Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 40 gr or 50gr for my 22-250??

I am going to get Hornady Vmax ammo for my 22-250 for coyote hunting. The 40gr will have a higher velocity and shoot flatter, but I am concerned about drift on windy days. The 50gr will buck the wind a bit better than the 40gr but it doesn't have the velocity of the 40gr. For longer range shots (300 yards+), which weight bullet do you recommend? I will be buying factory ammo. Thanks.

The 50 gr bullets kill coyotes better than the 40's. I've ran both years ago and won't even look at a 40 gr again for coyotes now.

The 50s will shoot (i.e. stabalize) in most any 22-250 but you may have problems w/the 40s depending on your twist. While the 40s will be a little faster out of the gate, the 50s will be a better bet for those longer and windy shots. FWIW ... I shoot 55gr v-max in my 22-250 and so do a lot of other shooters.

As far as a 50gr killing a coyote any better than a 40gr, that is BS; look at the guys that use a .17 and .204 for coyotes.

I'm not a big fan of the 40 grain prairie dog bullets from a 22-250 for coyotes either. Sure, they often work great 9 times out of 10, but its that one here and there that leaves you wishing for more. I'd definetly take the 50 over the 40, but I like 55 grains of lead myself for 250's and coyotes.

50,55 or 60 which ever shoots best.

40gr @ 4000 fps .Yep that oughta do it for coyotes,bobcats -etc.
Thats if you dont want a secondary exit hole & 40's are more pelt friendly.

Hogs and such with a 55 - 60 gr..right behind the ear ..DRT.

Yes, I forgot to mention I am BIG on fur friendly bullets. I shoot 50gr Vmax in my .222 and it is a great bullet. Rarely exits and if it does the hole isn't big enough to require sewing.

"As far as a 50gr killing a coyote any better than a 40gr, that is BS; look at the guys that use a .17 and .204 for coyotes." Fair Chase

Nope that's experience. I had a 17 REM, had 3 204's and they worked but neither killed as reliably as the 22-250 with a 50 gr bullet.

Good response TWR. I've been using the 40 grain V-Max in a couple of .222s and .223 for coyotes for years. In a .22-250 I prefer a heavier bullet, it seems to make a little more sense. I can't honestly say I've noticed a difference in coyote killing ability between a 40 and a 50 grain bullet, but I won't go as far as to say there is no difference.

YEP

I started using the 40 gr NBT in a 222 Rem and had good luck with them. Then tried em in my 22-250 but the extra velocity produced splashes and runners. The 50's running 3750ish just plain work, whether it's the nosler or V-max variety, they work.

The more lead you can slip inside a critter and have it detonate the better.

With my experience with the 250 and VMAX bullets of different weights i would be looking for a different bullet if fur is a priority. There are better options out there if you are a fur hunter(maybe not in factory ammo). My hunting buddy and I both have gone to match HP bullets in all of our calling rifles. Just way to much of a good thing to pass up IMHO. Usually no exist and if there is one it is small. As for weight I would be looking at the 50s myself.

You'll never be able to notice the diffrence in wind drift or killing power between a 40 and 50.
I shoot the 50gr V-max's just becuse I've never seen a 22-250 or .223 that wouldnt shoot them into little groups.

Whichever shoots better in your gun. If forced to run factory ammo in my NULA 22-250 the Federal 40gr vmax load is sub 1" for as long as you want to shoot and the 50gr loading is not ANYWHERE close. YMMV.

i have been shooting 40gr vmax and 38.0gr of win 748 in my howa 1500 it is great on groundhogs it just blows up inside

17 Remington 17 fireball 17 17 - whichever 17 you go with they are FAST ,but you pay for that speed - they eat the throat right out of your gun!!

I would use which ever bullet grouped the best in my rifle. As far as killing better i would seriously doubt you would be able to tell the difference between the 40 and 50 gr bullets. Take a 17 HMR 20 gr bullet cut it in halve and that is the difference your looking at between the two and if you really think this small amount of lead and jacket will make a difference then by all means use the 50 gr and send me the 40 gr you don't want.

I like the 50's and 55's in my 250. Which ever your rifle likes.

I have used the 55, 50 and 40 gr on coyotes and can't tell any difference in the way they kill, the coyotes just go down for the count.

I wouldn't spend any time with weights less than 50 gr, too much wind drift, poor BC, and the 50-55 gr. weights are still explosive on varmints. I prefer the 52 gr Hornady A-Max. At 400 + yds they still turn PD's inside out, and have dropped coyotes in their tracks out around the 450 yard mark for me. Another I have had great success with are the 52 gr JLK low drag bullets. My barrel is a 14 twist.