22-250 popularity and use

Joined
Jul 20, 2025
Messages
13
Recently picked up a 22-250. Of course its been a longtime varmit mainstay. With 17hmr being so popular now, and few 22 250 loads in stock on shelves, im wondering how many people still shoot 22 250. Are you target or hunting? If hunting, which animals. Im not asking about ethics, legality, or capability of which animals CAN be hunted with 22-250, im wondering what people ARE hunting with 22-250.
 
Seems to be one of the most popular song dog calibers still. Accurate and anchors them. Usually not fur friendly. I know some people who hunt deer with it, and they haven't had issues.

Haven't understood the popularity of .17 hmr. The guys I know who use them for predators never find those predators after a shot unless they were stuck in a trap. 🤷‍♂️
 
I dont see why the 55 and 60 grain bullet selections would not be adequate for whitetailed deer at reasonable distances. I personally would not target game species larger than whitetails although i know people have been successful for with 223s on larger species. I would also make sure that caliber is legal for the species you are targeting in your location.
Please delete this post. It does not answer the question at hand in anyway, and it talks about what i specifically asked this conversation not be about. I do not want this getting off track and turning into an argument.
 
Greatest cartridge made (until the CM came out) or you talk to a 220 swift guy! Excellent for coyotes, pdogs, and general plinking with 50gr max factory ammo. I know/have met a lot of guys over the years that use it for deer 60gr +. Including our state record Typical WT. I have never owned a fast twist, so never perused big game with .224 until I bought a CM.

In a weird twist of fate as I was writing this I was interrupted by a coyote in the cow pasture. Historically he would have been shot with a 22-250, but one was not handy. 22CM 80gr eldm 380 yards with 15mph cross wind. Sadly he enjoyed his last hot cow patty breakfast.
 
Used for coyotes in my area. Works great. I had a buddy all excited about his 17hmr for coyotes. He went back to his 223. Wishes he had a 22 250.
I like this comment. I certainly would not pick my 17 hmr for coyotes. I like it for turkeys and jack rabbits.

I shot a semi auto 223 for a long time. I found it really hard to find hunting loads in that caliber, and of course everytime obama talked ammunition for it went extinct. This last time around, I said 223 is more than 22 250, im done with 223. Sold it and bought a 22 250 and a 17 hmr rifle with the funds. Now i have the best of both worlds.

The 50 grain vmax varmit express really saves a coyote hide.
 
Greatest cartridge made (until the CM came out) or you talk to a 220 swift guy! Excellent for coyotes, pdogs, and general plinking with 50gr max factory ammo. I know/have met a lot of guys over the years that use it for deer 60gr +. Including our state record Typical WT. I have never owned a fast twist, so never perused big game with .224 until I bought a CM.

In a weird twist of fate as I was writing this I was interrupted by a coyote in the cow pasture. Historically he would have been shot with a 22-250, but one was not handy. 22CM 80gr eldm 380 yards with 15mph cross wind. Sadly he enjoyed his last hot cow patty breakfast.
Ive been able to eek 60 grain hornady lead tips with FLAT BASE out of my 1 in 14 twist rate and get them to group fine at 200 yards. Boat tails are another story.
 
Please delete this post. It does not answer the question at hand in anyway, and it talks about what i specifically asked this conversation not be about. I do not want this getting off track and turning into an argument.
Sorry i misread your post. As a FNG you may not be aware that posting in the wrong forum takes up a lot of the mods time.

Here is a thread regarding posting in the correct forum. Following these guidelines is helpful for everyone.

 
Have most of the common varmit calibers. 223 is cheaper, works ok... 22-250 is king for non lrf coyote hunting. 55gr nosler varmegedon... 1 hole with my tikka. I bought some 50gr barnes ttsx to load up and try on deer but my 1:14 barrel doesn't like them, so I fed them to my 223, and I like them about the best of any 223 load for coyote. Had i had the forethought to buy the 1:8 instead of the 1:14 id be loading 69's or 77's and hunting whitetail with it. But for now it smokes all the critters below deer and farther than 22lr range.
 
Ive been able to eek 60 grain hornady lead tips with FLAT BASE out of my 1 in 14 twist rate and get them to group fine at 200 yards. Boat tails are another story.
1:14 is hit or miss with heavier/longer bullets. If you can find factory 55gr boat tails it might shoot great! I try to stick with 1:12 twist so I can shoot the 50-60gr range.
 
22-250 is still popular. It's a great round - I used mine primarily for varmints and predators. Had a 22-250 AI spun up and have shot mule deer with it.

Since the 22 Creed came along, I don't shoot the 22-250 AI as much though.
 
Sorry i misread your post. As a FNG you may not be aware that posting in the wrong forum takes up a lot of the mods time.

Here is a thread regarding posting in the correct forum. Following these guidelines is helpful for everyone.

How ironic.
 
Always had 223's and 243's so the 22-250 got skipped right over. That said a lil BLR chambered in that would be a handy lil rifle.
 
Intended use was predators and targets but ending up taking more deer than anything else. Recently rebarreled to a different cartridge due to the slow 1-14 twist and feeding issues (not significant but occasionally frustrating) with AICS magazines. If fur condition was a concern, and I didn't reload, it would still be a 22-250.

3 family members 22-250s rarely get used anymore, 223s are used in their place.
 
I built one in the 1960's when it was still a wildcat. Shot really good for coyotes and p dogs. Gave it to my Dad. I built a .220 Ackley Swift. I mostly shoot p dogs with it. Anything 100 yds or less is my .17HMR and over 100 yds is my .220..220 AI Swift 3 shot group 002.JPG220 Imp Swift with Chrono.jpg
 
The 250s great and is very easy to load for when it comes to varmint bullets. I’ve been playing with loading heavier bullets since I have a 1:8 twist and it certainly breaths new life into the cartridge.

But I do believe it is going to quickly fall from the spot light in favor of the 22 creed. The old tapered case of the 250 just isn’t ideal and can lead to feeding problems and is almost impossible to run in an AR platform.
 
The 250s great and is very easy to load for when it comes to varmint bullets. I’ve been playing with loading heavier bullets since I have a 1:8 twist and it certainly breaths new life into the cartridge.

But I do believe it is going to quickly fall from the spot light in favor of the 22 creed. The old tapered case of the 250 just isn’t ideal and can lead to feeding problems and is almost impossible to run in an AR platform.
I doubt a 22 creedmore will have much impact on 22 250. Most people shooting 22 250 already have the rifles. I dont think guys choosing 22 250 are worried about running an ar to hunt coyotes.
 
I have a 22-250 rem as well as a 22-250 ackley. I really like the original. It shoots 55 gr sierra sbt at 3500 consistently at .5moa and is hell on coyotes while not too bad on fur. The ackley likes 75gr eldm at 3350 and 77tmk at 3150 and is probably the most accurate rifle I have. I haven't shot many coyotes with it though since its in a chassis and I don't like carrying it.
 
Back
Top