22-250 vs 223

[GlennGTR1]

I have been thinking of switching over to the 22-250 for my walking predator varmint gun. This would take everything from crows to cougar. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the 22-250. I dont do a lot of fast hot volume shooting. On a busy day I might shoot only three to five rounds. I know most 22-250 are a one in fourteen twist. Whats the heaviest bullet that can be stabalized in this round.

 

[SS427]

I went the other direction. Started with the .22-250. Got seduced by the velocity. I came to enjoy the benefits of the .223 like extended barrel life, milder recoil, easier to see impacts and being slightly less expensive to reload. Still have a .22-250 but don't use it as much as my .223s. Sure, it gives up a little in range, but that is what I have a 6mmBR for.

My 14 twist .22-250 is more accurate with 40 and 50 grain bullets. Shoots 55s okay but not as well, although I wouldn't draw any conslusion based on that. Doubt it would shoot anything well beyond 55 grains.

 

[bheadboy]

i have and shoot all the 222 case rounds , love them, i also have 22-250 and it is superior.

you need to be able to stabalize the 55gr+ bullets and to do so you need a 1-12x twist, i wanted to use only the 55 balistic tips which are longer so had hart make me a 13 twist - it shoots in the .1's

you can forget the cost of loading if you shoot a few rounds per day, you also can reach out for the long ones with the 22-250 which the 223 is marginal on , if you are going after game up to couger, the 63 -77gr sierras are something else.
Call Sierra and ask a technition the twist for the weight you want to shoot.
Bob

 

[zcrackshot]

I have both calibers and love each one for what their intended use is. In 22-250's I have a Savage model 12 heavy barrel repeater with a 12 twist and it loves both 50 gr Blitzkings and 55 gr Ballistic Tips. My other 22-250 is a Savage LRPV single shot with a 9 twist and I load it with 70 gr Berger VLD's. I shoot coyotes and foxes with the repeater and everything else with the single shot as long as it'll hold still and I can drive a vehicle to the point of getting out and shooting. With a Leupold 8.5-25 on it the LRPV weighs in just shy of 17 lbs. My 223 is a Remmy VSSF and has been accurized and a Jewel trigger installed. It has a 12 twist and shoots 40 gr V-max's into one ragged hole. I used to carry it for everything from p-dogs to coyotes but switched to the 250 after having a few dogs run off limping. As long as the shot is placed well I believe the 223 gives up very little to the 250 until you pass 400 yards or so. If energy is what you're after there is also a night and day difference in a 50 gr blitzking started off at 3900 fps and a 70 gr VLD leaving at 3400 fps. I think you just need to decide if you're going to shoot more crows or more cougars. I've been snuck up on by a cat while calling elk before and was glad I had my bear spray (357 snub nose) with me. I know that given the choice if I had to face a cat again I'd rather be packing a 22-250 than a 223. Good luck with whichever direction you go.

 

[mauritz45]

do you reload?? if so, i recommend you order the 17 and 20cal reloading books from todd kindler @ www.woodchuckden.com
i took delivery of my 17 predator today, a 17 based on a 223 improved case with a 9 twist. i plan on shooting 30gr kindler golds at about 4200fps.
i also have a 20-250 being built with a 9 twist designed to shoot 50 and 55gr bergers. aprox 3800fps with the 50
less recoil and better ballistics then the mid-heavy 22's--cam

 

[RonAKA]

I know most 22-250 are a one in fourteen twist. Whats the heaviest bullet that can be stabalized in this round.

Velocity does not make a huge difference, it is really the caliber, weight, and bullet length/shape. Berger give minimum twist for each bullet. See the link below, but basically up to 55 grains flat base for a 14 twist.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/Products/All%20Bullets.html

 

[Phil]

i took delivery of my 17 predator today, a 17 based on a 223 improved case with a 9 twist. i plan on shooting 30gr kindler golds at about 4200fps.

Mauritz45,

4200 is pretty enthuastic for that case with the 30 golds......

4050-4100 is about where you`ll end up.

I`m having a .17WCH built and it run`s between 4200-4500fps. as per the two people who talked me into going this route...

Not sure how much bigger it is, but it`s bigger....

 

[mauritz45]

your right phil, i rechecked the load data from the gent who developed the cartridge, and the fastest he chrono'd is 4110fps with Vit N550--cam

 

[bozo699]

GlennGTR1,
I am a big 22-250 fan and own several of them,but if you were thinking of a .223 but not wanting to loose the velocity you might consider the .223AI I have one of them and they are close to the 22-250 with better barrel life. Just a thought?
Wayne.

