H i everyone. I am looking for a gun that I can coyote hunt and deer hunt with. what is better 243 or a 22-250? I always thought a 22=250 was to small to deer hunt with, but I saw a guy shoot one this year and you could put a pop can in the hole. I am undecided. any advice will help. thanks
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243 vs 22-250
- Thread starter cozyc
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sumpnz
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For deer, check your local regs from G&F. Some state set minimum caliber for big game (e.g. deer) hunting, usually .243. If whitetails are the primary game you intend to go after, the .243 is an excellent choice. If coyotes are your main quary the 22-250 will work great.
The .22 centerfires are quite capable of killing deer, if you use the right bullet, but stepping up to .243 gives you more margin for error with the shot. I know some on this board use .223 for whitails quite successfully, though I would personally not choose to use that small of a caliber.
I would recommend you go with the .243, and get 70-85 grain varmint bullets for the coyotes, and 90-105 grain big game bullets for deer. If you don't want to have to change scope settings it is possible to get 85-87 grain bullets for both varmints and big game (just make sure you keep them seperate, using varmint bullets on deer will cause horrible surface wounds that will take a long time to kill the deer - probably from infection, and the big game bullets will likely overpenetrate a coyote).
The .22 centerfires are quite capable of killing deer, if you use the right bullet, but stepping up to .243 gives you more margin for error with the shot. I know some on this board use .223 for whitails quite successfully, though I would personally not choose to use that small of a caliber.
I would recommend you go with the .243, and get 70-85 grain varmint bullets for the coyotes, and 90-105 grain big game bullets for deer. If you don't want to have to change scope settings it is possible to get 85-87 grain bullets for both varmints and big game (just make sure you keep them seperate, using varmint bullets on deer will cause horrible surface wounds that will take a long time to kill the deer - probably from infection, and the big game bullets will likely overpenetrate a coyote).
ThreadKiller
Member
Can't beat a good .243.
Tim
Tim
Ben Shepherd
Member
If you are doing both with one rifle the .243 by far. Why? You can step down to a light varmit slug in 243, but you can't step up to a premium game bullet in 22-250.
Speer, Barnes and Nosler all make exellent deer slugs in 243.
22-250 just can't handle the slug weight required for reliably stopping larger animals. Most ammo makers recognize this, as there are very few 22-250 slugs designed for deep penetration, the're mostly designed to explode violenty and instantly.
Speer, Barnes and Nosler all make exellent deer slugs in 243.
22-250 just can't handle the slug weight required for reliably stopping larger animals. Most ammo makers recognize this, as there are very few 22-250 slugs designed for deep penetration, the're mostly designed to explode violenty and instantly.
Smoke
Member
As much as a love the .22-250 the 243 is more versatile if limited to one gun.
I have used the .22-250 to take a lot of deer and know many others that use it also. But our deer are small. I wouldn't shoot South Texas Whitetails, or those big Kansas Cornfield Bucks either with a .223 02 .22-250.
Know your gun, bullet and your own capabilities. Adjust accordingly.
Smoke
I have used the .22-250 to take a lot of deer and know many others that use it also. But our deer are small. I wouldn't shoot South Texas Whitetails, or those big Kansas Cornfield Bucks either with a .223 02 .22-250.
Know your gun, bullet and your own capabilities. Adjust accordingly.
Smoke
Definately the .243. You can Shoot 95gr Ballistic Tips for your Whitetail, and as low as 45gr for your Varmint needs. If it wasnt for my love of the .308, the .243 would most certianly be my caliber of choice as a Hunting/Varmint round.
artherd
member
If you handload, you can stuff 100gr bullets into .22-250 cases.
However, for factory-available ammunition, the .243 wins hands down.
THen again, .308 will be cheaper to shoot.
However, for factory-available ammunition, the .243 wins hands down.
THen again, .308 will be cheaper to shoot.
patentnonsense
Member
22-250, like 220 Swift, really is a varmit round (at least with factory ammo) - it will blow up and leave a huge crater, BUT it may be a huge shallow hole.
The spin rate of these is proportional to their high velocity, which is part of why the bullets blow up so quickly.
Do you want to risk sending a deer or coyote off to die slowly from a six inch flesh wound?
223 is slightly better than these high-velocity rounds, but 243 is much better. I'd claim it's irresponsible to hunt any animal over 20 pounds with a varmit round, even if your aim is very good - but whether or not you agree with that, 243 gives far more margin for error.
The spin rate of these is proportional to their high velocity, which is part of why the bullets blow up so quickly.
Do you want to risk sending a deer or coyote off to die slowly from a six inch flesh wound?
223 is slightly better than these high-velocity rounds, but 243 is much better. I'd claim it's irresponsible to hunt any animal over 20 pounds with a varmit round, even if your aim is very good - but whether or not you agree with that, 243 gives far more margin for error.
My brother hunts 'yotes with a .243 and smaller varmints with .223 or .22-250. I am sure he wouldn't have a problem hunting them with a .22 centerfire.
I know *this* guy hasn't a problem with it...
http://www.geocities.com/jnistett/RHINO2/Rhino_Calls.html
He's one of the foremost varminters in Arizona. I just saw his pre-production 'yote-callin' video last night.
I intend to use my Savage 10FP in .308 for everything, and I'm keeping it at 168 grains. I want to know my rifle. I don't need more variables than I already have.
Rick
I know *this* guy hasn't a problem with it...
http://www.geocities.com/jnistett/RHINO2/Rhino_Calls.html
He's one of the foremost varminters in Arizona. I just saw his pre-production 'yote-callin' video last night.
I intend to use my Savage 10FP in .308 for everything, and I'm keeping it at 168 grains. I want to know my rifle. I don't need more variables than I already have.
Rick
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