Ok, I am looking to buy a bolt action rifle, Remington VTR in either if these three calibers. I screwed up and shot a friend's SPS in .223 over the weekend and got hooked on the accuracy and no kick. So, here is the question:

Which caliber would you buy and why?

I will use the rifle at the range and on hogs, doe's, varmits etc.... I am leaning towards the 22-250, but like the availability of .223 ammo and like the ballistics of the .204 Ruger.

Let's hear it!

Gil '91

Do you reload?

Not yet.

If you start reloading, the 22-250 is an excellent caliber. Otherwise, I'd go with the .204 Ruger. Just my $0.02.

The 22-250 is an excellent caliber regardless.

And the Remmington ammo is all you need. No need to spend more money on the fancy stuff.

[This message has been edited by AggieBB (edited 10/29/2008 4:07p).]

BB is correct.

Don't trick up your ****!

In order of preference (for a bolt action)

22-250
204
223

In order of preference...

223 Ackley Improved
223 Reminton
22-250 Ackley Improved
22-250 Remington
204 Ruger

You ackley guys are all alike.

You left out the .220 Swift. It needs to be in the list.

can't help it...we know how to drink from the golden cup...once you've tasted it, you'll know where you were and don't ever want to go back...

Pretty easy decision,

.223 = 5.56mm = NATO round

NATO ammo will always be available and is usually cheaper.


Edit for all the folks who are gonna say 223 is not 5.56, I know this, just trying to prove a point.
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Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

[This message has been edited by junior200414 (edited 10/29/2008 4:33p).]

Go with the .223. Accurate and cheap ammo. Very easy to shoot and reload.

I just got a remington sps in 22-250. I put a nikon monarch 4-16X40 on it. shoots like a dream.

Can't go wrong with any of them. I just purchased a Remington 700 in .223 in the LVSF model. Remington, for some stupid reason, discontinued the LVSF model. I think it is a beautiful gun on a great platform. Not giddy about the stock, but its out the window once I gather the funds to complete building it. I like it in 223 for a couple reasons, but going Ack Improved is up there. Going to turn this into one heck of a doe killer.

Here is one on Gunbroker in 22-250:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=114620508

I was able to get mine for $625 on gunbroker about 3 weeks ago. Not many left that are still floating around - most people are keeping them for good reason. Remington also made the LVSF in 243, 7-08 and 308 but there were all special runs and next to impossible to find.

I'm watching this thread with some interest. I've been considering such a purchase too, just not sure if I can justify it. Be nice if I could pop the occasional doe with it, but those aren't legal deer calibers up here.

.257 Roberts

IMO

I know I've been eyeballing a .22-250. I've just been working on the justification in my mind, and with me that is never an easy thing.

I really like the performance of the .22-250.

ursusguy - you NEED that Remington 700 LVSF in 22-250...

I'm with Nacho...I recently stopped hunting with my REM .280 after I picked up a .257 Roberts. It has the kick of a .243, will take most anything you will hunt in Texas, and is accurate. An old cartidge that is nearly forgotten...

Sean, in Tx you can shot a deer with any center fire rifle.

Yep, that's why I said, "up here."

I have all three.

The .223 is a Contender (14" barrel) and shoots way better than me. Cuts holes at 100 yards.

I was debating between .220 swift and .22-250 and decided on the .22-250 because if you reload you can get it over 4000 fps, and the performance is very close to .22-250. And ammo was cheaper.

The .204 is a great gun. I have a CZ with a single set trigger. This gun drives tacks and is very accurate out to 300+ yards.

I have killed deer with the .223 and .22-250 and I might or might not have killed a few deer with the .204.

If I'm picking one it would be .22-250.

If you don't reload:

223
22-250
204

My personal opinion, the 204 will eventually end up like many other calibers that are not used much anymore. Flash in the pan caliber. Too many cheaper options with better ballistics in a more proven caliber bullet, ie .224

I don't get why some states don't allow hunting with .22 cal centerfire cartridges? It still comes down to shot placement more than energy. You put the bullet in the wrong place, that deer is still going to run.

A good bullet on a .223 or .22-250 will drop a deer just fine with a properly placed shot. It is up to the hunter to be responsible enough to only shoot when the shot is a good one.

22-250 all the way.

Keep in mind that with the proper twist (1:8), you can shoot 60-75 grain bullets out of a .223 with no problem. There are guys that shoot heavy weight bullets out to 1000 yards from a .223

I looked at ballistics from Remington's site and here is what I found. Using Premier AccuTip V Boat Tail in 50 grain bullets for the .22-250 and the .223 and 40 grain bullet for the .204 (they don't list a heavier bullet)

The Muzzle Velocities:

Caliber Muzzle 100 200 300 400
.22-250 3725 3272 2864 2491 2147
.223 3300 2889 2514 2168 1851
.204 3900 3451 3046 2677 2336

Energy:
.22-250 1540 1188 910 689 512
.223 1209 927 701 522 380
.204 1351 1058 824 636 485

Zeroed at 150 yards: 200 250 300
.22-250 -1.2 -3.5 -7.0
.223 -1.7 -4.8 -9.4
.204 -1.0 -2.9 -5.8


The .204 is by far the flattest shooting of the group, but with bullet weight differences and velocities it really is not apples to apples. I like the ammo availability of the .223 but I am still torn.. DAMN!

Gil '91

What is Ackley improved? Is that a wildcat load or just a hand load? I have never heard of it before.

Gil '91

A gentleman named Parker Ackley took it on himself to toy around with some wildcat cartridges. One of the things he did was take existing calibers and toy with the shoulder angle to improve the ballistics. He improved some of them alot.

I sometimes hunt with a 257 Roberts Ackley improved myself. Nice setup.

22-250

Cooper Varminter in Triple Deuce

^^^ I can't edit my post and just found out that Dan Cooper contributed to Obama. I also read he was asked to resign as President. I am pretty angry right now.....SV

Agree with Tx4guns, I like the .220 swift.

"...Hell-Bent Canines, All or None!"

223 Rem., 223 AI, 22-250AI, 22 Cheetah, 243 Win., 243 AI, 6/284



6-06AI, 22-06AI, 25-06AI

benefits...
maximized case...increased velocity
very little case stretch...little resizing and increased case life