22-250 or 223?

shaw900 · 12-09-2006, 01:33 PM

I am looking into getting a new gun for coyote hunting and wondered which caliber would be more appropriate?

Otter · 12-09-2006, 01:37 PM

Both will work fine on coyote, but .22-250 will offer a wider selection of loads and will work better on larger game.

jerry · 12-09-2006, 04:24 PM

Otter's right.

How far do you intend to shoot at coyotes? I chose the .223 simply because shots would not probably exceed 200~250 yards, and the cost of brass. With 223 it's very cost effective for brass and case capacity with powder.

shaw900 · 12-12-2006, 03:14 PM

I'm not really sure how far I plan to shoot at them, I appreciate the info.

Otter · 12-16-2006, 08:59 AM

The .22-250 will stabize slightly heavier bullets than the .223 family of cartridges, due in part to the higher velocities. Many people use the .223 on deer and the .22-250 has even better knock down power than the .223. With the right load you should be able to take down almost anything in the country, and from farther out than the .223. The .223 will be cheaper to shoot, especially with the availablity of surplus military ball rounds.

lefty o · 12-16-2006, 01:43 PM

which one will stabilize whatever weight bullet is entirely dependent on the twist rate of the barrel. most commercially chambered 22-250's are poorly suited to bullets in excess of 60grns.

Plinker · 12-16-2006, 03:05 PM

I think .223 is way too small to be using on deer. =\

lefty o · 12-16-2006, 05:23 PM

both are .22's, and i agree they are on the small side for deer.

DWARREN123 · 12-16-2006, 05:41 PM

A good .243 will do both varmints and larger game. With the right rifling twist rate it will handle light bullets for varmints and heavier bullets for deer size game.

Devil Dog · 12-16-2006, 08:54 PM

Most 22-250 barrels are 1-14 twist, which will not stabilize bullets much heavier than 55 grains.

Zen900 · 12-16-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

Most 22-250 barrels are 1-14 twist, which will not stabilize bullets much heavier than 55 grains.

Stevens/Savage and CZ use 1-12 for 22-250.

felix cortinas · 12-16-2006, 09:55 PM

I have killed ----loads of deer, hogs, coyotes with my ar15 and a .22-250, I ride pastures daily to do this and as long as you make a good shot both a .223 and .22-250 are plenty of gun. accurate, and plenty of knock down and kill power.

lefty o · 12-17-2006, 04:17 AM

1-12" rifling is still not good for anything much over 60 grns.

jeffrey speth · 01-12-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaw900

I am looking into getting a new gun for coyote hunting and wondered which caliber would be more appropriate?

22-250 shoots flatter, farther, and hits harder. but if your shots are under 250 yards, 223 more than enough for yotes. And you can pick up a box at walmart for 6 bucks. and if you reload, you can reload more for the same amount of money. and you get longer barrel life typically from 223 versus 22-250. hope i helped!

reloader · 01-28-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey speth

22-250 shoots flatter, farther, and hits harder. but if your shots are under 250 yards, 223 more than enough for yotes. And you can pick up a box at walmart for 6 bucks. and if you reload, you can reload more for the same amount of money. and you get longer barrel life typically from 223 versus 22-250. hope i helped!

i load a stevens .223 and i love it.. i shot aginst a 204 and a 22-250 and it was very close.. the 204 was a $800 bench gun and the 22-250 had about $300 in parts put on it.. i spent $200 on the stevens with a limbsaver on the barrel and they didnt do any better than the stevens.. i shoot alot of shot at 500yrds with a 10x40power scope and thats really not a problem.. i shot my 243 aginst my .223 they are still about the same... i shot a v max but i went to a sxsp 50grn and lowerd my powder to 22.5 grns of reloader 7 powder and i cant ask for anything better...

now im new with this site i dont know how to check if you get back to me ..

ottos · 01-28-2007, 01:33 PM

They are cheap and fun to shoot. I have shot with my friends using their 22-250's and me using my 223. I can shoot just as well as them on 97% of our shots and mine cost alot less. Once we get over 250 yards they start to get a little better accuracy, but from what I saved on ammo I just bought alot better scope and will probaly be able to make up some of that 3%, but not all. If you have alot of money laying arround buy the 22-250, but otherwise it is not worth it.

