EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Ive been thinking about getting a rifle and just cant decide..222,204,or22 250. I want to use it mainly on varmits but not be afraid to use it on a deer or hogs. Any sugestions,pros or cons? I know there all good calibers an getting amo for them shouldnt be a big deal...any in put is welcome..thanks

22-250 but aim for the neck if your going to hunt deer. 

Don't know anything about a 204 but 222 is a nice gun...
The 22-250 is bad to the bone...the remington model 700 is very accurare and my wfe and kids have taken many deer with it. Every deer shot has been dropped in its tracks or found close by...up to 200 yard shots...we use remington corelokt spire point and a box of 20 for under 20 bucks...its a long range shooting gun...

I shoot a Savage 12BVSS in a 22-250. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three rounds you have listed. I opted for 22-250 due to availability, but would not turn down a deal on a 204 or 222.

Mandi shoots a 22 Hornet and has taken everything from Blackbuck to Red Deer with it.

As with any caliber small or large, shot placement is key.

all the calibers listed above are really nice...but the 22-250 has a lot more range and is fast and flat shooting.

X2 also has more knockdown than the others.

I have the 204  222  223 and 22-250 all are great rounds it's about shot placement  . Put good optics on it and any will do the job

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_ballistics_table.htm

just some info......

Thanks so much for all the info..im going to shot my buddies 22 250. Sounds like the 22 250 is the way to go!

22 243 or 243 improved

x2...it is the way to go if you want range and knock down power. the others can have a certain amount of range but will not have the energy for the knock down power at the longer range.

.17 hmr varmit rifle. Shot hogs, folded them up deer dropped them too! Smooth shooting gun and recoil is about like a .22 a great gun for guys, kids, and ladies.

x2 17 hmr is what I use, very accurate, more damage and distance then a 22

X2

Out of the three I'd pick the 22-250, but if I could pick any for what you describe I'd pick a .243.

we have taken lots of dear with the 22-250 and every shot has been in the lung and heart area or at least in the chest cavity area...just one shot and the average range is close to a hundred yards and some have been more than 150 yards.

The 243 is the better deer gun...

my favorite all around is the 243       the ones you mention 22-250    i use core lock  i think it is best bang for your buck

6mm

On fur bearing game I use a 17 remington. On larger game such as pronghorn and deer its hard to beat the 223 and 22-250, 223 is cheaper to shoot and the 22-250 I have in bull barrel can really reach out and touch long distant shots. The best question is how often do you plan on shooting and are you hand loading

its illegal in Texas to take deer with a rim fire...

Savage 22-250!!!!!

Is it illegal

Ya a .17 is a rim fire same as a .22 but its like a .22 mag on roids I'm not sayin I hadn't taken a deer or three with one ha just sayin if the law catches you you'll be in some s&*$

I'm kin to Bo and Luke duke I'll get away!  :D

I'm kin to Bo and Luke duke I'll get away!  :D
[/quote]

I'm glad I ain't kin to Daisy  ;D ;D ;D rolleyes lol

Personally I would go with the 223.  This is just me.  The 223 can be loaded up pretty good and can be deadly accorate.  I like the ar platform and is pretty versital.  Get a 1 in 9 twist and u can shoot a wide range or weights from 40 to somewhere around 70 grain bullets with good results.  If you reload even better because you can work up a load.  Also if you go with a ar platform I suggest go with the 5.56 barrel or a 223 wilde or sammi 2 barrel so you can push the max limits of the gun.  If you get a 223 barrel you have to shoot 223 ammo if you go with the 5.56 you can shoot the 5.56 or 223 with out problems.

i know for a fact a 204 wont drop a deer at 100 yards if shot in right behind the shoulders.  popo
my 204 is a tack driver and i know i made a pefect shot and never found blood or the deer. 22-250 or 223 gets my vote.

I have a 22-250 and a 243 and the 243 is so much more versital you can shoot varmints with a 55gr bullet and deer with a 100gr. A 243 with a 55gr bullet has pretty much the same ballistics as the 250.

204 ruger is always a good choice....or a 220 swift

Go with a remington 700 .17 centerfire.

