223 vs. 22-250

Handirifle

New member
I'm sure this has been covered before but I'm kinda curious about the 22-250, but at the same time leary. I do not want the pelt destroyed on shots at 50 to 100yds.

I am sold on a Savage rifle but their twist in 223 is 1 in 9 and the 22-250 is 1 in 12. So the lightest bullets in 223 will be 55gr and the heaviest in 22-250 is 55gr. Seems the longer reach of the 22-250 will be negated by the lighter bullet.

Pro's and con's?
 
I have both and honestly...I like the .223 better. Be ready, though...you opened up a WHOLE-CAN-O-WORMS with this one!

I really don't see any advantage other than pure bias for the 22-250. It is faster, but niether is ideal for shooting past 300-350 yds. I have shot coyotes at 400 with each...and yes both killed them. I like the .223 for the lower prices of bullets for plinking, the wide range of bullets weights, and it is a bit friendlier on foxes.

Just my thoughts....but I promise there will be more. Keep in mind everyone will love their gun....but if they had another they would probably love it too! I love all of mine!
 
Look at the thread entitled what's your favorite Coyote Round (or something to that effect). I currently do not own a .22-250 Remington, but have had several over the years. It is a great cartridge, and the rifles I have had have all been very accurate. However with the wrong bullets it is super explosive, but then most are.

On the other hand I have 2 Rifles chambered for the .223 Remington Cartridge. I have always been impressed with the preformance afforded by the small capacity .223 Remington Case. It has a mild appetite for powder, but yet produces quite impressive ballistics for what it is. If I want something with more reach than a .223, I normally reach for a .243. However the .243 is not pelt friendly, but with some of todays new bullet designs and powders it outclasses the .22-250 IMHO.

Look at it like this, the .223 & .22-250 both shoot the same bullets. These bullets were designed for a specific range of muzzle velocities, but for which one the .223 or the .22-250? Bullet weight per bullet weight the .22-250 burns roughly 1/3 more powder than a .223 to achieve roughly 400 FPS more velocity. Yes this added velocity makes the .22-250 a longer range choice. However that extra 400 FPS only adds roughly 50 yards to the Point Blank Range of the cartridge.

The Point Blank Range of a Cartridge is the maximum distance in which you can hold dead on a target(or animal), and hit within a specific number of inches of point of aim. I like to zero my Varmint Rifles to have a midrange height of 1.5" (otherwise I have a tendency to shoot over the animal at the midrange between the gun and the range where it is zeroed). Given my 1.5", then the Maximum Point Blank Range would be the distance in which my bullet falls to 1.5" below the line of sight.

When both the .223 & .22-250 are shooting the same bullets, and zeroed so the midrange height is 1.5", the maximum point blank range is only increased roughly 50 yards for the .22-250 over that of the .223.

Now that I have you thoroughly confused, maybe someone can explain it better.

SD Handgunner
 
I own both and you will not go wrong with either one. Of the 2, the 22-250 is my favorite.

However, with that said... A great deal depends on if you reload or not. If you do NOT reload then absolutely the 223. If you do reload, then the 22-250.

Reason I say that is, Factory ammo for the 22-250 is Expensive AND is not readily available, unlike the 223.

Nor are there many different types of 22-250 factory ammo available. You will most likely have to order the various types. Not so with the 223.

Also, while the 22-250 is indeed an accurate round, it is not as accurate as the 223.

Hope this helps and good luck in your search!
 
Yoteassasin
You say the 22-250 is not as accurate. That is the first I have heard that.

One argument if favor of the 22-250 in the Savage, is the switch barrel system would allow me to switch over to a 243 or 308 by just changing barrels, about 45min work. The case heads are the same diameter of all three rounds.

Hmmmmmm....
 
i myself like the 223 over the 22-250 for these reasons: where i hunt a 200 yard shot is 1 heck of a shot. and #2 the 223 ammo is like $5 for a box of 20 and you can get them just about anywhere. with the 22-250 the price is more and the ammo is harder to find.

just my .02
 
I prefer the .223 over the 22-250. Why? 2 of my calling partners use the 250 exclusively, and yet they continually have blow ups and dogs run off. Heck, they just lost a bobcat last week. I loaded 75g sierras in my 25-06 @ 3600 fps, they loaded 52-55g bullets to the same speed, and they probably lose 10 to my 1. They both are great shots and put the bullet right where it needs to be. It's got to be something with that kind of speed and a .224 cal bullet. The .223 rem seems to be just slow enough that the bullets penetrate farther before fragmenting. Just my opinion.
 
You will be able to shoot 45 grain bullets all day long with impressive accuracy out of a 1:9 twist. Get the .223!

Blake
 
Less recoil,more factory ammo, as good or better accuracy!!! I would go with .223 or .223, maybe even a .223 = less $$$ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Me I'll take the 22-250
You can reduce the loads to do anything the 223 can do and have the capabilities to reach out and touch something with clout and even with the stiffest loads in it there is very little recoil as far as expense it is not expensive to reload
Good shooting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Blake
What type of rifle do you have with the 1 in 9 twist? What is the lightest bullet it will shoot accurately (1" or less)?

Since you mention the 45gr have you tried the Winchester valu pak ammo?

For the 22-250 crowd,
What is the heaviest bullet you can use? 55gr?
 
HandiRifle, the Win 45 gr hollow points are the valu paks... They are just plain hard to beat as they literally offer everything in the 223: Best price, highest velocity and best accuracy at least out of the approx 2 dozen factory fodder I have tested anyway.

I handload the 50 gr nosler ballistic tips in my 22-250. At 3900 fps (in hot weather), it gives higer velocity than the 55grs, with excellent accuracy and brutal results on yotes, slaying them right on the spot. Just plain awesome and is my favorite coyote rifle / caliber.

Happy Hunting
 
I own both but seldom shoot the 223 anymore. I love the performance of the 250. The only advantage that I see for the 223 is they are cheaper to shoot. I like having that extra range of the 250 when I need it.
 
I certainly no expert, but I LOVE the Winchester Valu-Pak in the .22-250 45 gr. JHP. The are inexpensive, available most everywhere, and are really "good" coyote medicine!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
IMHO! :rolleyes:

Rustydog
 
If you plan on shooting 50-100 yards like you said above, then the 223 would win big time for me. So many benefits for the 223 as mentioned above. The 22-250 will out power the 223 no doubt, but all that power is not needed at the above listed range. The 223 is such a handy, and economical cartridge.

I still believe that most (not all) people would have a hard time hitting a coyote at 200 yards or further in the kill zone, in a hunting situation.
 


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