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Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

Tomekeuro85

Sergeant
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 11, 2007
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Chicago Suburbs, IL
How big of a difference is there between say a 75gr .223 and a 75gr .22-250 at 1000? as far as wind, flatness, etc. Would it be worth getting a .22-250 to replace .223 performance at that range or is the difference so minimal that you just take another step up to .260 for example?
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

IMO, the .22-250 in a 1:8" twist barrel would get you out to 1000 yards and beyond better than a 223 rig.

I think the biggest factor on either round will be effects of wind.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

Why not run reasonable numbers with the 75-80gr bullets in either case through JBM? That will give you a hard comparison for the trajectory and you can then take that and also run it against something like a 6mm-250 or 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

I run a 22-250 and I'll tell you my gun will smoke any .223 at 1K bullet for bullet you will never over come the difference in speed

1-7.75 twist 80gr Amax at 3200fps 7.5 mils to 1K

Given the both guns running a 80/75 Amax its like a .308 to a 300wm.

both can get there, one does it easier and more efficient.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

Thanks Guys,

My goal is to get something a step above .223 for long(er) range (my .223 is a 12 twist) but to minimize costs.

Basically if .22-250 isn't a significant improvement over the .223, id step it up to a 6mm or 6.5 round. Perhaps 6br? Just target shooting, no hunting. But if .22-250 does it then that's the winner.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

the easiest way to look at it is based on fps. shooting a 22-250 is like shooting a 223 at 700yds. you are shedding around 100fps/every 100yds and the 22-250 will gain you around 300fps.

I have owned 223,223ai, 22-250ai, 243ai and i can tell you the 22-250 is alot closer to the 243ai than the 223 which is huge considering the 243ai ballistically is better than damn near everything out there within reason (as long as you don't need ft/lbs energy). i was pushing berger 80gr vld to 3325fps out of my 22-250ai and it was a laser to 1000yds.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tomekeuro85</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Guys,
My goal is to get something a step above .223 for long(er) range (my .223 is a 12 twist) but to minimize costs.

Basically if .22-250 isn't a significant improvement over the .223, id step it up to a 6mm or 6.5 round. Perhaps 6br? Just target shooting, no hunting. But if .22-250 does it then that's the winner. </div></div>
If minimizing cost is the issue, you must consider barrel life. The per-shot barrel cost can double the total cost of shooting. I'd avoid the 22-250 for this reason and look to larger calibers for the performance improvement you want. 6BR is a nice compromise with much better performance than 223REM and moderate total cost of shooting.

Any .22 caliber is not going to be ideal at 1K: performance-wise. But, the 223REM is very economical and can do well in calm conditions with a long barrel, fast twist and heavy match bullets. On a windy day, be prepared for your bullet to be blown completely off the target.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

I talked to Ken at GAP, looks like I'll be going with 6BR set up for the 1xx grain bullets.

I read a bit into it last night as well...Not too much more expensive than .22-250 but better performance than .22-250 with the 90s.

Sending the parts in on Tuesday.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

Are you having a repeater built and using a mag or are you going to feed it 1 at a time.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tomekeuro85</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I talked to Ken at GAP, looks like I'll be going with 6BR set up for the 1xx grain bullets.

I read a bit into it last night as well...Not too much more expensive than .22-250 but better performance than .22-250 with the 90s.

Sending the parts in on Tuesday.</div></div>
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

I know the OP decided to go with 6BR (I'm leaning that way myself over a fast-twist 22-250)...but:

Hornady Ballistics Calculator sez, with a 75gr A-Max (0.435 BC) at 59 degrees F, standard (29.92") pressure and 10mph crosswind:

22-250 @ 3200fps
1000yd
281.8" drop
90.9" drift

223 @ 2800fps
1000yd
389.1" drop
110.6" drift

6mmBR/107 SMK @ 2875fps
1000yd
314.2" drop
81.5" drift
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

or you could go with a 243 and be done with the issue.

243 vs 6br...ha ha

243 vs 223...really?

243 vs 22-250...ummmm.

243 vs 260...nope.

243 w 115 dtac .585bc @ 3130fps
1000yd
231.0" drop
60" drift

nuff said. It will shoot inside a 284 win pushing 180 bergers at 2850
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">243 w 115 dtac .585bc @ 3130fps
1000yd
231.0" drop
60" drift</div></div>

I know you gotta pay to play...how long is the barrel, are the bullets moly'd, and what's barrel life like?
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Out of curiosity what would be the comparison if you used a 75gr v-max in the 6br vs those two?</div></div>

6mmBR/75 V-Max (0.330 BC) @ 3300 fps
1000yd
347.7" drop
131.1" drift

6mmBR/87 V-Max (0.400 BC) @ 3100 fps
1000yd
328.8" drop
107.8" drift
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

The barrel is 7.5 twist tight bore bartlein 26 inches and naked dtacs. Barrel life i don't know I'm thinking shooting 4-6 f class matches a year it may last me say 2 years. If it does that I will be thrilled. If this was a hunting rifle it would probably last me a lifetime.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">243 w 115 dtac .585bc @ 3130fps
1000yd
231.0" drop
60" drift</div></div>

I know you gotta pay to play...how long is the barrel, are the bullets moly'd, and what's barrel life like?

</div></div>

At that velocity, I'm guessing around 1500 rounds. I load my 243 to about 2900fps and got 2500 rounds out of the last barrel.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

1500 is about what I was thinking too. It will probably be more like 1200 but who knows. Im thinking I will probably be putting 600-700 rounds per year down this tube at my current pace. I have exactly 327 rounds in the log. If it lasts 2 years I will be pleasantly surprised. Barrels are relatively cheap with all other consumables considered.
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jonaddis84</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How long would you expect a 22-250 factory barrel to last pushing 55gn Vmax's at 3850fps? Rem VSSFII</div></div>

I recently had my 22-250 re-barreled and it had right at 2900 rounds down the tube. It was hand loads for about %90 of the barrel life and the loads were only about 2650 FPS so not exactly apples to apples on the speed but it was a factory Remington barrel. I also never really got it so hot that you couldn't touch it either so I would guess that I gained a little life from that. When I finally took it to Chad Dixon I could only get about .080 off the lands with the bullet barely hanging in the case neck. Still less than a MOA at 100 yds but it wasn't going to make it through another prairie doggin season. Hope that gives you kind of an idea an others might be able to give you a more apples to apples comparison.

You still slated for end of June for SD prairie doggin Jon?
 
Re: Real difference beetween .223 and .22-250 @1k?

My 223 wssm 27" Kreiger barrel pushing 55 moly VMax's at 3935 fps lasted 1300 rounds. At that point a borescope showed 2" throat erosion. Groups had gone from .25MOA to .75MOA and velocity had dropped to 3770 fps.

It is now being converted to 243 wssm and a 30" Kreiger barrel in 8 twist and will shoot 108 Bergers.