Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Are the .243 and .22-250 long distance rounds?

Folks,
I've got two No.1 rifles in .243Winchester and a 1V in .22-250Remington.
One .243 is a 1a the other is an RSI. I've read where some folks use them for long distance. Mine are both 10 twist so bullets over 100 grains don't stabilize. The .22-250 is a 14 twist. Although I haven't tried anything over 53 grains wouldn't you need to be in the 70-grain weight for over 400 yards?

Thank you in advance for your time and help.
Semper Fi,
Soup

If you can find some 105 Hornady HPBT's then give them a shot in your 243 Soup. They will usually work fine in a 10 twist 243, at sea level as well.

22-250 with a 14 twist is pretty limited. The 52 grain ELD is fairly slick and should stabilize in the 22-250. Hard to get too much more out of them, but it'll get out there decently well.

Good luck!

I'd rather shoot a GOOD 22LR,than either rifle,chambering or RPM cited. Hint.

Never had a 10" 243 SALAMI make 105 Hornie HPBT's happy. Hint................

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I don't understand this gentleman. I'm seeking advice, not looking for arguments.

Soup

Non-argumentative version: Sir, in my estimation neither rifle nor bore/twist combination you mentioned is suitable for long range work.

Both of those are well up to the task of being 400 yard guns. Both used to be considered "long range" before manufacturers got behind speedy twists and long/heavy for caliber bullets.

If you want to win shooting matches at 400 yards, they might not be the best choice.

87 hornady vmax are not a bad way to go in a 10 twist 243.

90 grain lapua scenars are great too.

They will get you to 400 yards or better with ease.

I've never been able to make 105 hornadys work well in any 10 twist 243 I've had. I do most of my shooting at 2500' ASL and while they don't keyhole, I've never got groups good enough to consider them for long range.

There are better ways to get into long range but that 243 with a good scope on top will get you headed in the right direction.

Stick ain't wrong about a good 22 and scope putting you on the fast track to dialing for distance shooting.

22/250 always low rated because factory twist were 1-14! I’ve got a heavy weight barrel of 1-7 twist and shoot 90 grain Sierra bullets and it’ll kill big whitetail bucks in a flash! Shot a big 260# buck a while back that was 240 yards and at crack of rifle his nose was first thing to hit the dirt! Bullet was put right aft of his shoulder! Never even quivered!!

Why when there are much better rounds available?? I suppose if you are shooting deer across food plots and the target is unaware, I am sure they work. But I prefer deer rifles for deer.

If you have any trouble killing any deer with those chamberings it’s not the guns fault.

I am sure but there are far better rounds available. I am betting in Tenn. you are shooting your deer over food plots, bait what have you. I have killed lots of deer with .223, 22-250, Swifts, 243, 6mm. But I don't trust them. Never lost a deer shot with them, but never completely trusted them. Lots of reasons why. Most of my kills with the .223 and .22-250 were in W. Va. shots were short and hundreds of deer. No need to rush.

You got that right. I run the 53 gr Vmax in my 14 twist rifles. They do well, but Hornady says they shouldn't be stabilizing. Maybe the higher elevation helps...?? I haven't even looked to see what the BC is of the 52 ELDM, but the 53Vmax is .290...

That’s pretty interesting and maybe I just got lucky with a couple Wins and a few 240 Vanguards with the 105’s but I haven’t had an issue. Doesn’t much matter though as I don’t tend to mess with 10 twist 6mms much anymore anyhow.

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good I suppose

Wouldn’t the OPs Ruger stand a chance of being better than a 1-10 anyhow? The few I’ve had were 1-9 I thought but again, could be way wrong.

2 kimbers and a tikka didn't like the 105s for me.

Not sure about Ruger's 243 twist rate, if it's 1 in 9 a lot more doors open up

You’re probably right though about the 87 VMax being a better bet.

1-10


420 yards



560 yards



934 yards

No.

It depends upon the wind, but I've shot plenty of prairie dogs out to about 550 yds using 55 gr bullets out of a 22-250. A 1-14 wouldn't be my first choice, but if you can get it to stabilize a 53 gr vmax you'll be good to as far as anyone can reasonably shoot. There's a lot of BS that goes around about people hitting prairie dogs at ridiculous distances. My record is 880 yds and that took me 13 shots with a really accurate 6mmBR. Anyone that tells you that they consistently hit prairie dogs in the first two shots at over 500 yds is full of chit.

Any significant wind will ruin your day at 400+ yards with slow twists and light bullets.

I’ve had good luck getting the Horn 105 BTHP to shoot in a couple of 10” twist .243s, so I’d start there for what you’re trying to do.

If you’re really wanting to shoot 400+ yards in any wind, pick up a 7 or 8” twist .223 and shoot the 75 ELD. Compared to any of the ~50 gr bullets in .224”, your hit percentage in the wind will go way up.

Pard shot his Booner a coupla days ago,se we banged around yesterday and I had The Carbon Queen 22PPC AFI in tow(1-6x Lit Bitch HD and 88 ELD Smooches),Teeker OEM 8" 223(BTR Gen2 2-12x Lit Bitch Mil FFP and 75 ELD Smooches),Peezer 18" Wylde(ACOG 3.5x35 Red 308 Crosshair and 75 Hornie BTHP's to ASC confines) and a 18" Bart barreled Vudoo Spectre wearing 6x MQ. If only as per always,the Vudoo STOLE the fhuqking Show and there was plenty of 500yd+ action. Hint.

22PPC AFI was golden to 1275yds. Hint.



The 223 Teeker to 1000yds. Hint.



The ACOG is a Dirty Mind Fhuqk,as the 75 Hornie HPBT's connect 308 dots amazingly well,hanging to 1000yds. Hint.




THE Show Stopper. Hint.



I never had much in the way of "luck" with Number Ones and muchly prefer HighWalls. Hint.

Now as 6mm bore sizing goes,I shoot a "few" chamberings and all in 8",if not 7" RPM and 105's or better. Hint.




Just sayin'..................

Hazen (WCH) is/was a big game killing machine.

Don't read where he said he'd have any trouble killing deer, with either, just that He'd rather use something else.

Just because he'd rather use a larger caliber, is no reason to hit him with a stick !

Act your age.