.243 vs 22-250

[mainecoon]

Just wondering what the difference between these calibers will be for target shooting at long distance (500-1000 yards). Do I gain a significant advantage with .243?

 

[morcey2]

Most 22-250 have a relatively slow 1-12 or 1-14 twist and don't stabilize the long, heavy bullets that are necessary for 500+ yard shooting. If you get one with 1-7 twist, it's supposed to work really well with the 75+ grain bullets. The 243 depends on the twist also, but the 1-10 twist will stabilize the 100. I think 1-9 is needed for most of the 105 gr bullets.

Matt

 

[chaser_2332]

22-250 isn't really a contender in the 1000yd game for the most part. The .243 is an excellent choice.

 

[JShirley]

One in 7 may be a little fast for 75 grain .22-250. To put it in perspective, 1 in 6.5 will let you shoot 90 grainers. I'm sure it will shoot 75 grain fine, but probably won't be able to shoot bullets much lighter.

Go to Zak Smith's website, and look up his advice on .243 for long range.

John

 

[joed]

I own both .22-250 and .243. Of the 2 I prefer the .243 hands down. The .22-250 is a cartridge I lusted after for many years.

Reality of the .22-250 is it will only shoot 50 to 55 gr bullets well with a 1:14 twist. I was actually thinking of converting my .22-250 to .243 until I came across a .243 model 70.

 

[243winxb]

The 243 is better in the wind then 22-250 with standard factory barrel twist rates/bullets. Both are not good for 1000yds as they come from the factory.

 

[303tom]

Basically the same case just a different bullet, both are descendants of the 06 !...................

 

[shaggy430]

both are descendants of the 06 !...................

Uh, no. .308 is the parent cartridge.

 

[Jason_W]

I thought the .22-250 is a necked down .250 savage case?

 

[morcey2]

Theoretically, they (30-06, 308, 243, 22-250, 250-3000) are actually all descendents of the 8x57, the original 0.473" -rimless cartridge.

But back to the point, of the two the OP asked about, the 243 is the much better choice for 500+ yard shooting.

Matt

 

[big boom]

Go .243. Heavier bullets, less drift, and carries more speed tO the distances you have described.
( btw, why not just go .308?)

 

[JShirley]

.22-250 is a necked-down .250 Savage/.250-3000.
.243 is a necked-down .308.

As mentioned in the 2nd post, shooting further than 500 meters with a .22-250 will require a twist rate faster than the most common 1 in 14 and 1 in 12 twists.

John

 

[303tom]

Theoretically, they (30-06, 308, 243, 22-250, 250-3000) are actually all descendents of the 8x57, the original 0.473" -rimless cartridge.

But back to the point, of the two the OP asked about, the 243 is the much better choice for 500+ yard shooting.

Matt

Uh NO the .30-03 came out two before the 7.92x57 !................

 

[Jim K]

I don't hang around the 1000 yard guys much any more, but I don't recall that either of those cartridges was high on the pecking order. The usual choices were the big 30's and 6.5's, with some 7mm's. Some folks shot 6mm's but not in the .243 case. The .22's are simply too light for good accuracy.

Jim

 

[Dr T]

But didn't the Rough Riders face the 7x57 in Cuba?

The 308 essentially a shortened 06 case.

But the 308 is also a long necked 300 Savage. And the 300 Savage shares the case with the 250 Savage which is the parent case of the 22-250. And then, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a 250 Savage improved necked up to 6.5 mm.

The next question is how many angels can dance on the head of an 30-06 case--or is that a 300 Whelen Express...

 

[morcey2]

But didn't the Rough Riders face the 7x57 in Cuba?

Yes, but the 7x57 was the child of the 8x57.

The 308 essentially a shortened 06 case.

But the 308 is also a long necked 300 Savage. And the 300 Savage shares the case with the 250 Savage which is the parent case of the 22-250. And then, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a 250 Savage improved necked up to 6.5 mm.

The next question is how many angels can dance on the head of an 30-06 case--or is that a 300 Whelen Express...

6.5 creedmore is based on the 30 TC which is based (very loosely) on the 376 Steyr, which itself gets inspiration from both the 375 H&H and the Buick 455 Stage 1. The Buick, having a very flat torque curve, gives a surprisingly flat trajectory, especially when launched from an overbored trebuchet.

Yes, it's late.

Matt

 

[stubbicatt]

There is nothing that can't be done with a 22-250 that the 243 won't do better. i.e. you can get bitty 55 grain bullets scorching out of barrels at 4000+ fps without pressure issues with the 243, up to 115 grain bullets for 1000 meters and further.

Can't say the same about the 22-250.