If you intend to or may use your new gun for anything besides varmits I would recomend checking the laws of places you might hunt. In Wyoming we are not allowed to use 223 for deer or other big game. Not sure about 22-250. This may change your mind.

If you just intend to use your gun for varmit hunting buy extra ammo and practice with the money you saved by buying reman 223 ammo. Shot placement is the most important. I have seen cows killed with a 22 lr and wonded with a 30-30. Shot placment is the most important thing.

When you coyote hunt with a 223 buy the winchester varmit shells. They will kill coyote nearly wherever you hit them unless it is a leg. Cheaper shells will not do as much dammage. As for durability I can not comment on a 22-250, but I have a browning 223 with at least 25,000 shots through it and it is still very accurate. Don't melt the barrel and any gun will last a long time.

good luck have fun

Zen900 · 01-28-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reloader

i load a stevens .223 and i love it.. i shot aginst a 204 and a 22-250 and it was very close.. the 204 was a $800 bench gun and the 22-250 had about $300 in parts put on it.. i spent $200 on the stevens with a limbsaver on the barrel and they didnt do any better than the stevens.. i shoot alot of shot at 500yrds with a 10x40power scope and thats really not a problem.. i shot my 243 aginst my .223 they are still about the same... i shot a v max but i went to a sxsp 50grn and lowerd my powder to 22.5 grns of reloader 7 powder and i cant ask for anything better...

now im new with this site i dont know how to check if you get back to me ..

The .223 Stevens is the best buy on the market right now. Price and accuracy are unbeatable. Weighs 6.5 lbs before scope mount so is easy to carry.

Lng Rng · 01-29-2007, 12:12 AM

Killing a coyote isn't really all that tough, and a .223 is fine on coyote given most shots aren't that far anyways. I know a lot of guys I hunt with have probably killed just as many predator's with a 12 gauge as they have anything else.

woodster · 01-30-2007, 05:20 PM

I use a .223 which is not considered high velocity in comparrison to the 22-250 but has adequate knock-down energy. For myself, I'm not always looking for high velocity. If you reload, then your ahead of the game. For Coyote I reload Barnes 'Triple Shock' 70 gr. One shot, one kill.

You may also consider the .243 caliber which could offer you a little more versitility should you hunt white-tail. I use both calibers (not at the same time) and my preference would go to the .243 for coyote and bobcat. However, your choice of caliber will often depend on the terrain your hunting in.

at4rxj · 01-30-2007, 07:23 PM

I vote .223. They're both very comparable rounds, but the .223 ammo is cheaper, with a much wider availability of factory ammo. You can find rounds suitable for hunting almost anything ethically feasible.

Build an AR-15 varmint gun. You can do this for around $800-900, and build it as fast or slow as you want. 1/2" @ 100yds is nothing for a properly built AR.

12-09-2006, 01:33 PM	#1
shaw900 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5	22-250 or 223? I am looking into getting a new gun for coyote hunting and wondered which caliber would be more appropriate?

12-09-2006, 01:37 PM	#2
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 954 Images: 6	Both will work fine on coyote, but .22-250 will offer a wider selection of loads and will work better on larger game. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

12-09-2006, 04:24 PM	#3
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,875 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Otter's right. How far do you intend to shoot at coyotes? I chose the .223 simply because shots would not probably exceed 200~250 yards, and the cost of brass. With 223 it's very cost effective for brass and case capacity with powder. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

12-16-2006, 08:59 AM	#5
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 954 Images: 6	The .22-250 will stabize slightly heavier bullets than the .223 family of cartridges, due in part to the higher velocities. Many people use the .223 on deer and the .22-250 has even better knock down power than the .223. With the right load you should be able to take down almost anything in the country, and from farther out than the .223. The .223 will be cheaper to shoot, especially with the availablity of surplus military ball rounds. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

