I just picked up a used 22-250 barrel for my encore today. I'm planning on doing some Long range varmint hunting with this set up . Any ideas for a scope ? I'm thinking maybe a rifle scope . what are you long range shooters using ? Rick

The 22-250 is a nice little round. It might be a little stout for a rifle scope, but I have been wrong before. The one I had wore a 2-7 scope. If you plan on reloading give me a PM and I will give you some loading data. It might save you some time… It might not. But as much loading data as I have for it I am at least going to offer.

TCMan the reloading will be great! (pm sent thank you) i can use all the help i can get , i knew this encore was going to be allot of fun

35gr Varget and any 50gr bullet. jimmylee and I have shot this load from three or four different 22-250's (Strikers and Encore barrels) w/ great success. His newest Striker likes a little more pressure so he bumped to a 55gr bullet and it seems to have come together.

Dan-- i took out my buddy's Striker, and before the dang trigger gave out, i got it zeroed at 225 and shot a 2.5" cloverleaf gp. @ 425 yds. on steel. I was using the 60 gr. JLK Low Drag (BC-.340), and my eyes about popped out. This with a BR bipod and rear bag. This rig is 1 of the most accurate i've ever shot--and about as plain-Jane as it gets. I drool on it every time we take it out.

I put a 4.5-14x Burris FFII on it with Ballistic Plex reticle, and it was dead-nuts on for Exbal's calcs at that range (gp. was in the middle of the steel)--1.8 stadia units down.

Mitch tried to use the scope's full field of view with this rig, and guess what--he got a little cut on his forehead for his efforts. We have to get 1/2 FOV--no more or else.

I have become a firm believer in these JLK Low Drags now due to the higher BC they provide for the longer ranges. I was shooting the 65 out of a 9-twist AR at only 3050 fps mv, and it was good to about 500 yds. on coyotes. The 60 out of this rig is going 330 fps faster!! I'd bet it's an easy 500 yd. coyote rig with no wind. It's so flat shooting beyond 250-300 yds. that the lower post tip (10.5 MOA) get us BEYOND 650 YDS.!!, and gets there with the same velocity/energy that the 60 V-Max delivers at 500 yds.!!!--phenomenal.

A week later he missed a broadside coyote at 300 yds.--oh well!!??

I don’t know what the barrel will and will not do… but… I have been told that TC’s barrels will not stabilize anything over a 55 grain bullet. (Please enlighten me if anyone has any better experiences than me!!!) I think my two best combinations were 34 grains of H335 with a Hornady 52 Match HP and 55gr v-max. And Varget with a Hornady 55 Grain sp wc. I have 9 22-call bullets and I think 4 powders I experimented with the 22-250. I keep lots of notes for this one because I was fixing to start my load data for my 22-250 rifle.

TCMan,

My encore shoots the 60 grain nosler partitions really well. I was worried because I had also heard the 55 grain was about max...but the 60's do great in my barrels (15" and 24"). So you might give it a try if you favor the heavy bullets.

I know enough to know there are exceptions to EVERY rule. Thanks for the heads up Popeanyoung! I will write that one in my book for future reference. The next 22 call I will be working on is a 221 fireball. I think I am going to try all of my lighter loads first.

TC, do u know what the twist rate is in your barrel? If they're saying that the 55 is the highest generally that will stabilize, i'd bet 1 in 14" maybe.

The original poster said "long-range" which is why i detailed my experiences with the JLK Low Drags. When i shoot at long-range with my rigs i like to have every possible advantage i can get which is why i shoot the LD's. I happened onto them several years ago when i was looking over Jimmy Knox' catalog, and when i saw their BC's it immediately grabbed my attention. I've read about a lot of guys using the Berger's as they have better BC's than the factory bullets offer, but the JLK's are a step beyond them even. Jimmy sold the business to Steve "Swampy" MilHolland at Swampworks, right here-- http://www.swampworks.com and he isn't producing the 52 Low Drag anymore for some reason? Here's the stats on them--

52 (14 twist), BC=.302

60 (12 twist), BC=.339

65 (10 twist), BC=.395

Just about every 22 i've shot them out of gave better accuracy than anything else too.

All of TC’s centerfire 22’s are 1:12

Like I said I know there are exceptions… the 7mm’s are “suppose” to be cut to stabilize 140gr bullets (1:9). But I know there are people that get there 7-30’s and 7mmTCU’s to shoot 120’s. My 7mm08 and 7mm Mag rifles both like 162’s. SST and SPBT respectfully. So, I don’t argue with what works, particularly when the 100 yard target boasts a ¼ or ½ group.

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/chart_encore.php

While looking up the article on swaging bullets I found this article on twist rates.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/st_twistrates_200809/