je4bowhuntin
Active member
i have the savage in 243 that skeetlee is talking about and i promise it is one bad dude when it comes to coyote hunting and accuracy. i have no problem getting 1/2" groups out of factory and reloads. GREAT CALLING RIFLE
max range for a .22-250...???... I need a long range gun
- Thread starter TReX300
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DogBeGone
New member
Quote:
A 25.06 is everything you are looking for in a long range gun. You can load down to 75 gr VMax bullets and they are cruising! I would take a 25.06 over a 243 anyday.
If you had read the original post more carefully, you would note that the poster mentions a caliber restriction...
Anyway, on topic, .243/6mm will suit your needs significantly better than the .22-250. Keep looking, something in that cal. shouldn't be much more difficult to locate or obtain.
A 25.06 is everything you are looking for in a long range gun. You can load down to 75 gr VMax bullets and they are cruising! I would take a 25.06 over a 243 anyday.
If you had read the original post more carefully, you would note that the poster mentions a caliber restriction...
Anyway, on topic, .243/6mm will suit your needs significantly better than the .22-250. Keep looking, something in that cal. shouldn't be much more difficult to locate or obtain.
TReX300
New member
I basicly have the same gun as the Savage you's mention. 22" sporter barrel. It's a tack driver at most ranges. Even at longer ranges its a good shooter. Only thing is I gave it to my 13 yr old and no need to replace it. Since I'm buying something new I want to get what I really want.....A 26" heavy barrel, if the heavy barrel will really make a difference at those ranges for a shot or two.
Thanks
Tim
Thanks
Tim
kyotekiller25
Well-known member
"I've shot a 22-250 for better than 20 years for coyotes and I also used a Swift. when you load the Swift with 55 grain bullets no real velocity is gained over the 22-250."
I never disputed a 243 getting 3900fps with a 55g bullet, thats easy.
However you said a 220 swift gives no velocity advantages over a 22-250 when using 55g bullets. A 22-250 WILL not get 3900fps with a 55g bullet. A 220 swift will shoot 3900fps with a 55g bullet easily. A 22-250 will give you about 3700fps TOPS. Show me in any 1 manual where a 250 beats a swift with a 55g bullet... So wheres the 250 come up with the extra 200fps??? A 22-250 is no Swift...
I never disputed a 243 getting 3900fps with a 55g bullet, thats easy.
However you said a 220 swift gives no velocity advantages over a 22-250 when using 55g bullets. A 22-250 WILL not get 3900fps with a 55g bullet. A 220 swift will shoot 3900fps with a 55g bullet easily. A 22-250 will give you about 3700fps TOPS. Show me in any 1 manual where a 250 beats a swift with a 55g bullet... So wheres the 250 come up with the extra 200fps??? A 22-250 is no Swift...
IDBob
New member
I guess I thought you were saying you couldn't get 3900 fps from a 243, sorry about that.
As far as 3900 from a swift yes I can see you getting that. I often pushed 55's to 3800 fps with the 22-250. I never could see a real difference in them. I guess I just didn't feel that a hundred fps made any real differences.
I owned both and put lots of rounds downrange in the squirrel fields and for coyotes. Out to the ranges both are used I couldn't tell any difference in killing power. I doubt that any coyote could tell any difference either.
Only down side to the swift cartridge was the tapered brass would flow more than the 22-250 limiting case life at the top end of the loading spectrum.
I do see a real advantage going to the 243 be it with light bullets in the 55 to 58 grain range or heavier bullets that buck wind better than the .224's.
I apologize if you think I flamed you. I don't believe in getting into which is a better cartridge argument, both these cartridges do an excellent job. Right now I've went to a 204 Ruger which actually shoots as flat as all the hot .224's with much lower recoil.
As far as 3900 from a swift yes I can see you getting that. I often pushed 55's to 3800 fps with the 22-250. I never could see a real difference in them. I guess I just didn't feel that a hundred fps made any real differences.
I owned both and put lots of rounds downrange in the squirrel fields and for coyotes. Out to the ranges both are used I couldn't tell any difference in killing power. I doubt that any coyote could tell any difference either.
Only down side to the swift cartridge was the tapered brass would flow more than the 22-250 limiting case life at the top end of the loading spectrum.
I do see a real advantage going to the 243 be it with light bullets in the 55 to 58 grain range or heavier bullets that buck wind better than the .224's.
