22-250 recommendations

[JackEllis]

One other thing to think about. Do you need to be able to shoot past 200 yards or do you just want to be able to shoot past 200 yards (with no holdover). If the former, just move closer. It sounds like ou'll be shooting on family property but some landowners don't want shooters using anything more powerful than a .223 to avoid having their stock killed or their equipment damaged.

I've got a .243 I'd love to use on varmints but the place where I shot last spring asked me not to use it.

[pennstater]

Not to worry. We've all done it, I'm sure. Still, a lot of good answers here.

[RNE228]

Was back in Wyoming visiting family a while back; went out prairie dog hunting. Was mostly shooting 223.

Then a family member brought out TC Contender with a 375JDJ barrel. That, was a tack driver and easily took out prairie dogs! That contender would consistently shoot MOA at 200 yards. That ws a lot of fun!

[RNE228]

Savage 99 fan here. Have seen 99's in 22-250 in the past. I would like to add a 250-300 to the collection first, but a 22-250 would on the short list to add too...

[MongooseV8]

I can tell you I use a wicked fast 243AI and a 223 for varmint hunting. The 223 works well for shorter range targets and gives time for the +4200fps primary to cool off.

I dont care about barrel life since the sight of a squirrel launching 20ft in the air is priceless. Keep those horses safe.

[Horrendo Revolver]

When someone starts making a factory 22-250 with a 1:7 twist I’ll be getting one.

[jimmykan]

They will when they start making factory 77 - 90 grain ammunition.

[Calif Hunter]

I also have a Savage Heavy barreled .223 and a .22-250. I load the .223 with 40 gr bullets and load the .22-250 with 50 gr bullets. I alternate while prairie dog shooting so neither gets too hot. The loads I make run pretty close the to the same trajectory, at least for the first couple hundred yards. After that, the .22-250 or my .243 with 70 gr Blitzkings or 75 gr V-Maxs gets the nod.

[RNE228]

If they jump to those bullet weights, would there be any advantage compared to 90ish grain loads in the original 2500-3000?

They will when they start making factory 77 - 90 grain ammunition.

[jimmykan]

If they jump to those bullet weights, would there be any advantage compared to 90ish grain loads in the original 2500-3000?

The 22 caliber bullet of the same style/design and same weight will have a better ballistic coefficient than the 25 caliber bullet of the same style/design and same weight.

The Sierra .257 caliber 100 grain MatchKing has a G1 BC of .386 and G7 BC of .184.
The Sierra .224 caliber 90 grain Matchking has a G1 BC of .563 and G7 BC of .257.

Assuming both loads achieve 3000 fps muzzle velocity and are zeroed at 100 yards:

The Sierra .257 caliber 100 grain MatchKing at 600 yards will drop about 86 inches and drift 38 inches in a 10 mph crosswind. The bullet would stay supersonic to about 800 yards. (calculated from http://www.jbmballistics.com).
The Sierra .224 caliber 90 grain MatchKing at 600 yards will drop about 73 inches and drift 25 inches in a 10 mph crosswind. The bullet would stay supersonic to about 1100 yards. (calculated from http://www.jbmballistics.com).

Expect about 1300 rounds of accurate barrel life from the 22-250 (.224 bullet diameter, 38 grains of H4350, 55000 PSI).
Expect about 2200 rounds of accurate barrel life from the 250-3000 (.257 bullet diameter, 41 grains of H4350, 45000 PSI).
(Calculated from the Accurate Shooter barrel life spreadsheet http://www.accurateshooter.com/techn...l-barrel-life/ using Hodgdon load data)

[LynnJr]

OP
In car terminology if that will help. The 22-250 is a Corvette and the 223 is a Volkswagen.
They will both get you to the store but that is where the similarities end.

[digelectric]

OP

In car terminology if that will help. The 22-250 is a Corvette and the 223 is a Volkswagen.

They will both get you to the store but that is where the similarities end.

[LynnJr]

I'm a varmint hunters and what I tend to see is the varmints are getting smarter and smarter the more they get shot at.
You step into a field fire the first shot and everything under 250 yards runs off or goes underground.
For varmints velocity is what equates to those spectacular hits. Slower rounds don't give you those flipping in the air impacts the faster rounds do.
The 22-250 is every bit as accurate as the 223 it's just not as anemic.

[digelectric]

I'm a varmint hunters and what I tend to see is the varmints are getting smarter and smarter the more they get shot at.

You step into a field fire the first shot and everything under 250 yards runs off or goes underground.

For varmints velocity is what equates to those spectacular hits. Slower rounds don't give you those flipping in the air impacts the faster rounds do.

The 22-250 is every bit as accurate as the 223 it's just not as anemic.

Flips. I want flips!!

[TMB 1]

I'm a varmint hunters and what I tend to see is the varmints are getting smarter and smarter the more they get shot at.
You step into a field fire the first shot and everything under 250 yards runs off or goes underground.
For varmints velocity is what equates to those spectacular hits. Slower rounds don't give you those flipping in the air impacts the faster rounds do.
The 22-250 is every bit as accurate as the 223 it's just not as anemic.

That's because you singed the hair off them.

Try the 22 Hornet for under 250 yards.