22-250 VS .243

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jackslayer

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I am considering a bolt gun purchase and was looking for some insight as to which of these two calibers would be superior.

Application:
Bench rest shooting
Varmint Hunting

Questions:
Which will have a longer barrel life all things being equal(no hot loads)
Which round is better for accuracy at distances beyond 400yds
Which has the flatter trajectory or is there a difference
Would recoil be noticably different between the two when shouldering a 10 pound varmint gun
would re-loading costs be significantly different

I appreciate you shared expertise and thanks for responding
 
I don't know the answers to all your questions but the 22-250 is far superior to the .243 as a Varmint round. The .243 can take deer so it's really not considered a Varmint round even though you can use it.

The 22-250 is a much faster round, shoots flatter and will maintain velocity out at 400 yards but the .243 will have a slightly higher velocity past 400 yards.

I'm a big fan of the 22-250 and I'm usually suggesting it over the .222 or .223, not the .243 because it's just not "usually" considered a Varmint round. The .204 Ruger is a good Varmint round too.
 
22-250 vs 243 ??HMMM
Well 22-250 is fast and flat
And 243 fast and flat
Anyone that says that a 243 is not a flat shooting that sob is full of it.
I have test fired both rifles at the ranges here in NM.I love the 22-250 but the 243 can make the rounds.
M77 ruger 243
Rem 7 22-250
love both wish I still had those little bastards:fire:
243 is my weapon for all my bench and pest control:evil:
 
For your intended use I'd opt for the .22-250. Probably hard to find one that doesn't shoot well. As far as barrel wear you'll have to shoot many, many rounds before it is a real issue.......Essex
 
Something I'll add is, that in my exrperiance (and I don't know why this is) a 243 seems to be a lot pickier than 22-250 when it comes to developing accurate handloads.

For the non handloader the Winchester white box 40rnd value packs are enough to select a 22-250 over a .243 on the price of ammo alone.

292740_d.jpg
 
After hours of internet research I choose the .243. Both are great and well respected rounds. Both rounds have diehard proponents that have well thought though arguments on both sides of your questions. Only two things most will agree on: the heavier .243 bullet is less effected by wind on long shots and the hotter faster moving .22-250 round will destroy a barrel after more shooting then most of us will ever do. Good Luck, I don't think you will be unhappy with either choice.
 
Make it simple....

Get a Encore and get two barrels..... They will shoot MOA.
The nice thing is that when the wind picks up you can go to the .243 and do better.
Also remember that the B.C in .243 is better also..
 
I think they are both cult cartridges in different ways.

For varmint / sub 600 yd target the .22-250 strikes me as a very good balance of speed, precision, and application.

The .243 is often regarded as a "dual purpose" caliber which I think short changes either purpose to varying extents. Something that gets overlooked about this cartridge is that when you look at custom bench rest rigs from the 80's it shows up pretty often. Being a huge fan of the .308 Winchester I have to wonder if it's "thoroughbred" roots are under the surface!

As for recoil from a 10 lb rifle I'd say that the .22-250 is all blast no shove. Then again my "varmint" rig is a .308 Winchester so maybe I'm not too sensitive. I guess I'd say that any average person should be able to comfortably shoot either caliber for long periods.

The reloading question strikes home for me. The .223 diameter bullets are WAY cheaper than the 6mm/.243 bullets are. Plus the number of loaded cartridges per bottle of powder will make the .22-250 a front runner there as well. Given that primers cost a pittance, that isn't worth considering.

Economically speaking the .22-250 is a better choice for varmint/target shooting. Should you choose to indulge in long range shooting or hunting coyotes I'd probably go for the .243.
 
neither, go with a 6mm remmy. hotter than a 243, 10 times the bbl life of either. factory ammo is 10 to 12 dollars a box, cheaper than the others.
because of its extra long neck, the 6mm remmy can be handloaded with a bunch of diff powder loadings, while keeping the throat/chamber area cool, because of all the extra brass in the neck.
ohter than that, the 243, will do the things you want better than the 250.
 
Of the two I own a .243, since you are reloading it would be a tough call. But my experience is that the .243 is a dandy round for what you intend t use it for.
 
What about the .243 WSSM?

