Which would you choose?

1 .222

2. 22-250

3. 6.5 PRC

thanks,

Mike

If those were my only ones to choose from I would take the 22-250 first and the 222 second.

Not much of a choice really as they all are for some thing different I feel.

Al

My list would go 220 Swift for distance.

243 to buck winds over 10 MPH.
7MM-08 for winds over 20MPH and bigger varmints like white tail deer.


Al

I would pick the 22-250.

Unless.

But what 22-250 is kind of the question.

What varmints?

What rifle is it? How is it set up?

My 223 is a 700 Varmint in a Magpul stock with a 30mm 6-24x56 on it. I think it weighs 11 pounds. Pretty nice rifle for shooting a lot of prairie dogs, or sitting in a coyote stand.

22-250

Unless you want to reconsider then the 223

Not much in choices there. Is this based on what you would like, but can’t make a decision?

204 Ruger as it is the flattest bullet to 500 yds and has less drop than all listed. I have had them all over yrs, but the 220 swift has lost out. Check the charts over on Accurateshooting.com

Which "varmints"? And under what circumstances?

If prairie dogs or ground squirrels, then the .222 is BY FAR the best choice of the three. A .22-250 just gets you more muzzle blast and enough recoil to move your scope off of the target so that you can't see the result of your shot. A .22-250's barrel will also heat up much faster when shooting colony varmints.

I speak from experience. I go prairie dog hunting usually twice a year. I own every .22 caliber centerfire up through .22-250 (have three of those), plus varmint configured rifles in .243 and 6mm. Long ago I learned to leave the bigger guns at home in preference to my .20 Vartarg and .221 Fireball. Low recoil, low report, slow to heat the barrel, more economical, and much more fun. Prairie dogs 300 yards and more away are in just as much danger as if I were shooting a 6.5-284 Norma benchrest rifle. Even at greater distances the larger cartridges hold little advantage.

If coyotes, then maybe the .22-250 is a very slightly better choice (but a .222 will kill them just as dead.)

I can't think of a circumstance in which a 6.5 cartridge of any type would be better than either of the other two, unless your "varmints" are either porcine or humanoid in nature.

coyotes and foxes...


Mike

Thanks fellas. I shoot a 222 for ground hogs in Pa but am stepping up to coyotes.
Wanted some input and well accepted...

Mike

22-250
and
222
No brainer there!

I've done foxes and coyotes with .223 Contender handgun (don't own any rifles). My .22-250 XP-100s have not, but are good to 500 yds. on groundhogs and rockchucks.

Large varmints where you only shoot a couple times 22-250. Even on large varmints and especially when you'll be getting lots of shots .222 or .204 Ruger which wasn't listed. So .222 all the way. BTW .222 works great on deer.

The rig is set up a 22/250 with a model 700 adl platform with a 2.5 to 10 leupold 30mm tube and 50mm objective lens. German 4 illuminated dot.

Mike

close quarters gun is my Benelli 3.5 in auto.

Mike

Mike, a 22-250 is what you need.

hands down 22-250 for coyote out of those choices
222 for fox

the 250 can be down loaded to be a 223.err 222.
whatever.
but the 222 ain't gonna upload to be a 22-250.

Can't upload my .222 to a 22-250, guess that makes it useless. That makes a bunch of guns useless. Let's see, my 30-06 can't be uploaded to the .300 mags so it's out. Guess I'll have to replace all my guns.

see shoulda bought that 300RUM.
then you could have them all and would only need one rifle.
there ya go wastin money again.

I'm with Les, .204 is my go to rifle for any varmints right now. I have both 222 and 22-250 but the .204 is the one thats in the truck.

God Bless, Louis

I have a couple of 222, Sako L-46s, Rem 600 and a 6x45 Sako custom L-461...For coyotes, Javalina, pigs, badgers, fox and anything up to a 100 to 150 I almost always go with the .222, sometimes the 6x45, but mostly use the 6x45 on Antelope and deer on occasion, and the kids and grandkids all shot deer with both..I love the 222 and its always with me...