I apologize if you think I flamed you. I don't believe in getting into which is a better cartridge argument, both these cartridges do an excellent job. Right now I've went to a 204 Ruger which actually shoots as flat as all the hot .224's with much lower recoil.
kyotekiller25
Well-known member
No flame intended here either, just wanted to clarify.
Thats one thing I hated about my swift was winchester brass. When I started pushing things, I would sometimes only get 2-3 firings per case before I would have split necks, or have to trim for that matter. When I got the swift, I was looking at pure speed with 40g bullets which will net anywhere from 4300-4500fps. After it was all said and done, I wished I would have gotten a 243 for the reasons you stated above. You can get 4000fps easy out of 55g and the 243. However, you have the ability to shoot 70-80g bullets that will hit harder and buck the wind better for the longer shots that I like to practice and take if the oppurtunity arises. I think for the amount of powder you burn in a swift, its better to get a fast twist barrel and shoot the 75g amax. But thats a whole different story...
BTW- Would you mind sharing your top end loads with your 22-250 and 55g bullets at almost 3800fps?? Reason I ask is because I would like to start working up a good 55g NBT load out of my dads Ruger Target 22-250. At the moment, I"ve only worked with 40g vmax and 52g SMK's. Thought I'd bring the old 250 out of the closet and see how it goes with some 55g NBT's. The rifles got a 26" heavy barrel, so I was thinking maybe 3700fps was around tops with max loads. We'll see. I think I"m gonna start with IMR-4895, its been good to me out of the 250 so far...
Thats one thing I hated about my swift was winchester brass. When I started pushing things, I would sometimes only get 2-3 firings per case before I would have split necks, or have to trim for that matter. When I got the swift, I was looking at pure speed with 40g bullets which will net anywhere from 4300-4500fps. After it was all said and done, I wished I would have gotten a 243 for the reasons you stated above. You can get 4000fps easy out of 55g and the 243. However, you have the ability to shoot 70-80g bullets that will hit harder and buck the wind better for the longer shots that I like to practice and take if the oppurtunity arises. I think for the amount of powder you burn in a swift, its better to get a fast twist barrel and shoot the 75g amax. But thats a whole different story...
BTW- Would you mind sharing your top end loads with your 22-250 and 55g bullets at almost 3800fps?? Reason I ask is because I would like to start working up a good 55g NBT load out of my dads Ruger Target 22-250. At the moment, I"ve only worked with 40g vmax and 52g SMK's. Thought I'd bring the old 250 out of the closet and see how it goes with some 55g NBT's. The rifles got a 26" heavy barrel, so I was thinking maybe 3700fps was around tops with max loads. We'll see. I think I"m gonna start with IMR-4895, its been good to me out of the 250 so far...
tresmon
New member
I suggest a 6mm Remington Ackley improved, or a 6mm-06 AI. See this article on 1000 yard varmint hunting.
1000 yard benchrest competitors use the 6mm bullets for a good reason (6mil-284)
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek042.html
1000 yard benchrest competitors use the 6mm bullets for a good reason (6mil-284)
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek042.html
Blakeinator
New member
The game you describe is exactly the game a good friend of mine plays.
He's tried everything from .204, .22-250, .220 swift but now he shoots custom.
He is good friends with a local gunsmith thats well known for building rifles that consistantly win(or at the top of field in) the 1000 yrd benchrest stuff in Canada so he now shoots a 6mm dasher.
Its essentially a 6mm BR but a little longer so i holds another 4 grains of powder. Compressed loads, sierra bullets i believe he chose a twist suitable to the lighter bullets and is shooting i think 87 gr bullets at just under 3600 fps. The barrel is on a rem 700 action (vls is the base gun) but the barrel is about 28" long minimum and this gun is accurate and fast and has the energy to really flatten them at the ranges your talking. He's now building a 300 win mag for 1000 yrd stuff but thats his go to coyote slayer now.
I would say .243 minimum for what you want...and better yet (if you don't want to get carried away custom like my buddy)...then just go to a 25-06 (minimum 26" barrel) and you'll probably be happiest there. So another vote for the 25-06.
To give you idea of what my buddy considers good performance....he says this about the .204...its a great factory round but it loses its killing power on coyotes past 300 yrds. He does have a serious hate on for coyotes so he likes to really hit them hard...no questions...if it hits...it dies...if your in the same boat then go custom 6mm or get a 25-06...you'll get what you need out of that too.
B
He's tried everything from .204, .22-250, .220 swift but now he shoots custom.
