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22-250 vs. 243? #5667551 03/24/15 11:05 PM
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booradley Offline OP
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What are y'alls thoughts on these 2 calibers strictly for varmints/predators?
This wont be a deer rifle so the argument of .243 being more versatile for deer is irrelevant..
We're strictly talking a long range, accurate varmint gun. what are your thoughts?


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667597 03/24/15 11:25 PM
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I would go with the .22-250. But I have both calibers so . . .


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667622 03/24/15 11:42 PM
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If only for predators/varmints and you are not going after mountain lion, the 22-250 and it isn't even close.

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667624 03/24/15 11:42 PM
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.22-250. IMO the best varmint caliber made.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: passthru] #5667629 03/24/15 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: passthru
I would go with the .22-250. But I have both calibers so . . .


X2

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: Nogalus Prairie] #5667666 03/25/15 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted By: Nogalus Prairie
.22-250. IMO the best varmint caliber made.


Not arguing but why?




LETS GO BRANDON
Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: TXHOGSLAYER] #5667703 03/25/15 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted By: TXHOGSLAYER
Originally Posted By: Nogalus Prairie
.22-250. IMO the best varmint caliber made.


Not arguing but why?


Mostly because of super low recoil. I think of varmints as coyotes, bobcats, coons, etc.

Fast and flat.

If hogs were the main thing and I for sure wanted them DRT/recovered the .243 would be better. He didn't say for hogs though. But I don't mind at all shooting hogs with whatever is in my hand at the time. smile

Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 03/25/15 12:21 AM.
Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: Txkiller] #5667709 03/25/15 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted By: Txkiller
Originally Posted By: passthru
I would go with the .22-250. But I have both calibers so . . .


X2


Both Outstanding Rounds, 22-250 flat shooter


Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: Pittstate] #5667713 03/25/15 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted By: passthru
I would go with the .22-250. But I have both calibers so . . .
Originally Posted By: Pittstate
If only for predators/varmints and you are not going after mountain lion, the 22-250 and it isn't even close.


I was looking at rifles chambered in 22-250 at first but nearly all of them have a 1:14 twist and figured you wont be able to shoot heavier bullets out of it nor reach the potential of a 22-250 can have with a 1:10 or 1:12 even. Is this relevant ? what are thoughts regarding that?


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667773 03/25/15 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted By: booradley
Originally Posted By: passthru
I would go with the .22-250. But I have both calibers so . . .
Originally Posted By: Pittstate
If only for predators/varmints and you are not going after mountain lion, the 22-250 and it isn't even close.


I was looking at rifles chambered in 22-250 at first but nearly all of them have a 1:14 twist and figured you wont be able to shoot heavier bullets out of it nor reach the potential of a 22-250 can have with a 1:10 or 1:12 even. Is this relevant ? what are thoughts regarding that?


It depends on how heavy a bullet you want to shoot. I've owned or loaded for a half dozen .22-250s over the years. I currently own two. All have had the standard 1:14 twist. Every one will stabilize the Sierra 63 gr, and the Winchester 64 pp will shoot if you push it fast.

Since I consider the .22-250 a varmint cartridge (with apologies to the many cull deer that I've shot), I see no need to load heavier bullets. The 63 and 64 gr pills easily can handle a coyote that is way out there. If you hunt in the Panhandle where long shots and windy conditions are the norm, you might want to choose something like a .243 or .25-06 for your coyote medicine.


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667814 03/25/15 01:13 AM
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I use a 220, as long as pigs aren't part of the hunt. If and when the pigs come back to my place, I'll step up to my next size up, which is the 260, or would be a 243 if I had one. My 220 shoots the 63 gr Sierra, but I wish it would shoot the Nosler 64 gr BSB or the 65 gr Sierra GK.

I guess I'd be Ok with that slower 22-250. :-)


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667816 03/25/15 01:14 AM
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Thanks for all the information gentlemen. I have never shot a 22-250 before.




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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667863 03/25/15 01:39 AM
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22-250 for varmints. I never met a guy that had a 22-250 and didn't love it.


