max range for a .22-250...???... I need a long range gun

TReX300

TReX300

New member
I'm looking at getting another new gun and was hoping for a heavy barrel .243. But since I'm a lefty I'm having a hard time getting what I want here in Canada without spending some big $$$. I've been thinking about going with a .22-250 instead but I'm not overly familiar with that round. What would be considered an acceptable maximum effective range of one? Where I live is quite open and agricultural and shots at Coyotes can be taken at some serious long ranges. 400-600yrd shots can come up frequently which is why I was wanting another .243. Right now if there was a Coyote across from the house I'd have clear shooting for almost 1000yrds. The other thing I have to take into consideration is that there is a .243/6mm caliber restriction in some of the areas I hunt so I cant go with anything bigger than that.

Thanks
Tim
 
22-250 is a fine long range caliber
I think you would have no problem with the ranges that you mentioned.
Me personally I would (if I didn't already have one)get a 220 swift it has an edge on the 22-250 in both range and velocity with heavier bullets.Mass is key when going long range espcially when you factor in the wind. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Last edited:
in my opinion a 243 would be a better choice. reasons i say this is because the 234 will do better in the wind at those ranges. lee
 
I used to use a 22-250 for yotes in AZ, I thought it was a bit waek in the long range dept there due to heat and wind. Then I moved to Kansas and found that I didn't know wind at all(10 MPH steady all the time, with gusts to 30-50 MPH regularly).I went to a 243 and have never looked back.
 
I'd get a .243WSSM. Why? Because I've had [2] 22-250's. A 250 can't hold a candle to a .243WSSM, especially @ long range & harsh wind conditions.

I do quite abit of long shootin on coyote, because of snow conditions[crusty loud]. Best cal, I've ever used on coyote.


I've killed & shot a handfull now with mine so far. It knocks them down hard way out there, useing a 95gr WBT.
 
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. Both of these guns will kill well to 500 yards, but once past that go up to the .243.

If the wind is blowing the 6mm/243 offers better bullets for bucking the wind.

All my .224's are now gone and I use both a 204 Ruger and the 243 for my varmint hunting. I went to the 243 about five years ago and have been really pleased.
 
most people around here consider long shots 300 yards bear that in mind, IMO the 22-250 is maxed out near 500 yards, will it make shots further, yeah but to many variables come in to play even at ranges near 500 yards. I hunt an area that has farm fields where there could be shots over 1000 yards if you wish to try them. I am haveing a custom 270 win built with a #5 kreiger barrel for just such a purpose.

depending on if you reload or not, IMO the best cartridge for you is a 6mm with its long neck its much more suited to heavy 100+ grn bullets like the 105 amax, that big amax traveling at a tick over 3000 is one potent long range combo, its even better than anything the 308 win can muster. or if you want a flat shooter load your 6mm with 58 grn vmaxes for lazer like 22-250 performance. you get a lot more versatility with the 6mm. ruger makes one with a 9 twist which might work for those heavy amaxes
 
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.
 
Id like to see a 22-250 get 3900fps with 55g bullets, its not going to happen...

22-250 w/55g NBT's will do what you want on coyotes to 500 yards or so. Past that, you'll want a 243/6mm or 25-06.

If your limited to 6mm cal, the 243 or 6mm would be a lot better for 500+ shots and plus they buck the wind quite a bit better. They also have a little more authority when it gets there.
 
400 to 600 250 will do but 6mm would be better and 25-06 better than that. 1000 yds at a yote would be a hail mary shot anyway with any type of factory rifle and even with most custom ones! Shots like that will require a laser rangefinder, custom rounds, custom rifle, and tremendous amount of practice and skill. Yotes rarely stand still very long.
 
There are some possiblities out there such as the 75 A-Max out of the bigger 22 cal. cases. I like the results i'm getting so far out of the 223 AI and the JLK 65 gr Low Drag bullet (BC=.397) out to about 500. I'd imagine with a 22-250 or bigger case capacity that bullet may get u to 600 yds. When u try to go beyond 500 yds. the higher BC bullets (.4+) will net u better downrange ballistics. Beyond 500 yds. tho means anemometer, good "tactical" scope system, i.e. precise application of a ballistic or ranging reticle or accurate repeatable turrets.
 
