About .22-250 Remington

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about .22-250 Remington. This cartridge has persisted in common use for nearly a century and remains a popular choice among hunters. Our goal is to provide a brief overview of the cartridge while delving into traits, features, use cases, and more. Now, let’s talk about .22-250 Remington.

What is .22-250 Remington?

The .22-250 was originally designed in 1937 by Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E Gebby, and J. Bushnell Smith. Though the cartridge began life as a wildcat cartridge derived from the .250-3000 Savage, it eventually saw standardization and commercialization in the 1960s. Initial support for the cartridge came in 1963 when the Browning Arms Company offered its Browing High Power rifle in the wildcat .22-250. In 1965, the Remington Arms Company picked up the caliber and offered bolt action rifles such as their Model 700 in the .22-250. During this same year, Remington began commercial production of the .22-250, standardizing the .22-250 Remington cartridge.

The cartridge boasts high velocities and a light recoil impulse. This light recoil impulse allows the cartridge to be employed by newer shooters and those sensitive to recoil. Experienced shooters can take advantage of this light recoil and employ rifles effectively and make fast follow-up shots. The high velocities of the cartridge allow projectiles to reach out to extended ranges and hit with authority. Generally speaking, .22-250 Remington loadings have velocities of between 3,000 FPS to 4,000 FPS, making it an extremely fast rifle cartridge. This velocity is achievable due to lightweight projectiles and bottleneck nature of the round.

Is .22-250 Remington Interchangeable with Other Calibers?

Though the cartridge utilizes a .22 caliber projectile, it is unique and distinct from other calibers on the market. Common .22 rimfire calibers will not interchange with the .22-250 Remington. This is to say that calibers such as .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum will not interchange with the .22-250 Remington. The larger .22-250 Remington is a centerfire cartridge while the smaller .22 caliber cartridges are of the rimfire variety.

How Available is .22-250 Remington Ammunition?

At this point in time, .22-250 Remington ammunition is harder to get ahold of than more contemporary calibers. This is to say that it is more difficult to acquire .22-250 Remington ammo than it is to acquire ammunition for calibers such as .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, and even .300 Winchester Magnum. Despite this, the cartridge is supported by a fair number of ammunition manufacturers such as Hornady, Federal, Aguila, PPU, and Remington to name a few. These loadings are available in a variety of forms, specifically in loadings optimized for accuracy and for hunting use. Of course, lead-free offerings are also available in the way of .22-250 Remington.

While loadings for .22-250 Remington may not be consistently available on local shelves, there are things shooters can do to stay stocked up. Like many calibers, the .22-250 Remington is available in individual and bulk ammo quantities. If one elects to buy bulk .22-250 Remington ammunition, they can effectively build up a larger stock of ammunition. Of course, shooters can also choose to shop for ammunition online, effectively expanding their potential ammo offerings. If one chooses to buy .22-250 Remington ammo online, they are no longer bound by what they can find locally. All in all, one will be able to find .22-250 Remington ammunition if they are looking for it, despite its occasional scarcity.

How Available are Firearms Chambered in .22-250 Remington

Like .22-250 Remington ammunition, firearms in the caliber are also less common than other offerings. This is to say that firearms chambered in .22-250 Remington are less common than offerings in calibers such as .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, and .243 Winchester. Firearms in mainstream calibers tend to be available at most places where ammunition is sold, something which is not always the case with .22-250 Remington chambered firearms. Typically, firearms chambered in .22-250 Remington will be of the bolt action variety, often optimized for use cases such as hunting. Companies such as Bergara, Remington, Savage Arms, and Tikka are among the producers of .22-250 Remington rifles.

What is .22-250 Remington Used For?

Like most calibers and cartridges, the .22-250 Remington is well-suited to recreational shooting and plinking. Of course, the frequency and practicality of this use case is ultimately dependent upon a shooter having sufficient stock of .22-250 Remington ammo. That being said, the soft recoil and high accuracy potential of the .22-250 Remington makes it quite enjoyable for target shooting applications. The cartridge is also easy to employ at extended ranges, allowing shooters to engage in long-range recreational shooting.

Perhaps the most common use case for .22-250 Remington ammunition is going to be hunting. The cartridge excels particularly at small game hunting and dispatching varmints. Like other cartridges, the .22-250 Remington benefits from the presence of loadings optimized for hunting, making it even more viable in the field. The cartridge is commonly used to take game such as coyote and prairie dogs, being adored by hunters for its flat trajectories, light recoil, and accuracy potential. As with any type of hunting, one should employ proper firearms, ammo, equipment, and practices to ensure an ethical and optimal hunt.

Military Use

While the cartridge is primarily known for its performance in hunting applications, the .22-250 Remington also saw limited military use. The British Special Air Service and Australian Special Air Service Regiment utilized Tikka M55 sniper rifles chambered in .22-250 Remington. These sniper rifles were employed in urban counter-terrorism roles during the 1980’s. The .22-250 Remington cartridge was specifically selected to minimize the chance of overpenetration and ricochets.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the .22-250 cartridge has persisted in one form or another for nearly a century. The cartridge continues to be employed by a wide range of shooters for various purposes, specifically in hunting and sporting use cases. We here at True Shot Ammo offer .22-250 Remington ammunition for sale in addition to the rest of our inventory. Our offerings encompass loadings for popular use cases such as hunting and precision-oriented shooting. Whether you want to buy .22-250 Remington ammo or another type of ammunition we stock, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.

Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at [email protected] for more ammo options.

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Tyler Elsberry

Tyler Elsberry is an author for True Shot Ammo, boasting over a decade of experience in the firearms industry. His extensive knowledge and hands-on expertise make him a valuable asset to the True Shot team. Tyler's deep understanding of firearms, coupled with his passion for the ammunition industry, allows him to provide insightful and practical guidance to enthusiasts and professionals alike. His writings often reflect his commitment to delivering accurate, up-to-date information on the latest trends, products, and advancements in the field. Tyler's ability to convey complex technical details in an accessible manner has earned him a loyal following among readers seeking reliable advice and information in the world of firearms and ammunition.