223 or 22-250?

you ask a really loaded question without many qualifiers. you might as well be asking ford or chevy without mentioning if you're looking for a truck or a familymobile. you'll get about as good of an answer.


now if you let us know what your intended usage is - you might get some better responses that fit to more of what you're looking for answer wise.



unless of course this whole thing was designed to spawn a ford vs chevy debate.

then of course, you want the Chevy.

cuz bowties are awesome
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Which one is "better" is largely going to be subjective to the parameters under which they will be compared to one another.

The 22-250 has a substantial case capacity advantage and is going to shoot every bullet faster, flatter, have less wind drift and will have more bullet energy on impact, but, does that alone make it "better," not necessarily.

It pretty much comes down to this, if those things are at or toward the top of your list of things most important, I'd say the 22-250 is what you'll deem as the "better" of the two and at one time I probably would have quickly agreed, but even though I love velocity, I've learned that just because something gets there with less elevation or windage correction, doesn't mean it's necessarily "better" than something that requires more.

I've always been a huge fan of the 22-250. I think it's one of the best all around factory varmint guns you can own, but having said that, I haven't owned a 22-250 in over 10 years and I have five .223's.
 
Hmmm.... .223 or 22-250, which is better? Get both of them and do what the rest of us are doing with them, have fun and perfect your loads.
 
Originally Posted By: hate2workokay, so the faster it goes the better?

Maybe..LOL A solid vital zone hit beats a 4,000 FPS hair cut any day. Speed is great but accuracy is the final judge.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: hate2workokay, so the faster it goes the better?

Uh, kindasorta. I reckon blistering speed along with great accuracy is a combo that is pretty much impossible to beat. Hydraulic shock combined with hydrostatic shock kills so very fast.

Almost 70 years ago a fellow by the name of PO Ackley was hired by the state of Arizona to dispatch some feral burros. He figured this was great opportunity to test ammo on live critters. Big tough live critters. And he found that the .220 Swift put those 600 lb eehaws down quicker and killed cleaner than other rounds such as the .270 Win, the 8mm Mauser and even the .30-06. The reason was bullet speed. Just turned the heart and lungs into raspberry jam. That went a long way to convince him and later many others just how important that bullet speed combined with accuracy can be for good quick kills.
 
I really like the versatility of the .223 and it is going to be easier on the hides of Coyotes plus it's going to have,a lighter recoil.If Your shots are going to be 100-200-300 yards the .223 is going to perform very well...if Your in more open areas where Your going to be shooting 200-300 and out to 500 yards and beyond the .22-250 will have the knock-down power and be flat shooting & accurate.

Even that my .223 Savage Axis XP Camo Rifle is 1 of favorite Predator Rifle and "Go to Gun" the .22-250 is high on my "Want List" of another Caliber that intrigues Me and I want to add to my arsenal of Coyote/Predator Calibers.

I also use a Browning A-bolt Micro Hunter in a .22 Hornet for Coyote and for Fox & Bobcats...then there's the CZ Model 527 "Varmint" .204 that's fast,flat and accurate,so the 22-250 would fit in right here between my .243 Browning A-bolt Hunter would have a little Brother.
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I read very post on here every one has a valid point most inportnet thing is to get use to the gun like its part of you. i have 17 rifles or so i am only 100% confident with one gun its my 30-30 win 94 pre 64 if i can see i can hit it i got in an argument at the sportsmen club on Ft hood about 4 months ago he said a 30-30 could not shot 150 accurately i have no scope i told him i will put money i can do it make things shot we when out to his farm i ranged 5 soad cans at 150 on a post i hit 5-5 at 200 4-5 9in orange disk at 250 stand free arm my dads was like that with hi 22-250 he bout a win 70 and all kinds of work done and customer boxes and metal frame for the stock and format bedded triger dow to 1.5lb bolt was custom done he could hit anything with that gun i seen say he was going to shot a for at touch over 900yr sh was going to shot it in the know well he fired and it did not move heard the bullit impact it sat there for about 45sec than fell on its side when we drove up to it he missed the nose and the buller ran down the snout in to the corn of the eye I had my 30-30 since i was 7 gift from my uncle who got it from a farmer for working the summer when he was 10 and used it up till i got it i shot that think every time could buy built same with my dad she shot every dad not mater if it was a blizzard raining or hot what i am getting at is get a gun your comfortable if you like around here i would let you fire mine so you know what you getting if you make it to ft are let me know the rang is just minutes from my house
 
If you are out west, like the Saskatchewan prairies where Im from the 22-250 seems to be most popular due to the long shots we get. That being said I hunted a number of years with a .223 and had record seasons..never felt the need for more velocity.
I've since split the differences and shoot a .204...perfect little fur friendly cartridge that mimics a 22-250 50 gr load.
 
A Kia will do the same thing a Toyota will do, but it isn't the same ride. A .250 will retain more resale value, but it cost more to buy and operate. It your looking at bolt guns the wise choice is the .250.
 
Originally Posted By: littledawg A .250 will retain more resale value, but it cost more to buy and operate. It your looking at bolt guns the wise choice is the .250.

Don't agree with that one. I think that everyone that I know that has a centerfire rifle has a .223 but only know a couple of people like me that have a .22/250 or even want one for that matter. Around here a fine shooting .223 rifle is a lot easier to sell than a .22/250 is.
 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanPick one or the other and don't let a bunch of total strangers ratinoalize why your choice was either right or wrong.

Best post of the thread me thinks
 
Consider this, buy both then keep the one YOU think is "better".

Worst case scenario, you can't decide and end up keeping both. That's a win win in my book.
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I have owned both..

To me, the benefit of a 250 is if you want to shoot farther. The 250 has less drop out at farther ranges than the stock 223. less drift in wind. Not a lot different, but enough.

Loading 223 is cheaper.

I don't shoot farther than 300 very often. So i have switched to the AR in 223. very happy with it. Got rid of the 250.

I also bought the 243 instead of the 250 and this gives me more versatility.

Personal choice, and nothing says you can't own one of each. Just get the one that makes the most sense first and keep saving to get the others in time.

Good luck.
 
Originally Posted By: Buster HindendOriginally Posted By: Winny FanPick one or the other and don't let a bunch of total strangers ratinoalize why your choice was either right or wrong.

Best post of the thread me thinks

Could be about best post of most threads...
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Originally Posted By: littledawgA Kia will do the same thing a Toyota will do, but it isn't the same ride. A .250 will retain more resale value, but it cost more to buy and operate. It your looking at bolt guns the wise choice is the .250.

Never seen this up here in Canada...in fact a "used" 22-250 usually sits on a gun shelf longer then .223 with buyer suspicious of burnt out barrels and eroded throats.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZI have owned both..

To me, the benefit of a 250 is if you want to shoot farther. The 250 has less drop out at farther ranges than the stock 223. less drift in wind. Not a lot different, but enough.

Loading 223 is cheaper.

I don't shoot farther than 300 very often. So i have switched to the AR in 223. very happy with it. Got rid of the 250.

I also bought the 243 instead of the 250 and this gives me more versatility.

Personal choice, and nothing says you can't own one of each. Just get the one that makes the most sense first and keep saving to get the others in time.

Good luck.
[beeep] good point.

I use my 6mm as a longer range gun, say over 300-350. If you can swing 2 rifles get a 223 and a 243/6mm. If only able to get one go w the 22 Varminter.

Those 24 calibers have to be seen to be believed in the way they kill a coyote. My 22-250 does a wonderful job but I see a [beeep] of a difference when I shoot them with an 85 Sierra SP.
 
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