22-250 recommendations

[jimmykan]

For a varmint rifle, try to get a heavier barrel than just the typical lightweight hunting contour.

The lightweight contours are for easy carrying while walking around, taking a shot or two, then walking again.

Something like a Remington varmint, medium Palma, or even a heavier tapered sporter contour will do nicely.

Especially if you plan to also do target shooting, or varmint shooting where you only need to carry the rifle for less than 100 yards from your car to your shooting location, then you can deal with the extra weight and you will appreciate that you can shoot longer strings of fire without having the groups opening up or the point of impact shifting.

The Ruger American Predator fits the bill and goes for about $450-500. It is offered in 223 Remington and also 22-250.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html

[MongooseV8]

Just make sure you get something with a fast enough twist. Lead free is just around the corner and they need faster twists than lead.

[JackEllis]

Even if you can get the rifle cheap, buying ammunition for the 22-250 will be painful if you go varmint shooting. The .22-250 has better ballistics than the .223 but the difference in price over a season of varmint shooting comes to a couple hundred bucks.

If I had it to do over again, I'd consider the .17HMR for varmints. Factory ammunition is relatively cheap and the ballistics are decent.

[LynnJr]

You can't compare the 223 to a 22-250 unless you compare a school bus to a Ferrari.
The 22-250 with a 52 grain bullet at 300 yards is a absolute lazor.
If you already have a 308 why not just put a 22-250 barrel on your current gun?

[hermosabeach]

This thread reminds me of the old VHS days and exploding varmints.

[hermosabeach]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Wy49bWSfA

[hermosabeach]

Given your budget of 600-1200, are you open to buying used?

You can get a digital camera bore camera for $20 on eBay. Plugs into your cell phone and is a great way to look at the throat while at a gun show.

It’s easy to test the trigger on a used gun and the seat engagement... with the 22-250 I would want to see the barrel.

Is the throat worn or aligator skinned looking.. is there a river of copper all the way down the bore? Easier to negotiate price if you can show the actual condition of the throat and bore to the seller.





.22-250 is not an oddball but it is also not the most common set up to find. I have seen several over the years and they were prices right. I just never needed a varmint specific rifle.


Back in Wyoming I have shot prairie dogs with a 24” colt Hbar in .223, .243 and .308. They all zap the dogs but the .243 was the most impressive. To be fair I was shooting ball in .223 and gold metal match in 308. The .243 were jacked soft points.


They all will take the wild dogs of the prairie but I get the .22-250

[Mesa Defense]

https://youtu.be/RBlln_a-PTY

[digelectric]

Just make sure you get something with a fast enough twist. Lead free is just around the corner and they need faster twists than lead.

Effing commies and their lead free BS

[ar15barrels]

I have a Tikka T3 in .308 and was thinking of getting a laminate or polymer stock version in 22-250. Love the .308 and the knock it gets for not being as accurate as some others doesn’t effect my use at all... I like target shooting and if I decide to go hunting the accuracy is well within my specs.

Not being a rifle buff, though, makes me want to check in and see if anyone has a suggestion of what else to look into. Mostly want to target shoot but might go varminting out to (just guessing) 300 yards max. My dad has groundhogs on his property and his Krag isn’t up to the task at that range. As entertaining as using the 308 for this task sounds, I would prefer something with a flatter trajectory and something less expensive per round and less cleanup if I hit something. Or maybe there’s nothing to clean up with the 308? Anyway...

Budget is up to $1200 but prefer something closer to $600.

Thanks!

Do not forget that flatter trajectory means shorter barrel life.
I bet you would be happy with a 223 shooting 45gr hollowpoints for most of your varmint hunting shots and no center fire rifle cartridge beats the price of 223 ammo for target use.
The move from 200-300yds is a big difference and the 22-250 is nicer at 300yds.
The best situation is to have both and use the 223 inside 200 and the 22-250 when they are out past 200.
Having two guns spreads the heat across 2 barrels.

[ar15barrels]

I think my 22-250 desire was just that it’s cheaper than 308

It's really not though.
204 certainly shoots flatter.
My main squirrel gun for distance shooting is a 204, but I have the same problem with wind past 200yds with the 204 as I do with the 223.
Squirrels are smaller than groundhogs though.

[sigstroker]

You can't compare the 223 to a 22-250 unless you compare a school bus to a Ferrari.
The 22-250 with a 52 grain bullet at 300 yards is a absolute lazor.
If you already have a 308 why not just put a 22-250 barrel on your current gun?

Using an online ballistic calculator, with identical 50 gr bullets and a 100 yard zero, the .223 drops 2 inches more than the .22-250 at 300 yards.

[sigstroker]

Do not forget that flatter trajectory means shorter barrel life.
I bet you would be happy with a 223 shooting 45gr hollowpoints for most of your varmint hunting shots and no center fire rifle cartridge beats the price of 223 ammo for target use.
The move from 200-300yds is a big difference and the 22-250 is nicer at 300yds.
The best situation is to have both and use the 223 inside 200 and the 22-250 when they are out past 200.
Having two guns spreads the heat across 2 barrels.

Hey, that's why I said he should buy 2 $269 Savages.

Or 3 if he also wants a .204.

[LynnJr]

If

Using an online ballistic calculator, with identical 50 gr bullets and a 100 yard zero, the .223 drops 2 inches more than the .22-250 at 300 yards.

That's why I said 52 grain bullets because they are 3.2 inches flatter. And if you use factory Hornady ammo at 4450 FPS with the 35 grain bullets it's even better.
The 204 is 400 FPS slower with a lower BC bullet and isn't flatter shooting.

[Dogbite]

Do not forget that flatter trajectory means shorter barrel life.
I bet you would be happy with a 223 shooting 45gr hollowpoints for most of your varmint hunting shots and no center fire rifle cartridge beats the price of 223 ammo for target use.
The move from 200-300yds is a big difference and the 22-250 is nicer at 300yds.
The best situation is to have both and use the 223 inside 200 and the 22-250 when they are out past 200.
Having two guns spreads the heat across 2 barrels.

Best advise so far.
I use to shoot regularly on my friends farm. I shot out my Remington 700 22-250 barrel in one sitting because of barrel over heating - I was having way too much fun. I replaced it with a 22-250AI barrel and was exceedingly pleased 250+ FPS improvement dependent upon projectile. If yo don't reload, I suggest 223 / 5.56 x 45. It can get mighty expensive. After that, I took my AR15 20"H-Bar 1/7 twist for up to 300 and my 22-250AI for out to 600+. The vapor trails left from a 22-25-AI were very impressive. I friend sold his farm so those days are gone forever. I sold the rifle shortly after and still regret it to this day. I might assemble another. My 22-250AI went though 3 barrels during that time period - Well spent money.
Most 6mm Variants would serve you well past 500 Yards. The splash from the bullet would take out most little pests even at those distances.

Splash - Short / Close - No hit