.223 or 22-250 for coyote

chezboy

chezboy

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so I'm having trouble deciding if i should get a .223 or a 22-250. I will only be shooting coyotes, badgers, skunks, porcupines with it and and not sure which one to pick. does one have cheaper ammunition than the other? any help would be appreciated. if i like the gun i may begin reloading for it

shooting ranges will vary but will be around 200 yards
 
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chezboy said:
so I'm having trouble deciding if i should get a .223 or a 22-250. I will only be shooting coyotes, badgers, skunks, porcupines with it and and not sure which one to pick. does one have cheaper ammunition than the other? any help would be appreciated. if i like the gun i may begin reloading for it
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I shoot them both and buy Winchester USA ammo at Wal-mart. The .223 is $18.67 abox for 40 and the 22-250 is $30.97 a box of 40.

The decision is made real easy for me which one gets more rounds down the pipe.
 
.223 is cheaper, for a minor loss in performance.

you can buy 45 grain hollowpoint varmint ammunition, white box Winchester, for $18-20 for 40 rounds.

if you dont reload and ammo cost is at all a factor then choose the .223.
 
I use a .22-250 and love it

that winchester ammo in .22-250 is $22.95 a box at Bass Pro I was there a few days ago.

Walmart also price matches if you dont want to drive to Bass Pro go in and say I can get it for this from Bass Pro and give them the phone number

And honestly how much ammo does one burn hunting predators? I have only shot a few this year a total of 10 rounds have been spent hunting does ammo cost really factor in?
 
i should also mention - pay close attention to the twist rate of the barrel you buy.
.223 twist rate does matter - a 1:9" twist or 1:12" twist will make a significant difference in the type of ammo you can shoot.
1/12" twist: will stabilize 55 grains and under. 62 grain surplus begins to yaw and keyhole after about 80 yards.

1/9" twist: will stabilize bullets ranging in weight from 40 grains to 75 grains. Certain individual barrels that run "fast" may be able to handle the 77's.
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my 1:12" .223 does stabilize the 62 grain just fine, but it has a 26" barrel so that may be a factor. still - the second question you should be asking is what twist rate barrel you need.
 
I have used both on gophers and coyotes. Those are 2 winning varmint rounds.

Out to 300 yards, I doubt either species would know whether a 223 or 22-250 killed it.
 
I had a 22-250 which I sold in favour of the .223. I never regreted it, especially since the difference in factory ammunition cost is not proportional to performance. If you plan to stay inside of 200 yds, then the .223 would be my choice. :)
 
I have both a 223 and a 22-250...

the 223 stays at home more often than the 22-250...

With an accurate rifle the 223 is more than enough out to 300 yards...
 
Cost's a bit more to run the 22-250. Not a big thing if you smack a coyote or two (or three) over a weekend. You will feel the $$ pinch when you are perched on a ridge blapping gophers though. I choose the .223 (plentiful, cheap and easy to reload). I would much rather run out of daylight before running out of ammo.

Hakx
 
hakx said:
Cost's a bit more to run the 22-250. Not a big thing if you smack a coyote or two (or three) over a weekend. You will feel the $$ pinch when you are perched on a ridge blapping gophers though. I choose the .223 (plentiful, cheap and easy to reload). I would much rather run out of daylight before running out of ammo.
Hakx
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LOL: that'll make a good sig line for somebody....for sure :)
 
Tough call. The performance gain from the 22-250 is small, but not insignificant. It travels further, hits harder, and bucks the wind better. However the 223 is cheaper, especially at smaller ammo stores. If you reload the brass is much more common.
 
Hi

To really get either one to perform, you need to reload. That's true of the .223 past about 200 yards, and the 22-250 past about 300. Once you start reloading the cost delta between the two is quite small.

My preference is the 22-250 with fairly light bullets at high velocity.

Bob
 
To really get either one to perform, you need to reload
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100% correct if you plan on going to the range with either rifle you will have to reload to get maximum performance thus making cost a non factor.

If your buying factory loads stock up when they are on sale like I said before Bass Pro has the Varmint Pack of 40 rounds on sale for $22 in .22-250. I found federal 55gr loads at walmart for $8 a box on clearence so I bought 16 boxes 10 of which a CGN member shipped to me...

This thread is asking what is better for coyotes not for range shooting and the answer is simple the .22-250 out preforms the .223 in every aspect there for is the better choice for a dedicated Coyote/Varmint round.

If you plan on spending time at the range to perfect your skill then get into relaoding and develop a round that works the best in your rifle every rifle will have its sweet load.
 
Hi

I'm not sure that performance *only* matters at the range. If you are shooting at a gopher sized critter at 200 - 300 yards that's going to be a tough shot. Sub-moa performance is what you are looking for, including what ever the wind is doing to you.

Bob
 
pa guns said:
Hi

I'm not sure that performance *only* matters at the range. If you are shooting at a gopher sized critter at 200 - 300 yards that's going to be a tough shot. Sub-moa performance is what you are looking for, including what ever the wind is doing to you.

Bob
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very ture I agree but we are talking Coyotes not gophers
 
22/250 for coyotes, .223 s for gophers due to barrel life. Coyotes give less room for elevation error than a standing gopher once you peel them, and the more you can pinch that trajectory down the more you'll hit. The 22/243 Middlested is a whole 'nother league.
 
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