204 vs 22-250

[crabo]

I have a great shooting AR 15 in 223.  I used to have several 22-250s and still have a lot of brass and dies left.  I want a bolt gun for shooting prarie dogs and such.  I have the AR 15 for a walkabout gun, so I am probably lookig for a hevy barrel gun.  I want the new gun to suppliment the AR.

Anyone have an opinion on which gun to get and why?

Thanks,

Crabo

[DalesCarpentry]

They both are great rounds. I had a Handi Ultra Varmint 204. I do like the round a lot but IMO past 250 yards or so the energy really falls off. I have considered buying another one in the Remington SPS Varmint because I already have a a SPS Varmint 243 and just seems to fill the gap I have. I think if I did not have the 243 though I would go with the 22-250 because of more energy down range and with a heavier bullet will buck the wind better. I really don't think you could be disappointed in either. Dale

[Old English]

Should you consult the ballistic charts you will in fact find that a 39gr 204 bullet suffers less wind deflection than a 55gr 22-250 round. There is however little to chose between them. The 22-250 does pack a greater punch at all ranges. For pure shooting pleasure the mild recoil of the 204 gets my vote, the cost of reloading the 204 is also cheaper, using about 2/3 of the powder.
If I was looking for a caliber to supplement a 223 I'd go for a 243 or a 308. I personally love the 243 and load with 55/60 gr bullets and also use 85-100gr for larger game. In my opinion it's a wonderful caliber if you reload.

[rickt300]

I couldn't chose and have a rifle in both the 22-250 and the 204. My 204 is lighter so I use it when calling or just knocking off varmints, the 22-250 sometimes gets used as a light deer rifle or a second rifle when hunting prairie dogs and gophers to keep my barrels from getting too hot. If forced to sell one though I would keep the 204. I have enough deer rifles.

[nomosendero]

You might also think of getting a heavy barrel upper for the AR in 204 if you have a match trigger especially. A properly set up AR is the best PD gun available, allowing multiple hits without working the action. If you get the 1-10 twist & you can from D-Tech & others, you can load the 40 gr. bullets with extreme accuracy & have a better Coyote gun than a normal 204 as well.

[trotterlg]

I don't think they are easily compared, they are really different animals.  The 22-250 can do amazing things, you can launch 40gr bullets at 4,500fps or with the proper twist barrel put 75gr bullets down range with great accuracy at long range.  The .204 is nearly a "small cal" round, not quite the class of one of the hot 17's but not bad.  The case just does not have the capacity to do what the 22-250 can do, but then you can most likely see the hits with the 204 while you will not see them with the 22-250.  I have had a 22-250 and a .223, and now have a 17 Remington and a 17 Remington Fireball.  The 204 is some place between the .223 and the 17 Remington, but for brute force it is hard to beat the 22-250 unless you go with the king, the 220 swift.  I'm not sure the difference in a .223 and .204 is worth the cost of the ammo or components, it is probably just a matter of what you want to carry to the field.  A day of shooting the 22-250 will run you down.  17 Fireball is my favorite, but it doesn't have the zip that a good 17 Remington or 17-223 has.  Larry

[Coyote Hunter]

I don't think they are easily compared, they are really different animals.  The 22-250 can do amazing things, you can launch 40gr bullets at 4,500fps ...

Call me skeptical, as my load books are 1000 miles away, but I haven't seen any .22-250/40g data that breaks 4225fps.  Maybe with a really,  r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g barrel and moly?

[trotterlg]

You are close, 26 inch 1 in 17 twist barrel with Barnes VLC's (coated blue bullets now discontinued).  Guess my point would be that the capacity of the case allows for a lot of zip with light bullets or some fairly heavy stuff going a long ways.  I prefer my 17 Remington, so I would probably prefer the 204 also.  Larry

[nomosendero]

You are close, 26 inch 1 in 17 twist barrel with Barnes VLC's (coated blue bullets now discontinued).  Guess my point would be that the capacity of the case allows for a lot of zip with light bullets or some fairly heavy stuff going a long ways.  I prefer my 17 Remington, so I would probably prefer the 204 also.  Larry

Pretty much irrelevant as you are talking about a load & a non-factory production rifle/barrel twist that most people will never see.

[saltydog]

Why would you want an antique bolt action rifle when you could buy a 204 Ruger upper assembly for your AR ? A  fluted 24" SS barreled 204 Ruger upper assembly will out shoot or at least shoot as well as most bolt actions in 204 or 22-250. 

