22.250 VS 223

[YORKSHIREHWM]

Evening all,

Im wanting a middle ground rifle between my 17.hmr and 308win. 17 is fantastic for rabbits squirrels ect. However on foxes on prefer something thats packs abit more punch. 308
Is way to expensive to be shooting foxes with alot and its abit too big for it.
Just wanting people’s thoughts on if i should go for 223 or 22.250 ? Thanks in advance

 

[Shrike]

If cost is the issue you are bound to find a .223 at a good price and it uses less powder if you are reloading.
I personally use 22-250 but I like being a bit different.
22-250 is faster and flatter but at typical fox ranges I imagine a .223 would be fine (I only say would be as I’ve never owned a .223)
I have used a .222 which does the job fine also.

 

[TNStalker19]

.223!

It’s cheap to feed and they die just the same if you put it in the right place. They also run away just the same if you put it in the wrong place.

1-8 twist can shoot a variety of ammunition.

.223 is low recoil. It’s quiet in comparison to the 22-250 and it’s pretty flat shooting in my opinion for the ranges I shoot at (maybe not as flat shooting as the 22-250 laser beam)

And if you decide you’re going to use it on the smaller species of deer in England or Roe in Scotland it doesn’t blow them to bits

 

[308tikka]

All of the above true. I have both. Years with a 223 and more recently a 22/250 was an eye opener. So much fun.

Now I think both will do the job you require but ponder the question - whats cheaper to run on factory or if handloading, can you get small or large rifle primers more easily ? Bullet same, powder not a massive difference to worry about, so whats priner and case availability…?

 

[sikadog]

22-250 every time, had both.

 

[r judd]

22.250 for me

 

[VSS]

If I was starting all over again, 22-250 would definitely be part of my lineup. I have never been so impressed with a rifle's accuracy as I was when I tried one.

 

[foxerklw]

Does barrel length not play a big part with the 250? The smith I use recommends no less than 24" for 22-250, and 20" for the 223

 

[The Singing Stalker]

223 cheaper to run and less noisy.
22-250 if noise is not an issue and you shoot longer ranges

 

[pendle]

Years ago I had a .223 sold it to get a 22.250 which I have not used much manly foxes. I went up to the borders a couple of weeks ago with it after putting a new scope on it and was impressed. I shot 3 roe bucks with it and using ppu ammo. Back up again later in the week for the change over . I will be using it again then

 

[sako85708]

Life's to short to worry about the extra cost of a bit of powder, nothing puts a fox down like a 22-250 !! The power difference between the two works out to about 100 metres in real life . It makes life so much easier when using NV as 100m to 250m is pretty well the same point of aim. Get one and never look back or get a 223 and always worry if you made the right choice

 

[Heym SR20]

223 is cheap to run.

22-250 a lot faster, flatter shooting and gives you more range

But here in the UK it is limited legally to the small deer.

243 with light bullets pretty much mimics the 22-250. But also does double duty as a deer legal rifle with heavier bullets.

 

[Envillegc1]

If I where to go again, it would be 240 Wetherby.

If you are after a 223, try it with 40 gr vmax.

But in truth any of the 22cals will do the job.

243 with either 58gr or 75 gr is also an option, fast and smack!

 

[Will the chippy]

Two of my mates and I use a 22250 and another mate uses a 223. Noise wise we both said they sound just the same. If you need less noise then you need to look for something not supersonic.
The 223 you can feed fairly cheap factory but hand loading they will be about the same. The 250 will make you smile more.

 

[Len the dog]

Too many people focus on the noise level of this calibre over that calibre, my son was shooting our 22-250 whilst I was stood 30yds off, I was VERY surprised at how quiet it sounded.
What people don’t realise is that you are listening to the report from a couple of feet from the muzzle, that SPL drops extremely quickly as you move further away until you are left with just the supersonic crack, which is equally present with the 223.
Mine has a 20” barrel and it loses only about 100-150fps from factory ammunition, but a 20” 223 would also lose velocity so it is a pointless argument. A 20” barrel even with a muzzle forward mod is very easy to manoeuvre and does not stick in the mud whilst I’m carrying it over my shoulder.

 

[njc110381]

That's a really tough one. I've shot a lot of foxes with both and I honestly don't know which one to suggest! You won't go wrong with either. The .22-250 has considerably more grunt and is easier to shoot in the dark where estimating range can be tougher, but both will get the job done and the .223 will be both cheaper to feed and longer lasting. I'd probably say that if you like the odd bit of range day fun, go .223. If it's just for foxes even the .22-250 will last decades for the average shooter.

 

[Bowland blades]

Evening all,

Im wanting a middle ground rifle between my 17.hmr and 308win. 17 is fantastic for rabbits squirrels ect. However on foxes on prefer something thats packs abit more punch. 308
Is way to expensive to be shooting foxes with alot and its abit too big for it.
Just wanting people’s thoughts on if i should go for 223 or 22.250 ? Thanks in advance

Yet most will shoot more rounds zeroing and practicing when you talk cost of 308 win . Never really noticed a significant saving shooting a smaller round personally . 22-250 will be more expensive than a 308 if you count barrel wear
223 rem is about the cheapest available factory round even 22 hornet seems to be charged out the same ( only you get 25 rather than 20 usually) If you keep within say 250 yards there is no real advantage to 22-250 over a 223 in terms of killing foxes but you will get a considerable increase in barrel erosion shooting the extra powder down the bore .
Its all down to requirements faced by the individual though , personally i dumped the HMR a long while back and have never considered another and replaced it with a 22 hornet that i can hand load very cheaply 2800 fps 45 grain bullet and very easy to moderate , it also has a massive round count capacity as 10-12 grains is half the charge of a 223 even . 140 /150 zero will be point and shoot to around 170 on a broadside fox trajectory wise . Now the lead ban thing has had the heat taken out of it its a round many should consider for vermin .
Its always a tough choice choosing what suits your needs best because everyone faces different factors .
Oh as a separate issue hornet doesn't require much in the way of tooling to hand load on the kitchen table

 

[JockStalk]

220 Swift or 22 Creedmoor?

 

[Camdig]

Am a 223 man and used 22 250, I prefer the 223 as foxing and Roe rifle it does everything I need it too and laser accurate.
I always look forward to getting the 223 out for Roe buck season.

 

[Bowland blades]

220 Swift or 22 Creedmoor?

seen suggested round counts on the 22 creed ? Scary !