Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints One rifle for varmint hunting, 223 or 22-250?

For big game hunting the 30-06 is often mentioned as the cartridge that can handle all non dangerous big game. If you were to have one rifle for all of your big game hunting (non dangerous) the 30-06 is often the cartridge most recomended. I understand that it is not the best for every situation but it is workable in most. It is a jack of all trades but master of none. What is the varmint cartridge that fills this same nich? Is it the 223 or the 22-250. If you were to have one rifle for all of your varmint hunting which caliber would it be, the 223 or the 22-250. I understand that the 223 recoils less and is more economical. The 22-250 has more power and range. Both are equally available. Which cartridge would you choose. The rifle I am considering is the Remington 700 VSF with a Burris 4-16x50 Black Diamond scope in Burris Signature Dual Dovetail mounts. I appreciate any comments.

The all arounder goes to 22-250.

But I got a 223. If I want to get bewteen 223 power and 30-06 power, I will get a 243.

BMT

I have used alot of the varmint calibers from .204, .223. .22-250 and so on and have ended up using a steyr prohunter in .243. I think the .243 is an excellent choice for long range varminting. but just between .223 or 22-250 I think I would do a 22-250

For larger varmints ('yotes, fox, bobcat, etc.), probably the 22-250 would better fit your needs. But if you're going to be shooting primarily gophers and/or prairie dogs with the occasional larger varmint thrown in.....I'd pick the .223

I just sold my 22-250 because I primarily hunt PD's and gophers and the recoil, whether minimal or not, is just enough to not allow me the satisfaction of seeing my hits....which is the whole idea of varmint huntin' for me. The .223 has so very little muzzle jump that I can see every hit or miss, but either way I can see how to adjust from viewing the impact points. At most shootable ranges, less the furthest shots one might try as a Hail Mary attempt, the .223 has easily handled all that I've required of it.

Deciding what you primarily intend to hunt will better your odds of ending up with the more appropriate of the 2 calibers.

Good choice in scope magnification by the way..........

Good luck.

223

MagnumB said "For larger varmints ('yotes, fox, bobcat, etc.), probably the 22-250 would better fit your needs. But if you're going to be shooting primarily gophers and/or prairie dogs with the occasional larger varmint thrown in.....I'd pick the .223"

I agree with Magnumb.

However, I strongly encourage the use of the 22-250 on coyotes etc. Much more authoritative than the 223 in my experience.

204 ruger is a nice PD round, and works great for yotes under 200 (my range pref.)

Biggest benefit - you can see your hits

Spot

22-250

223 .........

I would go with the 22-250 out of the two, but my all time favorite is the 220 swift!!

I sold my 22-250 to get a 223 and I loved the 250. For high volume pd shooting and a round that is adequate for coyotes to 300 yards, it is hard to beat the 223.

how far is long range? a proper 223 will kill most waaay out there.... i would jump to the 243 after that but thats just my opinion...

sanford

Yes...the 223 will shoot a long way...with the right scope/rifle/loads/shooter...although I have a std 223 SS/syn Tikka...I prefer this heavy Pac Nor 223 AI shown in pic..the 12 twist shoots 55 Nosler BTs very well out to 600+ yds...after that the 6BR or 6XC come out...green strip in center of pic is 550 yd 'p/dog arena'

That pic gives me the shakes. 2 more weeks and I'll be overlookin' that same type of terrain for the 3rd time this year.

Nice set-up by the way. These overlooks and distances make my Geovids indispensable. See five "diggers", range 'em all at once, check the stock drop chart................red mist.

"There's nothin' like the sprinkling of red mist in the mornin'"......or something like that. Yes....I have it bad........grin.

I prefer the 223 as an all around varminter. From there I jump straight past the 22-250 to the 243.

Fast twist 223

It really boils down to what is your primary focus.

If you mainly shoot PD and ground squirrels and don't think you would shoot coyotes beyond 300yds, the 223 is the way to go.

If you primarily hunt coyotes etc and main need to drop them at 400-450yds, the 22-250 is by far better for that purpose.

You could also consider the 204, which is not a bad compromise of features; low recoil (like 223, or less), lower powder consumption (than 22-250), flat trajectory (like 22-250), retained energy.

I started with a .22/250 because Remington had just discontinued the .222 Magnum
in their model 700s (1970-ish).

IF you are shooting high volume at small varmits at sane ranges the .223 is probably the way to go.

If you are shooting lower volume at larger varmints (coyote, rockchucks, etc)
the .22/250 COULD offer an advantage. For the average person I don't think
that it offers much more uasable range. This is especially true when the .223 is uased with lighter weight plastic tipped bullets.

Both rounds are great, and I loaded .223 class loads for extended shooting
sessions in the .22/250 when it was my only rifle.

In the last 35 years I have owned and loaded .22 Hornet, .222, .223, Swift, and 22/250. All have been fun to shoot.

If limited to just ONE today I wold probably look at a standard weight Ruger 77 MKII
in .223. I would put a 4.5-14 Leupold, adjust the trigger to a light, crisp pull and
get to shootin'.

YMMV

Bob

223 is best i have one in 223 ai and 223 best i have used had a 22-250 sold it and not looking back

+1 - Fast twist 223 will kill them all every time. plus it is cheaper to shoot over the long run. Especially if you run factory fodder at all.