Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Walking Varmint Rifle 223 or 22-250?

I've got the bases pretty much covered when it comes to calling rifles or PD rifles as I have several in 223 & 22-250 with heavy barrels. I'm looking to add a lighter weight walking varmint rifle to the mix, perhaps the Tikka T3 Lite or the Ruger Hawkeye. Which rifle would you recommend... and which caliber, 223 or 22-250?

Hal

Hey Hal! Welcome to The Fire!

I don't own a 223, but from what I hear, I can't argue agin' it.

I like the 22-250 for a GP caliber, and I like it in my Rem 700 LVSF.

Ya can't go wrong with the 223 in the T3 Tikka...I've got the pre T3 in 595 SS/syn 223..great carry rifle...very accurate too !

The .223 seems to run out of gas on coyotes at about 250, maybe 300 yards (with 55 grainers). The 22-250 will run past 400 nicely. I'd base my decision on what I planned on shooting.

I'd take a Ruger Hawkeye. The .223 has a 9 twist which would allow you to try some of the heavier bullets out there and maybe extend the range a bit on coyote.

I have multiple rifles that would qualify for that description...

however the lightest and handiest of the batch, is a Model 70 Featherweight, chambered in 223.....

It wears a Weaver 2 x 7 Rimfire scope on it... its pretty light, handles real well, and is a tack driver...

I also have a Ruger 77 Mk 2, that started life out as a 243 from the factory... however the barrel was replaced with a PacNor, heavy magnum contoured 24 inch barrel in stainless, with a one in 7 twist to it...

Formally being a 243, it has NO spacer in the magazine.. I can seat 75 and 80 grain match bullets out fairly far in the magazine...

It is not as much joy to carry as the Model 70 in 223, but it is stable and sure can reach waaaaaay out there...especially with 60 Sierra HP, 75 & 80 grain A Maxes, and 75 and 80 grain Match Bullets...

Hal: I own and shoot more than 3 dozen dedicated "Varmint" guns. Most all of them have heavy barrels and for many reasons (most of which have to do with accuracy enhancement) they have very heavy barrels on them.
I do though have 7 or 8 Rifles in common Varminting calibers that would be considered as "walking Varminters".
I have 5 walking Varminters made by Remington and they are Model 700 "Classics" with 24" sporter weight barrels and their Classic style stock - they are in calibers 17 Remington, 221 Remington Fireball, 222 Remington (I have two of these) and 223 Remington. All of these Rifles are notably accurate and all wear Leupold 4x12 variable scopes except one of my 222 Classics which has a Lyman 10 power scope on it.
These Remingtons have excellent triggers and even though stocked in wood seem to hold their points of impact from season to season and year to year.
I am especially pleased and amazed at the accuracy I get from both my Classics in caliber 222 Remington. I won't bore you with the details of their accuracy right now but I will tell you if I saw ANOTHER Remington 700 Classic in 222 Remington up for sale - I would buy it!
I have two Kimber Rifles with 24" medium heavy "sporter weight" barrels - one is in 218 Bee and the other is in 221 Remington Fireball. Both of these Rifles are pleasingly accurate, have excellent triggers and are very handsome and reliable Rifles.
I have no "walking Varminters in 22-250 Remington caliber mainly because of the recoil factor. When I am using these lighter Varmint Rifles I am most often off Hunting by myself and have no "spotter" along with me. The recoil from sporter weight Rifles in caliber 22-250 is definitely enough to make it next to impossible to see your bullet strike or the immediate reaction of a Varmint you might be shooting at!
I vote, enthusiastically, for the 223 Remington in your "walking Varminter" mainly for this reason!
IF your "walks" are through Varminting areas that call for LONG shots fairly often then I would counsel you to go with the 22-250 and make do with its recoil. OR, better yet go ahead and lug a heavier Varmint type barreled 22-250. The mass and enhanced accuracy of the heavier Rifle will get you more hits under field conditions for sure!
Best of luck with whichever you choose - but do not forget to keep an eye out for a Remington 700 Classic in 222 Remington. Finding one would be a coup for you and I know you would be happy with it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks for all the great information. I'm leaning towards the 223 as far as caliber choice for many of the same reasons you all describe, and particularily since I have lots of 223 brass for reloading. I've heard great things about the 222 and its inherant accuracy but am not really interested in working up loads for yet another caliber. I'd like to stick with 223 & 22-250. I also have several other heavier rifles in 22-250 that would do better for the long range shots I might encounter.

I have not yet decided on the actual rifle, but will be following up at the gun shops this weekend to handle/fondle many of the rifle suggestions you've all made here. It may all boil down to what feels best in my hands since a walking varminter is likely to be used occasionaly for some snap shots at running game, unlike a heavier rifle thats used in a calling setup or on PDogs.

Hal

I've got a Tikka 595 Whitetail Hunter in .223 with a Vari-X II 3x9 on it as a walkabout rifle. I also have two T/C .17 Remmy's, which are even lighter.

Cant go wrong with the .223

I have both the .223 and the 22-250 in carry weight. But having said that I'll have to tell you they both stay home. Get yourself a .204 in a carry weight gun. Less recoil than the 22-250, less barrel heat, and it's affected less by the wind.

I also would not overlook the Model 7 in .223 as a candidate.

Bob

22-250...
speed kills...
let your trigger finger do the walking....

I've got a Ruger 77 LSS Compact .223 that's one of my "walking varmiters" another is a Ruger Ultra-Light .204 in a Compact lam. stock. To me, it's a toss-up.
The .223 has a Leupold 6X36mm on it, and the .204 has a Leupold 8X A.O. on it.
I lean more to the .204, but either will work well.
Virgil B.

i must be old...
time was, the mention of a new round like the .204 would have really got my interest...
now i feel like we need a smily with a whoop-de-do finger twirl....
bad on me, i guess .... john w

Generally speaking, with a walking rifle shots will not be as long as they would be when shooting from a fixed position. My vote therefore goes to the 223. I do have a 223, and a 22-250, as well as other Varmint rifles. My walking rifle from yesteryear was a 22 Hornet as all of my shots were off hand, and within 100 yards.

Don

Sako Finnlight - make it 243.

This one is a .223AI but it would work just as well in the .223. It's a regular Rem 700 with a lamianted Mountain Rifle stock from a different rifle.... shoots very well.

Perfect rifle for the question asked:



Kimber Varmint chambered in either 204 Ruger or 22-250. I can't wait to get mine.

I'm having a Mexican Mauser in 6/284 built for a walking varminter. I'm doing this on the cheap, so it may take a while to get it together. Don't know what I'm gonna use for glass yet.

I am in the market for the same thing, but my eye is on the 220 swift. I have the .223 and the .22-250, but it has a heavy barrel. I have a 243 in the heavy barrel, and one in the light barrel. I really want a swift, and its going to be in a light walking, or truck gun.