Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What brand of barrel to buy

Thinking about ordering a barrel for a 22-250 I would be putting on a 99 Savage with a shot barrel use would be for another truck gun for varmints. Also the recommended rate of twist would be helpful.
thanks for replies.
Bill

Get ahold of Chris, ctw here. That's what he does.

Anybody turned an early pre-1955 99 into a 22-250? It's quite a lot higher pressure than a 300 Savage (47,000 PSI to 65,000 PSI).

I have had fine results with good value/bargain barrels; Shilen, Ragged Hole, Douglas, even used ones with a good bore can be cut and rechambered. But there's not much sense in spending the time and money for fitting and chambering a questionable barrel, spend the extra $100 bucks and guarantee you'll be happy. I don't think you need to spend the extra money on air-guaged/hand-lapped to build a good hunter..., but having a hunting rifle that shoots half-MOA consistently, and cleans up with three patches, is a real smile-maker for me.

To your question about twist rate; 9 and 10-twist 22 cal are for the long-heavy VLD-class bullets, 14t will work for 50-55g, 12 twist will give you access to 60-65, but 70g would be iffy in a short 12 twist 22-250. Check out Berger bullets twist rate calculator.

It doesn't make sense to try when there are still plenty of pre-bubba-ed suitable donors out there. Would you rechamber a 1899 x 38-55 to 375W, then max out your hand loads? (...,in my impatience I've asked myself this question, only to arrive at the better answer..), remember the joy is in the pursuit!

1-9" twist won't be sufficient to stabilize the current crop of real heavy long .22 bullets. I found that out with my 1-9" AR15. If extreme range hunting is your goal then get a barrel with the fastest twist you can. Better to overstabilize than understabilize. Truth be told 55-60 grain cup and cores will knock a deer into next Tuesday when employed at sane deer hunting distances, out of a .223 per a couple fellas I have complete and utter faith in believing. A .22-250 would be hell on wheels in comparison.

I'm with my esteemed colleague Calhoun in casting doubt on the sanity of chambering an early 99 in .22-250. I think that would be best done with a 50's and later action, and even then expect short case life if full throttle loads are employed.