223 vs 22-250

[Juriew]

As above mentioned

.223 is a good training cartridge but the 222-50 way outperforms it in terms of varminting. That being said going for jackals as prey I feel that a 223 is adequate under certain conditions, be it that the range is not exceeded imo more than 200m and the correct bullet choice and shot placement is used. If you have hunted jackals by calling them you will know that many of the critters are shot in less than 100m range and at this distance with a .223 coupled with a v-max the rifle is more than deadly enough.

There will be situations where more firepower will be required and then you may find yourself wanting a bit more range, though that would also depend on your skill as a hunter/caller/marksman in this a 222-50 will make up for some of the shortfall but not all.

Bottom line:
As a reloader, .223 and .222-50 use the same bullet head, and primer, there may be a difference in case prices, but the 222-50 uses more powder and is thus more expensive as a training gun, not to mention the fact that it is a barrel burner caliber, which means that its life time is significantly less than that of the .223.

I also like the .222 but then you cant bum cases from your buddies with AR15's...

[Geno]

It’s a strange one this, the requirements does not really tie up with the equipment mentioned.
A 22-250 is a very good jackal cartridge, but it’s not a training cartridge.
A 223 is a very good training cartridge, but it’s not the best jackal cartridge.
Either is good enough for jackal and springbok but neither is generally deemed enough for warthog.

Must say personally I would go 6mm creed or 243 in Howa heavy barrel, if the creeds would just land already.
The 243 is a bit more varminter because of its 1 in 10 twist, the creed is a bit more range rifle because of its 1 in 7.5 twist. Neither will have any mentionable recoil with the heavy barrel and a proper suppressor, that which any varminter have basically.

The 223 will be a hell of a family rifle, but come varminting time you will wish you had something bigger, or faster, or both.

I agree (for once) with Messor.
If more warthog/springbuck hunting, then a 6mm is a very good choice.
55-90gr bullets in a 10 twist .243 makes it do whatever the .22cals do and more.

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[shooty]

Sad as it is. In Merweville where we go hunt. At 3 different farmers. For the last 5 years they dont even allow 243 on Springbuck. Only on Jackal.

This is not the calibers fault. But the hunters who pulled the triggers of the 243's on their farms.

I first got a 22H as a step up for my 12 year old daughter to shoot over the 22lr.
But they are not as accurate as can be. But a nice caliber.

So I now went for a 222rem. I picked this over the 223 as they use the same bullet weights. But the 222 has proven to be the more accurate one due to case design.
And as the rifle will be on range more then field. I went with it.

[driepootx]

Sticking to the OPS choices. What is very positive for the 223 is:-
1. Cheap ammo at most gunshops
2. Cheap cases that are available all over
3. Low recoil and lower noise levels
4. Very efficient use of propellant - nearly 100% less than 243 and 50% on 22-250

The 223 is a cheeky round that is ever so nice to play with. Can I use the old cliche - punches way above its weight class.

[killzone]

Sticking to the OPS choices. What is very positive for the 223 is:-
1. Cheap ammo at most gunshops
2. Cheap cases that are available all over
3. Low recoil and lower noise levels
4. Very efficient use of propellant - nearly 100% less than 243 and 50% on 22-250

The 223 is a cheeky round that is ever so nice to play with. Can I use the old cliche - punches way above its weight class.

This ^^^

[BBCT]

Sticking to the OPS choices. What is very positive for the 223 is:-
1. Cheap ammo at most gunshops
2. Cheap cases that are available all over
3. Low recoil and lower noise levels
4. Very efficient use of propellant - nearly 100% less than 243 and 50% on 22-250

The 223 is a cheeky round that is ever so nice to play with. Can I use the old cliche - punches way above its weight class.

Agreed 100%.

The only thing I can add to that is something I read somewhere (maybe even on this forum) to the effect that a 223 will do the same job as a 22-250 for 95% + of the time.

I think that only a small percentage of jobs really require a 22-250 over a 223, and in those few situations one might be better off with a 243 anyway. As great a calibre as it is, I regard 22-250 as quite a specialist calibre and I think it should only be used for varminting-type applications if one is going to be responsible about hunting with it. It doesn't matter for target shooting.

.222 would also be a great option but I would still choose a 223 because of cost & availability of cases. Just had a quick look at Somchem reloading data and it looks like less than a grain (with S321 & 55gr bullets) difference in powder consumption. Theoretical accuracy differences would be outweighed by the skills of the person behind the trigger. I suspect a 223 is a bit more flexible with regards to bullet weights. I think a .222 will fit in a shorter action than a .223 but the only place I can think of where that will make a difference is the old Brno Fox/465's that were made in 22 Hornet & 222 and apparently can't be rechambered to 223 because of magazine length restrictions and possibly extracting unfired rounds. More modern "mini" action rifles were built around the 223 length cartridge.

[Messor]

So I now went for a 222rem. I picked this over the 223 as they use the same bullet weights. But the 222 has proven to be the more accurate one due to case design.
And as the rifle will be on range more then field. I went with it.

The problem with the 222 is exactly that, it's not a range rifle, unless it's custom build.
The thing is most of them came out with 1in14 twists, stabilizing just about no modern bullet meant for that purpose.
A modern 223 like a Howa have a 1 in 9, much more friendly towards modern bullet designs, they also went over to 1 in 8 in 2017.
A VERY nice toy is something like the Tikka T3 varmint, also with 1 in 8.

But one must remember, having wind bucking abilities is not having having a flat shooting varmint cartridge, one is a range rifle and the other a weapon used where holdover or dialing is not always possible.

If I had to shoot jackal, a 22-250 or a 243AI it would be every day of the week.
If I had to varmint with a 222 or 223 it would be the 222.
If I had to shoot on the range with a 22 cal it would be the 223.

The OP must pick his poison and not feel bad about his choice afterwards.

[pre 64]

I cannot see an advantage of the 222 over the 223.
As per the OP,both the 223 and 22-250 have advantages and negatives in a direct comparison...these have been touched on in previous posts.
In your particular case i would go 223. Up to 250m the 22-250 advantages really are meaningless. Are you really going to be shooting beyond this distance...if so,neither are really the right choice.
The 223 is more than adequate for jackal,they are small and fragile.
Nether are suitable as a general purpose all day pig gun.

[SBB]

Get a 223. It will serve you longer and be cheaper. As mentioned the 22-250 is used often for applications that most will not need and the 223 can accomplish those aplications albeit with maybe a little more effort.

[driepootx]

And remember about it being Cheeky !!!!!!