Though I have hit p-dogs at 700YDs with a 22-250, I don't consider it to be a true long range cartridge unless it has a fast twist barrel. The now common 1:8 twist .223 using 70gr VLDs is a better choice for long range than the typical 1:14 twist 22-250 with 55gr bullets.

The 6mm chamberings are going to be better than either.
 
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.



+1

No other choice for long range coyote gunning. IMHO of coarse.

CB
 
Quote:
most people around here consider long shots 300 yards bear that in mind, IMO the 22-250 is maxed out near 500 yards, will it make shots further, yeah but to many variables come in to play even at ranges near 500 yards. I hunt an area that has farm fields where there could be shots over 1000 yards if you wish to try them. I am haveing a custom 270 win built with a #5 kreiger barrel for just such a purpose.

depending on if you reload or not, IMO the best cartridge for you is a 6mm with its long neck its much more suited to heavy 100+ grn bullets like the 105 amax, that big amax traveling at a tick over 3000 is one potent long range combo, its even better than anything the 308 win can muster. or if you want a flat shooter load your 6mm with 58 grn vmaxes for lazer like 22-250 performance. you get a lot more versatility with the 6mm. ruger makes one with a 9 twist which might work for those heavy amaxes




I use a 6mm with 58gr v-max and it took a little work to find the right load but it was well worth it. Less than 1/2" groups.
 
Quote:
Id like to see a 22-250 get 3900fps with 55g bullets, its not going to happen...

22-250 w/55g NBT's will do what you want on coyotes to 500 yards or so. Past that, you'll want a 243/6mm or 25-06.

If your limited to 6mm cal, the 243 or 6mm would be a lot better for 500+ shots and plus they buck the wind quite a bit better. They also have a little more authority when it gets there.



I get over 3900 fps out of two different 243's, a Ruger #1B and a Remington 700 VLS with the 55 grain Nosler's. Both these guns have 26 inch bbls.

In fact I believe you could push them just over 4000 fps if you wanted to. My loads are pushing 3980 fps out of the Rem VLS right now. Both these guns are devastating on coyotes and do shoot flat.

If you check Accurate's online reloading manual you'll finde several loads with the 55 grain .243 Nosler over 3900 fps.
 
My "go-to" pdog rifle when the range is long and the wind is high is a 6mm Rem loaded with 75 grain VMaxes. Pushed fast, they offer a very substantial increase in range over the .22-250.

I've killed a few pdogs past 700 yards with it in wind conditions that would have made a .22-anything lay down a die.

Mike
 
Thanks for all the replys. the rifle I currently use for my longer range stuff is actually my 13 yr old sons. It' a Cooey Model 71 in .243 with a 22" barrel. It's basicly Winchester Canada's version of the Model 70 from years ago. We've been shooting 75 grn VMax's out of it at around 3200fps. It's been workng fine for most condtions. In reality most of our shots will be under 500yrds with the average being in the 250-350yrd range. Chances for longer shots do come up and I'd just like to be able to take them if needed. Wind is deffiantly an issue for me. In fact they are doing wind studies in my area to help pick the location of a wind turbine generating station. Thats why I was hoping to stay wth the .243. I just cant get the heavy 26 barrel I want with out going custom and thats just not possible $$$ wise right now. I can get 22" sporter barrels with no porblem. I just figured the longer heavier barrel would be better for the longer stuff. Will it make that much of a difference for 1 or two shots? Maybe I'm worry about it for nothing. I can get the .22-250 with a 26" heavy barrel in a few days. Getting one of them isnt an issue which is why I posted this in the first place.

Thanks
Tim
 
look at the savage web site. they offer a 243 stainless synthetic stock with a clip. i think the model is 16fcss. this will be my next truck gun in 243. lee
 
Back
Top