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5667901 03/25/15 01:51 AM
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I guess the cool thing about the .243 would be you could load light or heavy without having to worry about barrel twist issues. Im guessing that some of the 22 250s might not like the 70 grainers on the heavy side and the 243 would give you im guessing 70 to 100 grain options. I know that the 22 250 puts out some lightning speeds with light weights. Is wind a issue where you hunt? My .223 blows all over the place when its real windy. And long range light weights in 30 mph winds sheww. Let me get my wind indicator out. The .223 kills varmints just fine. Im guessing 22 250 on some yotes would be cool too. hmm all the options scratch


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: REALKILLER] #5667942 03/25/15 02:04 AM
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Originally Posted By: REALKILLER
I guess the cool thing about the .243 would be you could load light or heavy without having to worry about barrel twist issues. Im guessing that some of the 22 250s might not like the 70 grainers on the heavy side and the 243 would give you im guessing 70 to 100 grain options. I know that the 22 250 puts out some lightning speeds with light weights. Is wind a issue where you hunt? My .223 blows all over the place when its real windy. And long range light weights in 30 mph winds sheww. Let me get my wind indicator out. The .223 kills varmints just fine. Im guessing 22 250 on some yotes would be cool too. hmm all the options scratch


haha EXACTLY... "all the options" if i could get a 1:9 22-250 so i could buck the wind it'd be great. i might have to decide to get both calibers and add versatility to my gun safe happy3


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668205 03/25/15 05:02 AM
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All I use for hunting varmints is a 243.


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668273 03/25/15 11:27 AM
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22-250 for varmints

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668298 03/25/15 12:02 PM
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22-250 with Barnes X bullets will kill anything in Texas

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668390 03/25/15 01:21 PM
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If you're trying to salvage pelts then 22-250 between those two (but there are better options for that). There isn't a fur friendly round out of a 243. 55/58 grainers are so fast that if they exit you are left with 2 halves of whatever you just shot and most other options are exiting for sure. If you hunt contests and don't want to waste any time looking for an animal get a 243 and push 87 Vmax out of it.

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: aggiehunter03] #5668681 03/25/15 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: aggiehunter03
If you're trying to salvage pelts then 22-250 between those two (but there are better options for that). There isn't a fur friendly round out of a 243. 55/58 grainers are so fast that if they exit you are left with 2 halves of whatever you just shot and most other options are exiting for sure. If you hunt contests and don't want to waste any time looking for an animal get a 243 and push 87 Vmax out of it.


Thanks for that input I sometimes save the pelts so thats good to know. what are the better options you speak of?


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668724 03/25/15 04:43 PM
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Lots of fur guys use a .17, 22 Mag, .204, etc. Smaller bullets that won't exit with rapid expansion so you don't have to sew up an exit wound. There is an article in Predator Extreme this month about it and the author said an exit wound on a bobcat will cost him $100 in devaluation even after he sews it up. I'm no expert on the matter; I want a bullet that will anchor them so I don't have to look for them. I just hunt contests. A 270 even works great for me!

And I've also never understood why the 22-250 gets so much love over the 243. A 58 Vmax out of a 243 vs a 50 Vmax out of a 22-250 has almost identical trajectory, BC, and velocity looking at Hornady's factory ammo (assuming you don't reload). Recoil isn't any different either. And at least with the 243 you can go up to 100 grainers if you so choose. Without a custom barrel you likely can't stabilize a bullet heavier than about 60 grains in a 22-250. I love 22-250 but a 243 is so much more versatile.

Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5668798 03/25/15 05:33 PM
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booradley, the first question is what is considered "long range" for you? Everything in your post points to a 22-250. But the long range part can mess that up. The 22-250 normally does not have the twist rate to stabilize the heavier bullets that you need for the higher BC bullets. A standard 55 grain out of a 22-250 will get beat up by the wind out past 300 yards. The 243 would allow you to shoot the higher BC bullets which will help increase your distance. So, the "long range" part is the question. They are both very capable.


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5669792 03/26/15 11:44 AM
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Could you get a custom barrel in a tighter twist for a 22-250


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Re: 22-250 vs. 243? [Re: booradley] #5686811 04/06/15 07:21 PM
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Browning makes the X-bolt 22-250 in 1:9 twist.

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