sell me on a 22-250

[mrbigtexan]

what would a 22-250 have over a 243? i have a nice 243 already but have been thinking real hard to get a 22-250 for a dedicated varmint rifle. give me your opinions as i have never shot a 22-250. thank you in advance.

[Three44s]

Is your .243 a heavy barrel?

What do you hunt with it?

What do you want to hunt with a new rifle/caliber setup?

I'll do some guessing here.

If you are considering a .22 of any persuasion and you already own a 6mm class ..... you are not wanting to cross over from PD's to big game with it.

So lets just consider varmints and predators.

I have used the .243 in three different rifles and consider it to be one of the finest "Dead Right There" (DRT) cartridges available.

Yes, I have a .25-06 too ..... and it's the very best knockem down .... period.

But there is a price ..... more recoil.  Mine is a big long bull barrel and it's a pussy cat but it's no easy packer.

So for the kick ...... the .243 really delivers.

BUT it's over powered for PD's or squirrels etc.

Now the .22-250 ...... I have used it very extensively too.

It's a GRAND cartridge ......... but the .243 does coyotes with substaintally more authority!

My varmint rifles are really coyote rifles used on smaller game just to keep my edge ...... and right now my day in and day out coyote rifle is a .223 rem.  My .22-250 had just died ..... needs a new barrel .... and I wanted a very easy packing cougar rifle .... the CZ 527 American got the nod in .223 rem. but I miss the .22-250 on really long shots.

IF I wanted a squirrel gun for some coyote work ... I'd go with a .223 rem.

IF I wanted a dedicated take no prisoners coyote rifle the .22-250 would be a MUCH better choice ...... BUT you already have a .243 ....... and THAT is tops!

With a .22 anything ...... you'll have to test bullets ....... with a .243 ..... it just plain does coyotes RIGHT ....... with most ANY SLUG!!!  When I started with my .22-250, I had a bunch of run offs.  My first good dog slug was the Sierra 55 gr. Game King, a spitzer.  Then I switched to the Nosler 55 ballistic tip and the dogs dropped like FLIES!! ..... even past "300".

Poooooor coyotes ........ nobody loves them .......


My best advice is to consider a .223 if you are yearning the smaller critters since your .243 covers "dogs" very well at todays fur prices (near zero).  Less powder burned and cheaper brass!  If your .243 is a sporter barrel and you are looking for smaller groups .... then a bull barreled .22-250 would be nice mainly for coyotes ..... you will heat it up much faster on PD's or squirrels than a .223 though .......

........... sometimes we get antsy waiting for the barrel to cool on a warm day!!!!

OR you could end up like me ........ go crazy and have one or more of each ..... and still look for another combo!!!

I'll get flack for this:

Consider this as a yard stick ..........

For coyotes I'd rank the .223 as a 250'er ...... the .22-250 as a fat 300 ..... the .243 a fatter 300 but more smack down .... I did a coyote at 450 and it freight trained him!  And the KING .... the .25-06 at nearly 500.


Three 44s

[roper]

what would a 22-250 have over a 243? i have a nice 243 already but have been thinking real hard to get a 22-250 for a dedicated varmint rifle. give me your opinions as i have never shot a 22-250. thank you in advance.

I'm a "dedicated" PD shooter so means I'll do some volume shooting.  Most all my shooting up to 300/400yds is done with rifles that use less than 30gr of powder past that yardage I'll shoot alittle heavier caliber might be the 22-250AI/243AI/6RemAI but with those calibers still have to watch barrel heat.

I started back in the mid 60's shooting 243 great caliber I finally retire that rifle last year cann't remember how many barrels I put on that rifle.


Well good luck

[Coyote Hunter]

A .22-250 is a great long range varmint cartridge.  My heavy barrel Ruger has taken coyotes at just under 500 yards and is deadly on prairie dogs at similar ranges.

It is not, however, the best choice for high-volume shooting at dog town.  That is .223 country.

[mrbigtexan]

thanks guys

[securitysix]

A .22-250 is a great long range varmint cartridge.  My heavy barrel Ruger has taken coyotes at just under 500 yards and is deadly on prairie dogs at similar ranges.

It is not, however, the best choice for high-volume shooting at dog town.  That is .223 country.

