Hunting with .22-250

[DaveS]

Does anyone have any experience with the .22-250 ? I'm thinking about one, but wanted some opinions. I will be hunting fox, coyote, bobcat and maybe a groundhog or two.

[Guest TnRebel]

My nephew took this ram with a 22-250 at about 150 yards.

Edited March 11, 2011 by TnRebel

[DaveS]

I am to assume that it will take deer if in the hands of an experienced hunter?

[timcalhoun]

I LOVE this round!!! I have killed tons of ground hogs and fox with it through the years.

[Good_Steward]

Top of the varmint caliber food chain. Best .22 round available. Period. It will absolutely level any of those animals you mentioned.

[DaveS]

What is the best bullet weight for yotes?

[bvarnell]

What is the best bullet weight for yotes?

Don't know if it's the best, but Hornady 55 gr V-Max sure will flip coyotes.

[Good_Steward]

Don't know if it's the best, but Hornady 55 gr V-Max sure will flip coyotes.

I like the 55's a lot, and use mostly V-Max, but Nosler's Ballistic tip varmint in 55gr are fantastic as well

[ShaunM]

I like Hornady V-Max.

[xd shooter]

I am to assume that it will take deer if in the hands of an experienced hunter?

My cousin's little girl took two deer in one day on her first hunt with a Stevens 22-250.

She got the first at about 75-80 yrds & the second at 50 to 60 yrds.

It might have been her second time even shooting a gun.

I'm just saying Luck has alot to do with it too.

[DaveS]

I think I'll give it a shot. I've been wanting a long range weapon, and I think this might suit me. Thanks for all the info.

[Curiousgb]

I have a friend in CA. He is shooting ground squirrels @ 200+ yards with 55gn Amax's. He states the results are amazing. I have shot deer with mine using a Nosler 60gn partition. Does the job.

[DaveS]

Is there a good variety of ammo available, or is this something I need to plan on reloading? I enjoy reloading, just thinking about my options. Like I said, my main use will be varments.

[whiskey]

I've heard that you can kill hogs with it.

[DaveS]

Now you got my attention!!

[roverboy]

Its a good cal. for a lot of things. I don't own one myself but I handload for a friend for his Ruger No. 1V. I load Hornady 55gr. spirepoints in it. I've got a .223 and if I knew what I know now I would've got a .22-250.

[Guest GunTroll]

WD,

I built my own 22-250 a few years ago on a Rem 788. Mine was ackly improved but more or less the same. I can get 220 swift velocities (4100+) out of mine if I wanted with my 40 grain V-max bullets and a max load of what ever powder I use. For me with my 1-14 twist, 24 inch long barrel I find my best groups at about 3600 fps. I have never shot anything but 40 gr bullets in y 22-250AI. If I could do it over again I would have selected a faster twist to open up more bullet selection.

I have utterly turned prairie dogs inside out out to 600 yards with my 22-250 AI. I'm sure I could push that range but 600 was about the norm. It kills with authority. The ammo is expensive (to me) and I find reloading enjoyable and as usual, better for accuracy. It does use more powder than other 22 centerfires minus some wildcats and the 220 swift. I have been getting smaller and smaller on my cartridges and calibers as of late for my own personal guns. I'm a fan of 223 Rem for all the above critters you mentioned out to reasonable ranges 300-350 max for me. Less powder, less recoil, and for me the most important aspect I like to not loose my sight picture during firing. I want to see a hit or miss on small animals.

My rifle weighs about 22 LBS so I don't ever carry it in the field. Bench only. I'd say about 2k prairie dogs have fell due to this rifle in the last summer I lived in CO. No muzzle flip either so loosing my sight picture doesn't happen due to the barrel weight.

You can't go wrong with a 22-250 for killing a multitude of game. Again be picky with the twist though.

[DaveS]

Does the 22-250 pack a punch on the recoil end? I'm wanting to go with a single shot, so a "quick second shot" is not in the planning stages.

[Guest GunTroll]

No. Not really.

[Good_Steward]

Is there a good variety of ammo available, or is this something I need to plan on reloading? I enjoy reloading, just thinking about my options. Like I said, my main use will be varments.

Ton of great factory loads out there for the .22-250. If you want to reload (I do) I recommend accurate 2230 (I like it at 33.5gr) with CCI LR primers and a good 55gr bullet, such as the Hornady or Nosler. Very accurate load. Minimal recoil with maximum damage.

[DaveS]

Thanks for the re-load data, I'm sure it will go to good use. What type of bullet are you using? Soft Nose, Hollow Point, Ballistic Tip?

[Good_Steward]

Thanks for the re-load data, I'm sure it will go to good use. What type of bullet are you using? Soft Nose, Hollow Point, Ballistic Tip?

This load works well with the SP varmint and V-Max Hornady, and the ballistic tip Nosler.

[Guest GunTroll]

Does the 22-250 pack a punch on the recoil end? I'm wanting to go with a single shot, so a "quick second shot" is not in the planning stages.

But you still may loose sight picture. For me I like to see the "pink mist".

[DaveS]

I guess the "explosive mist" is really worth watching. When I pick this rifle up, I need to get with some of you varmint/long range shooters at the range! I like my shooting "up close and personal". Comes from my Army MP/Game Warden days. This "long range" stuff is different. I can barely see 250 yards...how the heck am I gonna shoot that far! Whiskey and GunTroll are my neighbors...come on guys...need your help!

[Guest GunTroll]

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