Real World Performance Between 223 & 22-250

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

I recently shot a big doe in the chest cavity with a 50gr .223 corelok... it killed the doe but I was NOT impressed with the performance. Barely any damage to the lungs and I feel like most of that was from taking the leg bone through to the offside shoulder. Luckily she ran directly back towards me and fell over a few feet from me. Still took her a few more minutes to die.

I’ve shot very large bodied mule deer with a .22-250 in the shoulder and that little pill completely jello’d the lungs and heart. Dropped him. Dead on impact.

I’d go .22-250 over a .223 for shoulder shots from now on.

All depends on the projectile.

[TX03RUBI]

55 gr. bullets out of a 22-250, inside of 150 yards, is bad news, for whatever that bullet hits.

The very first deer I tried a 22-250 on, I was using 55 gr. bullets. I had previously shot two bucks in the neck through the front of the neck with a 308. Both went down instantly. Basically small hole in, larger hole out, dead deer. Both 150 gr. 308 Win. I was not expecting what I got with the 22-250. There was a tiny hole in, typical 22 caliber. Then on the back side of the neck, was a surprise. The hide was sliced open, like it has been sliced with a very sharp knife, for about 6", vertically. I had never seen anything like that before. Then I noticed the deer's neck was kind of offset, in the general area of where the bullet went through. I grabbed hold of the neck and squeezed. The neck felt like a bag of crushed ice. It shattered about 6" of the vertebrae, vertically. If you squeezed the neck above or below the wound channel, the neck was very firm, but that 6" section of the neck was like a bag of something, like crushed ice. I am sure it was blown apart muscle and shattered vertebrae.
I had to show a few people that doe, I had never seen anything like it. Every deer and hog I have shot with a 22-250, went straight to the ground.

For a good while I was afraid to try head shots on pigs, having seen bullets slide off of hog skulls on frontal shots. But then I shot some 1" steel plate at 100 yards, those little 22 caliber bullets zipped through that 1" plate like dropping a piece of molten steel on butter. They zip through very cleanly. So I tried head shots on hogs, every one, was like I hit their off switch. Instantly done. When you get a bullet up to the velocities a 22-250 will achieve, you enter a new world of bullet performance. You can shoot the same bullets out of a 223, then out of a 22-250, the damage difference is very noticeable.

This has been my experience as well. Speed kills.

[Capt Glenn]

Speed kills until it doesn't. That is the problem with a .22 for deer. You can get some incredible kills like lightning hit them, but if not you may be in for a tough tracking job and possibly a lost deer. In the hands of a good shot who is steady on game and can place the bullet where it needs to be I don't have a problem with a .223 or a .22-250 being used. Buy good bullets and pick your shots well. For kids and women who are not experienced, might have a case of buck fever, possibly aren't as good of a shot or possibly don't pick out the right spot to shoot them in the heat of the moment I would prefer they be shooting bigger heavier bullet. If they get a little far back and just get the back of the lungs you may be tracking a deer a long way and with possibly next to no blood with a .22 caliber. Center of the boiler room, neck, head, etc they are going to die quickly but if the angle isn't right or they get too high or get too far back you may end up with a bad situation. It's for those situations I typically start folks on at least a .243 or a 6.5.

So I'd say if you are going to do it just buy Barnes TSX or a good bonded core bullet for your .223. They will work. At 100 yards they will do fine. If you are going to go buy a whole new rifle for them to use I'd sure think about stepping up to something a little bigger. Almost everyone can handle a .243, 6mm or 6.5 Creedmoor, etc.

I have a couple .22-250s and a few .223s. I have shot a few deer with them and a ton of hogs with them. I don't dislike them. I just feel like something a little bigger gives me a little more margin for error and a better chance at clean kills and recovering game even when a hit isn't perfect.

[BigThicket Luke]

I often hunt deer/pigs with my .220 Swift using 60gr Nosler partition bullets or 40gr solid copper GS HV bullets (4400fps). Both are instant death and I rarely recover bullets. Good bullets are what high velo hunting rifles are all about.

[220swift]

IMO, the 22-250 is a huge step up.

[dclifton]

In my experince i have alot more DRT kills from a 22-250 then a 223 could ever compare.

Now that being said I'm usaully not shooting the same bullet in both calibers. But i can tell you this. You dont have to be very picky about what bullets your are shooting with a
22-250. A 223 on the other hand ive just never been that impressed with the killing performance of a 223. Now ive killed alot of pigs and coyotes with them but they dont seem very forgiving.

For a kid or wife i would say 22-250 hands down... if you are wanting a plinker, excuse to buy a AR and so on then go 223.

[okrattler]

If I was shooting deer I'd choose the 22-250. And I primarily shoot a .223, no comparison even with the same bullet. Which just so happens to be a softpoint that I mostly shoot out of both.

[muddyfuzzy]

In terms of the seat of the pants performance the 250 is far superior but I think the ultimate tale of the tape is how heavy a bullet you can stabilize. My 250 VLS is a pure shooter but the 1:12 twist is relatively slow and doesn’t really care for bullets over 55 grains. The .223’s are usually a quicker twist and will by nature work better with heavier payloads. Even handloading never produced the desired results, I could never get great groups with the 60 grain Partion in my 250 which would have made been a formidable load. I just couldn’t stomach a sub 1/2” MOA gun shooting 1” groups.


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[meltingfeather]

22-250 is my vote.
More energy down range is a good thing.

[TX03RUBI]

In terms of the seat of the pants performance the 250 is far superior but I think the ultimate tale of the tape is how heavy a bullet you can stabilize. My 250 VLS is a pure shooter but the 1:12 twist is relatively slow and doesn’t really care for bullets over 55 grains. The .223’s are usually a quicker twist and will by nature work better with heavier payloads. Even handloading never produced the desired results, I could never get great groups with the 60 grain Partion in my 250 which would have made been a formidable load. I just couldn’t stomach a sub 1/2” MOA gun shooting 1” groups.


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Bergara makes a 9 twist 250, and Ruger had a run of 8 twist American Predators. Personally I just built a 22 Creedmoor in an 8 twist, but I wouldn’t have any reservations about a fast twist 250 either. That Bergara would be the leader of the pack for me in a factory rifle.

[TB80]

Shot placement is most important. Second to that is type of bullet used.

Assuming same bullet and same shot placement you will likely see better performance from the 22-250. However, within 100 yards, and with the right bullet, a 223 will put it down.

Stated differently, no need to buy another gun unless you want one, in which case, go for it.


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[Fordnandez]

Been many years since I have shot a 22-250 but I would think that it would kick significantly more than a 223. I think this is a big deal because if the person is affraid of the kick from the gun then you are fighting a losing battle. I will agree that the 22-250 is much better for performance but shot placement is key and the shooter will not have good shot placement if they are affraid of the gun.

I know a few folks that are starting their kids out on 300 blackout. Again not the best option but they shoot them on an AR platform that is silenced and they say the child is not affraid of the gun at all because it doesnt kick hard and it isnt loud.

[Apodz]

Put a suppressor on that 243 and you will be fine. Heck you could put a suppressor on most calibers and there isn’t going to be much recoil.

[westtexducks]

Think of it this way, the .223 to the .22-250 would be like comparing a .308 to a .300 win mag. Not even in the same ball park with each other. The .22-250 is the magnum version of the .223.

[Fordnandez]

Think of it this way, the .223 to the .22-250 would be like comparing a .308 to a .300 win mag. Not even in the same ball park with each other. The .22-250 is the magnum version of the .223.

Well said.