22-250 or .223 for Coyotes?????

If you are regularly going to be faced with shots of 300 yds plus then you should probably check into the 22-250. If your shots are mostly going to be 300 or less the .223 will do everything you need it to do and do it just as well as the 250 and just as accurately. I like to carry a lite rifle for calling and shooting the .223 affords me the ability to see my kill shots in the scope because of minimal muzzle jump. Not critical, but a feature I like nonetheless.
 
I did the math a while back when i was deciding what to build. Using max loads for both calibers available in my Speer book for the same bullet the 22-250 had a 10% increase in muzzle velocity over a 223. It burned 30% more powder to gain that 10%. The increase in muzzle velocity gave the 22-250 a longer point blank range (don't remember the target size, probably 3") of 40 yards. Either will do the same job to the same range and either will shoot accurately farther than I can before it makes a difference.

I had dies etc. for .223, easy choice. If I was starting from scratch, maybe the other way. But the difference between the 2 wasn't worth the cost in powder and reloading equipment. FWIW my friend who was doing a build the same time I was went 250 and now is looking for a .223. I have no plans in changing out. I've shot steel out to 350 with .223 and a 10" barrel, I see no reason that a 50lb dog wouldn't be meat at that range. If I want heavier faster and flatter, I'll pull one of my 243 off the shelf. If I run across some 200lbers, I'll grab one of he -06's
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Same goes with the AI rounds. The load data I could find (didn't look super hard) on a .223 AI netted 100-140fps at the muzzle. Again, not worth the cost for me to switch.

Go with whatever floats your boat and makes you happy and don't worry about what everyone else shoots. Or look at them like baseball cards, collect them all. My personal philosophy.
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Originally Posted By: Orneryolfart357Id think a 22-250 would be a little much for a calling rifle. After all, If we are calling, Why are we shooting at 300 yds?
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My feelings, too. I have a .223, .22-250, and .243. I used the .22-250 for 15 years, but the .223's all I take now. Part of that is the gun, though- Savage Predator in .223 vs. Ruger MKII in .22-250, Savage wins. However, when I bought the Savage, I could've gotten a .22-250 then and didn't. I had a different .223 then, so the new Predator Hunter was going to be a duplicate either way. I went with the .223.

With the .22-250 and 52 gr HP, I'd always wonder if I blew a hole out the back of the coyote. With the .223 and 50 gr V-max, I'm surprised if I do (only twice). This is when I'm in fur-friendly mode.

If I'm just out to KILL coyotes with no respect for the fur, then it doesn't matter. In that case (and that has been the case at times), I'll often use my .280 since that's my main big-game rifle and field practice with it is a good thing.

 
Ditto! Up to 200 yds the .223 usually works just fine, but after that you need the 22-250 for velocity and knockdown power to avoid the runners. Just another vote for the 22-250 if you can't afford to buy both. I actually love both calibers and having the right tool for the right job makes life so much easier.
 
Unless someone can show a good market for fur ....... I don't for the life of me understand the aversion to BLOWING the BEJESUS out of coyotes.

Is there a CARNAGE tax I have not heard of????

Three 44s
 
Originally Posted By: Three 44sUnless someone can show a good market for fur ....... I don't for the life of me understand the aversion to BLOWING the BEJESUS out of coyotes.

Is there a CARNAGE tax I have not heard of????

Three 44s

I agree and I actually carry the 22-250 probably 99% of the time as opposed to my .223 even though around these parts I seldom if ever need the added range. In fact I call alot more Fox than Coyote in my area, the .22-250 really butchers a fox badly but I'm calling predators to remove some of them from the area. I'm not really worried about pelt damage at the current prices and I prefer the .22-250 it really dumps the toothy critters on their nose.
 
NdIndy has it right. Go to Winchesters site and load the ballistic calulator. You'll see the difference is only 50 yards... or less. Another advantage to the 223 is the new guns come with a 1 in 9 twist so you can shoot heavy bullets if you want. I don't think you want to after running the numbers though. I was surprised.

If guys are shooting yotes a 450 yards with the 2-250 there would be no difference in performance at 400 with the 223.
 
Some .223 rifles have 1-8 twist in bolt and maybe 1-7 for AR.
The .22-250 can have about 30% more energy than the .223 shooting the same bullet.
Running the numbers is great but experience shooting coyotes at 250 yards or more shows the .22-250 to have noticeably more authority.

SYMBOL OVERVIEW
Cartridge 22-250 Remington 223 Remington
Bullet Wt. Grs. 55 55
Bullet Type Ballistic Silvertip® Ballistic Silvertip®
Barrel Length (in)
Use Varmint (Prairie Dog, Marmont, Skunk)Predator (Coyote, Fox, Bobcat) Varmint (Prairie Dog, Marmont, Skunk)Predator (Coyote, Fox, Bobcat)
VELOCITY IN FEET PER SECOND (fps)
Muzzle 3680 3240
100 3272 2871
200 2900 2531
300 2558 2215
400 2240 1923
500 1946 1657
ENERGY IN FOOT POUNDS (ft-lbs.)
Engmuz 1654 1282
100 1307 1006
200 1027 782
300 799 599
400 613 451
500 462 335
TRAJECTORY (in.)
50 -0.4 -0.3
100 0 0
200 -1.8 -2.7
300 -7.7 -10.9
400 -18.9 -26.3
TRAJECTORY LONG (in.)
100 0.9 1.4
200 0 0
300 -5.0 -6.8
400 -15.4 -20.8
500 -32.9 -44.3
 
Don't know about the 250 being more accurate, my 223 will shoot 3" groups at 300 yds IF I do my part. Saying that, I would like a 250 for really long shots. Lots of farm country here with long shots possible. I know, call them closer, but I'm talking about the ones I see fom my yard at 4, 5, 600 yards. Last year my wife saw a coyote going across a field south of the house and yelled at me. I got my 223 on a fence post in the yard, led him and held high cause I knew he was a looong shot. Missed bad low, later measured it off, 920 yards. Didn't think it was that far. Probably couldn't have hit him ith a howitser.
 
No mater what the range is, I would pick the 22-250 over the 223 for coyotes just about every time...

And before someone tells me I need to buy a 223, I own five of them... and four 22-250's.

-BCB
 
If you are concerned about noise, then the .223 has an advantage. If not, I'd vote .22-250 hands down because it just plain kills 'em deader... especially if the shot is a bit off the 10-ring.
 
The Howa 223 I just sold had some real bad muzzle blasting going on, thats with factory loads. Don't know why but not my problem anymore. Seemed way too loud, almost as much as a 30 cal rifle.
 
Either one will work, whichever you choose, if you read enough posts they will convince you that you made a mistake. I shoot both, 223 with 40 grain BTs works good, 22-250 with 55 grain BTs works good. I don't have a problem with either one.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone801thanks for all the info i think that i will stay with the .223 but would love to change to a 22-250 one of these days i just wish the ammo was cheaper. Thanks for all your comments and making this a great forum.

reload for the 250 and it will be cheaper and a great choice.
 
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