Depends on the range you're popping the dogs at, I'd think.  300 to 400 yards, .223 would work, but I'd think a .22-250 would work better at the outside edge of that, especially if 400 yards becomes 450 yards.

[S.S.]

Can't give the details,
But it was an excellent counter-sniper
cartridge in Bosnia/Sarajevo. Sounds different on
firing than other rifles in use for this role thus
adding confusion to the situation. I would
have to say it should be just as effective on
vermin with 4 legs. My Nephew took a deer with one
a few years back and it was close, no more than 10
yards. What a mess!. for 8 to 10 inches all the way
around the entrance hole the hide was loose from the
flesh. Shattered rib bone and Bullet frags tore up
the insides really bad. Talk about explosive impact!

[securitysix]

My Nephew took a deer with one

My dad used to work with a guy that hunted deer with a .22-250.  When asked if he thought it was a little light, the guy responded "Not if you shoot 'em in the head."  The standard response was "You shoot them in the head? What about the antlers?"  His reply:  "Can't eat antlers."

[Luckyducker]

I have shot the 22/250 and the 243, and though I really like the 22/250, in a dedicated varmint rig I will have to give the edge to the 243.  Either cartridge will get-ur-done with great reliability, but I think the 243, loaded with heavier for caliber bullets such as the 70 grain, under windier conditions will make life somewhat easier.  The off the shelf rifles chambered in 22/250 sport barrels with twist rates of either 1/12" or 1/14" and you just can't stabilize the heavier 22 cal bullets with these, and every off the shelf 243 I have ever seen has had a barrel with 1/10" twist and will work well with bullets from 58 grains up to and including 100 grainers (I know this from personal handloading experience).  There, now you have my two cents worth on this topic.

[NickSS]

I mostly shoot 223 for varmint hunting but I also have hunted with the 243 for longer shots.  A good friend of mine uses a 22-250 in a HB Remington 700 for the same duty.  When hunting together I noticed that he could kill animals very well out to 400 or more yards on a calm day but missed more often when it was windy.  While my 243 would miss less under the same wind conditions (less wind drift).  For the most part the 223 does all I need a rifle to do so have little desire for a 22-250.

[mrbigtexan]

thanks ya'll, i should be getting my barrel in a couple of weeks to convert my rem. 788 308 to 22-250. i really appreciate all the info posted.

[Darrell Davis]

Hey there mrbigtexan,

Hard not to sell you on the 22-250, as they are just plain great/fun guns!!!!!!!!!!

Had one in a RUGER #1 which I wish still took up room in my gun rack!

However, If you presently own a .243, and if you hand load, try loading up some of the Nosler Blastic Tip 55gr bullets and you may not need the 22-250.

I read about this combination a few years back and this past Fall saw over 4000fps from one of my rifles.

Yep, 5 shots from my 22" barreled .243 averaged 3995fps.

Now that powder bullet compo did not produce good groups, but other powders are showing promise and at velocities which meet or exceed the 22-250 velocities.

As I said, can't fault a great gun like the 22-250, but if you already have a .243, give it a try.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[Bluegunner]

I shoot a Savage 22-250 and love it.  Twice a year I venture to my brothers ranch in Texas and shoot hogs,coyotes, bobcat and racoons.  Have taken a number of hogs (up to 300#) with the gun and using Barnes 53gr TSX pushed along with 35gr of Varget have a load that lays them out!!!  Have also shoot a number of yotes and racoons and they don't go anyplace.

[saltydog]

The 22-250 REM is a very good cartridge and practical for long range varmiting. I have accumulated several 22-250's over the years in my collection. I find I don't shoot them very often anymore. I generally pick up a 223 Rem or 204 Ruger to go into the field with. My concern is with regard to the barrel twist rate - in my rifles they are 1:12 or 1:14 which is too slow to take advantage of the advances in bullet technology in heavier weight bullets. So my 22-250's are limited to 55 grs. and less. With Vmax or Ballistic Tip .224's in 40 grs. I can shoot a flat trajectory with less powder and wear than a 22-250. The 204 Ruger will shoot as fast as the 22-250 if I need a really long shot so the 22-250's sit in the safe. I would recommend you stay with your 243 WIN for varmit level use - 58 gr. .244 Vmax bullets work great. 

