1:14 22-250 or 1:9 .223 long range varmint

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TacShooter

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Hey everyone, just recently joined CGN and posted a thread regarding optics. I was very satisfied with the quality responses I received I decided I might ask about this decision im trying to make regarding my new varmint rifle. So here is my dilemma.

This rifle is going to be mainly used to hunting yotes.
The question I am trying to figure out is what would be more effective for long range yote hunting? A .223 shooting a 70-75 grain bullet, Or a 22-250 shooting a lighter 50-55 grain bullet? I know the heavier 223 will have a higher BC, but will the velocity of the 250 make up for the smaller bullet? The reason im asking this question is because im trying to decide between two different rifles. both Remington 700's. the 250 has a 1:14 twist and a 26" barrel. and the 223 has a 1:9 twist and a 20" barrel.

Thank you, If there is any other information required just let me know.
 
kinda 6 of one half dozen of the other in your situation.

Now IF you are wanting to do upgrades later on or customize your rifle then the 22-250 would be for sure the way to go.Then you could get a fast twist barrel and really have the ability to reach out ,shoot flat and have accuracy with heavier bullets , however your fast twist .223 will be able to reach out probably beyond where you are able to.

If accuracy is of importance which it usually is try to go as heavy for chambering as you can with bullets.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
kinda 6 of one half dozen of the other in your situation.

Now IF you are wanting to do upgrades later on or customize your rifle then the 22-250 would be for sure the way to go.Then you could get a fast twist barrel and really have the ability to reach out ,shoot flat and have accuracy with heavier bullets , however your fast twist .223 will be able to reach out probably beyond where you are able to.

If accuracy is of importance which it usually is try to go as heavy for chambering as you can with bullets.
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I've always thought it would be neat to get a 1:7 .224 dia barrel reamed with a .22-250 chamber and try some heavy bullets with the extra oomph the larger casing provides. I'm betting you could get at least 3400 fps out of 77gr VLD's (you'd loose a bit of case capacity due to the long bullet though). Naturally, you would have to handload to make this idea work.
 
Another idea is to buy a savage rifle in .223 ,1-9 twist and have it rechambered to 22-250. Change the bolt head to one for a 22-250 and you`ve got the best of both worlds, a 22-250 in 1-9 twist. The reason I say savage is because with the barrel nut set-up, they are probably a lot easier to headspace.
 
gerard488 said:
Another idea is to buy a savage rifle in .223 ,1-9 twist and have it rechambered to 22-250. Change the bolt head to one for a 22-250 and you`ve got the best of both worlds, a 22-250 in 1-9 twist. The reason I say savage is because with the barrel nut set-up, they are probably a lot easier to headspace.
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Maybe, but switching bolt heads would require you to check the headspace as well. Plus, if you're doing such a conversion, I'd want a heavy match grade SS barrel.
 
Serious long range varminters use 204 Ruger, 22-250, 243 Win, 6 Remington and 25-06 depending on varmint size (smaller cartridge for smaller varmints).
You simply need high velocity to get a flat trajectory and high impact velocity (2000+ fps).
223 Rem only fits the bill at 250 yards and is not a high velocity cartridge.

The best 22-250 55gr varmint bullet at 3700 fps will outperform any 223 Rem load at up to 500 yards (yes, check it out with a ballistic calculator).

Alex
 
TacShooter said:
Hey everyone, just recently joined CGN and posted a thread regarding optics. I was very satisfied with the quality responses I received I decided I might ask about this decision im trying to make regarding my new varmint rifle. So here is my dilemma.

This rifle is going to be mainly used to hunting yotes.
The question I am trying to figure out is what would be more effective for long range yote hunting? A .223 shooting a 70-75 grain bullet, Or a 22-250 shooting a lighter 50-55 grain bullet? I know the heavier 223 will have a higher BC, but will the velocity of the 250 make up for the smaller bullet? The reason im asking this question is because im trying to decide between two different rifles. both Remington 700's. the 250 has a 1:14 twist and a 26" barrel. and the 223 has a 1:9 twist and a 20" barrel.

