22-250 VS .243

[xring44]

The wind drift equasion, hummm, I've shot a considerable number of both in the prarrie dog towns. To better the 55 grain bullets in the .22-250 with a .243, you have to go to the slower heavier bullets, ie: 68/70 grainers, this means more time in flight and in my humble opinion, its hard to realize a gain in accuracy due to wind drift. This is not what the books say, but what my experience has been. I love both cartridges, possibly favor the .243 by a slight margin. Either will serve you well in the role you stated. Flip a coin, either way you win.

 

[viking499]

I had a 22-250 until I got my 243. Have not missed the 250 yet. I like the 243 because it is more versatile for what I like to do. But if I was only shooting paper and dogs, I would probably go with the 250 over the 243........

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I dunno. Tough call. I lean toward the .243 win. Don't kid yourself - with 55 grainers, .243 will push 4200+ fps screamers out that match or exceed .22-250 velocities. This with, oddly enough, better BCs, IIRC. So the .243 is definitely a superior ballistic round for *very very long* shots and/or in *high wind*. But if all your shots are 300 yards or less, it doesn't matter, in which case the .22-250 will work fine/great. Yes it uses lower BC bullets that bleed energy much quicker, but they're going so fast that this doesn't matter until past 300 or more yards. So then you can use .22-250 which as mentioned has the advantages of (a) cheap WWB factory ammo, and (b) less recoil, and (c) someone said handloads are less finicky to find good ones - I don't know this myself to be true, but I can't argue with the man's experience, so let's chalk that up as an advantage also. Flip a coin. Really, the bottom line is probably this:

-If your "varmint" is a coyote, AND you might take 300+ yard shots in the wind, then go with .243.
-OTOH, if your varmint is P-dogs and such -- OR - if your varmint is p-dogs plus yotes, but you won't be taking any super long shots, then .22-250 is superior.

We threw 6mm Rem into the mix above. Can anyone compare .22-250 and .204 ruger? 'Bout the same abuse to your barrel?

 

[Master of Arms]

Which will have a longer barrel life all things being equal(no hot loads)

That would be according to what type of barrel is used and from what company.

Which round is better for accuracy at distances beyond 400yds

Both will get the job done but you can check the ballistics at one of the ballistic charts on the net.

Which has the flatter trajectory or is there a difference

Again, check a ballistic chart.

Would recoil be noticably different between the two when shouldering a 10 pound varmint gun

That would be according to the load that you used in either rifle.

would re-loading costs be significantly different

Close to equal but again its according to the loads.

Try to gather such information from the net because its out there. Both would be exceptional varmit rifles. If I had to choose between the two it would be the 22-250 because it`s naturally more suited for such game.

 

[Art Eatman]

Six of one, half-dozen of the other. I've messed with both cartridges.

Equal accuracy potential. Pretty much equal ruination inside a critter, generally. By and large, not enough difference in trajectory to have any meaning.

I've loaded more for my .243 than for the .22-250s I've had. Most of the loads have been right at max. So far, no degradation in group size at all. With fresh ammo, the last time out with my pet coyote/deer load, I put three behind a dime. Groups nicely with the 55-grain bullets, which is sorta hard on prairie dogs to 300 yards or so.

But I'd figure that a .22-250 would do pretty much the same thing...

 

[Firepower!]

Definately .243 Win. It is more varsitle and with flater tragectory.

 

[mthiwal]

22 250 vs 243

I own a Sako Varmint III 22 250, a Ruger 77 6mm and a Browning B78 25 06. All are great varmint guns but I enjoy shooting the B78 best. Do you really need more then one shot? Actually the 6mm suits me best for varmints. I use the 25 06 for Antalope. All three have Nikon Monarch 3-12 BDC scopes (got a good buy). Honestly if I sold the guns the 6mm would be the last one I would sell. It does the job of both the lighter 22 250 and the heaver 25 06. I have never really considered a 243. I know some will say the 243 is all you need but I don't agree. I have never been a "one gun fits all" person. Hey, I am also on my third wife. Variety is the spice of life. Shoot what makes you happy, mthiwal

 

[dennisH87]

i dont know much about .243's but i own a .22-250 that i reload for. @ 100 yards it shoots 1 hole groups. with a 200 yd zero i aim at top of a ground hogs back when its at 300 and it hits dead center. i think both have about the same trajectory from looking at traj. charts.

 

[jwkeene]

The 22-250 won't beat you up as much during a long day's shooting. Either makes a very capable long range varmit rifle. If you are going to use it as a hunting rifle the 243 is superior.

Jim

 

[dennisH87]

another thing is the that .243 is MUCH louder, at least in my experiences. the .22-250 is still really loud but you can shoot it when coyote hunting as long as you dont take more then one shot your ears wont be ringing.

 

[MinnMooney]

Comparison :

Caliber Bbl. Life Accuracy Traj. Recoil Cost B.R. Varmint

.22-250 Long* Excellent Flat V. Lt. 1** Fair*** GREAT
.243Win. Long* Excellent Flat Lt. 2** V.Good V.Good






* with cool to moderate loads - many 1000's of rds.
** On a 1 to 10 scale, 1 being cheap. Many sources, mass production of components.
*** Bullets are too light for any breeze at 400 yds.



I shoot in the F-Class 300m compitition on a regular basis so I see these two all the time. I shoot .22-250 (53 Sierra M.K.) on calm - slt. breezy days but I have to switch to my .243Win with 90gr- 105gr. bullets on the windy days.

Varmints cover a broad area. If you're talkin' Prairie Dogs then the .22-250 is much better. Smaller bullets and a little less recoil - and after 500 shots, recoil makes a huge difference! 'Yotes require the heavier bullets of the .243 unless they can be taken at under 250 yds., then either will work. You can certainly HIT them @ 250 - 500 yds. with the .22-250 but the remaining energy is pretty small for a 40 lb. animal.

 

[BIGR]

For varmits go with the 22-250.

 

[Neckshot5seven]

.243 !! It will retain more energy over longer distance and has a slight advantage bucking the wind. You can also shoot 100 grain bullets. Which will take most North American Game

 

[browningguy]

I use a Savage 12 FV in .243, better long range, about equal in short range, possibly a little more recoil but you can't really tell in a 10 pound+ rifle. Barrel life should be a little better in the .243.

I like it better because it does everything the 22-250 does, but with better downrange performance and much less wind drift. I shoot 70 gr. BT's in mine out to 300-400 yards, then 85 SMK's and 100's out to 600+.

 

[eliphalet]

You ask five questions I would say,

1, not enough to matter

2,beyond 400 the 243

3, to 400, not enough to matter.

4, no

5, bulk 22 caliber bullets can be bought at a considerable saving over what I have been able to find in 24 caliber or 6mm.

 

[Cu-Melter]

When someone asks me for a very-long-range varmint rig....
I always suggest the .243 Winchester.

But its all about Ballistic Coefficients...not just speed alone.
The .243 -in standard twist- will handle the long ranges much better. To match this w/the 22-250, you need a 1:8 twist rate using the 80 grain custom bullets (read expensive)....
A varmint rig chambered in 243 using 75-80 grainers will easily get the work done for less money. And the 243 isn't hard to make accurate from a reloading point....which is half the game that I'm bringing to the question.

Happy Hunting!