The-Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-22250-Ammo-v

For those not in the know, [1] 22-250 ammo is a fast-shooting cartridge that delivers excellent accuracy and performance on both small game and varmints. It has become a wildly popular choice for those who are concerned about the impact that bigger centerfire varmint rounds have on their wallets or the environment, especially those who live in western states where windy conditions hamper the effectiveness of other varmint calibers.

The 22-250 came along in the mid-1960s and immediately established itself as the dominant high-velocity.22. Almost overnight, it seemed that everyone was falling all over themselves to chamber the new cartridge, even Roy Weatherby, who had only recently introduced his own rimmed cartridges, the.224 Weatherby and the.30-06-chambered.223.

Compared to the.223 Remington, the.22-250 offers a substantial advantage at ranges up to 500 yards, but this margin begins to fade past that point. The faster cartridge drops 2.4 inches less and drifts 0.4 inch less than the same load in a.223 Remington, and it flies 174 fps more quickly. That extra velocity also comes at a cost, however, as faster-shooting cartridges tend to wear barrels more quickly than their slower counterparts.

This is a concern for those who use their rifles for both target shooting and hunting, as the additional stress on the barrel can lead to premature wear and a reduction in precision. The good news is that a careful reloader can often mitigate this effect by selecting the right powder and bullet for their rifle, while also minimizing the amount of pressure on the barrel.

Like most rimfire cartridges, the.22-250 is extremely sensitive to variations in reloading practices. This is because the cartridge has a very large ratio of case capacity to bullet diameter, meaning that slight differences in bullet seating depth or powder charge can have a major impact on accuracy.

As a result, it is generally best to use factory ammunition until the handloader has developed a solid base of experience and has gained confidence in his or her abilities. Then, the hunter can move on to handloading for the added benefits that this brings to the table.

With a wide variety of bullets and powders available for the cartridge, finding the perfect combination is easy in most rifles. Load data has been published for countless combinations over the years, but it is always wise to cross-check recommended loads from different manuals before shooting. As with any cartridge that began as a wildcat, the.22-250 has had numerous minor variations in the original design, so a loaded round that works safely in one gun may not work well in another.

For the most part, both the.22-250 and the.223 Remington offer relatively mild recoil energy, making the former a great choice for new or young hunters who are not yet comfortable with the more powerful centerfire cartridges. It is important to remember, however, that the difference between 3.2 ft-lbs and 4.7 ft-lbs of recoil energy is not enough to cause problems for most shooters.