.22-250?

[VetteV12]

I have a few questions.

1)How fast will it "burn the barrel out"?
2)What is a good grian bullet for a 1:12 twist on a 26" barrel?
3)What's the price difference from a .223?
4)Would you choose a .22-250 over a .223 for all round varmint hunting (close and long range, mainly yote's, rabit, and squirle)?

 

[RugerOldArmy]

1) It depends on how hot and dirty you let the barrel get. Some say that pushing 40 Gr bullets fast (3900+fps) wears the barrel faster than, say 55 Gr bullets (perhaps 3650 fps). You could get primo accuracy until 2000-ish rounds. Then again, you might as well bite the bullet (so to speak) and just consider barrels like tires...wear items to be replaced. Let the barrel grow cherry red hot, and expect the barrel to shoot well 1200-1500.

2) 1-12"? 60 Gr V-Max, but try 50-55 Vmax and 50 Gr Nosler Ballistic tips (or Sierra Blitzkings) too. 60 Gr VMax might be one of the larger varmint bullets well suited for that twist.

3) Factory, dunno. .223 factory ammo price has gone up dramatically lately, I don'e know where they landed (Check Midway/Natchez etc. current prices). I reload, so it's not much at all...the incremental amount of powder...10-ish grains. The bullets are the same size, and the initial brass isn't that much more for .22-250

4) For range and trajectory, .22-250. .223 Rem has one very nice trait: The recoil is just low enough that you see hits through the scope. .22-250 has more reach and power. .223 Rem generates less heat in the barrel than .22-250.

 

[MinnMooney]

1.) Depends on how hot your loads are and if you properly clean and break-in your barrel. .22-250 is not known as a "barrel burner" and should give you 2000 to ?___ rounds of accurate shooting.

2.) 40gr - 55gr is excellent fodder for 1:12" twist. I just loaded some 69gr Sierra Match bullets to test the old adage that 1:12 isn't enough to stabilize anything over 60-65gr. They're right! The 69gr bullet punched oblong holes in the paper and turned my 3/4 MOA gun into a 3-4 MOA scattergun.

3.) The "Price difference". Are you talking about the ammo cost or the rifle? Since the rifles are about the same price I'm thinking that you're asking about ammo.
You can buy or reload .223Rem for about 2/3 the price of .22-250. Milsurp ammo is still far cheaper than any .22-250 ammo out there (Wolf Gold .22-250 can be found for a pretty reasonable price but it's still dbl that of the Milsurp stuff for The Ammo Man and others.
Reloading get the costs much closer but .223 brass can be found cheaper and you'd only use 2/3 of the powder, also.

4.) Which cartridge for "all-around" is a personal question that only you can answer. I say that because they are both great calibers and each has it's stong points and it's weaknesses.
.223Rem is cheaper but totally adaquate for any of the varmints that you mentioned (with the correct bullet). It'll take critters out to 250yds for the bigger preditors like 'yotes and even 350 yds for the small stuff.
.22-250 shines at 200yds to as far as you are accurate. I take P.D's at 700+yds so far and it'll also be OK for Pronghorns at closer ranges. In other words, it'll do everything that the .223 will do but it'll do it better and at 50% farther out.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I couldn't choose so I bought & shoot both calibers (plus a .204Ruger).

 

[HOLY DIVER]

after 10 shots or so let the barrel cool it will last a lifetime
shoot it 100rd with out rest yea you might hurt the barrel

 

[lencac]

I think the cost difference is negligable when you handload and that is the only way to go for obvious reasons. If you are serious ... handload! I have had a Remington 700 22-250 that I bought new. I shot HOT handloads out of it, in the 4000fps range with 55gr bullets ... the barrel throat started to go south after about 200 rds. Was still reasonably accurate though. I have a Remington 40X 22-250 that was made in 1964. It has a lot of rounds through it. 52 and 55 gr. bullets work the best and are deadly accurate at between 3500 fps and 3600 fps. The barrel still looks fine. I clean it after no more than 10 rds. though. So lifespan depends entirely on how it is used.
To compare .223 and 22-250. Let's just say the .223 is a great round ...... the 22-250 is a spectacular round!
The target was at 100 yrds off the bench.

 

[Shawnee]

They are both very good varmint/target calibers.

And - where legal - they can both take deer quite well IF you are a good and patient shot.

Find the rifle model that fits you like a glove and if it comes in .223 - buy it. If it comes in .22/250 - buy it. If it comes in BOTH calibers - flip a coin and then go have fun with it.

 

[ForneyRider]

Since it is NATO round, .223 can get bulk ammo. Harder to find bulk-ammo in .22-250.

Same bullets.

My dad shoots 50gr in .22-250. But I think 55gr is more common.
~4000fps for 40gr .22-250.
~3850fps for 50gr .22-250.
~3600fps for 55gr .22-250

Rifles are the same price.

.22-250, .223 are common varmint rifle calibers.

If you get AR-type varmint gun, .223 is easy winner.

For a bolt-action, heavy barrel varmint rig, .22-250 has more case capacity.

Remington 700 SPS varmint(low end), 700 VLS(mid-range) are very nice, accurate rifles.

 

[rcmodel]

Either caliber is a little much for rabbits & squirrels if you plan on eating them, as you should!
They are not exactly vermin in most game-law regs.

The 22-250 is THE Coyote Rifle for me.
And I've tried a lot of others over the last 50 years.

The .223 is much cheaper shooting, but doesn't perform nearly as well on long-range Kansas coyotes.


rcmodel

 

[Fburgtx]

Here is an interesting study that Browning did on barrel life of 22-250 (vs. 223 WSSM).

http://www.browning.com/products/features/detail.asp?id=79

 

[VetteV12]

Thanks guys, I will be ordering a 22-250 shortly (waiting on tax money ) and possibly reloading stuff. What would be a good beginner's press and loading manual/everything else I need. Sorry for the newb questions, I'm just now really starting to get into coyote hunting. Before I used my 10/22, great gun just not so good for thoughs long kills.

Thanks agian guys!

 

[Tim Galyean]

I call bull on the Browning chart. I have about 2,000 rds. through my 700 and it is still a tack driver. I am not the best at letting her cool down in a target rich enviroment either. I have only shot factory rds through it at this point.

 

[LongRangeInternational]

The 22-250 is golden standard for coyote hunting. The .17HMR is better for getting rabbit and squirrel if you want some meat left

I've never seen a 22-250 that couldn't shoot.

 

[lencac]

I agree, 22.250 works great on coyotes ........... if you can get close enough. On the eastern plains of Colorado this is not possible most of the time as the coyotes are smart. A good shot on a coyote is a 1/4 mile or more. The first pic gives you an idea of the lay of the land, the second pic shows you what kind of forepower is needed.

 

[LongRangeInternational]

Good point, lencac. That's when you get into the 25-06 and up calibers. The wind in the West is no joke. Also, the coyotes are smart.