22-250 for Coues?

[Wilderness Blacktail]

I'm thinking of trying to find a fast-twist (1-8") prefit in a 22-250 and wondered if anybody had some experience in using a heavy-for-caliber bullet for Arizona Coues. I'm wanting to go prefit mainly just to keep the cost down some, and try to snag a deal with all these sales, and it seems like about as fast as I've been able to find is the 8-twist. With an 8-twist, it looks like I'll probably max out with the 80-grain ELD-X. I like shooting solid copper for hunting but I worry that those lighter bullets won't be as effective at ranges that you can encounter with Coues, and I think I'll need a 7-twist for the heavier Barnes. Personally, I'd like to keep it 600 yards or so and under, but the closer the better.

Anybody have any experience they care to share?

I have other rifles I can use but I love the 22-250 (first rifle) and have always wanted to try a fast twist with heavier bullets. I have other rifles that are more than capable (7mm-08, 300WSM, 6.5CM, 6 Dasher) but like I said, just wanted to get that fast twist 22-250. I've successfully hunted eastern whitetail with the lighter bullets, but I don't think I'd do it with the lighter bullets now since I have those other options. And the longest shot I've had on eastern whitetail has been 200 yards - so a chip shot really.

And to round it out, this would be a year or two undertaking. Depending on when I try to really draw a tag, I'll have between 7-9 points, so I should be able to draw a decent hunt as long as the trends stay similar to what they are now.

Thanks for the help.

Personally i would stay away from the 22-26cal barnes at your max ranges. They may open down to 1700 or so, but they dont kill well until velocity is around 2200 or more. So that hurts more than it helps.

Other monos are out that kill much better down to lower speeds which means better n better performance the faster they are going above the minimum.

I would also put some thought into blood trails, bullets more likely to leave solid ones will help a bunch if you are lucky enough to connect but he dont drop right there.

n just a thot the 22-250AI is the same capacity as the 22Creed if u do wish to stick with the 22-250. Which isnt a horrible idea. N I mean theres no rule that says you cant try n get closer before you shoot.

 

[overinfinite]

I may be the odd one out, but if I was better at wind calls then I wouldn't hesitate taking my 18" 22-250 with the 62 gr Gameking. The comment earlier about "they are tougher than people think" I don't really buy. a 140 VLD out of a 6.5CM going 2700fps absolutely shredded an entire neck roast and half a front quarter on a Coues deer quartering away at 380 yards. I think what you'll be up against is a switching 10mph wind. With my 60gr VMAXs at 300 yards is 3 MOA where as a heavy bullet can cut that in half.

 

[Sealesniper]

My old 22-250 AI has a 1:7 twist and handles the heavy for caliber bullets with ease. I went for speed with it though and was shooting 40 and 50 gr pills.

 

[VinceMule]

I shot two does on a pond dam, range of 280 yards with 55g Barnes TSX in a 223 with a MV of 3150. The does took off like they had not been hit, and we found them both 100+ yards from where they had been hit. We butcher our deer and there was not much damage to internal organs other than they had punched a hole. So, no more of that kind of thing for our family.

Brother and I have had better luck putting animals on the ground with 63g Sierras and 65 g Sierras, but these were used for freezer meat animals, where we were hoping not to ruin a lot of meat. The 60g Partition in a 22/250 blows up a deer(max load of IMR 4350). I am talking about it looking like it had been hit with a 300 Winchester with 150g Nosler ballistic tip at 30 yards.

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

I have been shooting my 22 creedmoor the last 2 seasons and on animals as big as Axis and aoudad it works extremely well. Again I looked at a horizon rifle when getting into the cartridge--and They would know--but I went with a 1-7 twist instead of the 8 twist. I shoot almost exclusively 88 grain eld-M 85.5 Berger, and 73 grain hammers and looking at the 80 grain HHT hammers. The 7 twist seems to do a great job in accuracy and stabilization.