Wanting a new predator gun, .223, .204, 22-250

[Jerry malbeck]

Why in the world would any one want a bull barreled rifle for a calling gun?
to heavy, wont swing fast, and ya gotta pack that anchor around all day . if your not going to be shooting multiple rounds there is no need for a bull barrel , all a bull barrel does is dissipate heat a lil better until they get good and hot , then you have to let them cool for a longer period of time , just makes no sense to me for a gun you will be calling critters with . 

[wastickslinger]

I know the VTR's are a cool looking rifle, but the they have too short a barrel for a 22-250. With the short barrel, you're not going to get great range with a .223 either. I think they are more of a novelty gun than a good varmint killer.

My VTR has a 24" barrel. Almost too long for wheeling and dealing.    And mine literally stacks bullets. At the range the first time at 100 yards 509er and Antlerking thought I was missing the target after the first shot. After further inspection I had just made my first hole a little bigger.    Mine is a .204. I love it.

[Special T]

My bro in law just got a steal on a Rem r15 with the Nikon coyote scope 22 barell... So jeluse... I can't wait to go over there and whack some yotes with him! I'm so happy one of us finally got an AR cus neither one for us can shoot worth a Wooden nickel... Guess I'll be riding shotgun... 

[Everett]

The Remington R-25 is supposed to be good, but I'm not sure what the price difference is between the R-15 and the R-25.

[TheSkyBuster]

I like 22.250 bolt guns, I run .53 gr Barns TSX-FB on top of 38 gr of H380. Just a simple long range shooter.
 

I tried the 53 gr TSX-FB in my light barreled 700 SPS stainless and they were all over the paper. I figured it was the 1 in 14" twist and/or the lenght of the bullet and quit using them after the first batch.  I could be wrong though I never really revisited that problem.

[CAMPMEAT]

Why in the world would any one want a bull barreled rifle for a calling gun?
to heavy, wont swing fast, and ya gotta pack that anchor around all day . if your not going to be shooting multiple rounds there is no need for a bull barrel , all a bull barrel does is dissipate heat a lil better until they get good and hot , then you have to let them cool for a longer period of time , just makes no sense to me for a gun you will be calling critters with . 

How many miles do you carry your gun per day ? I go and sit down someplace, so distance isn't a big deal.

[jackelope]

The Remington R-25 is supposed to be good, but I'm not sure what the price difference is between the R-15 and the R-25.

It's not a price difference, it's a caliber difference...kinda like a AR-15 and an AR-10.

[jackelope]

p.s. I took my Encore to the range today and dialed my 22-250 (24" bull barrel) with the cheap 45 grn JHP Winchester rounds and shot about .75" groups at 100  . 29.99 for 40 rounds.

[brew]

this is my set up...i bought it about 11 years ago.  It is a Winchester Model 70 "Coyote" 22-250.....it has the laminated stock and the stainless bbl.  As far as scopes I consider myself a Leupold guy but put the Nikon 6.5-20 on it after side by side comparisons...the Nikon was brighter to me (also cost a couple hundred bucks more than the gun).  It's got the adjustable turrets on the scope for windage and elevation.  The only problem I've had with it was the trigger pull...adjusted it down so now it's great. Crazy thing with it is when I'm shooting on the range is that I've really got to time my shots between hearbeats cuz when its in my caldwell rest I can see the crosshairs moving in conjunction with my heartbeats when I'm really zeroed in....shoots like a dream when i do my part...never really shot it past 250 yds but would love to see what it can do......pic is on on of my bear rugs that i've had rolled up for a while for contrast-thats why the hair is all jacked up...just got done moving and need to roll it out

[tlbradford]

Jerry, I'm surprised about your comments on the bull barrel.  They are steadier in windy conditions which we deal with a lot in E Wash, they swing smoother on the long distance runners, and a synthetic stock bull barrel is about the same weight as most of the standard AR's that are so popular now.

Of course, I'm hitting the local stores looking for a used bolt action pistol since I'm packing a camera most of the time and calling for others.  Maybe a Contender.

[jackelope]

My 22-250 critter gitter. 6-18x50 cheap Bushnell scope but it works.

[Bofire]

 :)I used a bull barrel tikka for one season,the tikka bull is lighter than most, too heavy, very hard to swing on runners, harder to adjust as you track a dog coming in. I liked it for Pdogs. My calling rifle is just under 7 pounds loaded scoped and sling. perfect! I do not like AR's either, awkward, most are way heavy, I do not like how the scopes mount, too high. I like 223 and 22-250 equal, 204 is probably OK but not legal for Cougar so I won't use one.
Carl

[Sidewinder]

Since you have a 243 for the larger critters, I would go with the 204. It will easily take prairie dogs out to 600 yards. It cuts the wind better than the .224 caliber due to the better BC. It is accurate and can see the hit in the scope.  I have a CZ in 223 and it is too light. I have a tough time keeping it steady off hand. Shooting of sticks they are all good. I have a Savage 12VLP in 204 and it weighs over 10 pounds out of the box and it just got too heavy to lug around. Sometimes you have to walk a long ways to get to all your sets.

[BlackRidge]

My 22-250 critter gitter. 6-18x50 cheap Bushnell scope but it works.

Nice setup 

[pronghorn]

 I think you need to go with whats most comfortable to you. If you're wanting to go for accuracy, then I believe the.204 may be a little light. The 22-250 would be a good caliber as long as you shoot 52 -55gr bullet. Even then be aware of your wind speeds.
 I shoot a Savage model 12  22-250 with a 6-25x52 Millet scope. It took awhile but I'm shooting out to 500 yards comfotably.