Help... .22-250 or .243 for Yotes?

[Straight Shooter]

I'm looking to get another predator rig.  Been researching, but can't decide on the .22-250 or .243... or both.    I have a half dozen .223s, which I love, but would like a bit more reach/down-range energy.  I've been looking at the Win 45 gr HPs for the .22-250... good reports and fairly easy to come by.  I'm also interested in the various 55-75 gr loads for the .243.  Any experience/advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

SS

[boneaddict]

I have always loved the 22-250.  I suppose you have more variety or uses for the 243.    One you might also consider is a 220 Swift.

[jdb]

if you already have a .223 then I personally would go .243 with 55's it will out do the .22-250 the fly in the ointment  is its probably not fur freindly

[Shootmoore]

I run a .223 and a .243.  I shoot a 80 grain in the 243 for yotes, however as someone said its not the most fur friendly round.  With the added benefit if I ever fall on my head and decide to rifle hunt again for deer I can bump up to the 100 gr and use the same gun.  I prefer the choice of a slightly heavier bullet for reaching out to the 300-400 yard range.

Shootmoore

[Hillbilly270]

I was having the same dilemma and after thinking about it a bit i figured i would go with the 243.  I have two young boys and I figure they could use it for deer hunting etc... if there is still deer hunting available to us when they get old enough.   Just something to think about.....didn't know if you had young-uns also.

[Hillbilly270]

Not to thread jack, but does anyone use a 243 WSSM?  or is this round phasing out?

[jdb]

a guy I hunt with bought a .243 wssm and we never could get that rifle to shoot worth a darn

[demontang]

I think id get both since you said that :chuckle:I loved my 22-250 and it was cheap to shot.

 If your looking at the 243wssm Id go with an AR15

[ing]

Personally I'd go with the 243.  The only reason being is I'm not much of a predator hunter and I just can't justify buying a rifle that I can't legally hunt big game with.  Of course if we lived in another state like say Montana it wouldn't matter.

[Bofire]

I have and use both. Love both. If I had to chose, I could live without the 22-250. I shoot 80 grain for everything in my 243 a, soft point, not a varmit bullet. 22-250 is flat and a good killer, 243 just as flat and a better killer, about the same noise but the 243 kicks a tiny bit more.
I also use a 223, I will never feel under gunned for yotes with a 22-250. 243 doubles as a small deer gun.
Here in washington a 243 is nice in the fall cause you might call a bear, cougar or coyote, depending on where and time of year, you could take any of the 3 with a 243, of course you would need a perfect shot on a bear.
my 2.
Carl

[wastickslinger]

.204 ruger

[Straight Shooter]

Thanks guys... great info/advice.  Although the kids are grown and on their own... and I don't need another deer rifle, the .243 seems like the best choice.

[carpsniperg2]

were you have 223's i would go to the 243.

[PolarBear]

.243  I'm getting one for yotes as soon as I get back to work.  Great crossover round for varmints and big game.

[high country]

I have both. I like the 243 for bein able to hunt deer should I ever want to. the 250 is a bit chaper to load for but is also a bit tougher on barrels.......both are hard on coyote. if you really want to reach out and smack em' give the 257 roy a peek.

[Straight Shooter]

I have both. I like the 243 for bein able to hunt deer should I ever want to. the 250 is a bit chaper to load for but is also a bit tougher on barrels.......both are hard on coyote. if you really want to reach out and smack em' give the 257 roy a peek.

I was also considering the .25-06 with 85/87 gr loads, but the .243 work better for my needs.

[bow-n-head]

My advice is just pick one and get good with it. 250,243... doesn't matter much. the dog isn't gona know the difference. If you already have a 243 shoot it. I think you are just looking for an excuse to buy another gun, in which case just buy it.

[Straight Shooter]

My advice is just pick one and get good with it. 250,243... doesn't matter much. the dog isn't gona know the difference. If you already have a 243 shoot it. I think you are just looking for an excuse to buy another gun, in which case just buy it.

