I have my rifle round choice narrowed down to the .22-250 or .25-06

[tahoe2]

Hands down 25-06; given your two choices. Just my opinion.

 

[BullfrogKen]

That 22-250 barrel is going to wear out a whole bunch faster. And if you're worried about component availability, a 22 caliber rifle needs 22 caliber bullets. Just because you're making the decision to not get trapped into. 223 cases you'll still be at the mercy of the bullets. Cases are reusable, bullets are not. I don't see you solving your concerns with availability by still using .22 caliber bullets.

 

[Takem406]

Both are excellent chioces, the .25 will kick a lot more. Make sure that the bullet you use on deer is a game bullet. You might also look at a .243. If availability is an issue, most places still have .243 bullets and ammo in stock.

My favorite rounds are the 22-250 and the 243. The 243 bucks the wind better and is better on deer at range.
However MY 22-250 has killed several deer inside 250 yards;-) Use a Barnes 50 grain bullet! Perfect for deer!

My 22-250 is a one hole shooter. Killed priare dogs out to over 500 yards.

It's fun and cheap to load.



In God and Glock we Trust

 

[CarolinaChuck]

270 Win... Enough said,
CC

 

[Jason_W]

A lot of good input here. Thanks, everyone.

 

[Sav .250]

Is a 22-250 legal to hunt deer with in your state?

The 25-06 is a great round/cal. Can`t go wrong with it.

 

[Hokkmike]

The 25-.06 is unnecessarily LOUD. The 22.-250 is a great longer range varmint type cartridge. Neither seems particularly suited to the type of shooting you expressed. Given the choice of the both, for your applied purpose, I would go with the latter... Best of luck in your decision.

Maybe the .223 thing was a hint?

 

[Jason_W]

Is a 22-250 legal to hunt deer with in your state?

Yes. Insanely, the minimum for deer here is the .22 WMR.

 

[Manny]

The new premium bullets such as the Barnes TSX have made the .22 bore into a very viable round for deer hunting and are made in light enough weights to work with standard .22-250 rifling twists. A faster rifling twist than the standard 1/14 or 1/12 such as a 1/9 will allow for shooting heavier bullets as well which would help with longer range ballistics and would give an edge for hunting deer size game. I've often thought about getting an even faster twist such as a 1/7 strictly for the 70gr Barnes TSX, which I found still on the shelf at a number of places during this last panic, and other super heavy bullets for a long range rifle that would still have light recoil.

ER Shaw offers a reasonably priced rifle based on a Savage action and will put faster twist barrels on as well as wildcat chamberings etc.. If you haven't already decided on a rifle. The new Ruger American is also now available in .22-250 with a 1/10 twist which would be interesting to try. The larger bore versions have been getting very good reviews for accuracy and the rifle is trim and light. I think it would have the makings a a superb light hunting/walking varminter rifle. The cost on the Americans is low enough that I've been giving some real thought to getting one to try myself for just such a use.

As long as it's legal to use where you hunt, you exercise discretion in placing your shots and use a well constructed bullet appropriate for the task the .22-250 ought to do alright for the deer part of your requirements. With a faster twist barrel I think it would be a usefull and interesting rifle.

 

[WVRJ]

I have killed deer with both rounds,but the 22-250 is marginal.Shots would have to be carefully taken at moderate ranges with good hunting bullets.Nosler's Partition is a good choice,if you can find them.The 25 is better suited for deer.I would look hard at splitting the difference and go for a 243.

 

[Jason_W]

In my area, ultra long range capability isn't much of a concern. Unless you happen to have a section of powerline to hunt or are on good terms with a farmer, long range situations are few and far between. Even clear cut sections of woods often have enough low, thick, brush to limit visibility to 100 yards or less.

I though the idea of a light-kicking, very high velocity round for ultra-precision shooting would be interesting. basically, something accurate enough to allow me to decide which individual hair I want to hit at ranges of less than 100 yards.

This mythical rifle would be a sitting still kind of gun, so weight isn't an issue. It's just an idea, anyway. By the time I have enough money saved to do anything, I may have already changed my mind a dozen times.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Then even better 260 rem or 6.5x55. Lots of bullets available for 6.5. Very low recoil and inherently accurate rounds.