[Buckskin]

My dad used to work with a guy that hunted deer with a .22-250.  When asked if he thought it was a little light, the guy responded "Not if you shoot 'em in the head."  The standard response was "You shoot them in the head? What about the antlers?"  His reply:  "Can't eat antlers."

Well if all he cares about is the meat, then he shouldn't be shooting them in the head.  Heart stops and they don't bleed out.  Worse place to shoot a deer if you like venison...  Look at the 204 before jumping into a 22-250.  Flatter shooting, faster, less recoil, less powder and more.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  for years I have owned a .22-250 even when it was a wild cat..while the 243 can shoot 58 grain vmax very fast, I tried 60 grain Serria when I had .243's..while it killed ok, I prefer the .22-250.....much is made over the very heavy bullets in 22 cal. I went this way in an Improved .22-250, I finally took the barrel off and it sits in the corner...put a std. .22-250 on the action...the 204 is the darling of the varmit clan now, but in this country it has not developed a solid reputation as a coyote killer...especially as ranges lenghten and wind plays a part...In country where shooting would be in less wind, it would work well for chucks, crows, prairie dogs etc...but one can drive a 40 grain vmax at speeds well over 4000fps if you desire in the std. .22-250...for me the std old .22-250 has much going for it...it is the king of varmiters....I would not be with out one or two...for shooting prairie dogs at average ranges in high volumn the.223 is tops no doubt....but for all round varmits I find the .22-250 tops....having shot it for many, many years, it is still my favorite....varmit rifles are similar to big game rifles...each has a nich in which it performs best...this winter we have had a very quite wind as far as wind...while I carry one of my windy day coyote rifles every time I leave the house, I also have been using my .22-250 AI...It has seen the majority of the shooting taking several coyotes well over 500 yards...Everyone has their personal favorites..the .22-250 is mine for general varmit hunting...I often take vacations where a varmit hunt is on the agenda...The first rifle that goes in the camper is a .22-250...others are added depending on the conditions expected... I have hunted varmits hard for 50 years...In those 50 years I have had a .22-250 in my hands more than any other single varmit caliber...and it is NOT the only varmiter I have owned...from the 17 HMR through a Heavy barrel .300 I have owned or own most of the popular varmit calibers....It is my favorite....

[Buckskin]

;the 204 is the darling of the varmit clan now, but in this country it has not developed a solid reputation as a coyote killer...especially as ranges lenghten and wind plays a part...In country where shooting would be in less wind, it would work well for chucks, crows, prairie dogs etc...but one can drive a 40 grain vmax at speeds well over 4000fps

I have heard this a lot and can speak from literally dozens of yotes at 330 yards + with the 204 shooting 32gr pills, it knocks the hell out of them...  I have a natural funnel that runs behind my house and shoot 6-8 yotes a year at 330 - 360 yards every year.  If you hit them where your supposed to and not in the rear or legs it will go down, usually where they stand.  Shot one last week that only twitched a little.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I don't suppose the area in Wis. gets wind like we do...that said, I did ask the local govt. hunter about the .204 this winter..his dad tried it, but he said he was sticking with the .22-250...If it works for you fine...I have not tried it personally, and am only relaying what my friends have told me...I know the .22-250 works and out to 500 plus yards...

[Buckskin]

I live on a bald hill surrounded by cornfields.  We get plenty of wind!

[tuck2]

 The old 22-250 has ben around for some time becouse its a fine yote and ground hog rifle where the shots are limited. The barrel heats up fast. I use my 22-250 for fall and winter prairie dog shooting when the shots are longer, the dumb dogs have ben shot off. I dont use it in the spring when when there  is a lot of shooting. I have shot one mule deer at about 125 yards with the 22-250 ,hit it in the lungs ,droped on the spot. Over the years I have tried out the 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 ,and 220 Swift rifles.  The 22-250 is a good one to start out with.

[Doesniper]

I built a 22-250 a few years ago for my wife to hunt KY. whitetails. The twist was 1:8 for 70g Barnes which it shoots good, but I moved to Wyoming before she could use it (.243 is the min. in WY). I shot it the other day with Win. factory 45g HP. and it shot just as well. I'll use it on p-dogs this summer to see if it can take away #1 varmint status from my 22BR.