[rickt300]

well i don't like chasing brass.  Or putting up with a catcher on my AR.

[trotterlg]

Pretty much irrelevant as you are talking about a load & a non-factory production rifle/barrel twist that most people will never see.

If you are satisfied with what you can buy off the shelf at Walmart then more power to you.  If you want a rifle for a specific purpose    you will probably have to build it or have it built, that is why there are custom rifle builders.  A purpose built rifle can be incrediably good for what it is designed and built to do.  There is no gernic "best rifle", if you want the "best" then you will have to build it for a single task and not expect it to do anything else well, kind of a "one trick Pony".    Larry

[DalesCarpentry]

Pretty much irrelevant as you are talking about a load & a non-factory production rifle/barrel twist that most people will never see.

If you are satisfied with what you can buy off the shelf at Walmart then more power to you.  If you want a rifle for a specific purpose    you will probably have to build it or have it built, that is why there are custom rifle builders.  A purpose built rifle can be incrediably good for what it is designed and built to do.  There is no gernic "best rifle", if you want the "best" then you will have to build it for a single task and not expect it to do anything else well, kind of a "one trick Pony".    Larry

I don't know about that Larry. I did not buy my Remington 243 SPS Varmint from Walmart but it will hang with any $3,000.00 as far as accuracy goes. You may have saw the pictures before as I have posted them a bunch of times but I would not be afraid to put it against a custom any day of the week. Here is my target shot at 300 yards. It measures 7/8". I am putting this rifle back together and I hope to show some almost one hole groups at a 100 yards( WELL LESS THAN A 1/4" )  in a few weeks. I know this rifle can do it.Dale

[trotterlg]

Just think how good it would shoot if you built it specifically for just one task!  Larry

[DalesCarpentry]

I see these companies say 1/2" guaranteed. I laugh at that. I have a rifle I payed $550.00 for it and it does better than their $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 rifles. I guess I am just spoiled now buy getting a shooter. Dale

[trotterlg]

That is an excellent group, but one of the $5000.00 Bench guns will put 20 into that size.  Larry

[DalesCarpentry]

I will have to let you know how it goes I don't have any more than a couple hundred rounds down the tube as of now. I would think it might tighten up a little more after it is broke in. Oh I forgot to mention this is factory ammo. The group I shot here was Hornady 58 grain VMAX Molly bullets coated. I am just starting to reload and hope I can reproduce this load. Dale

[nomosendero]

Pretty much irrelevant as you are talking about a load & a non-factory production rifle/barrel twist that most people will never see.

If you are satisfied with what you can buy off the shelf at Walmart then more power to you.  If you want a rifle for a specific purpose    you will probably have to build it or have it built, that is why there are custom rifle builders.  A purpose built rifle can be incrediably good for what it is designed and built to do.  There is no gernic "best rifle", if you want the "best" then you will have to build it for a single task and not expect it to do anything else well, kind of a "one trick Pony".    Larry

Who is "you" here?

I have had a rifle or 2 built & yes it is great, I was speaking in the context of the original post. He will not go out and buy a rifle like you mentioned, so your original post was irrelevant in regards to those ballistics you quoted. I can come up with all kinds of baffling numbers with rounds like a 257 Allen Mag. for Loooong range Coyotes, but what difference does it make. That was my only point.

[Coyote Hunter]

That is an excellent group, but one of the $5000.00 Bench guns will put 20 into that size.  Larry

That's fine for those that have $5000 to spend on a rifle.  You could buy most of my riifles AND the scopes that are on them for that amount.  Hmmm, one rifle or a safe full of rifles???  I voted for a full safe...

Have never bought a rifle at Wal-Mart but over half were previously owned and I'm quite happy with the way they shoot.  My stainless/laminated Ruger MKII VT .22-250 has done 4 into 0.5" at 200 and I only paid $475 NIB.  It does a decent job on clay pigeons at 500 yards. 

[trotterlg]

I agree with you, my only point is that if you want to play in the bigs you will have to pay the price, and if you pay the price you can get some absolutely amazing hardware that does amazing things.  I am a firm believer in "good enough", just depends on what game you are playing as to what "good enough" is.  Guess I am guilty of stealing the thread.  If you are a "finness" kind of guy then the 204 will do you fine, if you are a "brute force" type go with the 22-250.  Lary

[roper]

I will have to let you know how it goes I don't have any more than a couple hundred rounds down the tube as of now. I would think it might tighten up a little more after it is broke in. Oh I forgot to mention this is factory ammo. The group I shot here was Hornady 58 grain VMAX Molly bullets coated. I am just starting to reload and hope I can reproduce this load. Dale

Nice looking groups but what groups have you had with the other couple hundred rd fired?