There are no excuses, I do want to buy another gun... not because I need one, but because I have the money and I want one... either a .22-250 or .243.  I do appreciate those that took a few minutes to chime in to provide useful information.

[FALFire]

I shoot 223, 22-250, 243WSSM and 25-06, when I don't want to take chances of losing a wounded coyote, I take the 243WSSM or the 25-06. My 25 is a Tikka T3 and it simply an outstanding carry rig.

[Big10gauge]

The .243 is a great coyote gun, Between the .204 .223, 22-250 or the .243 that I use they all will put a coyote down humanely, but the .243 does it with authority.

[Gutpile]

Oh man! I loved my 22-250. It was like a laser beam. I sold it and bought a 220 swift which I also love but haven't brought it out yet this year. That said my next yote gun is going to be the lightest .243 I can find.

I don't have experience with a .243, I do with a 22-250 and if you get one you'd love it, except you already have a bunch of .223's so to me it's .243 all the way. WooHoo!!!

[MHWASH]

 The 22-250 is a heck of a fun gun and a good yote rifle. It's all I used for years. TO me the .243 has just enough more recoil to make it not as fun.

 Considering you already have some .223s, I also say .243.

[bearpaw]

I highly recommend a 257 Weatherby. It is one of the flattest shooting production calibers available. I shoot 100 gr bullets loaded lightly out to 300 yards, anything over 300 yards I like using 75 gr bullets loaded at 4000 fps. They shoot ultra flat out to 500 yds.

Basically imagine a 25:06 that shoots faster and flatter..... Same caliber will also work great on antelope, deer, and we have even taken bear and moose.

The one caveat is that if you shoot a lot you need to be a handloader, the factory rounds are pricey. If you shoot factory ammo then I would recommend the 25:06. Either .25 caliber offers superiority over the 243/6mm which I also have shot a lot and enjoy but feel the 24's are not as good of caliber.

[Hillbilly270]

I shoot 223, 22-250, 243WSSM and 25-06, when I don't want to take chances of losing a wounded coyote, I take the 243WSSM or the 25-06. My 25 is a Tikka T3 and it simply an outstanding carry rig.

How does your .243wssm shoot?  Do you handload?

[Straight Shooter]

I picked up Winchester 70 Coyote in .25 WSSM for my dad a few years ago from a guy going through a divorce and bankruptcy... $350.00 for the brand new rifle, Sightron 3-12x42 scope, gun case, and 100 rds of Win Ballistic Silver Tips... 

He really likes the rifle/caliber, but it seems that the WSSM cartridges are dying a slow death.  That being said, I'd love to have one in .223 WSSM!

[jjhunter]

You knew the answer before you even asked......243, hands down!  

-The 22-250 is a great caliber - I have always had one, but for a 0-400 yard rifle, the .204 does it faster, flatter, and with less recoil.
-The same would go for the Swift - although comparable in speed to the .204, brass selection is crappy, case design is crappy, recoil, etc.....
-The 25's listed are great caliber's, but we are talking 'yote rifles and neither cartridge I would call efficient.  I have owned both and they were okay, but too much recoil for what you got.
-The 243 really shines because of 4 factors:  1) inherent accuracy  2) quality brass (Lapua/Norma/Nosler)  3) GREAT selection of varmint weight bullets  4) Versalility.

Let's take the last one - versatility.....with a .243 you can shoot 55 grn BT's at over 4K!  Put that in your ballistics program and it appears you may have found the best 0-500 yard cartidge/bullet combo on the planet for song dogs!   Let's say you want to step up the hitting power while still maintaining 3600+ fps - the 65 grain V-max and 70 grain BT will do this with remarkable accuracy and low recoil.  Now, maybe you want to push a bullet at 3300-3500 fps but want a bullet with a relatively high b.c. in a varmint bullet for long range shots - this can be done with the 75 and 87 grain V-max bullets.

I have owned two .243's.  A Remington VLS and a custom 12 twist built on a 700 action.  Both rifles were insanely accurate.  The first was 1/2" gun with 70 grain BT's.  The second was a 1/4" gun with 75 V-max's.  Both dispatched many, many coyotes.

