ballistically there isn't a great deal of difference in these 2. which one is better for strictly varmint hunting(coyote and fox)?

this info is off of the winchester ammo sight. both cartridges are firing 55 gr ballistic silvertips.


Cartridge
22-250 Remington
243 Winchester

Bullet Wt. Grs.
55
55

Bullet Type
Ballistic Silvertip®
Ballistic Silvertip®

CXP Guide No.
CXP1-Varmints
CXP1-Varmints

Barrel Length (in)
-
-

Velocity in Feet Per Second (fps)

Muzzle
3680
3910

100
3272
3493

200
2900
3114

300
2558
2766

400
2240
2444

500
1946
2144

Energy in Foot Pounds (ft-lbs.)

Muzzle
1654
1867

100
1307
1489

200
1027
1184

300
799
934

400
613
729

500
462
562

Trajectory, Short Range Yards

50
-0.4
-0.4

100
0
0

150
-0.4
-0.3

200
-1.8
-1.4

250
-4.1
-3.3

300
-7.7
-6.3

Trajectory, Long Range Yards

100
0.9
0.7

150
0.9
0.7

200
0
0

250
-1.9
-1.6

300
-5.0
-4.3

400
-15.4
-13.1

500
-32.9
-27.7

The 22-250 would sure get my vote for all around varmits including Yote size varmits. The 243 will do the job very well also but I prefer the 22-250. Less noise and recoil. Very accurate and shooter friendly. Out to 300 yards, the 223 will do the job cheaper than anything and nearly as well.

ballistically thought the 22-250 is better.

Well, for starters, that 243 load you listed is for 55 gr bullets. Most production guns won't shoot those for a hoopers darn. The twist rate in most production 243's is meant to stabilize 75-100 gr bullets. I tried some of those 55 gr bullets about ten years ago, and it was more of a pattern, not a group.LOL Plus, their are many 22-250 varmint loads out their in the stores right now. Good luck

It is...... Kind of.

One thing you didn't take into account is the bullet dimeters.

The .243" bullets alone will be ballisticly superior to the .224" bullets but what you have to look at are the sectional densities if you are going to compare two bullets of the same design but of different calibers.

A 45 grain .224" bullet will have about the same sectional denisty as the 55 grain .243" bullet.

Since Nosler doesn't make a 45 grain ballistic tip the next closest bullet in .224" is the 40 grain.

AS the bore diameter increases the faster the same weight bullet can be driven, or a heavier bullet can be driven to the same velocities as a lighter weight bullet, given equal pressures inside the barrel.

I personally use a 243 for all of my varminting needs. But, like it was already said most 243s do not stabalize a 55gr bullet. I have personally not ever tried to shoot them out of either of my 243s. I'd say you would probably be better off with the 22-250 unless you load your own, as there is alot more varmint ammo readily available for that caliber.

I'll second that. I hunt coyotes a lot, and have never felt undergunned with a .223. I also have never had any trouble with bullets exiting and messing up the hides. Shoot something smaller than a coyote, and you may really see a difference. A .222 isn't bad, either.

I started out with a 222. I had the Savage Over?under with the 222/20 Ga. I also had a Savage 340 in 222. I just saw a new 222 in a gunshop the other day in the ADL Synthetic. I almost bought it but I have so much 223 brass. I know I could reform it to 222 but it may not be worth the work. Scheels up here gets 399.00 for the New 700 SPS in 223.

I hear ya James I got 1000 primed cases for 223 and I am down from 4 223s to one. The one I have left is a Mini14 so I 'll be damned if I am going to shoot reloads thru that scattergun.

id go witht eh .243 in my opinion and just go with the 75 gr. Vmax or the 75 gr. accutip. the .243 pushes theses bullets out at 3375 fps and i think that would be perfect for yotes