.22 centerfire advice

[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.