The main differance I found in comparing the two calibers was in drop and drift. The Winchester website has a nice balicstic calculator. The .22-250 is flater than the .243, but the .243 resists wind better. I am better at judging distance than wind, so I like the .243 better.

a .22-250 will flatten the biggest coyote to ever walk the earth.

we've owned .243's (still have a nice one, model 88 win) and two .22-250s.....the .22-250 gets useds 100 to 1 over the .243.


something about them that makes them a blast to shoot in sporter weight rifles.

if i'm out varmint hunting and a deer or pig walks out.....i don't hesistate to shoot those with the .22-250 either

My first bolt rifle was a .22-250. It was purchased to kill coyotes and bobcats. In my studies, experimentation, and practice I feel comfortable with it to 400 yards. It is capable of a bit more, but I've not shot it farther. I did take it prarie doggin last year and shot 450 rounds in two days, all after having shot about 100 rounds of load development the month prior.

My next bolt rifle was a .308. It was purchased to target shoot, compete with, and deer hunt with. I am on the side of the fence that disagrees with shooting deer with a .22 cal bullet. I've taken the .308 to 1000 and everything in between. It is not the best cartridge out there for this but it can and does it very well.

Having stated all that I believe the .243 lies right between the .22-250 and .308. I don't have one but I rigged up a nice one for a good friend of mine. He has already killed several coyotes with it. The .243 is more versatile than my .22-250 and my .308. If you don't load your own, ammo can be found all over. For those telling you there's a wide variety of bullet choices, take that with a grain of salt. Your barrel's twist rate will dictate what grain bullet it will like. Most .243s will do the best with a 90 to 110 gr weight range due to their 1:9.25" twist rate (pretty common twist). If you run a light bullet in that twist it will spin it so hard at that velocity it will destabilize.

Course most of this is my experience and my opinion. Opinions are like...well you know.

I'd go with the .243 in your case. I love my .22-250 but I believe the .243 is a great cartridge as well.

Of the two, I'd choose the .243 since you mentioned hogs. and I personally believe it's more flexible than the 22-250.

I'm not saying the 22-250 hasn't taken hogs or deer. I've taken hogs with a .223 while i've been hunting varmints. However, imho of the two cartridges, the .243 is better suited for the hogs.

I don't believe recoil would even factor in my decision between the two cartridges. Both are light recoiling rifles and any difference would be so slight that you're not likely to notice.

with all that said, one thing that you might want to consider is what other cartridges you might currently own.

When i first starting accumulating rifles, i didn't give much thought to a well rounded collection. for example, i bought a .270 (x2), a .280, a 30-06, and a 7-08. four different cartridges, 5 rifles, that all shoot 130gr to 150gr bullets (or at least the most common weights for those cartridges are in that range).

a better move would have been after the .270, then get a .223 or 22.250, then a third gun get a big bore like the 45-70. Then come back with something that would split the differences between the .270 and the .22 if you already own a 30.06, then you might want to consider a .22 caliber for your next gun. kind of like start in the middle, then go to an upper/lower exteme, then start splitting the differences. I've since bought a .22 caliber, and a big bore, but i still have those cartridges piled up in the middle.

What you'll have is a nice well rounded collection that will cover the bases for anything you'll get the chance to hunt.

just my 2 cents.
c.r.

In 2009 I shot 52 yotes, in 2010 I shot 33, so far this year I'm up to 13. The ranges went from 150 yards to at least one that was taken at close to 450 yards. Most were in the 200 to 300 yard range. The 204 although one of my favorites needed a follow up shot too many times. The 22-250 rated a little better but the 243 wins hands down for putting down yotes with one shot. I'm shooting Hornady 58 gr V-MAX around 3750 fps.

so a 58 grain bullet .244 bullet going at 3750fps is far superior to a 55 grain .224 V-max moving at 3700 fps?

would't the .224 bullet weighing 3 grains less have a better B.C ?

I didn't say that. I just said I've had the best results with that combo.

.223AI or .243/6mmAI

I guess, shooting so much that you burned out a barrel, what a horrible thing. For those that are worried about barrel life, time to find a new hobby.

I've got my eye on a 240 Weatherby.

For me a high power .22 is useless, I aint got anywhere to shoot over 200 yds, plus the noise is on par with a .243, even the .223 gives a good boom.
I choose a .243 and something small and quiet so its the .22 hornet for me.
the hornet at 100 yds is what a .222 is at 200 yds the .222 is what a .223 is at 300 yds and the .223 is what a 22-250 is at 400 yds.
So a .22 hornet at 100 yds is the same as a 22-250 is at 400 yds
big difference unless all you shoot is a 100 yds, and thats me.
Plus I handload, the hornet runs around 12 bucks per 50 with having cases already.
at a 100 yds theres nothing the hornet cant do that a 22-250 can.
well....maybe mist a jackrabbit LOL
But you get what im saying, a .22-250 on a yote at 400 yds is what the hornet is on a yote at 100 yds.
So one needs to decide what distances hes going to be shooting, wanna go long get a .223 or 22-250, keep it short get a .222 or hornet.
Plus the hornet is great for suburban areas where you might want to keep the report low, 150 yds or less and it will drop anydeer with neck shots and pigs too, fun round for adults and kids, specially for coon control around feeders.
a 17hmr cant hang with the hornet and the noise level is close.
Plus the hornets legal for deer.