Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 22-6mm or.. what?

I’d like to try something new; Sending 22 cal 75-80gr ELD bullets fast. But which case, and which rifle? The idea that .243-like (87gr) energy levels can be achieved with a 22 cal is kinda interesting (to me). Information, rifles, and components are limited, but I do see that dies are available and that I can size 6mm brass if needed

Is the 22-250 with a faster twist barrel the more obvious answer? Ordering a custom rifle is on the menu, but not exactly desired.

Any constructive thoughts are appreciated. Negative thoughts are okay too, as long I get a laugh out of them

I had a 22-6mm for a while, and got 3600 fps with 70-grain bullets from its 24" Brux 1-8 twist barrel. ln my 22" barreled Ruger American the fastest load with 70's gets around 3400. There is a difference, but it's not vast, especially considering the longer barrel on the 22-6mm.

You can also get a 1-8" twist .22-250 RAR or Tikka T3x from Whittaker Guns for a lot less than a custom .22-6mm.

Very handy to learn. Thank you!

You're welcome! I the 1-8 Ruger American to take a pretty good pronghorn buck this fall at 350 yards, using the 70-grain Hornady GMX at 3400 fps. Worked great, partly becayse the rifle/load shoots very well.

22/6 has been around for years. Recall getting whupped at 1000 by one in the late 80s...

Its on my list for sure as a gun to barrel at some point soon enough. Have a bag of formed brass already from someone that got rid of theirs.

IIRC isn't it one of these new renamed wonders that "Texas trophy hunters" (can't stand that organization for some reason) now calls 22 TTH?

Thought it will make a heck of a long range varmint gun and with 60-70 gn mono bullets of the right BC a good light recoil deer gun too.

Having shot a fast twist 22-250 with 80 smks on deer for a while, I can't see anything wrong with the 22/6. Certainly smacked a number of deer with the 22-250 on the far side of 500 very easily.

Yeah, somebody "rebranded" the .22-6mm as the .224 Texas Trophy Hunter.

I would have kept mine, but also have a Winchester Model 70 in .223 WSSM with a Lilja barrel installed by Charlie Sisk, and the case capacities of the .22-6mm and .223 WSSM are basically identical, so produce identical ballistics. I did a bunch of load-testing of both for an article, and both of course were very accurate. But in the end I decided I liked the .223 WSSM more, mostly because it was a lighter, handier rifle, so sold the .22-6mm. Now, of course, not only have the WSSM but the fast-twist RAR .22-250--and Eileen has one of the fast-twist .22-250 Tikkas, which she'll probably be using on pronghorn next year. She didn't draw a tag this year, but with bonus points will draw at least one next year, and maybe two.

I have done several 22-250s for customers with 1-9 and 1-8 twist barrels. They all love them. Using bullet from 69 to 80+ grains they shoot flat and hold their own VERY well to any distance you'd want to use them.

I have re-barreled 2 for two different coyote hunters who both love them for open country hunting. They are using Sierra bullets, one is using the 69 grain and the other the is using 80 grain. Both tell me the bullet kill coyotes fast and do minimal hide damage. Both of these men shoot a LOT of coyotes every year and they can't say enough about the fast twist 22-250s.

One used to shoot a 240 Weatherby, and at first did not think the 22-250 would be up to his Weatherby Mk5 for open country hunting, but he tells me he was wrong. The 240 shoots a heavier bullet, but the 6MM 100 grain doesn't please him as much as the 80 grain sierra 224. I am only relaying what he has told me here, but what he's saying is the shots from 300 yards and closer are hard on hides with the 240, and the 22-250 80 gr is less damaging. From about 350 out to his longest kills so far (about 650) the 22-250 is fully the equal of the 240 against coyotes. I do not doubt him.

I personally have not used the fast twist 22-250 so I can only tell the readers what I am told. My coyote gun is a 223 in an AR15, so that's a totally different set of numbers.

Great information. Thanks all

I use the 22-284 Winchester with 75 grainers, found best sub-moa accuracy with 3500fps. All this on a M98 Mauser action.

Not a gun writer but there may be a 22 Creedmoor on the way. Alpha Munitions is already making the brass.

Which would be essentially the .22-250 RCBS Improved.

Which would be cool in a Kimber Montana with a fast twist. The .22-250 version has a 1-14". I have a couple boxes of 60 grain partitions that don't seem to stabilize in 1-14" twists for me. So, I mean, why wouldn't I buy a $1400 rifle so I don't lose money selling 2 boxes of bullets? That's logical and loony, right?

Tom

Yep!

I've always gotten better accuracy with 60-grain Partitions in faster-twist barrels, even just 1-12. If I recall correctly, it was originally designed as a deer bullet for the .223 Remington, and at the time most commercial .223's were still 1-12.

Apparently they assumed the higher velocity of the .22-250 and .220 Swift would give them just enough zip to stabilize in 1-14 twists, but that hasn't been my experience even here in Montana at 4000 feet above sea level. But they usually shoot pretty well in faster twists--even in a couple of 1-12 .22-250's.

I remember that article!

If you ever want to dump that WSSM you should remember your good friend 'flave.




Travis

Most bang for your buck is an 8" or faster twisted 22-250. The Ruger American gets you there but you're going to struggle getting the UBER high BC bullets in that itty-bitty mag.


Re-barreled Howa if I were in your shoes.




Travis

Travis,

The RAR .22-250 uses the .308 magazine, so there's no problem with longer bullets.

Will keep you in mind if I decide the .223 WSSM needs a new home!

Any problem obtaining 223 WSSM brass?

Dunno about right now. I got a bunch upon acquiring the rifle, 3-4 years ago. Since it's thick it lasts and lasts, and aside from a little experimenting I don't use the rifle on prairie dogs, so expect my 150-200 pieces will last a while.

My guess is that it's not any harder to find than 6mm Remington brass, but haven't checked on 6mm availability for a while either.

Maybe mine is jacked. It feeds great with most everything but the super high BC stuff has to be jammed way down into the case. I wonder if they sent the wrong mag?

I keep buying brass when available. So you know I deserve it. My dream WSSM is a slow twist shooting 40gr. BT's @ 4,600fps. I want to see what it does. Mostly to cats but other stuff too.




Travis

If you build it. They will come.

(not really. you have to plan ahead.)




Dave