.223 vs .22-250 for coyotes and targets

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G P

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Was thinking of getting a bolt action gun for coyote hunting in open areas. I would probably also use it for 200 yard target shooting (for fun, not competitive or anything). So how does the .223 compare to the .22-250?

More specifically:

How do the bullets compare in price?
Which has a flatter trajectory?
 
It terms of trajectory, they are very similar. If you reload, and can really minimize the difference. In terms of availability, I am fairly certain that .223 is more widely available than 22-250.

Although I decided on 22-250 for my yote gun, if I could go back, I would probably choose .223. The 223 has a little less recoil --> still spot the shots easily through a scope during target shooting. Plus, unless you certain to be baggin coyotes from 300 yards+, the 22-250 may not be required.

Cheers
 
There's got to a dozen threads on making this choice, you can also check predatorhuntcanada, a great site for coyote hunters. I had the same problem last year and after looking at everything I decided on a 22-250, nothing against the .223 but you may have problems getting cheap ammo if the U.S. embargo goes through. For me it boiled down to the 22-250 just shoots flatter, harder and faster.
 
Out to 250 yards, the .223 is the clear winner for me. In fact my favorite 'yote caliber out to 250 yards is a .222 remington.

I shot a 22-250 for years after selling my .223 and .222. I believed the hype. Not one single coyote was killed any quicker with the 22-250 than it was with a .223 or a .222.

When a .224 bullet goes through a coyotes heart (with the right bullet), the coyote does not know what caliber it was shot from, it just dies. A 22-250 hits at about 400-500 fps faster than a .223. Thats only about 15% faster at best.


One point I'd like to make: A lot of people think they are shooting out to 300 yards, when in fact they are shooting closer to 200 yards. I've seen it over and over agin. The .222 or .223 is more than capable at that range.
 
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For barrel life, cheaper ammo etc, I'd go with .223 . As long as you have brass, even if they do ban the export of .223 from the U.S., you can always reload, and it is less powder than the 22.250.
 
The 223 with 75gr VLD or Sirocco 75gr with lots of VT 540 or RL 15 would be pretty deadly on coyotes, 400y+ I would sooner use the 223 with 1/9 twist with the above loads.
than a 22/250 with 55gr bullets in a 1/14 twist
And the 22/250 with slow twist is no match for a 223 and 75gr VLD bergers at the long distances target shooting to 1000y.
but in saying this I am looking forward to see how friends 22/250 shoots witha 1/8twist he is having built,with big bullets should be pretty awsome ?
 
I've got both, love both calibers. If the area I'm hunting precludes long range shots, I'll generally stick with the .223, but if I'm hitting the barrens and big bogs/mashes, I usually opt for the .22-250 as it offers longer range and I generally have better luck shooting it in high winds more accurately and anyone who hunts Newfoundland, high winds=99% of the time!:)
 
X-man said:
I've got both, love both calibers. If the area I'm hunting precludes long range shots, I'll generally stick with the .223, but if I'm hitting the barrens and big bogs/mashes, I usually opt for the .22-250 as it offers longer range and I generally have better luck shooting it in high winds more accurately and anyone who hunts Newfoundland, high winds=99% of the time!:)
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A .223 with 75 grain bullets will crush a 22-250 with a 50ish grain bullet in bucking the wind.

Many .223s come with a 1/9 twist unlike almost every 22-250 I have ever seen.
 
22-250 all the way if you are shooting yotes at any great distance 300+. I have no issues with mine and would not thing twice about buying another 22-250.
 
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