[DalesCarpentry]

That is the only target I saved and took a picture of. At 100 yards I can get oblong holes. I have even put 2 almost through the same hole. You had to look pretty good to tell the hole was not quit round. Then a third shot that would open it up to 1/4" or so. Now I have my camera working I will be taking more pictures. Dale

[gobuffs86]

I think the original question was....I am in need of buying a 22-250, preferably a bolt action.  Any recommendations on what rifles I should consider?

Not-  How much can I spend on a rifle.
Not-  How little can I spend on a rifle and expect a bullet to exit the other end


What is a solid bolt action rifle chambered in 22-250 that I should consider buying?

 

[Hairtrigger]

I think the original question was....I am in need of buying a 22-250, preferably a bolt action.  Any recommendations on what rifles I should consider?
 
What is a solid bolt action rifle chambered in 22-250 that I should consider buying?

 

If weight is not an issue I would buy a Ruger M77VT . If I had to have a Remington I would buy a XR-100

[trotterlg]

Why did the subject say 204 vs 22-250?  I had a Savage in 22-250, they are well known for being very accurate out of the box.  They are a little ugly and heavy, but they shoot and the price is right.  Larry

[badhop]

I like my new Remington Model 700 VTR in 204 ruger. It is very accurate, weighs 8.5lbs with scope, and works as a varmint/predator field rifle very well. I have shot a 22-250, but the 204 is so much nicer to shoot due to the see your hit through the scope factor. If your worried about knock down power.... don't, the new Hornady 45gr hollow point will kill a coyote at 327 yds instantly. My first yote with this gun.   I really like the 204 caliber, and the VTR.

[Sitting Duck]

If someone could put into layman's terms how a 204 can outperform a 22-250 using the same weight/type bullet it would be interesting reading for me.  All this and it uses 2/3 the amount of powder?

According to Hornady's '07 catalog, the 204 starts outperforming the 22-250 at two hundred yards.  In both velocity and energy.  It also wins in the trajectory department starting at three hundred yards.  No information was given for drift.

Information for both is using the 40 gr. V-MAX.

I'm not critiquing the 22-250 in a negative light, because I own and shoot a Rem ADL 22-250 and I'm impressed with the accuracy out to 250 yards.  This is using the inexpensive Win 45 gr. JHP white box ammo.  I don't hand load.  Yet. 

There are posts above that imply more punch downrange with the 22-250 vs. the 204.  The Hornady information would seem to belie that.  Unless, of course, some loads are hotter and some remain the same.

Just curious.  Explanations???

[jro45]

I like my 22-250. Me and my 22-250 have killed alot of groundhogs. I can't complain about it. I don't know the 204. Heard its only good to about 150yds.

[gube]

I have routinely whacked our large Alberta yotes out to 400  yds, DRT. Choosing the right bullet and proper shot placement is the key.
For yotes I stick with the 35 and 40 gr bergers and the 45 gr hornady sp's.
I use the highly frangible ballistic tips for the smaller critters. The 204 is a very efficient caliber and is basically a ballistic twin to the 22-250. Here is some info on the 204 and other 20 cals that should dispell some of these myths about it being an inadequate cartridge

  http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html

[Ponydog]

I still find it amazing how the 204 gets bashed.......,   I know some folks on here apparently dont like them ..... comments speak to what they are not.....not that they , out  of the box ,CAN shoot close to 4500 fps..............and without a 26 inch barrel and 1 in 17 twist.....just a plain old factory gun.......so if folks choose to like them, so be it......I think the folks that have them, and shoot them, woudl be the first to realize if the 204 does not meet expectations..................amazing how people that dont own one...know so much about them .......I also don't know why  it is an All or nothing deal......there are situations that are perfect for a 204 hunter, and sutuations that are perfect for a 22-250 hunter.........there's plenty of room for both......I own both, they are different guns....... ....I recently got rid of my 17............I just did not see it's functon for me........but I wont say it is not a good caliber.......for someone, it is perfect...just not for me.....
it would be like me commenting on a food I had never tasted.........or perhaps one I had read the ingredients for......but still never made or tried.........I just dont see the point in consistently downplaying  the worth of a specific calliber.....everyone is different ....Thank God....