Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 22-250 VS 22-250 AI

I own 3 22-250s with 1 in 12 twists and have always planned on doing a fast twist barrel chambered for the AI version whenever one needed a new barrel but now I have the itch to just punch out one of my 1 in 12s for the AI. I would like to hear the pros and cons of the AI from people who have been there, is the velocity gain and brass life worth the effort of fireforming brass and essentially loading for for two different rounds?
thanks for the input

Here is Ackley's article on the Improved cases;

http://www.shootersforum.com/wildca...te-about-ackley-improved-cartridges.html

Also "The Varmint Hunter Magazine" just ran an article on a fast twist (1-9) 22-250. very impressive velocity from a standard un-improved cartridge.

thanks Bob,
reading the link you posted makes me want to simplify my life and keep shooting vanilla 22-250's. When the time comes to re barrel I may just screw a fast twist tube on with a standard chamber.
I would still like to hear other peoples takes on this

I'm not an authority on the subject but I've had more fun with the 1-8 twist with 69-75gr and a 1-12 twist standard with 50-55gr than I did with the 1-12 AI version.
AI is just another option not necessarily an improvement. JMHO!

Been shooting the 22-250AI for more than 20 years, if you have factory barrels more than likely they are 1-14" not 1-12".

I still have 2 slow twist 22-250AI's in my gun safe but to be honest I would never build another unless it is a 1-8" twist, with a 1-12" or 1-14" twist shooting 55 grain bullets the 22-250AI offers very little over a standard 22-250. with a 1-8" twist my favorite combo is with a 80gr Berger VLD. it offers a solid 200fps gain.

I shoot three different 22-250 AI's. One is a factory varmint contour barrel re-chambered to the AI version after several hundred rounds. The other two are fast twist versions with one in a sporter contour in 1 in 8 twist and the other a varmint contour barrel that was a cheap take off formerly chambered in .223 which now is a 22-250 AI twisted at about 1 in 7.75". All shoot very well and there is no issue with shooting either factory or reloaded 22-250 ammo in the AI versions if the chamber is properly cut. All of mine have been cut by Jim Kobe who posts here as Jkob. I do not push the velocity to the max and have many loadings on my brass with out trimming or problems with primer pockets. Accuracy while fire-forming either factory or reloaded ammo has been excellent in my rifles. Shooting similar pressure loadings in both factory and AI versions gets about 100 fps greater velocity in my rifles based on my chronograph. Primary reason to AI is for increased interval between trimming IMO. Fast twist still works well with 50 -55 grain bullets for me. I have not tried 40 grain bullets in the faster twists but have had excellent results with 75 to 90 grain bullets with the fast twists. Don't think there are many downsides to the AI versions but do not know about the very lightest weight bullets.

22.250 AI = 220 Swift. Simple

I did an 8 twist in plane old 22-250. I wanted the heavier bullets, not the additional speed.

fast twist 22-250 is cake, fast twist 22-250 AI is cake with icing. Just got to decide if you want the icing.

I like icing (grin)

Well not really.....amazing how you can be a fountain of misinformation at times.

hey boat anchor,

I just compared Nosler #7 and Sierra #5 and Swifty's comments are pretty spot on based on those two published sources. What is the support for your position that he is spouting misinformation? Please enlighten us all about your superior knowledge if you can.

Amazing how you can open mouth and insert foot most of the time


About 1937 a man named Gebby and an associate, J.B. Smith completed the work on the wildcat 22-250, simply the 250 Savage case necked down to .224 with a 28 degree shoulder. Some years later, P.O. Ackley increased the 22-250�s case capacity by re-forming it by almost eliminating its body taper and giving it a 40 degree shoulder. Case capacity essentially duplicates that of the 220 Swift.


This text is based on information from �Cartridges of the World�, Hodgdon reloading manual, the cartridge designer and/or own resources.

Damn just Damn, Must of scared him off.
I was really looking forward to this debate.

While the 22-250AI and 220 Swift are similar in powder capacity and both shoot 22 caliber bullets they are very different in how they appear and what powders they like and how they react to different bullet weights.

Apples and Oranges are both fruit of similar size but have different skin, color,taste etc.......simple for a simpleton such as yourself.

Not a chance BITCH

Ignorance is bliss, and you are extremely blissful aren't you LARRY.

Sure it's worth it. Velocity gain in real terms - actual working accuracy loads and not reloading manual numbers - will be 200 to 300fps depending. Fireforming is no "effort", just find the most accurate load and go kill stuff.....that load will be considerably faster than a std 22-250. You'll obviously be using more powder. And the barrel will have the same accuracy as before, only faster. One thing though, the barrel will need to be set back at least enough to cut a new throat and neck, and also remove all the std chamber taper right to the web. The 12 twist is fine unless you want to shoot real heavy bullets.

WOW... Schity52 this is just how I thought you would look staring into the mirror talking to yourself

No it wont be, while fireforming you can make very accurate loads but they will be slower because of all the energy lost in blowing the brass out to fit the chamber, they are slower than a std 22-250 in every situation with reasonable pressure

Boat anchor = Larry Root