223 vs 22-250

[GlennGTR1]

Looking to get a light weight, winter walking rifle in one of these calibers. The problem I have noticed is that 223s available in a one in nine twist rate are plentiful while a fast twist rate in the 22-250 is almost always one in fourteen. The game would be from head shot grouse and Turkey to mountain lion in size. So slower bullit out of a 223 such as a 60 grain Nosler partition or lighter and faster 50 grainers in the 22-250? Will the one in fourteen twist rate in the 22-250 stabilize 60 grain pills to keep them accurate? There are a lot of heavier bullit weights in factory loaded 223 ammo also. I have seen lions killed with 222 Rem and even 221 Fireball when treed. I no longer have this option since hound hunting is banned in this state. Ranges would be up to 300 yards but mostly under 100.

 

[Nomad47]

I believe Savage's 22-250 factory offering is a 1:12 twist.

 

[jotrot]

savage does do a 22-250 in a 1-9 twist sporter, think its in the big game series model, i know it has accutrigger and accustock, dbm

 

[stacy]

1/9 TWST 223 WORKS GREAT FOR ME WITH 68GR/69GR BULLETS

 

[CaptainMal]

Build what you want in any twist. There's actions, barrels and Boyds for stocks, cheap. Not hard to just take a factory rifle and re-barrel. Keep your eyes open for deals.

 

[fredhorace77]

just a thought but does your state game regulations require a minimum cartridge for lions when not hound hunting them. I know Kansas sets a minimum of a 243 for deer as an example

 

[Bangs OH]

Savage also offers the option of a faster twist .22-250 through their Custom Shop with their Predator Max 1 rifle (with the Accustock and fluted 24" barrel). Might be out of your weight requirement range, though.

 

[Larryh128]

A 14 twist 22-250 will not stabilize a 60 gr bullet. Your bullet options will be much better with a 9 twist 223 because of the lowered velocity. I can't stabilize 62 gr bullets in my 22-250AI with a 10 twist.

 

[bluealtered]

I have a model 16 savage with 1:12 twist 22-250 that i use 55gr noslers through, i was going to try a heavier load in it but found at 300-350yds it's just fine with the 55's. I use it mainly for coyotes but it would have no problem with a cat head shot at that range. However it's not as light to carry as you would think, scoped and loaded with four rds it just a tad over 9 lbs. (My cmmg mk3 .308 is only 9 lbs 6 ozs with scope and five rds.)

I would suggest the model 11 savage lightweight hunter for a truely lightweight carry rifle. My savage lightweight .260 came in at around seven pounds scoped and loaded.

Ok, i just went and looked to see if savage makes it in 22-250 and nope, guess not so that would leave you with the .223 or .243 for their true lightweight carry rifle.

 

[22BRGUY]

I carried a Savage 110V for a long time for fox and coyotes and know for sure that with the Sierra 55gr #1365 Spitzer boattail they will flatten deer out to 300 yards easily. My best 200 yard 5 shot group would cover 4 with a dime and 5 with a nickel.

JMHO Best Wishes

 

[GlennGTR1]

22 cal is legal for lion in this state.

 

[GlennGTR1]

News flash... Ruger American 22-250 has a one in ten twist...ONE IN TEN..... This puts the 22-250 in a more competative stance for heavier bullits. Cant tell but they look like a cross between a Savage and Tikka...anyone know anything about this rifle?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

For mostly under 100 yds, you will not see any difference. Go with the 223, more versatile.

 

[George Az]

.223 vs 22-250

.223 - less powder, less muzzle blast, very friendly round. Varget, CFE 223, BLC-2, all kinds of powder options and rounds available. If you want to keep the hide, I say .223.

From 100 yards to 300 yards there is no real advantage between them, unless you want a torn up hide. The 22-250 really opens coyotes up. If you get a chance on a lion, you don't want it all torn up.

Good luck on your choice and hunt!

 

[roadkill61]

My buddy and I have shot 14 twist 22-250,s for years. We use 60 gr sierra,s and 60 gr hornaday,s for coyote hunting and they have to shoot very accurate or we don't use them.

 

[saunaking]

Nosler makes a 64 grain bonded bullet that will shoot well out of a 14 twist 22-250. BC isn't great on it, so if you are looking at much over 300 it will drop off fast. That being said, I would go with a faster twist in the .223 for many reasons mentioned above.

 

[Steve3]

Let me get this right, you are going to shoot a treed mountain lion with a 22 anything. I hope in your next life you come back as a mountain lion.

 

[fdshuster]

An 8 twist 223 will stabilize 80 gr. bullets, and also does an excellent job with bullets as light as 55 gr.

Ditto to what steve3 said. Something I'd never do.

 

[GlennGTR1]

Dear Steve, back when I was a much younger lad I watched my Dad kill plenty of treed lions with a 22k Hornet and 38 special revolver. Cats are thin skinned critters. If it were legal I know a 204 Ruger would put a cats lights out. I have done some testing on 204 Ruger factory loads because I heard about alleged so called splashes where the bullet never penetrated. My test was crude at best. I was shooting Federal 39 grain V-max at two hundred yards. I had a 2x4 sitting in front of a two inch thick wet phone book. Bullet penetrated two by four and splattered a lot of paper out of a huge hole in the phone book. I cant imagine it not doing a bunch of internal organ damage in the heart lung area and bringing a cat down. I have had a a 222 Rem and a 204 Ruger which handily dispatched coyotes. Never owned a 223 or 22-250 so my experience with both is nill. If the 204 were legal I would use that comfortably out to about 250 yards or so and most of the cats I have seen were between 30 to 60 yards away. Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. Wish the 204 were legal... its my all time non big game favorite thing to shoot.

 

[GlennGTR1]

And yes, a 110 grain Tac X Barnes out of my 308 would also work.