Author Topic: Help us pick out a .22-250 (Read 1194 times)

5090 · « **on:** December 30, 2004, 08:52:33 AM »

Hi

My 15 year old son is in the market for a 22-250. He wants a standard weight barrel in 22 or 24 inch length. Of the big makers, (Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Browning, etc.) who do you guys recommend for getting a good shooter right out of the box?

Thanks
5090

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2004, 09:13:39 AM »

Don't rule out the Savage http://www.savagearms.com/16fxp3.htm
Winchester Featherweight is also good.

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2004, 12:40:28 PM »

I agree with "PA-Joe", go with the Savage. The most accurate out of the box rifles being made today. Lawdog

Shamus99 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2005, 11:50:26 AM »

For the best out of the box shooter I would say that the Tikka is hard to beat. Nothing short of custom really outshoots these Finnish rifles made in the Sako factory. Adjustable trigger, target crown, fully floated barrel etc... But finding one can be kinda hard.

I recently checked out a Tikka T3 Lite (blued/synthetic) at the local Sportsmans Warehouse here in Salem Oregon and they still have it for $429 (just gave 'em a call).

They have stores up in Kennewick, Silverdale and Spokane as well as stores in Portland and they used to do intra-store transfers.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2005, 12:07:00 AM »

get him a Model 700 and don't look back. Remington adl syn' or syn' youth would be my choice.

NYH1 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2005, 05:55:53 AM »

Quote from: Lawdog

I agree with "PA-Joe", go with the Savage. The most accurate out of the box rifles being made today. Lawdog

Maybe, Remington's shoot extremely well out of the box as well!

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:02:58 AM »

Quote from: New York Hunter

Quote from: Lawdog
I agree with "PA-Joe", go with the Savage. The most accurate out of the box rifles being made today. Lawdog

Maybe, Remington's shoot extremely well out of the box as well!

Not as long as Remington rifles only have to shoot groups that are 4(+/-)" to meet company standards they won't. I have seen a number of new Remington rifles show up at our club range in the last few years and none have compared with Savage for out of the box accuracy. Lawdog

Shamus99 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:32:24 AM »

For the best accuracy at a reasonable price point, the top three players seem to be (in no particular order) Howa, Tikka and Savage.

When you look at fit, finish and options I would rank them in this order: Tikka, Howa, Savage.

Just my 2cents worth.

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:53:31 AM »

If I may make a suggestion not included in your list, another rifle to consider would be Weatherby's "Special Varmint Rifle". The barrel is 22" long, free-floated, and has a muzzle dia. of .739". As far as Weatherbys go, this one is not the MOST expensive either. It has been said that with a Weatherby, 3 shots at least touching at 100yds. out of the box is not uncommon.

http://www.weatherby.com/rifles/lw_svr.shtml

-Patriot

smokey66 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2005, 04:04:44 PM »

that's too bad about the newer Remingtons. i have two BDLs one in 300 win mag another in 223. they both shoot well under an inch. Savage shoots good right out of the box, but, they are SO GOSH DARN UGLY!!!!

MGMorden · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2005, 05:11:25 PM »

Quote from: smokey66

Savage shoots good right out of the box, but, they are SO GOSH DARN UGLY!!!!

I've never really found the Savage to be ugly. :lol: Sure the low-grade models don't have select walnut stocks (or I prefer brown/nutmeg laminate myself), but most other companie's rifles at the same price point don't sport really fancy stocks either (or worse, they're synethetic :x ). I've heard some complain about the barrel-nut, but it's incomprhensible to me how that could be the deciding factor on a rifle being ugly . . . it's just a little ring in front of the receiver.