55gr bullets at close to 4200fps would up the red mist factor considerably.
 
22-250 or .243? Put them together and get something really special!

I went with the 22-243 Middlestead and have "blown" away at the performance. Of course not an option unless you reload. Otherwise, stick with the 22-250 if for no other reason than economics.
 
58 grain .243

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned hornday's 58 grain .243 round. 3750 out of the barrel. It's my favorite varmint round but I must admit it's much more economical to shoot 22-250. The 22-250 will do everything a light weight .243 will do, just my personal taste.
 
I haven't seen any data the supports better ballistic preformance from WSSM calibers and their Standard counterparts.
Given that Winchester isn't producung rifles in WSSM they may become one of the Fads gone by the wayside. Don't Take That as Fact!! It is pure Speculation on my part, and has no merit other than it is my opinion.
Another consideration is reloading who is making WSSM Brass? It could take the cost effectivness right out of reloading.
Too many questions about WSSM for me to consider it as a new purchase.
 
Sorry to be a bubble buster for those who don't think the 243 is a capable varmit round - with 58 or 75 grain vmax's it kicks butt on varmits. I have both and love my 22-250 but the 243 does well on coyote class varmits - for the little critters I have a 223 REM or Hornet or 17 HMR so my poor 22-250 has been seeing alot of safe time lately.
 
neither, go with a 6mm remmy. hotter than a 243, 10 times the bbl life of either. factory ammo is 10 to 12 dollars a box, cheaper than the others.
because of its extra long neck, the 6mm remmy can be handloaded with a bunch of diff powder loadings, while keeping the throat/chamber area cool, because of all the extra brass in the neck.
ohter than that, the 243, will do the things you want better than the 250.
Click to expand...
+1

6mm Remington, especially if you roll your own. The .243 is the 6mm's weaker and less versatile sibling. It just got marketed better. If you don't reload, then .243 ammo will be easier to come by, but I still think the 6mm is better. Just something to think about.

Jason
 
I shot reloads for both today; a Ruger No.1-V in 22-250 and a 25 year old Rem 700 BDL in 243.

22-250 is a bit cheaper to reload; $21.99 for Hornady 100gr BTSP .243 bullets, vs. $16.99 for Sierra 55gr BTHP .224 bullets at yesterday at Bass Pro. 22-250 is also cheaper to buy factory ammunition; can get a box of those Winchester white box 40ct at Bass Pro or Wally World for around $26, or UMC 50/55gr JHP for around $12.99 per box of 20. For the powder I was using (Win 760, admittedly not the most popular for either load) I used an old Lee Dipper (about 34gr) for the 22-250 and 37.0gr for the 243...both are fairly light loads.

The 22-250 is more economical so I'll likely be shooting it more for punching paper...but the 243 will be getting plenty of use! If I had to choose one and only one caliber between the two, I'd personally pick the 243 for its multipurpose capability.
 
.25-06... neck and neck with the .22-250 on varmints and superior on a windy day yet has more knock down than the .243... .25-06 Better all around? In my opinion this is so.
 
The .243 can't hold a candle to the .22-250 as a benchrest and varmint round. It was never meant to.

OTOH the .22-250 was never meant to be a general-purpose medium game round. The .243 was.
 
Personally I like the .22-250 better. Mine is getting some age on it but is still plenty accurate, and have taken plenty of coyotes with it, you just have to take good shots.
 
Since you specified "target shooting and varmints" (and did NOT include deer or other larger game) - and since you spoke of a 10-lb. gun which is NOT an easily-carried hunting rifle - there is no question you should go with the .22/250.

Yes, the .243 will be a little less tricky to figure wind/drop for at longer distances and if you expect most of your shooting to be in very windy conditions the .243 would offer a worthy advantage.
However - in Reality - if you are a good enough rifleman to figure wind/drop successfully for the .243 you are also good enough to do it for a 22/250. And if you aren't skilled enough for one, you aren't skilled enough for the other either.:(

The better the rifleman, the less difference the caliber makes (assuming calibers that are appropriate for the chosen task).

Good Luck !

:cool:
 
My buddie has a 22-250 we use for coyote hunting, and i love that thing. So i would say go with the 22-250, plus i believe the rounds are cheaper for the 22-250 verses the .243
 
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