.22 centerfire advice

[heronblu]

Looking for a good coyote/varmint gun and like the idea of a .22 centerfire. Anyone have any advice on a good one? I don't really want to break the bank either so keep that in mind.  Thanks!

[AWS]

That is a pretty broad area to cover with one gun.  Calling coyotes I'd look at one of the light weight bolt guns in 22-250 to 223 with a 3-9 or less variable scope.  Targets of opertunity on coyotes a heavier barreled 22-250, Savage Predator, CZ Varmint, 4x16 or 3x12 scope.  Throw in colony varmints, sage rats or PD's I'd be looking at one of the heavier barreled smaller caliber rigs 222 Rem, 204 Ruger or 223 and a 6.5x20 scope wouldn't be out of the question..  Bigger cartridges can eat barrels on a colony shoot.

For  called coyotes my rifle is a Savage 11 sporter in 22-204(more than a 223 less than a 22-250) with a 1.5x6 scope, targets of opertunity I have a Remington LVSF in 22-250 with a 2.5x10 scope and for PD's and targets I'm in the process of building a Savage 11 in 222 Rem with a 6.5x20 scope.

[carpsniperg2]

22-250 Ruger American.

[dontgetcrabs]

Nothing better than a 22-250. 

[b23]

Looking for a good coyote/varmint gun and like the idea of a .22 centerfire. Anyone have any advice on a good one? I don't really want to break the bank either so keep that in mind.  Thanks!

Given your parameters, a .223 would be my first choice.  There are MANY to choose from, they last forever, a wide variety of ammo is available and a .223 has pretty much the cheapest ammo you'll find.  So if you are looking for a centerfire rifle you can shoot a lot and for the least amount spent, a .223 is what you want.  I'd suggest looking for one with at least a 1-9 twist barrel which will give you a much bigger range of usable ammo. 

My second choice would be 22-250.

[Jonathan_S]

Another vote for .22-250.  You'll have more long distance range without burning barrels like the .204 or 220 Swift.

.223 is good unless you are looking to have a 400-500 yard setup which a lot of guys do 

[Curly]

I haven't heard that .204's are real barrel burners. 

 

[Curly]

I've got a real barrel burning cartridge in .22 cal but I wouldn't recommend it.  I only have it because I got the gun as a gift.  The ammo is very expensive and brass is hard to come by for reloading.  I don't mind that it is a barrel burner though.  I will just limit the amount of ammo put through it, so it really won't be a problem.

It launches a 60 gr bullet at 3,600 fps.  Anybody want to guess what cartridge it is?

[Skillet]

Going to guess the Swift.

[Curly]

Nope.


223 wssm

[Mongo Hunter]

Had a buddy that ran a Bushmaster Varminter with a nice scope. I know he really dug it.

[Jonathan_S]

I haven't heard that .204's are real barrel burners. 

 

Well that's all I've done is heard it so I could be wrong.  There are other reasons I wouldn't consider a .204 though.

223 wssm

That is one BAD cartridge but yeah, eats up barrels. 

[b23]

Nope.


223 wssm

I think those 223 WSSM's would have been more popular had they fitted them with a lot faster twist tube.  Seemed like such a waste to have all that Horsepower (10 grains more powder capacity than a 22-250) and be limited to light weight booolits.  I always thought those things had so much potential but they never seemed to really gain much popularity and now, you rarely hear of one mentioned. 

The whole "barrel burner" thing with many different cartridges has been largely overstated.  Lack of cool down time between shots is the number one cause of throat erosion and that's what goes to hell on barrels not the whole barrel.  Overbore cartridges are certainly more damaging to throat erosion and some are worse than others but the person pulling the trigger can make a big difference, good or bad.  By letting the barrel cool a bit in between firings you can extend the life substantially but you take one of these hot rod rounds to a P-dog town and you can toast the throat in one day.

[Curly]

Yeah, I really wish mine had a faster twist.  It is 1:10 and it really would be cool to have a 1:8 to be able to shoot some longer bullets. 

64 gr bullets shoot good and I haven't tried heavier, but I heard that the heavier than that likely won't do well. 

[heronblu]

Thanks for the replies! I think that I'm leaning towards a ruger .22-250. I've been using my 12g for coyotes but they are getting wise and wont come close these days.

[ScottyO]

IMHO...you could start out with a .223Rem shoot er for a season or two and then ascess your options...ScottyO.

[Ridgeratt]

Looking for a good coyote/varmint gun and like the idea of a .22 centerfire. Anyone have any advice on a good one? I don't really want to break the bank either so keep that in mind.  Thanks!

Given your parameters, a .223 would be my first choice.  There are MANY to choose from, they last forever, a wide variety of ammo is available and a .223 has pretty much the cheapest ammo you'll find.  So if you are looking for a centerfire rifle you can shoot a lot and for the least amount spent, a .223 is what you want.  I'd suggest looking for one with at least a 1-9 twist barrel which will give you a much bigger range of usable ammo. 

My second choice would be 22-250.

Some wise info here!

Granted 223 is/ or was easy to get. I would also consider a 22-250.
Reasons being if they ever want to shut off the 223 to reloaders just dry up the primers!! They are small rifle along with numerous others of the 224 dia. But they 22-250 uses large rifle.   

[300rum]

You won't regret having a .223 in the safe. 

[Bofire]

22-250

[slm9s]

2 that I don't think have been mentioned:

if you reload: 6br

if you don't reload: 243

[mikeybuck]

I'm very happy with my 22 hornet....

[ghosthunter]

I shoot a Remington 700 VTR 223

[Rem14]

Always used my 60's  Remington 700BDL Varmint 22-250 heavy barrel, Leupold straight 12x for all distances . But I  purchased a Mossberg MVP in 5.56 ,20" sporter  barrel ,Bushnell 3200 elite 3x9, It loves the Hornady 75gr HPBT, 4 shots under 3/4" 100yd and 4 shots under 2" at 200yds, ran out of time to try it at my 300yd bench. I think this is going to be my truck/tractor carry.

[grundy53]

.22-250

[Bill W]

If you plan to shoot a lot.... say a prairie dog hunt.... get a .223 as it will be cheaper to shoot.   After a week the recoil builds up and you will say, "that .22-250 (or larger) does recoil.

If you plan on hunting coyotes and not going thru 1000 rounds a week (p. dogs) get a .22-250.

Back when mil surplus .223 cases were available for $.01 each and .22-250 cases were only sold in boxes of 20 (no bulk prices), for the same price as what it would have cost for 3500 rounds of hand loaded .22-250 ammo I got a 700 Varmint Special in .223, a 4-12x scope, loading dies, components and still had $50 left over.

On that first prairie dog trip I did hit one area that enough p dogs to threaten my stash of ammo.   A .223 will hit and kill prairie dogs out to 550 yards.  Beyond that it takes a good spotter to find the little buggers.

A .22-250 will cut thru the wind at quarter mile distance and make hits easy where a .223 shooter would be checking for subtleties in the wind.  Bullet choice greatly helps with this also.   My .22-250 shot best with either Sierra or Nosler 52 grain BTHP bullets.   The .223 shot best with the Speer 52 grain HP bullets which had a very big nose and lower BC.