Crows.. 222 or 6BR?

[Northman]

Im going around with ideas to build a single shot varmint rifle.. its intended target is crows.. and similar targets of oppertunity. The range is 300yards with 90% within 200 yards I would guess! The best parts now are the crows comes with a bounty.. so after close to 3000 I will have the rifle paid off (might take a couple of years though)

The parts will be top of the line.. br action, jewell trigger, McMillan hunter BR stock, pillar bedded etc etc. A once in a lifetime rifle.. at least thats what I keep telling myself.

What I cant really decide is caliber. In my mind its 222 or 6mbr. Both easy to load, renowned for their accuracy, long barrel life, lapua brass!

222: 40-50 grain
+Looong barrel life.. would guess 8-10 000 in varmint scenarios (0.5")
+Cheaper to reload, atleast 30% cheaper then the 6br
+Low recoil, can spot hits or misses

-could be used in walk around varminter in a Sako Vixen action (once I find one..) then I would have two rifles in the same caliber.
-less options in chambering if I would get bored with the 222.. 17 and 20 cal variations on the 222 case intrigues me.

6BR: 70-90 grain
+Bigger results..
+Great accuraccy
+Could be used for hunting Roe Dear as well
+could be used for longer shots when opportunities arose (seldom!)

-maybe to much for crows inside 300yards? Ricochets?
-not sure how long the barrel would last with varmint accuraccy (0.5")


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The only other caliber I have thought about is 223.. I could duplicate 222 with light bullets, and 6BR with 75grain A-max. But I feel the 223 and single shot rifles just dont go together..

 

[40X Guy]

I love crow hunting with a rifle, but that being said, I would probably go .222 over 6BR, you will be able to see all the action thru your scope, and its a riot when they explode into a puff of feathers. I use Nosler BT's on crows for the extra effect. ;D

Frank

 

[tenring]

I have not hunted crows for many years, but when I did it was with a Sako .222 heavy barrel, loaded with Hornady 50 gr SX. Its really tough to get close to crows. Effective range of the .222 is about 250 yards. Now I have three 6mm BR's, and they are very accurate to 400 for crow size targets. For that reason, I vote for the 6BR. I think you will get more shots in before they fly using that cartridge.

 

[cmillard]

+1 on 6BR. throat it for 80-95 grain bullets and get an 8.5 twist.

 

[GlennGTR1]

I would go with the 222 just because its such an efficient and classy cartridge. Brass and ammo are far more readily available, my second choice from a practicality stand would be 223 rem or 223AI. With a one in eight twist you could shoot heavier bullets and extend your range. I would also think that the 222 could reach a bit further than 250 yards on crow sized targets.

 

[necchi]

Well to be honest I can't do what you want to do,
But If I where too dream,, I like the practicality of the 222.
I wouldn't want to buy another barrel every few years, and I'd want to shoot it alot!

 

[DCRYDER]

A 6ppc with a no turn neck would be a good in between caliber to think about. More range than a 222 and more barrel life and less recoil than a 6br. A good 13.5 twist barrel with 65gr vmax should be hard to beat out to 300yds.

 

[squirrelduster]

I have a 6br that I shoot squirrels with. 75 gr VMax. What a blast to shoot. I haven't shot any crows but have toasted a few ravens with the longest one just over 500 yards. You can't go wrong with the 6br.
My brother has a duece and it shoots really well but the the 6 is just has a lot better devastation and longer range. The vmax seems to not ricochet very much. Most of the time It explodes.

 

[bozo699]

nothman,
Barrel calculator shows about half of what you are expecting? But I have always loved my sako .222 I can and have easily hit crows @ 300yds and accuracy is under .250 with over 3000 rounds through it. anyways that is my experience.
Wayne.

 

[oldroper]

I've got both and afew others. If I was shooting more 200/300yds with some wind I'd take the 6br.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I would lean toward the 6BR for several reasons. More versatile bolt face, minimal brass prep with Lapua brass, way more of a bullet selection with the 6mm chambering, good barrel life, etc. etc. Also, I don't think you would have a problem spotting hits if you had a muzzle break on that rig either. For what you intend to spend on this rifle, whats a couple hundred extra?

Mike

 

[Kenny474]

I have a 1-9 twist .222 semi custom that is pretty accurate, and has made several PD kills a bit past 300yds. I see no reason why it won't kill a crow at 300, and maybe a bit beyond. With a round count approaching 2500, (I thought it was lower until I checked my log recently) accuracy has not faded a bit, and if the throat has eroded more than .001, I would be surprised.

