Tbear99, I got into varminting this summer for the first time in 40 years and wrestled with the same question. I also shoot groundhogs, almost always inside 350 yrd.s ...and to my surprise, an occasional coyote. I went with a .223 and at those ranges I've been very tickled with the results. Modern ballistic tip bullets are so, so much better than the hollow points I used to use. I've never felt under gunned. And to my delight my gun shoots Ultramax 50 grain, one of the cheapest loads better than anything else. The coyote I shot never took a step. If I figured on doing many coyotes or anything else beyond 300 on a regular basis I might have done a 243 or 22-250 but for my uses the .223 shines.

Although I really like and recommend the .222 I know from experience that loading down a .243 or .244 with the likes of Blue Dot gets rid of the excess noise and recoil when shooting jack rabbits or most any varmit. Now if that muzzle is inside the truck we definitly have more than one problem. roger

Trouble--The culprit that eats up barrels is velocity. You can shoot cast bullets forever and have no wear. They are softer and shot at lesser velocities. How many .22rimfires have you seen with shot out barrels? That's what they shoot. Lyman did a test,I think using 30-06's one with cast bullets and other jacketed bullets. When the barrel on the jacketed bullet rifle was shot out--there was no measurable wear on the one using cast bullets.

Trouble--I forgot to mention--I mentioned cast bullets and in my .222's and 22-250,I get great results with the 58 grain cast bullet from the RCBS mold. In my .223 I did not find any load that shot well. In all of them the velocities were 2000-2200fps. That does a number on jackrabbits. The testing I did on the .223 covered a wider range of velocities and poor accuracy at all of them--probably wrong twist. You have a .243 and mine does real well with cast and this is up to a sizzling 2900 fps(sizzling for cast bullets).

Get a 22-250 and thats all you will need.

Whats all this hog wash? Comparing a 223 to a 220 Swift, what the heck are you guys smoking, LOL. A 55 grain bullet at 3300 fps, vs a 55 grain bullet at 3800 fps. Thats like comparing piston powered flight to jet flight.

Just because a cartridge is available and cheap, dosen't put it in the class of the "fast" 22's.

The 223 is an excellent cartridge, I own 2, as well as 3 Swifts. When I go on a varmint shoot, I usally have 3 or 4 22's, a couple of 243's, and maybey a 6.5 or 270 as well.

I don't believe my Hornet will do what my 223 will do, and I sure as heck know my 220 Swift won't do what my 6mm-06 will.

It's very simple, if you want a hot 22 go for the Swift, if you can have several varmint rifles, be picky and enjoy.


Jerry

Stepchild2:

I have been loading the 220 Swift since 1973 or 1974. During that time I have never had any cartridge case problems as you mention.

I find the Swift to be as easy to load as ANY cartridge, and I have never had a case neck problem with any load I choose to shoot.

Right now I am loading the top load with RL15, and I can't find any difference in case prep between the 22-250 and the Swift. I have no experience with the AI version of the 22-250, but I am getting 4000fps with a 50 grain bullet in my standard version.

Jerry

I would go with something in the .243 cal. I just built a 6mmAI and it will shoot circles aroung the 22-250 or 220 swift.

You have so many options with a 6mm as far as bullet weights. You are kind of limited to smaller grain bullets with a .22 cal.

With the 6mm you can shoot anything from a 50gr to 107gr

Not only is the 6mm inheritintly accurate, it will buck the wind better than a .22 cal and you will have a more capable gun for those downrange shots.

I am getting 4000fps with a 70gr bullet in my 6mmAI. If that dosen't make you smile I don't know what will.

The 6mmAI is so easy to load for as well. All you do it drop a 6mm round into your 6mmAI, shoot it, and boom-you have just made your 6mmAI brass.

Let me know if you have anymore questions.

I am not biased at all either. I have several .223s, which I wouldn't trade for the world. I have actually killed more coyotes with my .223 than with a 6mm.

I just think that the 6mm offers everything that a .22 cal does, plus that extra punch when you need it.