22 250 rifle.

[Sim G]

Vermin, pests, small deer, targets?

Unless there is an absolute specific where .22-250 is required, which I cannot think of one, I personally would not bother with the caliber again.

If you must have one, a quick check of GT shows that there are a plethora of quality makes such as Ruger, Winchester, CZ, Weatherby and even a Sako at under 300 quid. As I said, if you must have one, then why gamble any more?

I would not make the investment in a new rifle of a quality make in .22-250....

[wildrover77]

I want a .22 calibre fox rifle capable of the long ranges required on the Yorkshire wolds.

[Sim G]

If you can't achieve what you need with either a 222 or 223, step up to something 6mm. The only real alternative to a .22-250 in .22CF would be possibly .220 Swift. A long action, that's not so popular this dude of the Atlantic and has also been labelled as a bit of a barrel burner with light bullets and double based powers. But over 4600fps can be achieved, allegedly....

.223AI may fill your requirements sticking with .22CF, but a reloading and non factory standard offering as far as I remember.

[wildrover77]

On guntrader their are 180 22 250, 4 swifts, 96 triple 2 and 283 .223

I fully understand that it technically is not efficient but the market shows it is popular.

[knewmans]

Or lots of people want to sell one

[wildrover77]

Or lots of people want to sell one

Better get shot of my .223 more people are trying to sell those!

[Sim G]

On guntrader their are 180 22 250, 4 swifts, 96 triple 2 and 283 .223

I fully understand that it technically is not efficient but the market shows it is popular.

Popular doesn't always mean right. And sometimes in the UK people can be driven down the particular calibre route for the wrong reasons. "Conventional thinking" about how useful or for what purpose a certain calibre is suitable for is sometimes driven by the parameters wrongly defined by licensing authorities for instance.

One thing I will throw in is, if this is for long range foxes, .22-250 gives you only around 200fps more that .223 at 450 yards for equivilent bullet weight.

[Duey]

22-250 is a great varminting and small deer round especially if shooting heavier bullets in fast twists which can also bring them within the range limits on military ranges of 3250fps, I run 75gr amax at 3070fps to good effect
I had my old 14 twist barrel changed at 1100ish rounds because I wanted too, it was still spot on with 52gr amax's, I just wanted the challenge of stretching its legs so went for the faster twist for heavier bullets
52grs were consistent at 720yds hitting Huns head at Sennybridge which was entertaining and also accounted for a few foxes and rabbits over the years as well

I wonder how many 223 and 6mm exceed the range limits on military ranges but never get questioned just because of the caliber whereas as soon as you say 22-250 it's a big no no !!!

If you want to go 22-250 then go for it, but as the SSG is a PITA to change barrel, as already stated, then I would go for another option, Tikka do factory 8 twist barrels I believe

Duey