223 vs a 22-250 swap

[leserz]

 i just picked up a h&r varmint in 22-250 fluted bull barrel . i have not shot it yet my self but i got it used. thinking of trying to swap the barrel for a like in .223. reason is ammo cost pretty cheap. can get it most any place seems what i have read so far the two are close in performance out to say 300 yds. you guys have an opinion on this ? the 22-250 is faster.

[Spanky]

Ammo costs the same for either one unless you plan on shooting cheap milsurp through the 223. You can buy 40rd. packs at WalMart for the 22-250 for $30 bucks. The 22-250 is alot more bang for the buck than a 223.



Spanky

[Sourdough]

I'd stick with the 22-250.  In a single shot you are not going to shoot enough ammo to really notice the differance in the price of the ammo.  The 22-250 will reach on out to 300 and 400 yards with enough authority to kill something, where the .223 loses it's edge at around 250 yards due to velocity loss.  I have both and if it looks like I may be shooting beyond 200 yards I will take the 22-250.  Under 200 yards I will use the .223.

[trotterlg]

Who ever told you that a .223 was close to a 22-250 was probably on drugs.  There is absolutely no comparison between the two.  Shoot both and then report back, I know what you will say.  Larry

[leserz]

ok  i will get some ammo tomorrow go to the range thursday or friday and try to sight it in. our club range has silhouettes out to 200 yds and bowling pins set up at about 275 yds  i had a 22-250  once before regretted selling.

[kevinsmith5]

I guess the big question here us what will you use this rifle for? Strictly target and plinking? .223. Serious varminting at real long range? 22-250. The two reasons I got my .223 is that there wasn't a 22-250 available during the sale and I am surrounded by USMC installations (MArines buy .223 target rifles like they're cap guns).There is so much .223 Ammo and reloading components around here it's unreal. Some of the ranges sell once fired brass in five gallon buckets.

[bobg]

  Stick with the 22-250. I could never see the facination with the 223. I have had two of them. One went on a trade for a 22-250. The other went for a 243. I will never own another 223.

[wreckhog]

For shooting varmints of paper under 300 yards, a 223 works fine. A 22-250 gives you more range, and more effectiveness on deer. I have a 223 that shoots Russian steel case fairly well. Great cheap gun.....

[tobster]

I would suggest shooting it before doing anything. It might be exceptionally accurate (or inaccurate). If it's a really good shooter you probably will keep it anyway. All things being equal, I would pick a 22-250 over a 223 in a break- action single shot. Have fun.

[kevinsmith5]

Somebody said something about the 22-250 and deer.....the H&R 22-250 has a 1:14 twist and I don't think it will stabilize over a 62 gr bullet. The 1:9 rwist of the .223 will stabilize a 72 gr bullet. If it's to do double duty as a deer rifle I'd go .223 (in the H&R).

[wreckhog]

Price 500 rounds of 22-250. Then price 500 rounds of Wolf .223. The difference is another gun. Want apples to apples? Remington brass case? Then it will take 1k rounds to buy the gun. WWB? 2k rounds. 223 is great for blasting aka plinking. 22-250 for hunting.

[briannmilewis]

You can go to any Walmart that sells ammo and buy 100 rnds of 223 Rem 55g FMJ Federal in brass cases for $40. That = high quality budget shooting, especially if you reload.

[Airsporter]

I think the 22-250 has a clear 100yd advantage over the 223, with about +400fps.  Basically, for hunting, a 400yd v. 300yd cartridge. 

[leserz]

went to two walmarts today. only one box of 22-250 between the two stores remington 55 gr psp green and yellow box. .223 was all over the stores.
when i get a little extra cash going to buy a regular barrel .223  or to shoot cheap stuff for  just plinking away.

[petemi]

I have both in Handis.  My .223, for accuracy, outshoots my .22-250....by a great deal.  Both have had nothing but factory ammo thru them, as I haven't started reloading my necked cartridges yet.  Yes, the .22-250 shoots longer, but misses.  The .223 just doesn't retain accuracy or punch as far as I'd like, but it whacks anything within 300 yards.  I'll be able to tell more in late August after I get back from a shoot and start tinkering with them.  Just now, I've got about a thousand rounds to load by August 6th for Patty and this guy.

Pete