.223 vs 22-250

[Glenn D]

What's your guy's thoughts? What's the best varment gun the .223 or 22-250,
Or maybe you prefer a different caliber. Let's get your opinion on the best varment caliber.

[wwbirds]

If you search you will see coyote, varmint and calibre questions and many variations of opinions on this subject come up probably weekly.

[Dick284]

First answer me this.

What style of varmint hunting do you want to do?

[Glenn D]

Mostly coyotes.

[ForwardBias]

223Rem.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Own both. Take the one I have more bullets for at the time.

LC

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Glenn D

Mostly coyotes.

And how will you hunt them?
Calling?
Baiting?
Wandering about looking for a target of opportunity?
Driving around looking for a target of opportunity?

[Big_Willy]

I own .223 Remington. Why? Economics and availability. Off the shelf components (projectiles, powder, brass, primers) as well as commercially produced rounds are cheap and universally available. Rifle selection is also expanded with this common calibre.

The 22-250 and 223 are pretty close from a ballistic standpoint. 204 Ruger is another good option. Any of the three would be fine for coyote- dependant on your method.

Round selection is just as important as the 204/223/22-250 debate.


-Willy

[Glenn D]

Originally Posted by Big_Willy

I own .223 Remington. Why? Economics and availability. Off the shelf components (projectiles, powder, brass, primers) as well as commercially produced rounds are cheap and universally available. Rifle selection is also expanded with this common calibre


-Willy

Well said,exactly one reason why I'm leaning towards .223

[Mountainlion]

for coyotes - snowmobile, minimun 500cc and a partner on the back with a 12 gauge.... JUST KIDDING, DON"T BEAT ME UP NOW!

I agree with Big Willy and Glen D however I like my .243. I's a tack driver out to 400+ yards with light grain ammo. My gun is a Remington 700, pillar & action bedded and I love it. Best all around varmit and deer gun I own.

[ForwardBias]

Don't count out the 22-250. As much as I like the practical and efficient 223Rem there is no substitute for raw 22cal horsepower. Get both!

[Savage Mike]

I have a 22-250 and a .223 and i find myself using the .223 more because of the cheap factory rounds.

[Got Juice?]

Originally Posted by ForwardBias

Don't count out the 22-250. As much as I like the practical and efficient 223Rem there is no substitute for raw 22cal horsepower. Get both!

Or you could spend time at the range with your .204, become a great marksman and do more with less instead of 'overcompensating'


J/K ForwardBias... all cartridges have their place... even if it is the back of the bus...

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by Got Juice?

Or you could spend time at the range with your .204, become a great marksman and do more with less instead of 'overcompensating'


J/K ForwardBias... all cartridges have their place... even if it is the back of the bus...

I have never owned a 204 so I won't put it down. My question is if it is so great why haven't the 223 and 22-250 been pushed off of the podium? The 204 has been out for awhile now and guys aren't exactly dropping the old standbys for it...Just some ribbing from the back of the bus, where the cool kids sit.

[Coiloil37]

I don't use my .204 on dogs because it won't shoot through them end to end. If you don't shoot running yotes it would be a fine choice.

If you aren't saving fur, take longer shots, reload or don't mind more expensive ammo, won't be using it a lot in the gopher patch and wearing out the barrel and don't mind a bit more noise, muzzle blast and the loss of sight picture during recoil I prefer the .22-250 or 6mm.

If you don't shoot past 300 yards or don't mind a bit of Kentucky windage, like to watch the impact through the scope during recoil, plan on a lot of volume shooting in the gopher patch, aren't reloading or want readily accessible factory ammo the .223 is probably better.

You can always load a 22-250 down but you can't load a .223 up to match 22-250 velocity.

I personally like a 6mm with 65 grain vmax or a custom 1-7" twist 22-250 with 77 grain vld's for yotes but I'm not saving fur.
My .204 also comes gopher hunting and I need to buy another .223 for the gopher patch as well.
I don't like the 220 swift and sold mine because it burns the same amount of powder the 6mm does but is significantly less gun. Truth be told it really isn't any better then the 22-250 and in ways worse because it has even more noise, muzzle blast, recoil and heats the barrel with fewer shots.

