Which rifle and cal. 22-250 or 223

[jbs606]

I am looking to buy a new rifle to be used at the range. I live in Ohio so I will not be hunting with it, but I would like to some day. The range I belong to has a 600 yard range, but mostly will be shooting 200. I have looked at Savage 12fv. That is the only one I have looked at so far. Does anybody have some thought on other gun's or is this the one I should get? Would Like some input on the right kind of scope also.
I do my own reloading for the other rifles I have. And I will be loading for this one when I get one. As for cost I can go as high as needed with in reason.
Thank to all who reply.
JBS

 

[ArmandTanzarian]

The Savage 12 is a great choice

As for caliber, definitely the .223 rem. You said maybe hunting someday. That Savage of new manufacture should have a 1 in 9" twist, which will handle heavy bullets up to 68 or maybe even 75 gr, which is much better on game than the light-ish bullets up to 55 gr stabilized by the twist rates on .22-250s (1 in 12 to 1 in 14). Kind of odd that it turned out this way, but it did because the sporting rifle makers found a demand for the tighter twist in .223s once the heavier ammo hit the shelves, as a result of all the ARs out there.

 

[pete f]

I would say .223 at this point as well. Ammo is much less expensive. The caliber is much easier on the bore than 22- 250. With a modern fast twist barrel it will stabilze the heavier bullets better for trying out that six hundred yard range. It has be my experience that most 22 250's are set up with slower twist and made more for firing lighter bullets at war speed to just disintegrate PD's. mine are all over 1-10 with 1-12 being the most common.

The savage rifles have a well deserved rep for outstanding accuracy above all relation to the their cost.

This is a good set up for learning about .22 centerfires.

 

[dfaugh]

I've been looking at the same gun, but I'ved decided on the .22-250...

Because, it's easy to switch barrels on the Savages (with some basic tools, and a set of headspace gauges) and the .22-250 uses the same bolt face as .243 or .308 for example. (although I'm told you can change the "head?" of the bolt easily, for other case head dimensions.) While I'll shoot more at the range with it, I'll probably do some coyote hunting as well, and the .22-250 has a bit more "oomph". Barrel life may be shorter, but we're still talking 3000-4000 rounds before accuracy drops off. More if you handload "reasonable" loads for the range. And, again, its easy and cheap to swap barrels, when needed.

edited to add: I'll probably go with a Barska variable scope (6-30x)...yes they're cheap, but I know someone who has one and its actually quite nice, and he's very happy with it.