Hi all I'm looking at getting a new rifle for pests I can't make my mind up between a 223 or a 22-250 what's your thoughts
Printable View
Hi all I'm looking at getting a new rifle for pests I can't make my mind up between a 223 or a 22-250 what's your thoughts
223 is cheap as with steel case ammo being 75c ish per round
Just for shooting things with.. 223 is perfect for the job of knocking over pests. Rabbits through to roos and goats.
If you're wanting to be pushing the limits for that class of rifle, either distance or animal size, then perhaps the 22-250 might be worth a look, but for every other use, 223 is great.
Cheaper ammo and will be quieter than 22-250 which is a noisy wee round.
22-250. Sex on bread mate.
I know the 223 makes more sense economically and will do everything that you require, but I have always had a soft spot for the 22 Varminter.
Go 22-250 and watch the rabbits get some 'hang time'
yer thats what im leaning towards as well i reload so im not to worried about ammo.
What the hell, I'll say it, for varminting I like the 204. 4000fps+ and less barrel burn than a 22/250. In saying that I do have a new 22/250 Howa barrelled action here somewhere.......
IIRC the main drawback with the 22-250 is that most of them have a slow twist rate (1:14?) which won't stabilise the heavier projectiles which would be best for longer range. Never owned one myself, just passing on what I've heard. Had a 204 and now 223, both are fun but the 223 is definitely more versatile if you want to shoot bigger pests as well.
There are sum 22-250 now aviable with 1-10 twist from browning and savage, and several others in 1-12, if you are looking at the 22-250 try get one with either 1-10 or 1-12 twist as you can run 60-65 gr in 1-12 and 75-80gr in 1-10 makes a much more flexable rifle.
Had both, all sold now, but looking hard at buying a cooper, in either a fast twist 22-250 or a 6x45. (6mm 223)
22-250 is noisy, ammo is more expensive, but it hits harder, shoot's flatter and has more energy, I like it,
For small game I would go .223, but if you might go up to deer or pigs, or longer range, say 300m plus, the 22-250 would be a better choice.
I am on my second 22-250 (therein lies an issue, the first rifle's barrel was toasted). I dearly love the 22-250, it has the bling factor for sure. I also have a very nice CZ fast twist 223. If I was staring out again it would be the 223 hands down. The 22-250 burns a shit load more powder than the 223 for no substantial gain, burns barrels, mine is limited by a slow twist to lighter projectiles (although this was never an issue for me as mine happily killed many deer, pigs, goats, magpies, minah birds, the odd wild cattle beast), has a very harsh muzzle crack. Also generally the resale on them is poor. Take a look in any gun shop and play spot the 22-250 - if there is one on the shelf there will be several 223s keeping it company.
Depends what other cals you have. No point pissing around with a 22-250 if you already have something capable of taking deer etc
I have a factory remington sps stainless syn in 22-250 here for sale
Comes with load developed ammo, 55g gamekings
$700
What is your max range and what will you be "taking out"? Do you need fast follow ups?
Never had a 22-250, but like my 223.
No recoil, quiet, kills fallow deer and goats no problem (never tried long range on them).
Only problem is my son it more.
If it's purely for varmints, eg. goats and smaller, I'd go for a .204 Ruger or 223.
204 is an awesome round, turns varmint inside out. With less noise, barrel wear and is cheaper to reload than 22-250 with more than enough performance to take varmint at the same ranges as 22-250.
As others have said, 22-250s usually come with a slow twist that limits you to light weight bullets when reloading, but this may or may not matter for you.
223 may not best the best performer, but is a good all rounder. Good factory ammo can be had for cheap, is easy to reload and you will never struggle to get brass for it.
Generally comes in something around a 1:8 or 1:9 twist, which you can use heavier bullets with.
I would go for 204 Ruger if it was just for small pests, but 223 if there was a chance you would want to shoot goats/pigs/deer with it.
How true. Few years back saw my neighbour getting romanced by her now husband.He took her out rabbit shooting with a hot fat bum[aka 22-250].We were there. She squealed heaps of times as the rabbits exploded into red mist.Truly very funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by 300_BLK
I had a nice 22-250 , 30yrs ago , sold it , I would say go 223 or if more range is needed , go a 243
I have owned a couple of 22-250,s and one 223 and for what i use it for the 223 ticks all and more boxes than the 22-250
22 250 ticks more boxes, its the WSM of the 22 cals ! Will cover a greater range of animal targets than the 223. Heaps of the old deer meat hunters used to take out reds and waps. Neither a 223 or a 22 250 is a long range rifle imho. But out to 250 - 300 yrds the 22-250 is a good bet in 22 cal. Yes, a 243 or 2506 would be even better if you want to cover larger deer.
I have the tikka varmint 22-250 and love it!
I shoot the 52 amax out to 300 with good success on magpies and other various varmints
I would dearly love to get the 223 1in 8 twist and ream it to 22-250 and shoot the 80 grain amax.
That would be a serious bif of kit!
He did say he wanted it for pests. The 223 is the better choice I recken due to the fact it do the job just fine with less expense, less noise, better barrel life and with reloads can still have a good range.(but if the 22 250 is your fancy you extend your range ) The better choice for larger game is neither, 243 and up has to be the better choice for that. Horses for courses, pests what hes looking at and the 223, 22 250 is ideal and a few other smaller cals.Quote:
Originally Posted by southernman
Rather have a .243 than 22-250, .243 will drive 58gn Vmax at well over 3600 for pesty critters, and you can load it with proper deer bullets for bigger stuff.
Have just acquired a 223, one of the Sako copy wee Mini Howas with the 10 shot mag, neat little gun and better than you might expect from Howa.
I was keen on a mini howa .223 but I dont want a mag on it. Do you know if they have a internal mag you could get for them?
YesQuote:
Originally Posted by Toby
Where abouts? I cant find them
Dunno. The one I had had both plastic ten shot mags and floor plate bottom metal
Was it the mini action? I thought these had just come out
I see howa also makes alpine rifle too
Oh no maybe not mini action.
Pretty sure it is mag only, Robbie and I were fooling about with the mag to see if it was viable to make a nice job of trimming it to 5 and make it flush, quite doable but am leaving mine as a ten, being a 223, if I come across a deer, guess I'll have to empty the whole mag at it just to make sure.......Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
Worth noting if you get one, use a die grinder in the back of the action to help the mag seat up better, trim the mag release lever, it is too long and catches real easy to drop the mag, and put in a stronger lever spring as insurance against dropping the mag, cause it is going to happen if you don't!
Will bed real nice too, nice and flat, maori bedding should do it :araldite and wax, job done!
While the action is really short, there is just enough room to turn it into 22-250, 762x39 or a 6.8 if that took your fancy, but a 223 with 53gnTTSX or 60gn Partition should be fine if chasing bigger stuff than magpies. This one is gonna get fed Hornady 55gn spires, cause I f*!%n hate magpies!
well im now looking at a 204 thanks guys.
Might have something for you.
Pm me