Thread: The 22/250, what do you zap with it, what are its pros and cons.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Does it make more sense to launch the same or slightly greater weight of pill out of a 243 for a better result?

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

22-250 is great for 400 M goats and varmints. But you'd a that a 243 Winchester would be just as useful. You can get a 100 grain going quite fast let alone a 55 grain. Might not be as interesting.

I had a think about your question @Max Headroom, before just automatically answering "yes" just cos I'm a committed .243 fan. Truth is I don't remember ever using the 55-60gr bullets in .243 Win, thinking back the lightest I've ever used is probably 75gr.

I've often thought about giving it a try but haven't ever really seen the point as of course I've always had one or two of the .22 rifles in the safe.

So I think @Russian 22. is right, it's more interesting to have more rifles! But also to concentrate on getting a specific rifle to shoot the kind of bullet it was always designed to shoot as well as possible. In the case of the 243 Winchester that was bullets in the 80-100gr range originally, and for the 1:14" or 1:12" .22-250, 40-55gr.

Where the gap closes on the .243 is with the fast twist .22s and heavy for calibre bullets. Looking at some of the new high BC .22 cal offerings in the 70-80gr range, the ballistics look good, especially windage.

A quick example.

.22-250 Rem (1:9" twist)
80gr ELD-M
3300fps
100yd zero
10mph wind, 90°

300yds: -8" drop, 5" wind drift
400yds: -19" drop, 9" wind drift


.243 Win (1:10" twist)
75gr V-Max (closest Hornady 6mm bullet to the .224 ELD-M)
3400fps
100yd zero
10mph wind, 90°

300yds: -8" drop, 7" wind drift
400yds: -20" drop, 14" wind drift

You're right on the limit of stability with the 1:9" twist .22-250 and the 80gr ELD-M, which is why I favour the new high capacity but faster twist .22 cal cartridges, like .22 Creedmoor. Just don't expect to get much more than 1000 rounds out of a barrel!