.223 Recommendations

[Barky 24]

If I have to spend more I'll spend abit more. I'll get round some gun shops and see what's about.

[Tremo 138]

 

I do like the tikka and the howa. I'll be using it for fox and will spend around £1000

Cheers

 

 

£1000 doesn't give you a whole load of choice for a package of rifle, scope, mod! NEW

 

Bipod, slip, sling, cleaning tools/materials, etc may eat into that a whole load more as well!

 

You may be looking at used, where you should find a reasonable choice.

 

There is very little bad out there in terms of makes and models, (there are obviously bad individual rifles), simply variations of good...... and what works for you.

 

I can never understand people lugging around heavy drainpipe barrels when out foxing, just why is beyond me, but they like them, personal choice....and that is largely what your choice will be!

 

 

Deker is right here. I would go along to an RFD and handle a few rifles. That way you can get a feel for the weight etc.

 

I personally wouldn't want to lug around a big HB varmint rig with scope and attached other bits (such as lamp/torch) when out for a prolonged hike doing some foxing. I have this type of setup, but it is strictly used for single location bipod work at distance.

[charlie caller 3,654]

A .222 mate instead

[Alsone 789]

It's interesting but I've been doing some research on Ballisticstudies.com of varmint calibres.

 

By far the best varmint round for all ranges seems to be .22-250:

 

Here are the studies for .223, .222, .22-250, .220 Swift, 243, .25-06:

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.223+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.222+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.22-250.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.220+Swift.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.243+Winchester.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-06+Remington.html

 

Note I said all ranges. Some of the above are clearly more powerful or more suited to use at a specific range of ranges.

 

It's interesting that many rounds have issues with short or longer ranges (splash at short range from higher power rounds as they expand too quickly or hydrostatic shock issues at longer ranges with some rounds - failure to induce it at velocities below 2,600fps).

 

I've always known the .22-250 was good, but this appears to confirm it's one of the very best all round varmint calibres.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Alsone

[Skull Hooker 185]

I've got a Howa blued hunter barrel, Leupold 4-14x50 (second hand) on top with a Predator 8 Mod.

I reload Lapua cases with 50gr V Max and Benchmark.

100yds. Four shots. One ragged hole

[danw 1,748]

It's interesting but I've been doing some research on Ballisticstudies.com of varmint calibres.

 

By far the best varmint round for all ranges seems to be .22-250:

 

Here are the studies for .223, .222, .22-250, .220 Swift, 243, .25-06:

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.223+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.222+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.22-250.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.220+Swift.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.243+Winchester.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-06+Remington.html

 

Note I said all ranges. Some of the above are clearly more powerful or more suited to use at a specific range of ranges.

 

It's interesting that many rounds have issues with short or longer ranges (splash at short range from higher power rounds as they expand too quickly or hydrostatic shock issues at longer ranges with some rounds - failure to induce it at velocities below 2,600fps).

 

I've always known the .22-250 was good, but this appears to confirm it's one of the very best all round varmint calibres.

Well all I will add to that is the only one I've not owned from that list is 220swift I still own 3 of them and have a variation in progress (if this damned monitored alarm ever gets fitted) for another 243 for the kids.

I don't agree the 250 is the best but then that's only based on real time experience and not comparing charts.

[Tremo 138]

It's interesting but I've been doing some research on Ballisticstudies.com of varmint calibres.

 

By far the best varmint round for all ranges seems to be .22-250:

 

Here are the studies for .223, .222, .22-250, .220 Swift, 243, .25-06:

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.223+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.222+Remington.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.22-250.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.220+Swift.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.243+Winchester.html

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-06+Remington.html

 

Note I said all ranges. Some of the above are clearly more powerful or more suited to use at a specific range of ranges.

 

It's interesting that many rounds have issues with short or longer ranges (splash at short range from higher power rounds as they expand too quickly or hydrostatic shock issues at longer ranges with some rounds - failure to induce it at velocities below 2,600fps).

 

I've always known the .22-250 was good, but this appears to confirm it's one of the very best all round varmint calibres.

 

You sound like a converted man who has just seen the light?

 

Both Dan (The Man) and I have known this for quite a while.

[Alsone 789]

It always was my favourite small calibre rifle.

 

However, as I said above, it's not the be all and end all, other calibres are better or more powerful at specific ranges, but the .22-250 appears to come out best as a single choice varmint control weapon for all ranges as it works well at close, medium AND long range (where long is within the normal range restrictions for this type of shooting).

