.222 or .22-250?

[wildfowler.250]

Needing some opinions! Currently have a .270, .22-250, .22 and a 17hmr.

I probably put 10 shots a year through the .22-250; hardly use it. Few to zero and shoot maybe 1 or 2 roe deer, 1 or 2 foxes,(although I may eventually get into that) and the odd crow.

So really the .22cf is an extra/novelty anyway. I’m fancying a change of rifle rather than caliber. Is there any real world difference between .222 and .22-250 for shooting a roe out to 200,(max 250) yards? Bearing in mind most shots are 150 or less?

Really tempted by the .222 as it’s nice and quite and supposedly very accurate. Can reload either way. But I’ve the dies,(actually unused) ect for the .250. Any real difference in meat damage, knock down or bullet drop?

That said the .22-250 possibly ticks the boxes a little better apart from noise? No real interest in a .223 or .243 currently.

Cheers!

 

[Miki]

The difference is that a .22-250 pushes a 55gn bullet out the dangerous end at circa 3800fps generating 1750ft/lb and a .222 manages 3050fps and 1100ft/lb (same bullet).

The difference is the case is bigger on the .22-250 so you can load a charge which reaches peak pressure and holds it for longer, with some fettling you can attain over 4000fps and over 2000ft/lbs
The other difference is that you can slow down your .22-250 but you will never get the .222 to reach .22-250 speeds.

.22-255 zero=200M PoI @ 250M = -55mm (1" high @ 100)
.222 zero=200M PoI @ 250M = -105mm (2.5" high @ 100) - reset zero to 145M so 1" high @ 100. Drop @ 250 = 220mm (9")

 

[Triggermortis]

Buy a .222 and be blessed, it’s gods own calibre, but a .22-250 it ain’t, I have 2 deuces, out to 200 they are firkin awesome, cheap as chips to feed, probably the most sociable .22cf apart from maybe a hornet in terms of upsetting stock or the neighbours, no recoil to speak of and have accuracy akin to a laser beam, if you’re near kent you’d be welcome to come try one

 

[stalkerboydy]

Needing some opinions! Currently have a .270, .22-250, .22 and a 17hmr.

I probably put 10 shots a year through the .22-250; hardly use it. Few to zero and shoot maybe 1 or 2 roe deer, 1 or 2 foxes,(although I may eventually get into that) and the odd crow.

So really the .22cf is an extra/novelty anyway. I’m fancying a change of rifle rather than caliber. Is there any real world difference between .222 and .22-250 for shooting a roe out to 200,(max 250) yards? Bearing in mind most shots are 150 or less?

Really tempted by the .222 as it’s nice and quite and supposedly very accurate. Can reload either way. But I’ve the dies,(actually unused) ect for the .250. Any real difference in meat damage, knock down or bullet drop?

That said the .22-250 possibly ticks the boxes a little better apart from noise? No real interest in a .223 or .243 currently.

Cheers!

I've personally owned ( when i shot 350-400 fox's a year ) .22 Hornet .223 .22-250 and .220 Swift guess what i own/ shoot now. Yep .222 an wish I'd listened many years ago and bought one. You don't need Warp Factor fps as proven when my Brother shot a .223 myself a .220 Swift . Obviously just my opinion and personal finding having shot a lot of fox's ( still shooting a fare few )

 

[User00035]

A triple is a fantastic rabbit gun as well. A 250 is over the top for that, and expensive.
I used to head shoot bunnies with my triple out to 200 effortlessly. It would shoot sub-1/2" groups at 200 yards, and that was off a car bonnet with me on the end of the butt waving it about. Never tried it in a sled but I imagine it would have been driving tacks still at that range. And moderated it sounds no different to an HMR.
I found mine didn't like to be pushed though. I could easily get up to 3500 fps with 50 grain bullets but they were never accurate whatever the recipe. The sweet spot was always 3100. 3200 with 40 grn.

Never used mine on roe being in England but it bang-flopped foxes past 200 yards with total reliability so it should have no difficulty with roe at 150.

 

[enfieldspares]

To my mind it depends on the action and bolt of the rifle you intend to buy. If you are lugging an action built for a 8mm Mauser size cartridge about it makes sense to use a 8mm Mauser size cartridge in it. Which is why in something like a Parker Hale "Santa Barbara" Mauser I could never see the point of .308 W instead or .30-06 nor .243 W instead of 6mm Remington. If you've a "big and long" action then use a "big and long" cartridge! But if you can get a sweet little BSA Hunter (or modern day size action equivalent) in .222 Remington then indeed the Gods have smiled on you!

