What is the max rang a .223 is good at for Varmint hunting

inukshuk

inukshuk

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I'd like to know how far a good .223 bedded with pillars and good factory ammo can make a clean kill on varmints. This question is besides shooter skill.
I've been thinking of getting a CZ 527 Varmint in .223 with a Bushnell Elite 4200 Tactical scope, But need to know if this caliber is okay and it's max efficient range.
I initially wanted the 22-250, but that's changed.




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define varmint

for gophers, a 1-12 twist 223 is more limited in range by wind than it is in power

for coyotes I wouldnt push it much past 350-400 yards. For wolves, probably 300 yards with good soft points
 
depends how good a shot you are ;)

I think 400 would be pushing it, especially if there's even the gentlest of breezes. 250-300 should be easily doable.

Get a fast twist with 75gr AMAXs and 1000 becomes within the capabilities of the cartridge
 
Oh, and the 22-250 doesn't really buy you a lot more range, maybe 50-75 yards before drift starts to kill ya. It only takes 2" of drift to change a 'hit' on a gopher to a miss
 
prosper said:
Oh, and the 22-250 doesn't really buy you a lot more range, maybe 50-75 yards before drift starts to kill ya. It only takes 2" of drift to change a 'hit' on a gopher to a miss
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Interesting on the 22-250. So for the rang difference plus ammo costs availability and barrel life it would seam that I'm still better off with the .223 I figure I'll shoot around 1,000 rounds a year at least, maybe more.

Todbartell
Small game would be for rabbit, fox, geese
 
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the Winchester USA 45 grain hollowpoint, in the 40 round boxes, is great ammo for the price. I havent seen a gun in 223 or 22-250 yet that doesnt shoot it well
 
223 has a great selection of ammo, and is inexpensive to shoot. Plenty of power to drop a coyote in it's tracks over 300 with 50 or 55 grain bullets, so for the game you listed it won't have any problem.
 
prosper said:
depends how good a shot you are ;)

I think 400 would be pushing it, especially if there's even the gentlest of breezes. 250-300 should be easily doable.

Get a fast twist with 75gr AMAXs and 1000 becomes within the capabilities of the cartridge
Click to expand...

Bingo! With a Savage 12FV (1 in 9 twist) and the 75 grain Amax's I was hitting a 2 liter pop bottle target at 1000 meters. With alarming regularity...

Troutseeker
 
.223

I concur with the 1000 yd pop bottle thread.
I know that here in Saskatoon there is a group of guys that go to the LOOOOOng range and compete with each other shooting nothing but .223's at 1,000yds!

Especially if they are trully Varmints!
 
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