Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 223, 22-250, or 204?

Montana model 1999 in 22-250. First few shots from my new rifle.

Not impressed with the 204 yet. 22-250 loud and more recoil. 223 is the only way to go. The load I have for the 223 beats any load I have for the 250 or the 204. Unless you want to shoot heavy bullets the 223 really performs. Try Viht N120 behind a 40gr Vmax and you'll never look back. I use 24 grains and get between 3900 and 4200fps. Also very accurate. This load has worked in several rifles including Weatherby, Tikka, Ruger, Remington and Howa. I know this velocity seems extreme but have had no problems.

204 a barrel burner? 25-26 grains is about it for most powders. A 22-250 runs 38gr quite often. Of course powder type varies.

I shot prairie dogs with my 204 and 22-250 last spring. While I did find that the 50gr 22's had a bit more impact, the barrel warmed up quickly AND I did not get to watch the events unfold like I coud with the 204. The 250 was a heavy barreled Howa much heavier than my Sako 204.

In all aspects I consider the .223 and .204 equal on "killing". Both have their positives and negatives. .223 has more buller options and better constructions for bigger stuff and heavier options, etc. .204 flies flatter, no recoil, etc.

.22-250 trumps them both for "killing" but on paper and for killing, I consider them a wash.

go black.... your all done guessin'!


woofer

Most of my varminting has been shootin' California ground squirrels, aka digger squirrels, in southwest Oregon, but I have shot some bigger varmints.

I've owned a couple of .223s, worn out 2 .22-250s to the points the bullets keyholed, and I'm on my 3rd .204.

I assume your woodchucks are about the same size as our rock chucks. I shot a few chucks with one of those .22-250s and I was not too impressed. Seemed like if I took a body shot, I didn't find the chuck. Head shots turned that end into red mist, but body shots they seemed to absorb and still be able to fall off the log and get underground before expiring. Now, that was in the days prior to polymer tipped bullets, and those change the game somewhat.

I'd recommend the .22-250 over the other two since that's what I'd pick if I were choosing myself. Honestly, if I were buying a gun for 'chucks and it had to be a .22 cal, I'd go with the .220 Swift, but I'd really rather have .243, 6mm, .257 Roberts, or .25-'06.

Tom

Some good reading:

http://www.6mmbr.com/20Caliber.html

Wow,
It's been awhile since I checked here, and there has been a lot of posts since I started the thread.
The old thinker has been working on this and I have come to the following conclusions, right or wrong:

1. the 17hmr and 22wmr will stay my "go-to" ground hog guns. I am farming in an increasingly developed area and also I like the quiet report for my own ears too. And within range limits, they just plain work.

2. Since I started this thread the Pennsylvania game commission has brought up the idea of making my area shotgun and rim fires only, so maybe I shouldn't spend on another center fire for only a years worth of groundhog shooting.(or I could sell the farm and move to Missouri, its been on my mind, @#*! houses, but thats another topic).

3. I have been working more with my 257 Roberts and 75 grain v max loads and like what I'm seeing. I figure thats going to hit harder than any .20 or .22 center fire anyway, although maybe not shoot quit as flat. But thats one gun that probably won't ride around in the tractor, its my "pretty" gun, but I'll hunt with it.

I did get a 223 barrel for my contender so we will see how that works but that will probably be a relatively short range proposition in a 10" barrel, but not all my tractors have cabs so it will be easier to keep handy than a rifle. And trading barrels on that gun is fun in itself, so next year I can change

So I guess I didn't take any of your advice mainly due to possible upcoming law changes, but it was a lot of fun to read and I appreciate all the advice.
Oh, and friends around here mostly were trying to get me to go with a 22-250.

MAN ID GO EITH THE 223 JUST THE FACT ITS MUCH CHEAPER TO SHOT LOT LESS RECOIL THAN THE 22-250 AND IT GOOD 4 NETHING OUT TO 450 YARDS ( I'VE SHOT GROUNDS THAT FAR AWAY) BUT IT CAN BE USED OUT TO 500 YARDS I HERE TOO IT JUST DEPENDS HOW WELL U GET TO KNOW YOUR GUN BUT THE 223 IS WHT ID GO WITH