Thank you, If there is any other information required just let me know.
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The .22-250 will be flatter shooting to a point, but the velocity will catch up with (erm... slow down to?) a heavy VLD from a .223 at around 500 yards. Also, when you get to that distance, the VLD from the .223 will have more energy at the same velocity, due to the heavier weight. There is also the fact that the heavier bullet shot from the .223 will buck the wind better than a lighter bullet from the .22-250... But then there's the extra velocity the .22-250 gets... Really, it depends on how long range you consider long range varmint hunting be. If you're shooting around 300 yards, there are some .223 loads that are quite fast and use a slightly heavier bullet than the faster .22-250 loads (i.e. .223 Hornady Superformance Varmint w/ 53gr VMax at almost 3500 fps). If you're shooting between 250 and 500, a 22-250 will be a better bet. If you're shooting above 500, then maybe the custom fast twist .22-250 would be the ticket, or maybe a third option in the 6mm range.
 
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Well I can't help on the 1:14 twist 250 but my 1:12 shot 55's really well... but I really love my 1:9 .223's... they shoot very accurately with 55VM's, but are even more accurate with H68 BTHP's, which is what we hunt with for coyotes.... CFE-223 is a terrific powder that we have been working with for a couple months.
 
A .22-250 1:9 will shoot circles around a .223 1:9. Will handle the same weight bullets, but with significantly higher velocity.
 
Drop is a constant, wind is a varible. Go with the faster twist .223 and if you find that you need more speed recamber it to .223AI or 22-204.

The Remington mag box will need to be modified to fit the 2.5"ish legnth of the heavy vlds but any dummy with half a brain can do that.
 
tiriaq said:
A .22-250 1:9 will shoot circles around a .223 1:9. Will handle the same weight bullets, but with significantly higher velocity.
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Are there any manufacturers currently making .22-250's with a 1 in 9 twist, or would this have to be a custom job?

I'm asking because all I can find are 1 in 12 or 14.
 
tiriaq said:
A .22-250 1:9 will shoot circles around a .223 1:9. Will handle the same weight bullets, but with significantly higher velocity.
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Yes to the more velocity... but I would challenge the more accuracy comment... I agree the .22/250 will "shoot circles" ALL AROUND the .223.
 
Wasn't an accuracy comment.

A 1:8 .22-250 or .22-250AI will really shoot 80 grainers.

Of course, everything else being equal, .223 barrel life will be better than the .22-250's.
 
My Savage Model 11 22-250 has a 1 in 12 twist and it will not stabilise heavy bullets. I'm thinking to get a custom barrel with a 1 in 9 twist or even in 1 in 7 for the really long 224 bullets.
I like the 22 250 for yotes, a lot more horsepower than the 223. I had a 22 Swift for years but that was a bit much and hard on barrels.
 
tiriaq said:
Wasn't an accuracy comment.

A 1:8 .22-250 or .22-250AI will really shoot 80 grainers.

Of course, everything else being equal, .223 barrel life will be better than the .22-250's.
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Your comment was about a 1:9 (not a 1:8) .22/250 vs a 1:9 .223... and you said that it would shoot circles around the .223, which sounded like you were saying it would be more accurate...
 
If I was able to use anything bigger than a .22 cal cartridge outside of deer and bear season here in NB, I wouldn't use a 22-250 or a 223, id use my 308 and wouldn't be needing to buy a new rifle right now lol.
So unfortunately I am stuck with .22 cal cartridges for now... Im not sure any manufacturer makes 22-250's with anything faster than a 1:12 because they don't want their rifles to be known as "barrel burners" That is my understanding anyway.
 
TacShooter said:
If I was able to use anything bigger than a .22 cal cartridge outside of deer and bear season here in NB, I wouldn't use a 22-250 or a 223, id use my 308 and wouldn't be needing to buy a new rifle right now lol.
So unfortunately I am stuck with .22 cal cartridges for now... Im not sure any manufacturer makes 22-250's with anything faster than a 1:12 because they don't want their rifles to be known as "barrel burners" That is my understanding anyway.
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I actually doubt it. I expect the twist rates offered are so they will shoot 50-55 grain bullets very well. They are the most commonly used, and manufacturers want to be known as "accurate" more than they are concerned about the very few owners who will ever actually shoot enough to "burn out" a barrel. Most of those guys will just buy another when they need one. Everyone wants to hit stuff.
 
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