i want a rifle for varmints. currently, i have the brass and dies for .223 rem. should i buy a barrel for my encore in .223, 220 swift or 22-250? pros/cons of each. thanks

.243, it shoots heavier bullets as fast as the swift, plus you can use it for deer with 100 gr. Partitions. If you want to stick with the .22 caliber, it depends on your intended quarry and max range. The .223 will handle all duties under 300 yds., the bigger .22's will take on your stuff to 500. Of course, you could also go with the 70gr. BT in the .243, it shoots flatter and hits harder. As you can see, I like the .243. A fun one to consider would be the .22 CHeetah, what a screamer!
Yardbird

Kind of depends on what kind of shooting you are going to be doing.

If by 'varmints' you mean coyotes, crows, and ground hogs/ rockchucks, then any of the calibers listed would work fine. The bigger .22 calibers and the .243 will definitely provide more, ah, terminal effects, and push heavier bullets a little faster, so a bit better in the wind. If you reload, keep in mind that the brass for these is marginally more expensive, they use considerably more powder, and are a good deal harder on barrels. The last isn't a huge concern w/ the varmints listed above, but if you mean something like prairie dogs and gophers, you might want to give the .223 a very serious look, since it is much more frugal w/ powder, cheaper brass, and barrels last up to twice as long.

YMMV,

Monte

maybe i'll get a 22" 243 barrel for the encore. that way, in 2 years when my youngest boy turns 12 and can hunt, i can get a stock for the encore to fit him

[ 12-19-2002, 08:16: Message edited by: exsanguinate ]

I can't say enough about my 220 swift. Groups extremely tight and carries one heck of a punch for a 22.

All you need is a 222 and a 6mm Rem and you'll have it covered.