Go with a .243 and you will not be disappointed!

[bearpaw]

I guess I don't understand how recoil is an issue until you get up to .284 or larger.....

Actually most any of the calibers discussed here will kill the dickens out of any coyote, just depends how well you hit them. Coyotes are tough and unless you hit them well, it don't matter what you are shooting..... I actually think the scope and lots of practice shooting is a bigger consideration when coyote hunting....

[jjhunter]

I guess I don't understand how recoil is an issue until you get up to .284 or larger.....

Actually most any of the calibers discussed here will kill the dickens out of any coyote, just depends how well you hit them. Coyotes are tough and unless you hit them well, it don't matter what you are shooting..... I actually think the scope and lots of practice shooting is a bigger consideration when coyote hunting....

Come on, Bearpaw.....you are a professional outfitter.  Recoil is always a factor.  Recoil greatly impacts the ability to watch bullet impact, follow through, shot recovery, etc.  Not to mention that violent cartridges are much harder to shoot accurately when compared to less violent catridges, regardless of ability.    In a game (Varmint Hunting) that involves high volume, faced paced action when compared to big game hunting, recoil would rank as my #1 variable to mitigate.  

I'd put my little Cooper .204 against any rifle in the field.......not cause it kills any better or is anymore accurate.  It's because I get all the high performace and flat trajectory of a "big banger"  will virtually zero recoil.  I can watch bullet impact, recover quickly for follow-up shots(mulitiple dogs), and shoot from ANY position without worrying about "clutching" my rifle to escape the dreaded "cresent moon" above my eye at extreme shooting angles.  This leads to increases confidence, concentration, accuracy, and ultimately, success.

While the .243 has more recoil than the .204, for the versalility and extra hitting power, the extra recoil is worth performance "gains".  Most serious 'yote hunters will agree that   the .24 calibers are the breaking point in reasonable recoil for strictly varmint hunting situations.

[Red Dawg]

The 204 is a great caliber but I think that it is an extra from my point of view, the 223 is the same with a 40 grain bullet and I am guessing that if you loaded a 35 grain in it, it would also get the same performance as a 32gr 20cal. Although the 204 does burn a bit less powder. That is the only advantage that I see. However if you put a 40 grain in a 22-250 you are well over 4000k and in at least my experience is it very accurate. With the 243 or 6mm rem you have two very good guns that will shoot the lights out of anything. I dont think I would shoot a 55 gr all the time out of it but with a 80 grain or higher with those great BC that is what I would shoot and shoot a lot. That is in fact why we have gunsmiths.

[C-Money]

Eather way, you are in good shape!

[bearpaw]

I guess I don't understand how recoil is an issue until you get up to .284 or larger.....

Actually most any of the calibers discussed here will kill the dickens out of any coyote, just depends how well you hit them. Coyotes are tough and unless you hit them well, it don't matter what you are shooting..... I actually think the scope and lots of practice shooting is a bigger consideration when coyote hunting....

Come on, Bearpaw.....you are a professional outfitter.  Recoil is always a factor.  Recoil greatly impacts the ability to watch bullet impact, follow through, shot recovery, etc.  Not to mention that violent cartridges are much harder to shoot accurately when compared to less violent catridges, regardless of ability.    In a game (Varmint Hunting) that involves high volume, faced paced action when compared to big game hunting, recoil would rank as my #1 variable to mitigate.  

I'd put my little Cooper .204 against any rifle in the field.......not cause it kills any better or is anymore accurate.  It's because I get all the high performace and flat trajectory of a "big banger"  will virtually zero recoil.  I can watch bullet impact, recover quickly for follow-up shots(mulitiple dogs), and shoot from ANY position without worrying about "clutching" my rifle to escape the dreaded "cresent moon" above my eye at extreme shooting angles.  This leads to increases confidence, concentration, accuracy, and ultimately, success.