01-28-2007, 01:33 PM	#16
ottos Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 19	Get a 223 They are cheap and fun to shoot. I have shot with my friends using their 22-250's and me using my 223. I can shoot just as well as them on 97% of our shots and mine cost alot less. Once we get over 250 yards they start to get a little better accuracy, but from what I saved on ammo I just bought alot better scope and will probaly be able to make up some of that 3%, but not all. If you have alot of money laying arround buy the 22-250, but otherwise it is not worth it. If you intend to or may use your new gun for anything besides varmits I would recomend checking the laws of places you might hunt. In Wyoming we are not allowed to use 223 for deer or other big game. Not sure about 22-250. This may change your mind. If you just intend to use your gun for varmit hunting buy extra ammo and practice with the money you saved by buying reman 223 ammo. Shot placement is the most important. I have seen cows killed with a 22 lr and wonded with a 30-30. Shot placment is the most important thing. When you coyote hunt with a 223 buy the winchester varmit shells. They will kill coyote nearly wherever you hit them unless it is a leg. Cheaper shells will not do as much dammage. As for durability I can not comment on a 22-250, but I have a browning 223 with at least 25,000 shots through it and it is still very accurate. Don't melt the barrel and any gun will last a long time. good luck have fun

12-12-2006, 03:14 PM	#4
shaw900 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5	I'm not really sure how far I plan to shoot at them, I appreciate the info.

12-16-2006, 01:43 PM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,797	which one will stabilize whatever weight bullet is entirely dependent on the twist rate of the barrel. most commercially chambered 22-250's are poorly suited to bullets in excess of 60grns.

12-16-2006, 03:05 PM	#7
Plinker Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 19	I think .223 is way too small to be using on deer. =\

12-16-2006, 05:23 PM	#8
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,797	both are .22's, and i agree they are on the small side for deer.

12-16-2006, 05:41 PM	#9
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 774	A good .243 will do both varmints and larger game. With the right rifling twist rate it will handle light bullets for varmints and heavier bullets for deer size game.

12-16-2006, 08:54 PM	#10
Devil Dog Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan Posts: 34	Most 22-250 barrels are 1-14 twist, which will not stabilize bullets much heavier than 55 grains.

12-16-2006, 09:55 PM	#12
felix cortinas Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 144	I have killed ----loads of deer, hogs, coyotes with my ar15 and a .22-250, I ride pastures daily to do this and as long as you make a good shot both a .223 and .22-250 are plenty of gun. accurate, and plenty of knock down and kill power.

12-17-2006, 04:17 AM	#13
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,797	1-12" rifling is still not good for anything much over 60 grns.

01-29-2007, 12:12 AM	#18
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	Killing a coyote isn't really all that tough, and a .223 is fine on coyote given most shots aren't that far anyways. I know a lot of guys I hunt with have probably killed just as many predator's with a 12 gauge as they have anything else.

01-30-2007, 05:20 PM	#19
woodster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: High Desert, California Posts: 433	I use a .223 which is not considered high velocity in comparrison to the 22-250 but has adequate knock-down energy. For myself, I'm not always looking for high velocity. If you reload, then your ahead of the game. For Coyote I reload Barnes 'Triple Shock' 70 gr. One shot, one kill. You may also consider the .243 caliber which could offer you a little more versitility should you hunt white-tail. I use both calibers (not at the same time) and my preference would go to the .243 for coyote and bobcat. However, your choice of caliber will often depend on the terrain your hunting in.

01-30-2007, 07:23 PM	#20
at4rxj Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 855 Images: 10	I vote .223. They're both very comparable rounds, but the .223 ammo is cheaper, with a much wider availability of factory ammo. You can find rounds suitable for hunting almost anything ethically feasible. Build an AR-15 varmint gun. You can do this for around $800-900, and build it as fast or slow as you want. 1/2" @ 100yds is nothing for a properly built AR.