I've got a few places to call on and I want a gun that can put a yote down in a hurry if im driving around checking sheep,traps, etc..I have a 30 06 but that just blows a hole through the fur so I'm wanting a smaller caliber that can be versitle to be able to take a deer but not blow gaping holes through the fur..and alass no I dont know how to reload so it would be comercial amo..with my luck I'd blow myself or something up relaoding..lol  ;D Thank ya'll so much for all the info and advice!!!

I shoot a marlin 243 and really like it I`ve killed everything from deer,hogs,and coyotes,to armadillo`s! With my nikon prostaff scope and hornady  ammo never had anything go more than 75 yards with a well placed shot.

REmington 740 6mm... great gun... 

the 17 remington is to light and can easily get pushed around in the wind and may not be good enough if you hit bone on a deer or something of that size but it is great on cats, and coyotes

anything without antlers gets shot in the neck or ear

I like this!!!  :)

X2 I have both 17 hmr and 22-250 and love them both!

Hey trapperchick! I have to second alot of what these guys are saying about the .223. I have had mine for about 10 years now... and I have a .270, along with other deer huntin rifles, but that .223 just does it for me. Everything I shoot gets shot in the ear or the neck. I will say it has made me be a better shot because of this over time, and it has also made me be a much MUCH  more patient hunter because of this.  It may not be the best idea for a long-range deer shot, but I have no problems firing a long shot off at a coyote, pig, bobcat, etc... One really cool thing I HAVE noticed over the years, this gun is relatively quiet compared to others, so nine times out of 10, I've shot a pig out of a group, the group doesn't go too far, or you can bet it won't be too long till the same group or something else comes back out (don't know if this is the same case for others).  I absolutely love mine, and would choose it any day over a higher powered rifle. As a matter of fact- I had to tie pink ribbons on mine so all the guys at the deer lease would quit takin it out and using it!! ;D lol. It's just an all around great gun and cheap bullets.

I HATE a .223 for deer.  It's just too darn small to be as consistent as what I want.  For coyotes, great.  For anything deer or big hog sized I'd rather have more punch.  I've about quit taking tracking calls from .223's because you hardly ever seem to find them. 

Hard to beat a 243 or 6mm. You will have no problems getting ammo for the 243 either. With around a 100grain  bullet you will have a much better shot at busting one down in the shoulder. Good luck with whatever you choose though.

I choot em in the head its a clean kill but I don't recall ever missing or miss placing a shot. At least not yet.

Got him with my 22-250 at 200 yards!
(http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a462/Johnathon_Rester/IMG_6807.jpg)

especially if using full metal jackets...

You are correct with those full metal jacket 223. The new Hornady bullets are pretty good my son shoots a 223, and my daughter a 222. Between last year and this year they have knocked down around 20ish deer and didn't loose one all of them dropped in their tracks.

coach, will you find the exact hornady bullet for me? I would like to try it with my 22-250...

If your close to a Cheaper Then Dirt store try Bitterroot Valley Ammo.   I've shot over 200 rounds of each  hornady, bitterroot, Winchester, and Remington  (55 grain) and find the BVA are just as good but cheaper, and hold true with other brands of ammo of same grain.  Were the hornady have always shot high and right for some reason.

Will do sorry just saw this post.

It is Hornandy 50 grain V-Max  comes in brown box with red writing.

thanks...I will try a box

Good luck. My kiddos done good on this brand.

I hunt prairie dogs alot and have 4 rifles. Three 22-250s and a 223. If you hunt prairie dogs you are going to shoot lots of ammo. Generally I carry about 3,000 rounds with me on a hunt.

The 223 is the best choice because they are the most economical to shoot. The 22-250 is an excellent choice but much more expensive to shoot. Brass is high and it takes about 10 gr more powder for a charge. I can get 259 rounds per pound of powder for a 223 and 200 per pound for the 22-250.

Yup. Ive killed more hogs, coyotes, and time with a .243 than I can remember.

22 250 is one of the fastest shooting deadly varmit guns if you use a hornady v-max. but a 204 is a very fast gun as well!

yep...I love the 22-250