While the .243 has more recoil than the .204, for the versalility and extra hitting power, the extra recoil is worth performance "gains".  Most serious 'yote hunters will agree that   the .24 calibers are the breaking point in reasonable recoil for strictly varmint hunting situations.

I totally agree that recoil can be a factor, but I have not really witnessed recoil being a factor on calibers smaller than .284. I have shot my .257 WTBY at varmints round after round. There's very little recoil as compared to larger bore diameters. I know guys who shoot .270's at varmints, they also have little recoil. Now noise is a different story, if noise bothers you, better opt for a smaller catridge case...

I mostly notice recoil being a factor when hunters are shooting the 7mm and 300 mags or larger guns. Some hunters are not comfortable with that kind of recoil. But I will agree, if a 25 caliber is uncomfortable for you to shoot, you would be better off with a smaller caliber.

[jjhunter]

My point was not that recoil hurt, or was uncomfortable......my point was that recoil greatly limits "sight" and "feel" at the shot which is imperative to following through and making a good shot.    The greater the perceived recoil, regardless of amount or type, the greater impact on "sight" and "feel".

This is mostly important for running shots, which some don't take, but for me, account for a majority of my coyotes.

Maybe I'll buy some time from you one of these days and we can test our hypotheses in the field    Montana 'yote hunt?   

[Special T]

Do you think Ball Ammo for the 243 would keep from destroying the fur? Do they even make a light ball boattail round in 243?

[Bofire]

too many opinions, You gotta get BOTH!!
Carl

[FALFire]

I shoot 223, 22-250, 243WSSM and 25-06, when I don't want to take chances of losing a wounded coyote, I take the 243WSSM or the 25-06. My 25 is a Tikka T3 and it simply an outstanding carry rig.

How does your .243wssm shoot?  Do you handload?

Hillbilly,

My 243WSSM is on the AR15 platform and it shoots awesome, as a matter of fact I just shot my 300 yard target tonight and it's printing one on top of the other, makes me all warm and fuzzy inside

[denali]

too many opinions, You gotta get BOTH!!
Carl

kinda like tools ... do you have enough tools? no of coarse not? buy both

[257 Wby Mag]

Perhaps a mod can make a sticky thread, labeled, "243, king of coyote killers when loaded with a 55 grain nosler BT" so we don't have to go through this every month?

[mossback91]

Perhaps a mod can make a sticky thread, labeled, "243, king of coyote killers when loaded with a 55 grain nosler BT" so we don't have to go through this every month?

cause thatd be a lie!! 

[Red Dawg]

agreed 

[Jamieb]

I use a 22-250 for most of my yote hunting. I'm pushing a molyed 50gr. V-max at 3900FPS and thats not leaning on it. It will do all I need for yotes out to 500 yards and my 22-250 doubles as a sage rat rifle.

[Bigbuckhunter_1996]

i would say the .243 with 55 grain ballistic silvertips about the same trajcectory as a .22-250 & but way more knock down power & its also a legal deer gun

[calib]

i bought the stevens model 200 in .243 and i love that gun    i am shooting 85 grain sierra hpbt's  dam accurate at 4 shots under a nickel          the reason for the .243 was to buck the wind a bit better    never had one before   and  probably wont get rid of it now

[norsepeak]

why does it have to one or the other?  just get both!

[Straight Shooter]

why does it have to one or the other?  just get both!

 

[Kent Hunter]

I'd get the 22-250. I shoot a .220 Swift and a couple of my buddies shoot 22-250's. They are pretty darn close as far as ballisitcs go. Plus, they are just darn fun to shoot.

[bearpaw]

most any gun purchase is a good purchase...

[demontang]

 
I heck get both

[addicted]

most any gun purchase is a good purchase...

[257 Wby Mag]

I've always figured a 22-250 was about like a 7 mag. Better little guys for the job, and alot better big guys for the job. Bout like anything based off the 06' case.. But thats just me, I still like Roy's redundant offerings, which still haven't been topped by any commercial offerings...

Buy a 243 and don't look back for coyotes. You want a rat gun, buy a 204.