223 vs 22-250 vs 204

223, ammo availability, reloading versatility, platform versatility, economically. The 250 may get it done from a bolt gun a little better a little farther outbut, shoot anything less than a yote and it will rain fur for a week.Recoil is less in the 223 and 204. 223 will get it done at 300 yds, or farther depending on the equipment and the shooter. Ive done it numerous times. 500 rds of of accurate Fiocchi vmax for 200 bucks delivered. Just saying.
 
I personally favor the .22-250 between the two. Would I own or hunt coyotes with the .223? You bet! I have- plenty. Buy both! If you get the .223 on an AR platform then you can get the .204 upper as well and end the argument.
 
Originally Posted By: Tjkiller223, The 250 may get it done from a bolt gun a little better a little farther outbut, shoot anything less than a yote and it will rain fur for a week.

Hey are you plagiarizing Gerry Blair?
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.204

Test Barrel (26") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
4225/1268 3645/944 3137/699 2683/512 2272/367 1899/256
Trajectory (inches)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
-1.50 0.60 0.00 -4.10 -13.10 -29.00


.223


Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
4000/1243 3354/874 2795/607 2299/411 1858/268 1479/170
Trajectory (inches)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
-1.50 0.80 0.00 -5.30 -17.30 -39.60

22-250


Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
4150/1529 3553/1121 3032/816 2568/585 2148/410 1771/278
Trajectory (inches)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
-1.50 0.60 0.00 -4.50 -14.20 -31.70
 
That's hornady and there all light bullets, there all in the 30gr range, pretty much the lightest bullets in each calibur except the .204.
 
Originally Posted By: getfoxyOriginally Posted By: joedAt 350 yards you've already eliminated my least favorite cartridge the .223. It's a 200 yard cartridge, 225 at best.

Howd you arrive at the figure???
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Why do I feel that the .223 is a 200 yard cartridge? These are strictly my feelings from varmint hunting for over 30 years and what I’ve experienced.

I own a Savage 10fp in .223, it is a nice accurate rifle. Any trip to the range you can bet the Savage goes along. When it comes to varmint hunting that rifle doesn’t see much use however.

One thing I’ve noticed about varmint hunting is the flatter the trajectory of the cartridge used the more hits you’ll get. With that in mind, the MPBR (+/- 1.5 inches) of the .223, is about 210 yards. The MPBR of the .22-250 (+/- 1.5 inches) is 275 yards. That’s roughly 65 yards further that the .22-250 will shoot flatter.

The .22-250 also fires a 55 gr bullet about 300 fps faster then a .223. That speed advantage means less time in the air to be effected by wind.

Also consider how big a fox is, they aren’t large. That is my reasoning for using a MPBR +/- 1.5 inches. I have no doubt some can hit a fox at 300 yards with a .223. But can they do it reliably every time? I'd bet no.

I have the luxury of owning a few varmint rifles in a couple of different calibers. For me I’d rather grab the .22-250 that just shoots flatter then have to try and allow for bullet drop and wind deflection with the .223.
 
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Originally Posted By: okoyote
Funny how we shoot 1000 yard targets with the lowly .223. I guess we should stop doing that. Nah. . . . .it's too fun.

Surprising what b.c. can do.
Seems anytime the subject of hunting with the .223 comes up someone will bring up 1000 yard target shooting with heavy bullets in this cartridge.

Keep in mind we're talking about hunting varmints, not paper. Bullets are designed for specific purposes and I've always felt that it is wiser to choose a bullet for the need at hand and not the b.c.

Bullets for varmint hunting are a rare breed. They have to be extremely accurate, withstand very high velocity, and fragment on contact with their targets or the ground to prevent over penetration or ricochets in partially populated areas. They have been highly developed for their purpose, very limited penetration.
 
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"i bought my .223 savage edge/axis for 329 with a scope out the door. sub 1"groups at 100 yards."

Got one myself and with reloads, I can hang in the .6" groups consistenly. Very accurate rifles.

Of the three calibers. I have experience in all of them, with the 204 being least of my experience. All will kill coyotes- with the 22-250 being the most powerful and probably the most flat shooting.

My most experinece is with the 223. I have dropped yotes in their tracks out to 350yd shots and saw them get up and run away at 50yd shots. I believe that bullet selection and THEN shot placement is key.

I got away from shooting the plastic tip bullets at midwest coyotes. I have found that at 200yds or greater, the 223 velocity and the explosive contruction of these bullets dont translate into good terminal performance.