[danw 1,748]

It always was my favourite small calibre rifle.

 

However, as I said above, it's not the be all and end all, other calibres are better or more powerful at specific ranges, but the .22-250 appears to come out best as a single choice varmint control weapon for all ranges as it works well at close, medium AND long range (where long is within the normal range restrictions for this type of shooting).

Have you owned of used one?or for that any of the others?

[Alsone 789]

I've fired .22-250 and .223.

 

Never shot the others, but I thought I made it clear above, I'm reporting the ballistic studies report findings (from memory, hence the links so you can read them for yourselves). I'm not claiming 1st hand experience of every calibre.

[danw 1,748]

I've fired .22-250 and .223.

 

Never shot the others, but I thought I made it clear above, I'm reporting the ballistic studies report findings (from memory, hence the links so you can read them for yourselves). I'm not claiming 1st hand experience of every calibre.

 

Well I've had a 250 own. .222 and a .223 had a .243 about to have another and own a .25-06 The issue I have is you once again come on a thread with some bullshit you have googled or found on YouTube which is invariably us made or written and of no relevance to uk shooting and start to claim what is best get out use these guns and make a truly informed opinion folks might just start to respect your opinion then.

[Alsone 789]

That's a bit harsh Dan.

 

I never claimed to know which was best. What I reported was the results of the studies above.

 

It feels on here sometimes as if anyone reports potentially useful information that doesn't concur with everyone's personal opinion, that it's a capital offence. At the end of the day, you should take it for what it is, information.

 

This entire business is built on years of nothing but ballistic testing so you'd expect there to be some correlation between their findings and the truth. I very much doubt that most shooters use multiple bullet weights at all ranges and so have such extensive knowledge. Most UK shooters tend to find a bullet weight they like and always use a certain gun within a certain range, so it's interesting to get a perspective from people who've tested each gun for all round use.

 

As I said above though, this isn't my opinion, just repeated information from ballistic tests. If you have a different opinion or whether you believe the results or not, is entirely your prerogative. I was just putting the tests out there for people to read.

[Born Hunter 17,763]

It's worth remembering that how the bullet behaves terminally is just as important as how it behaves ballisticaly. And that's not so easy to quantify with charts and tables.

 

 

"There are times when I have been asked - what is the flattest shooting, hardest hitting cartridge with the least amount of recoil. Hands down the .25-06 has these attributes."

 

"The .25-06 is truly spectacular for its size. Low recoil for maintaining good shooting habits, outstanding accuracy, a flat trajectory and tremendous shock on game are hallmarks of this greatly under utilized cartridge."

[hutchey 147]

From the very limited experience i have compared with the like of DanW, Sussex, SussexSteve and numerous others on here, starting out is a bit of a minefield to say the least.

It starts with what you think you want or need and that can be based on reading articles, forums, word of mouth, trying a friends rifles or even the FLO and what they might think. No doubt i've missed some here.

Then you move to the shop and get more advice, some good, some bad, some trying to sell you the one that makes the biggest sales margin.

Then there's the availability of factory ammunition or reloading for the calibres you like, some RFD's carry more of some than others for whatever reasons.

Then there's the type of shooting you plan to do, from what ranges, quarry types, etc.

 

I bet i've missed loads here but just a personal view i had when i first looked at getting my FAC then applying for whatever calibres, variation because what i had didn't fully give me what i needed or wanted for the task in hand.

 

If only it was as simple as one calibre fits all!

[danw 1,748]

It's worth remembering that how the bullet behaves terminally is just as important as how it behaves ballisticaly. And that's not so easy to quantify with charts and tables.

 

 

"There are times when I have been asked - what is the flattest shooting, hardest hitting cartridge with the least amount of recoil. Hands down the .25-06 has these attributes."

 

"The .25-06 is truly spectacular for its size. Low recoil for maintaining good shooting habits, outstanding accuracy, a flat trajectory and tremendous shock on game are hallmarks of this greatly under utilized cartridge."

 

And this is exactly my point to say one single rifle is the best is naive to say the least alsones inability to see past ballistic charts is laughable it takes no other factors into account and makes his findings nonsensical real time behind the trigger is where opinion should be based and then when reality hits its damned obvious that no one cartridge is the best it is which one fits within your criteria or more specifically which fits the job/circumstance in hand

 

 

P,s BH your bias when it comes to the 25 but it sure stopped they beasties didn't it lol