I feel part of the reason the .222 gets long barrel life is because of it's long neck, which will shield the throat a bit. I'm not sure of 8000 to 10,000 accurate rounds, but 5,000-6,000 seems possible for sure.

There are obvious advantages to either the 6BR or the .222, but if most shots will be within 200yds, I think the .222 is the way to go.

Yes, you can watch your hits with a brake on the 6BR, but that also adds a lot of noise and concussion to the shooter and anyone around.

In all reality, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have a 222, but not a 6BR.. I do have a 204 for crows , etc,... IMO the 204 would be a much better caliber for crows w/a 32 grain bullet.. I have made 300 yd shots with the 222 but have to adjust for elevation. It is at it's best around 200 yds.. With the 204 I can hold dead on to ~260 yds..

 

[camac]

I have both for shooting crows (and do so professionally -They move in here for the lambing season). Honestly the 6mmBR is a revelation. Crows are smart critters and you can pop em out to 3-600 yards with the BR. My 222 is a Sako L461 varmint and very accurate but slow twist. Very cheap to shoot and deadly out to 200 yards (in light wind). But very hard if there is a bt of breeze and after a bit of shooting the crows drop back further and further. I use the 222 a lot for it early as I am set up to bulk load for it but towards the end of the season the BR comes out and is absolutley a huge step up - but generally only used when there is a handful of smarter crows left that have gotten used to the 222 and hang back out of range.

The 12 twist does at 300 what the 222 does at 200 and rare to miss at these ranges. the 8 twist (my range rifle) adds another 1-200 yards again. Of course an excellent rangefinder must be in the budget as well for that stuff. When a farmer comes out and watches you pop a crow one shot at 400 yards, using a range finder and wind chart, they generally are pretty amazed and word soon spreads and gets you lots of work if that is what you are after.

I believe if you shoot the BR one shot here and one shot there as you get when crow shooting with a mild load you will get many rounds through before you lose half minute accuracy (providing it is a good one to start). 2500 is pretty typcal for hot loads, fired in F class (say one per minute) and that is to lose the 0.25moa. You should double that at least My 12 twist has around 4000 and still going strong. The extra cost of reloading and perhaps a little more (say 5c per shot) cost in barrel life over a 222 but you will not waste as many shots so I say will work out pretty even on cost.

My comment on doing it professionally or to pay off something though.- It is a hard way to make money. Not many days can you go out and shoot a lot of crows. Most days are only a handful. A lot of fuel, time and other stuff gets burnt doing it too. I do love doing it though but it barely pays the bills. Of all the critters in the world I hate crows the most. Ever seen what a "murder" of crows can do to lambs and ewes?

 

[AckleymanII]

I've shot crows with about ever varmint caliber ......

your two choices are the 222 and 6BR.

I would shoot the 6 BR. My current 6br's are running the 55g Nosler at 3800-3900+ with 1" groups at 300 yards using AA2230 with lapua brass, run a ballistic's table on that load.

Working up a load with the 70 Blitz kings at 3550 with AA2230(which I thought was flat shooting). I zero'd both bullets at 200 yard and then went to 300. I could not believe how much flatter shooting the 55's were and how much less they blew in the wind.

The Nosler 55's in 6mm have a better BC than the 22 cal 55's...it's like shooting a souped up 220 Swift.

 

[mydaddyty1]

northman, I like the .222 with a faster twist barrel such as 1/8 twist tight chamber sako l461 Mcmillian / edge Leopold 4.5x14x40 Lapua Brass 40-80 grain Bullets Then you can have your cake and eat it 222

 

[Taildrag15X]

"The only other caliber I have thought about is 223.. I could duplicate 222 with light bullets, and 6BR with 75grain A-max. But I feel the 223 and single shot rifles just dont go together.."

Oh but they do go together, and very well indeed.....same Lapua brass you spoke of, with 600 yds. being very reachable with energy left to drop a BLACK BIRD, wish there was a bounty on them here.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

I have a 222, but not a 6BR.. I do have a 204 for crows , etc,... IMO the 204 would be a much better caliber for crows w/a 32 grain bullet.. I have made 300 yd shots with the 222 but have to adjust for elevation. It is at it's best around 200 yds.. With the 204 I can hold dead on to ~260 yds..

Totally true!

 

[Steve Blair]

I have used three cartridges on crows: .223, .22-250 and 6mm Remington. All are effective within their respective ranges but my favorite is the 6mm. A 58 V-Max at 4050 is a 400 yard load that simply explodes them. One bit of advice: when you send your receiver to be barreled, have two or three fitted, it saves time down the road.