So I've got an interest in adding one more rifle to the family. I'm a dork. I'll own it. I am using this as a significant factor in choosing:
https://backfire.tv/recoil/
I've arbitrarily set .22-250 as the upper limit. I have a .22 Hornet and no clue why I want to add another but, you know? So logic says I should get a .223 but long term interest reminds me I've always thought the .22-250 would be cool to have. It will only be used for fun at the range and for competition. Against myself and the last outing.
So should I listen to logic and get a .223 or listen to the .22-250 would be cool or listen to option C. which you guys are about to inform me what it is and why it's the one? Thanks for any and all input.
Leo-
Howdy !
The .223, together w/ the .22-250; put a lot of .224” cal cartridges pretty much out to pasture: the .222, .224 Weatherby, .225 Win, .222Magnum, and to large extent…
the .220 Swift were greatly out-sold by .223 & .22-250 factory chambered rifles.
And, to a degree…. the .22-250 in its own way; helped its parent case .250-3000 slip into obsolescence. While the .223’s had/has been helped along some by U.S. adoption of the 5.56” cal MIL cartridge, the .22-250 made inroads into the U.S. shooting community largely on its own performance merits; already having had some short range benchrest successes back in its “ wildcat “days.
IMHO, Option C:
IF ( for whatever reasons ) a .220 Swift does not appeal to you, then Option C sounds like it would be a .224” cal “ wildcat “….
“ .22 X 47L “, “ .22 XC “, “ .22 Creedmoor “; or…. some other .224” cal wildcat that has the case capacity required to attain the ballistics and terminal performance you seek; along with the level of accuracy you desire.
Here’s a pic of the .224” cal wildcat I designed, when I wanted to deliver more terminal energy on groundhogs than what a generic 24” barreled .22-250 provided.
This is the “ .22-35 Remington “.
Only .008” longer in case oal than the .22-250, less case taper; and .308 bolt face compatible. 3rd pic shows .22-35 located directly behind a .22-250 case, positioned so that a comparison can be made when viewing their comparative case tapers.
Center pic shows .22-35 positioned to the Rt of a .22-250 case.
Lt pic shows how much more powder ( example 6.5 StaBal ) the .22-35 holds than the .22-250 case; when both are filled to the case sidewall/shoulder juncture. The pile of powder ahead of the example .22-250 case, shows the additional 2gr of 6.5StaBal powder .22-35 holds beyond what can. Please note: these powder quantities were used for making case capacity comparison, and do not represent safe charges ( under 55gr bullets ) in either cartridge case. Note: in this pic, .22-35 is positioned to the Lt side of a .22-250 case.
With regards,
357Mag