Donaldo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2005, 05:19:50 PM »

Savage rifle is ugly? Depends on what you think is ugly. It is the only modular bolt rifle built today. One of the ugliest rifles I have seen lately is a Remington 700 ADL synthetic. The finish looked like about 100 grit sandpaper. Yuk. Now then... recently I bought one of the Savage 110 Walmart close outs in 243. It was one of the package deals. Cheap scope, Simmons 8 point, bout $29 scope. I finally got time to throw some handloads together. Tried Varget in Win. cases, Berger 68 grain moly bullets. Loaded 38-41 grains, 5 each. Went to range today, had to use one round of each load to get scope zeroed. At 100 yards, all four groups were less than 1 inch. Two were close to 1/2 inch. Like 0.530 and 0.560. Now this is a brand new, out of the box rifle, cheap scope, no tuning of handloads and all shots were less than 1 moa. Best accuracy out of the box.... I would say so. You got one of them Remmm.......Remmm.... Lets hear about it.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2005, 01:53:02 AM »

I had about the same experience with my .270 Savage as Donaldo except I was shooting factory loads. I personally don't think the Savage is ugly, at least not compared to a Reming.......Reming.........Rem..........788.

No kidding, the out of the box accuracy of the Savage plus the new accutrigger makes the Savage like a Chrysler with a hemi.......everyone would like to have one, but some don't like the body style and trade in value....Wait till the hemi shows up in NASCAR .....Some refuse to admit that Ford and Chevy are behind the eight ball again, just like Reming.....Reming........Reming........The major manufactures better pay attention or Savage is going to have most of the business.......because they have as good or better product at a lower price........

Buckfever · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2005, 02:46:46 AM »

I have 3 Tikkas and everyone was MOA out of the box. Shoot it no fussin. I also have a 17hmr in a Savage. It shoots very good out of the box for $180. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To many a deer on the ground and a very accurate gun for a great price is beauty!! I would get a Tikka, but I get the reason many like Savage and I can't disagree with them. Buckfever

armory414 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2005, 06:25:46 AM »

I have the Ruger 77 Mk II heavy barrelled varmint, with laminated stock, in .22-250. Very excellent shooter, has taken many groundhogs. I would buy one again. My brother likes his Savage varmint rifle in .308.

If you're open to considering guns other than bolt actions, look into a T/C Encore rifle in that caliber. This gun can be switched out to a pistol configuration, as well as shotgun for turkey or other upland game, or muzzle-loader. The advantage for your son would be that he can get one buttstock to fit him for multiple shooting situations.

mountainview · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2005, 07:27:21 AM »

What preferences does the lad have, if any, to the manufacturer? I can remember how excited I was when my father let me pick out my first hunting rifle at the local gunshop (I still own and use it).

All of the rifles you named are solid firearms though my vote goes to the Savage. The Accutrigger can be safely adjusted for pull without having to go to a gunsmith. The heavy pulls on the "lawyer triggers" can be frustrating to a young rookie shooter.

Safe shooting.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2005, 11:58:12 AM »

Just curious, but why a .22-250?

borg1 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2005, 02:24:07 AM »

For a light weight gun, i'd go for the Tikka. Unofficially, the company won't ship a rifle that shoots >MOA.

I have a M595 in .308 and it shoots 0.75" with factory loads if i do my part.

For MUCH cheaper shooting i'd recommend the .223 instead of the 22-250, unless you're planning on reloading, that is.

I like the bull barreled Savages for great accuracy out of the box.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2005, 03:09:39 AM »

Quote from: borg1

For MUCH cheaper shooting i'd recommend the .223 instead of the 22-250, unless you're planning on reloading, that is.

That was the thought behind my quesiton. On the other hand a 243 would be a good choice for a young shooter since, depending on the load, it could be used for both varmits and deer. Not a bad choice for a first centerfire.

borg1 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 12, 2005, 07:22:40 AM »

I think the .243 is probably the best choice for youngsters hunting deer sized game and smaller. That was partly the motivation behind me buying my Savage in .243 (Plus i love cartridges based on the 250 savage case).

.223 is still way cheaper if shooting factory ammo.

handloading can alleviate the ammo cost factor...

Donaldo · « **Reply #20 on:** January 12, 2005, 05:40:06 PM »

borg1,
I hate to be the one...... :oops: but the 243 Win is based on the 308 case, not the 250 Sav. However, it would probably be more accurate if it was on the 250 Sav. case. Then it could be called the 6mm International.