He is good friends with a local gunsmith thats well known for building rifles that consistantly win(or at the top of field in) the 1000 yrd benchrest stuff in Canada so he now shoots a 6mm dasher.
Its essentially a 6mm BR but a little longer so i holds another 4 grains of powder. Compressed loads, sierra bullets i believe he chose a twist suitable to the lighter bullets and is shooting i think 87 gr bullets at just under 3600 fps. The barrel is on a rem 700 action (vls is the base gun) but the barrel is about 28" long minimum and this gun is accurate and fast and has the energy to really flatten them at the ranges your talking. He's now building a 300 win mag for 1000 yrd stuff but thats his go to coyote slayer now.
I would say .243 minimum for what you want...and better yet (if you don't want to get carried away custom like my buddy)...then just go to a 25-06 (minimum 26" barrel) and you'll probably be happiest there. So another vote for the 25-06.
To give you idea of what my buddy considers good performance....he says this about the .204...its a great factory round but it loses its killing power on coyotes past 300 yrds. He does have a serious hate on for coyotes so he likes to really hit them hard...no questions...if it hits...it dies...if your in the same boat then go custom 6mm or get a 25-06...you'll get what you need out of that too.
B
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TReX300
New member
The way things are looking now I might just end up saveing a few extra $$$ and just get something built thats exactly what I want. Our season here is year round but for all practical purposes it's over becuase of the weather. I'm thinking of maybe a .243 AI and shoot 75 grn'rs out of it. I had a an Sako '06 years ago but I couldnt shoot it everywhere I wanted becuase of the caliber restrictions (which have gotten worse recently) so I picked up the .243 that I just gave my son.
I'm much like your buddy in that I dont like to wonder if I hit one or just rolled him. I kind of like that ...BOOM...dead type shot. I really dont like 'Yotes. I like my rabbit hunting and the last few years it got to the point I can see more Coyotes in a day than rabbits in certain areas. The problem is the little $%*#er's as always at the other end of the field looking back as they're takeing off.
I could get closer shots by hunting with a few guys and pushing the block out but I perfer to hunt by myself or with my son or a couple other guys. Some land owners are open to a couple guys but when you ask for permisson for 6 or 7 rifle toteing coyote chasers they can be sometimes less then willing to open the door so to speak. Calling hasnt been something that really works localy either. I dont know if it's becuase of the amount of food they have but it seems like fat 40-50lb Coyotes arent always ready to commit doggie suicide and come running in. The ones I have had come in are usually mangey and pretty scrawny.
Thanks
Tim
I'm much like your buddy in that I dont like to wonder if I hit one or just rolled him. I kind of like that ...BOOM...dead type shot. I really dont like 'Yotes. I like my rabbit hunting and the last few years it got to the point I can see more Coyotes in a day than rabbits in certain areas. The problem is the little $%*#er's as always at the other end of the field looking back as they're takeing off.
I could get closer shots by hunting with a few guys and pushing the block out but I perfer to hunt by myself or with my son or a couple other guys. Some land owners are open to a couple guys but when you ask for permisson for 6 or 7 rifle toteing coyote chasers they can be sometimes less then willing to open the door so to speak. Calling hasnt been something that really works localy either. I dont know if it's becuase of the amount of food they have but it seems like fat 40-50lb Coyotes arent always ready to commit doggie suicide and come running in. The ones I have had come in are usually mangey and pretty scrawny.
Thanks
Tim
Okay Experts, I am reading here about 55-58 grain 243, bucking wind better than 55 grain .224. I am having a hard time beleiving that. (IDB post) Two projectiles, same weight one shorter and fatter, one longer and slimmer.??
"splain this please"
I did not say anything heavier than 55-58 grain.
Carl
"splain this please"
I did not say anything heavier than 55-58 grain.
Carl
eddie 10/22
New member
yea i would have said .204 but my longest shot so far has been a little over 200 yards and it was still dead on within subMOA, i have my ruger m77 sighted dead on at 100 and at 200 yards it still hit the X and an 1/8 th inch left due to wind. its flat and fast, apparently its flatter shooting than a 300 winmag
IDBob
New member
Yup, better BC better ballistics, The ability to push them to 4000 fps doesn't hurt either. I spent better than 25 years pushing .224 55 grainers down the tube of a 22-250 and the performance jump of the 243 is good. Both my 22-250 and my Swift went down the road about a year after I started shooting the 243. Those larger diameter bullets seem to kill better than the 250 did also.
Only down side is those velocities will shorten barrel life.
Only down side is those velocities will shorten barrel life.