Ray, all those totally useless guns (they can't be loaded to 22-250) they are just wasting space and in your way. Nice guy that I am, I'd help you out of that dilemma.

222 Rem loaded way slow for fox. 17 HMR might be better.

20 Practical (just like a 204 Ruger but built on a 223 case) for coyotes.

I've shot 22-250's and 243's for years but the pelts take it hard!

The 20 cal is just fun to shoot and we just got back from an 8 coyote trip last weekend with our 20's. Fun!

My 2 cents for free,
Zeke

Are you going to sell the hides? If so stick to the .22 centerfire with bullets that don't blow large holes in the hides. If not the any riles/cartridges previously mentioned. However if you're calling, think AR-15 because you will be getting multiple animals coming in to you. I still take a 12 ga. semi auto along with the AR. Just my opinion.

Wow, you all must be shooting 300 to 1000 yards. I think any of the 6's are better out to 300 yards. That would be the 6-PPC, the 6-BR, or the 6-PRC. In a semi-auto platform the 6mm-ARC looks like a real winner. The weight of the 6mm pill over the .22 gives a distinct advantage should their be any kind of wind.

The 222 will handle any coyote under 250 yards. The 22/250 will add 200 yards or so in range. And the 22/250 will add enough recoil to loose sight of your target.
I’ve used both on coyotes, a lot. Where I hunt, shots can be pretty long, so of those two I’d take the 22/250, but it’s a tough decision.

If you plan to save the hides. Use a 40gr in the .22 cals. They won't blow exit holes. Almost never exit side body shots.

IF you're calling them. A good shooting little .17 cal works great too as long as you don't stretch the range. Don't shoot til you bark and get 'em stopped within 100yards. Be ready to fire when you bark.

Once they stop, you've got about 5 seconds to get the job done before they either come on in, or swap ends and get the hell out of there.

You need to expect quite a bit of damage with a .22 centerfire on fox. A 55gr WILL exit most body shots on coyotes and make a mess to sew up, worse when bones are hit.

If you just want to kill them, use anything.
Watch the background for where your bullets will end up. That's another reason to use 40gr like the v'max. When they hit anything, they blow up.

George

22-250 for me. I have three of them.

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
Thanks fellas. I shoot a 222 for ground hogs in Pa but am stepping up to coyotes.
Wanted some input and well accepted...
Mike

No body has mentioned the 6mm PPC. They all seem to be talking about shooting that varmint that's way far away in the next county. The 6PPC is the most accurate cartridge ever developed out to 300 yds, will carry a 70 bullet nicely, is not a barrel burner, uses not too much powder, and is easy on the brass. If I handle my brass properly I can reload a cartridge 10 to 12 times.

For prairie dogs I use 17hmr or 20 practical. For totes 6x45. Your taste my vary

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
coyotes and foxes...

Calling for fur? If so, then .17 Mach IV/ Fireball or .17 Remington. Or the .20 caliber centerfire guns.

Anything else and you'll be sewing.

How far do you want to shoot them?

My regular coyote guns are a 22.250 AI pushing a 36 grain Barnes VG at 4,600 fps. It liquifies coyotes inside of 400 yards.

I also have a 50 grain VG load at 4,000 fps that kills them, DRT out to 600 yards or so.

But when the distance goes up and the winds pick up, I break out the 6.5x284 with the 142 grain bullets.

In Big Wonderful Windy Wyoming you might want to opt for the 6.5, just in case you need to deal with 80MPH winds.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Large varmints where you only shoot a couple times 22-250. Even on large varmints and especially when you'll be getting lots of shots .222 or .204 Ruger which wasn't listed. So .222 all the way. BTW .222 works great on deer.

When we do have a long gun season here, .24 cal is the minimum allowed for deer.

I realize this is an older thread,

But

What did you end up buying?

For yotes I prefer my 243 hits them a bit harder when they are further out.

Handles the wind a bit better too.

It's hard to beat a 22-250 + if you want to gild the lily then open the chamber to an AI w/ 40 deg.shoulder.

My choice is the 222 REM and the 6mm REM. They cover most all my varmint and light deer hunting.