 

[3.5mag]

Never had a 22-250 but love my triple.
Zero my 53gr Vmax (around 3050fps)
1 1/2" high @ 110yds bang on for 200yds, 1st hash mark on photon XT Ret. for 300/330 yds

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Is there any real world difference between .222 and .22-250 for shooting a roe out to 200,(max 250) yards?

one uses 21-22gr of powder for 3100 with a 50gr VMax/SP
one uses 33-34gr of powder for 3600 with a 50gr VMAx/SP

45-50% more powder for 15-20% more MV
Do the deer know the difference? No

I have shot the .222 for a few years and shot a lot of roe with it.
Personal choice but I use 60gr Hornady SP over N133 for a pleasant 3000fps
a 200+ yds roe is not a problem
Cheap to feed, pleasure to use

 

[bobjs]

Changed from a 20 tac to a 222 so that i could sell on the 20 tac, needless to say the 222 is a pleasure to hunt with, now selling it as the 20 tac did not sell and i dont need 2 rifles for foxing,

Cracking round and hits hard and just as accurate as the 20 tac,

Bob.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

....
I found mine didn't like to be pushed though. I could easily get up to 3500 fps with 50 grain bullets ...

Really?
Over a chronograph? What powder charge?

 

[VSS]

I've only fired a 22-250 once, but was awesomely impressed with the accuracy.
Having said that, I've been equally impressed by the way my daughter's 222 drops roe, feral goats and muntjac.
Maybe not a lot to choose between the two?

 

[JeffreyL]

I’ve tried both and settled on a 220 Swift!! Not so cheap to feed but a hoot to shoot.

 

[hedge hunter]

There are some nice 222 for sale at the minute.

 

[Miki]

There are some nice 222 for sale at the minute.

@Edinburgh Rifles has a nice stainless Tikka for sale with an adjustable stock ...

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks for all the info! Certainly has a strong following on here. I’ll keep you all updated if I end up getting one!

 

[sako85708]

After a few crossed words regarding the 222 vs 22 250 among friends, we tried the chrono and with the same bullet the 22 250 at 100 meters was the same as the 222 at 2 meters !! Only my findings but I think you get a better safety margin ( bad shot placement ) with a 22 250 . I've seen quite a few foxes run a long way with their tails spinning after being hit with a 222. I shoot with a Sako 22 250 zeroed like all my rifles 1" high at 100 and never worry about bullet drop if you can see it clear enough with a good old lamp. I don't doubt people get good results on roe deer (where allowed) with a 222 but why when I got my first 243 Win a lot of fellow shooters said " They are not enough rifle " for deer and should be used for foxes !!! Also I have never really noticed a noise difference between a 22 250 and a 222 when you only shoot a hand full of shot at night . Mind you wouldn't life be boring if we all shot the same rifle and cal !!

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

think your fox shooting friend with the .222 needs to spend some more time at the range

 

[User00035]

Really?
Over a chronograph? What powder charge?

To be honest I can't remember. It was a while ago. But I remember the figure and I remember that the primers were smacked as flat as pancakes.

I don't reload myself so a mate of mine helped me out making up a few loads. I know we started with Reloader 7 because I bought a bottle. Still got it gathering dust. But he had masses of powders and we tried several. He reckoned he could get it going faster than that but there was no point because the faster it went the worse the groups got. In fact, we struggled to improve on the factory Federal 40 grn V-Shoks I'd been using.
He'll have the loads in his notebook somewhere. The rifle was a BSA CF2 which has a really strong action. If I had the hot loads I probably wouldn't post them up because apart from them not being very good somebody might go and try them in a different rifle and not get away with it.

 

[booradley]

Both have a reputation for outstanding accuracy. While the .222 seems to still be very popular in Europe and Great Britain it is almost a forgotten cartridge here. So I’d go 22-250 because of ammo and reloading supplies availability and the opportunity to take very long shots if one wants to where I live.

 

[User00035]

TBH, if the OP is only putting ten rounds a year through the 250 why will the triple be any different? Unless he starts shooting rabbits with it as well.

I went the other way. I had a .222 but was struggling to get a regular supply of the Federal rounds in liked best (see loading post above). Debated replacing it with a .22-250 but in the end thought if I was going to do that I might as well go with a .243. OK, it doesn't shoot the 250's 4000 fps lightweight screamers but can match it with bullets 55 grn and above with a better BC; it's deer legal for everything throughout the UK, masses of ammo available and stacks of rifles to choose from.

As a direct alternative to a .22-250 I don't regret it but I miss the .222 and wish I'd fought harder to keep it as well rather than accept the on-on/one-off replacement my FEO wanted.
I did shoot rabbits with my triple and it was superb for that whereas the .243 is very OTT.

I think .222 feels more of an all-rounder .22 CF than the 250 because it isn't out of place rabbit shooting.

If it was me, I'd have a triple as a brilliant vermin rifle (it's not called the keeper's favourite for nothing) and not worry about roe with it. You've got a .270 for that.