I have discovered that a 55-60gr bullet that is a little slower expanding (such as the sierra 55gr SBT or my favorite the sierra 60gr HP) will have no problem doing the buisiness on a 45 pound coyote out to 300plus yds and some change. The 22-250 will do it with more power and flatter trajectory.

Get a scope that has a mildot or some type of drop reticle, figure out what your bullet is dropping at the yardage you are shooting at, and the 223 with the right bullet will take out even the biggest coyotes out to 400yds. I have no doubts about that.

Now, shoot a midwest coyote with a 270 Win and a 130gr corelokt in the guts just in front of the hindquarter, and you will more then likely have a ring side seat to watch that dog get up and run off. Been there, done that. Shot placement is key.

The recent debates with the 223 being too underpowered to kill coyotes is the equivelent to the supermagnum crowd stating that the 30-06 is just too underpowered to kill elk at distances over 300yds. Proper bullet selection, learning the exterior ballistics of your rifle, shot placement, and knowing you own limitations at shooting will kill more game than any hunter that has NOT DONE THEIR HOMEWORK on their rifle that is shooting that super fast or ultramagnum caliber rifle they are carrying.
 
I've never had any problems with the .223 here in MN. Best caliber in rifle selection whether semi-auto, bolt, single shot and excellent bullet and finished cartridge selection for those that dont reload.

300 yd gun in my opinion.
 
Originally Posted By: okoyoteIt is true that paper vs animals don't compare, but limiting the .223 to 225 yards is a bit off.

No offense meant to anyone but I'd rather pick a cartridge that shoots flatter to begin with than have to try and figure bullet drops and deflection. Maybe that's just me, I have 3 varmint rifles.

If all I had was a .223 I'd use it, but I have the luxury of other cartridges


The .204 is a cartridge that I have no experience with. However, years ago I had a Remington .17. Anyone else had one of those? Couldn't get it to shoot. It was totally dependant on temp, humidity and wind. One day it would shoot 1" groups, the next 2.5" with the same load. After giving up on that cartridge I vowed to never own anything smaller then .224. I've kept that promise to myself for almost 30 years.
 
Quote: No offense meant to anyone but I'd rather pick a cartridge that shoots flatter to begin with than have to try and figure bullet drops and deflection.

Sorry to inform you but EVERY gun has drop. My buddy shoots a 22-250. He too has to figure out his drop when shooting at longer ranges. There may be less drop with a 22-250 than with a 223, but there is drop- and IMO- enough of it to take notice in your scope reticle and record it.

As for wind deflection. We are talking about 22 caliber centerfires right? Yes, the 22-250 is quite capable of large coyote kills out to 500yds. But I will promise you that if you think you are going to pick up your 22 centerfire rifle and try and shoot one at that distance without having figured out wind deflection for your round, chances of you connecting in the vitals- or even hitting it for that matter- dwindle significantly.
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The 22-250 is an outstanding cartridge. But lets not bury the lesser .223 just because it isnt fast enough. That round has been killing critters for a very very VERY long time. At ranges that are way past the ones mentioned in this thread.
 
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I have both, .204s and .223s.. I have good optics on them and have no problem with longer range shots...It's just a matter of matching the cartridge to the task..

I like the .204s for very low recoil and high speed flat trajectories and the .223s for Varmint/Predator knock down ability...Both work for me..
 
Originally Posted By: swift one
Sorry to inform you but EVERY gun has drop. My buddy shoots a 22-250. He too has to figure out his drop when shooting at longer ranges. There may be less drop with a 22-250 than with a 223, but there is drop- and IMO- enough of it to take notice in your scope reticle and record it.


I know they all have drop but I'd rather deal with 3" of drop the 6" of drop, these are small animals. On something like a fox 3" could be a miss. I don't really have anything against the .223 but I just prefer the .22-250 as most of what I shoot in my area is usually 300 to 400 yards.

And as much as I like the .22-250 I'd leave it in the safe if I had a Swift. Heck, after promising myself I would never shoot anything smaller then .224 I'd love to shoot a .204 if one of you want to send me one to try out.
 
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Hello,.not Bob .17 here, but if 22-250 ammo, .204 ammo and .223 ammo were identical in cost, I know which one I'd go with. In fact I did use one for years and years when I reloaded all my own ammo.

I no longer reload, but I still try and shoot quite a bit, so now days my choice is different.

There's no flies on any of the 3 and all 3 are perfectly adequate for called predators.

.223 with the right bullets, right shot placement is likely to be the easiest on the furs OP asked about.

Have fun.
 
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