 

[Geno]

This is a good thread, and relevant to what I did over the past few years: trying to ammo-shortage-safeguard myself. I finally ended up with rifles chambered in calibers .224, .243, .277 and .308. I always can locate something to shoot bambi with in either .223, 5.56, .22-250, .243, 270, 308 or .300WM. If I run out of those, I have my .45 ACP and my 10mm Auto, 12 gauge and a bow and arrow. In matters of emergency, I can use my mother-in-law's photo, though I usually reserve that as an alternative for bear repellent.

Art is absolutely correct. Ballisticians have earned their pay in recent years, having designed projectiles in about every caliber that can reliably harvest whitetailed deer. The real solution to your quandary is not which to purchase, but what rifling twist to purchase. Then, you know what caliber and weight of projectile to purchase, be wise: purchase a bit more than enough, meaning to get some reloading supplies set aside to rainy days.

So, buy whichever you like, and enjoy it.

Geno

 

[Jason_W]

I'm afraid I may have missed the boat on purchasing a rainy day supply of everything except for 12 ga. supplies. I have plenty of stuff for that including molds to cast my own slugs.

 

[Geno]

Oh no, I mean in the future. Not now. This whole current mess will for fact clear eventually. People will see it has been largely self-created, and prices will drop. Hoarders and flippers will let loose and supply will stabilize.

What I meant was, every month or so, and depending on how much you shoot, make regular purchases. If you shoot a box of 100 projectiles per month, buy two and set one aside. Instead of buying 1 pound of powder and 100 primers, buy 2 pounds and 200 primers. Set them aside. On some regular interval, make smaller on-going purchases. That is what I have done.

Another thing to look at is what caliber you purchase has availability of "bulk" projectiles. That typically is .224, .243, .308. I have never seen bulk ammo, or bulk projectiles for .257 caliber. Regardless, I still say get what floats your boat and enjoy the Hades out of it. You live once. I don't mind an ugly dog, an ugly horse, an ugly mother-in-law, or even a cheap bed. But I'll be darned if I'll smoke a cheap cigar, drink cheap beer, or own a firearm I don't like. It's unAmerican!!

Geno

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I ended up where you were. I bought my 25/06's first and then picked up a 22/250 once I realized I was a bit "overbore" for plinking on dogs at 100 to 250 yrds. Beyond that, the 25/06 handles the wind better.

Good choices. I agree which is why I bought them also.

 

[mljdeckard]

I got a 22-250 SPECIFICALLY for coyotes. I already had rifles for deer. If I wanted one for both, I would probably stick with .243.

 

[Jason_W]

It's looking as though a 24" barrel is needed to make the .22-250 really shine.

Howa makes some 20" heavy barrel models, but I would think that out of a 20" barrel, the .22-250 would basically be ballistically identical to a .223. I couldn't find any numbers to confirm or debunk this supposition.

 

[mljdeckard]

I inherited a 26" 22-250. I know of shorter ones, and I think that it reflects back to when ARs were not in common use. It wasn't a requirement to out-perform a .223 because there weren't as many of them at the time.

 

[Sniper66]

As many others have said, the 25-06 is a better deer cartridge. I think the 22-250 will be your best long range target rifle. I've been able to find most of the .22 caliber bullets I need. Just stay alert and look around, you can find most of what you need.

 

[Certaindeaf]

As many others have said, the 25-06 is a better deer cartridge. I think the 22-250 will be your best long range target rifle. I've been able to find most of the .22 caliber bullets I need. Just stay alert and look around, you can find most of what you need.

I could be wrong with memory or amendments but I don't think the OP has said or responded to my query as to his paper punching range.

 

[Jason_W]

Paper punching: All I have access to are 100 yard ranges.

It would be nice to find a place to try shooting at longer distances, but, this is New England.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Get a couple rifles.. maybe a .22lr and then a deer gun.

 

[Fleetman]

I vote for the .25-06.....I target shoot with mine a LOT and I don't find the recoil troublesome at all. Plus, brass can be found at ANY target range.....not something you can say about the .22-250 or .243.

I have to reel my targets in sometimes to make sure I'm not missing them only to find a slight cloverleaf where all of the bullets are striking the same place....mine is a Marlin XL7 with a Boyds stock and a Carter Country 24x scope.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I vote for the .25-06.....I target shoot with mine a LOT and I don't find the recoil troublesome at all. Plus, brass can be found at ANY target range.....not something you can say about the .22-250 or .243..

Well I don't know about that.. the parent case for those is the .308.. run it up the die hole.