When I wanted to save fur I shot them over bait in controlled environments with fmj's or I snared them.

[Glenn D]

In the end I think I will probably get both calibers,they are both great guns!
But for now think I will go with the .223 it has great ballistics out to 300 yards and a great gun for just bench shooting and the amo is cheap. Don't think I could really go wrong with either gun. Thanks for all the great input everyone

[lannie]

Originally Posted by Glenn D

In the end I think I will probably get both calibers,they are both great guns!
But for now think I will go with the .223 it has great ballistics out to 300 yards and a great gun for just bench shooting and the amo is cheap. Don't think I could really go wrong with either gun. Thanks for all the great input everyone

Great choice Glenn. I would suggest looking into a fast twisting 223 too. 1/8 or 1/9 would really bring along some great options for bullets.

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by lannie

Great choice Glenn. I would suggest looking into a fast twisting 223 too. 1/8 or 1/9 would really bring along some great options for bullets.

Second this. A faster twist is what I'd prefer.

[Bergerboy]

22-250 there is no replacement for displacement.

[Got Juice?]

Originally Posted by ForwardBias

I have never owned a 204 so I won't put it down. My question is if it is so great why haven't the 223 and 22-250 been pushed off of the podium? The 204 has been out for awhile now and guys aren't exactly dropping the old standbys for it...Just some ribbing from the back of the bus, where the cool kids sit.

I love the horsepower of the 22-250

I also respect what a .223 can do

I pushed all mine off the table for the .204 Once I figured out the reloading (finnicky) life was more than great.

the .204 is a reloaders caliber, otherwise it is NOT economical to shoot.

LOL@ Back of the bus... love that expression.

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by Glenn D

In the end I think I will probably get both calibers,they are both great guns!
But for now think I will go with the .223 it has great ballistics out to 300 yards and a great gun for just bench shooting and the amo is cheap. Don't think I could really go wrong with either gun. Thanks for all the great input everyone

[Huntsman]

I say 22/250 but only because it (TC Pro Hunter bbl) came in on a trade. The tough part so far is finding brass. I think this cartridge will be fun to work with and I look forward to some range time on Monday.

[Groundhogger]

I'd say go for .223. If you really want to burn more powder down the road, get more value for it...and add a .243 to the mix.

[Altaboy]

If a person is reloading the 6x45 works pretty well. .223 bumped up to 6mm

[JPGLADNEY]

Originally Posted by Mountainlion

for coyotes - snowmobile, minimun 500cc and a partner on the back with a 12 gauge.... JUST KIDDING, DON"T BEAT ME UP NOW!

I agree with Big Willy and Glen D however I like my .243. I's a tack driver out to 400+ yards with light grain ammo. My gun is a Remington 700, pillar & action bedded and I love it. Best all around varmit and deer gun I own.

Lol its true. We call it bull dogging.

[JPGLADNEY]

22-250. Look at ballistics between 223 and 22250 past 200 yards. 22-250 out performs the 223 and is far more superior and longer ranges

[JPGLADNEY]

Far more superior at longer ranges is what I meant

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Own both. Take the one I have more bullets for at the time.

LC

that pretty much sums up my choices on what i go hunting with.

"what have i loaded for recently?"

[lannie]

Originally Posted by JPGLADNEY

22-250. Look at ballistics between 223 and 22250 past 200 yards. 22-250 out performs the 223 and is far more superior and longer ranges

Past 200 yards it would depend on the twist of the rifle and the weight of the bullet. Unless you are having a bbl installed on a rifle it is much easier to find a fast twisting 223 than a 22-250. Who builds a factory fast twist 22-250?

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by lannie

Past 200 yards it would depend on the twist of the rifle and the weight of the bullet. Unless you are having a bbl installed on a rifle it is much easier to find a fast twisting 223 than a 22-250. Who builds a factory fast twist 22-250?

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