why .223 over 22-250

sharp shooter

sharp shooter

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Why is it that so many people that choose to purchase a new .223 with faster twist than traditional, to shoot heavy for calibre bullets, than to buy a 22-250 with same twist? Wouldn't you get better results? Or is it about brass and less powder? Just curious as my thoughts would be to get a 22-250 with more case capacity.
 
For the most part, 22-250 doesn't have the fast twist options available over the counter. Both would be great choices with higher rates of twist, but the 223 is just a very well balanced cartridge. And better for higher volume shooting.

It's hard to describe how fun it is shooting the 75+ grain 223s at long range plates. Everybody should get to try it. :)
 
sharp shooter said:
Why is it that so many people that choose to purchase a new .223 with faster twist than traditional, to shoot heavy for calibre bullets, than to buy a 22-250 with same twist? Wouldn't you get better results? Or is it about brass and less powder? Just curious as my thoughts would be to get a 22-250 with more case capacity.
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For one, there aren't many factory offerings in 22-250 that offer 1 in 9 or faster.
 
The 223 is the most popular center-fire cartridge utilized in North America, hence the low cost of ammunition. Besides varmint hunters, many are AR-15 target shooters south of the 49th.
 
Barrel life the 22-250 burns out much faster than a .223.
I have a Savage 12FV that has over 1500 rounds through it.
I would say it's accuracy is slightly better than when it was new.

Terry
 
223 is cheaper to shoot, fur friendly, way less noise, less barrel erosion over the years, and offers numerous barrel twist rates(for wind drift) and better choice of actions(bolt, semi-auto, etc.)
 
The targets of .22 centerfire rifles tend to be small, therefore choosing the .22-250 does not extend the practical range over the .223. The .22-250 requires roughly 50% more propellant with any given bullet weight. There are few manufactures who produce the .22-250 with a fast twist barrel, which limits the range of bullets which can be chosen for it.
 
I shoot a 22-250 and am not a hand loader. I weighed in on both when I made my purchase and came to the following conclusions:

1: I don't shoot much with them at the range.....just to get them lined up for hunting.
2: Trajectory.....the 22.250 is flatter shooting.
3: The 223 due to the rate of drop after 300 yards IMO makes it a 300 yard coyote rifle. The 22.250 adds another 100 beyond that comftorably.
4: Factory hunting rounds are about only $1/box difference in price on the better ammo and about $2/box on the econo packs.(Hunting rounds.... I am not talking about those surplus FMJ rounds)
5: Most important......I just plain like it better!! :)

As for fur friendly? I shoot 45gr and 50gr JHP and the 45's do not even make an exit hole at 100 yards and the exit hole from the 50 grainers I have used have been about the size of a pencil eraser.
 
.223 all the way it's all about logic.

I have had .223s for over 30 years shot 40 grain to 75 grain have an AR 15 as well. Just sold my last .308 as I shoot paper and varmints and the .223 just covers it all.

I now have only 1 common centerfire round, I can get it anywhere I mean anywhere unlike 22-250. I can shoot cheap crap for plinking or move up to 75 grain Hornadys. So yeah I get the 22-50 gives you a marginal performance increase but we are talking generally 600 meters and down and up to Yote size game so factor in availaibility, gun choices, twist choice, ammo choice, and it is clear why .223 continues to climb in popularity I know I made the right choice based on this, love my new Savage Hog Hunter in .223!! Best 480.00 I ever spent. :)



Randy
 
Had a couple .223's, loved them. Did a great job on coyotes and varmints. Have a .22-250 now just because I wanted one, not out of need. If your shooting lots of paper .223 would be a better option but if its for strictly hunting and shooting a couple hundred rounds a year I think the .22-250 has it merits. Can't lose either way. Another note about the .22-250 being a barrel burner, I would think if slow powders were used and speeds kept reasonable barrels would last just fine. Most guys are pushing 35-45grain bullets at 4000-4400fps and that's hard on barrels.
 
If a higher velocity were the only criteria used in selecting a .22 centerfire we would all run the .220 Swift. The .22/250 is a fine round but the .223 is a little less specialized and a little more versatile to me.
 
Mike Webb said:
If a higher velocity were the only criteria used in selecting a .22 centerfire we would all run the .220 Swift. The .22/250 is a fine round but the .223 is a little less specialized and a little more versatile to me.
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Or a .22-284 or a .22-06 and attempt to break 5000 fps, which is theoretically as fast as our current powders allow.
 
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