 

[DaveWhite]

With as little shooting as you are contemplating, a .22-250 would be superior to the .223 for those applications. Try the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, and hope those lions are up a tree!

 

[thornblom]

My .22-250 is a R700 VSF with a 26" barrel and a 1 in 14" twist. It does well with 55 grain C/T ballistic silvertips and 35.5 grains of IMR-4064 and the 60 grain Hornady hp and 35 grains of IMR-4064. 55's group between 1/4" and 1/2" and the 60's group between 1/2" and 5/8" at 100 yards. Never felt the need for a faster twist or a heavier bullet. These 2 loads do all I need to do with the .22-250. Sweet cartridge and sweet rifle.

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

 

[ag1997]

Have a Rem VSSF 22-250 and love it. 55 Nosler with Varget will result in 0.5 in 5 shot group repeatedly. Heck on the praire dogs as well. I have a 223 but really need an 8 twist and 75 gr to cheat the wind a longer distances. 22-250 will cut the wind factor with the higher veolcity even though lower gr bullet.

22BR would be my next 224 selection to try. From what is out there the response has been close to the 22-250 performance more efficiency and potentially better barrel life. With a fast twist might get the best of both worlds.

 

[Woodchuck6]

I have been thinking of switching over to the 22-250 for my walking predator varmint gun. This would take everything from crows to cougar. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the 22-250. I dont do a lot of fast hot volume shooting. On a busy day I might shoot only three to five rounds. I know most 22-250 are a one in fourteen twist. Whats the heaviest bullet that can be stabalized in this round.

Honestly, with cougar in the mix, you're much better off with a .243 Win., 6mm Rem., or .257 Roberts. You keep your ability to travel light with a flat shooting tack driver, yet gain more punch. Both 6mm options open the door to a plethora of hunting bullets from 55 gr to 100 gr. And there are a surprising # of .257 caliber hunting bullets available from leading manufacturers --- 75 gr to at least 120 gr. If you're not a handloader, there are good factory loads for all three --- even the Roberts! Conley Precision, for instance, offers .257 Roberts ammo from 75 gr to 120 gr.

Another option --- 6.5 A-Square (aka .260 Rem)

 

[GlennGTR1]

I know the 22-250 has more than enough punch out to 350 yards. My dad shot 222 rem for lynx and cougar with good results. Even the 223 would be good and have the energy needed to dump a cat out to 250.

 

[bozo699]

I know the 22-250 has more than enough punch out to 350 yards. My dad shot 222 rem for lynx and cougar with good results. Even the 223 would be good and have the energy needed to dump a cat out to 250.

GlennGTR1,
Absolutly correct!! I have killed countless big cat's with a 22-250,.222s-.223-Hornets-and even .22mag rimfires. They are a tough animal but a 35-60 grain lead pill in the brain box puts them down just as fast as a 6.5-06. And if you are pelt hunting,not near the mess.
Wayne.

 

[jonbearman]

I've benn shooting 22-250's for 22 years and shoot the 55's down to 40 grainers out of a 14 twist with good accuracy. Now I am wondering if I am doing something wrong.However it works and I am gonna keep doing it.My other thought goes with a few of us,that,the .243 winchester is a really good cartridge for everything up to deer. I own a couple of them too. Whatever you choose take your time and research it to get that all around gun you want the first time. Good shootin and be safe.

 

[DCRYDER]

I think some companies recommend a faster twist than is necessary just to cover their butts. I have both 168 vld's and 162 a-maxs for 7mm right here in front of me. The vld's are exactly the same length as the a-maxs, berger recommends 1-10" twist, but hornady says 1-8". I haven't shot the sierra spbt's but i have shot plenty of sierra bthp's in a 14 twist 22-250 and they shot fine and should be longer than the spbt's. If thats what you want to shoot i think they will work just fine.

If more penetration was needed Barnes makes a 45gr triple shock x-bullet designed for use in 14 twists.

 

[jonbearman]

Powder economy with the .223 and higher velocity with the 22-250.Longer barrel life with the .223 and shorter life with the22-250. I like both.For benching O like the .223 and varminting. The 22-250 heats up fast on the bench so go with caution,once it is sighted it is my go to gun for varminting.The .223 is a little more economical and fun too.It really is a matter of taste. If I was cat shooting I would still use the ar-15 for that,if you want long range then a bolt works real well. Just by both of them and this thread can change course.LOL