Newbie Question?
 

I'm buying a new gun for coyte and praire dogs. I already have a .270 that I shoot pretty decent and a 300rum for big game. Here's my question, am I gonna be unhappy with a .223 or will it be fine for coyote hunting. I can always go down to 100 grain on the .270, but that may be considered over kill. I'm trying to figure out if I should go with a .223 or a 22.250. I don't reload and the .223 is much cheaper to shoot for the prairie dogs. From looking at the ballistics my .270 can do almost anything that a 22.250 can do. Thanks in advance for your advice!

RE: Newbie Question?
 

Are their 100gr. factory loads for a .270 win? Either the .223 or 22-250 would be an awesome coyote gun. The .223 ammo will be cheaper and probably more available. Just remember if you buy one, we can always give you a reason to buy the other:D

RE: Newbie Question?
 

If you want an excuse to buy another gun, then go ahead and buy another. I would suggest looking at the Ruger 204 instead of the 223 or 22-250?

But if you like your 270 and want to resight it in with the 100grain bullets each time from deer to dogs, then yes your 270 will work just fine. Providing the bullets will stabilize in your rifling. The 270 rifling is set up to work best 130gr and 140 gr bullets. But you won't know until you shoot some 95- 100 grainers. I start with a BT hornady or alike first, probably.

How's that for confusion?

If I can help, give me an e-mail
Mike

RE: Newbie Question?
 

dont go with a 204. they are great guns but they dont have the range that a 223 or a 250 has. as far as it goes between a 223 and a 22-250 goes, hard choice. i have had both and loved both. i still have the 250 only because the 223 got stolen. i have used the 223 to shoot coyotes out to 350yds. and the 22-250 out to almost 450yds. the main draw back about the 204 is it shoots a small bullet, yeah, its faster than sin, but it dont have it at distance and it drifts alot more than the 22 centerfires do.

RE: Newbie Question?
 

The 22-250 is going to be hard to beat for an all around varmint gun.

RE: Newbie Question?
 

I beg to differ....you may want to check out the ballistics of the 204 vs the 223 and the 22-250. The 204 is much flatter than both and beats both in velocity, bullet drop, and wind driftout to 500 yards

RE: Newbie Question?
 

CLD - I think I'd probably lean toward the .223 in your case. A wide variety of factory loaded ammo is available for it, and at more reasonable prices than you'll find .22-250 (and .204, for that matter). It's great out to 300 yards or so on coyotes, farther on prairie poodles. I even use mine for turkey hunting on occasion.

I'm a big fan of the .22-250 though as well. It's more expensive for me to shoot, but has longer legs than the .223. It can make a mess of a coyote pelt though, if that's a concern.

I'm not that familiar yet with the .204, but the two guys I know who have them (I think they still have them?) haven't been all that thrilled by it. We just have too much wind up here north of you.

RE: Newbie Question?
 

Thanks HB, I picked up a Savage .223 with the accu trigger last night. I'm gonna go sight her in tomorrow! I'm as happy as a pig in chit!:D

RE: Newbie Question?
 

This true the Ruger-204 is far superior over both the 223 and the 22-250 and won't burn out a barrel throat like the 22-250 does. my 2 cents

RE: Newbie Question?
 

If the great majority of your shots will be inside of 300 yards or so, the .223 will be fine! IF you will be taking shots out to 500 yards, then the .22/250 or a .220 Swift would be better. Or that 204 Ruger! But for coyotes, unless you plan to sell the pelts for fur, I would work up a fast, accurate load in that .270 using the Sierra 110-grain bullet. I used to use such a load on varmints in New Mexico. It was amazing to see those jackrabbits and porcupines just turned into a red mist by that bullet, and at almost any range where you could see the target!