First and foremost, any responses to my dilemma below are greatly appreciated.

I am contemplating taking advantage of the Cabelas spend 5 hundy and get a $150 gift card. In doing so, I am trying to figure out what to buy....and being as indecisive as I am can pose problems with purchases such as these!!!!

I am thinking about getting either a 223 or a 22-250, that is my first hurdle in the decision process. We have some coyotes running around the area I hunt, not to mention too many badgers and "pot guts". If I could find the time, which I plan to, I may try my hand at drawing some of those wiley coyotes into my crosshairs (all the while plucking off some badgers/pot guts). Anyhow, this is farm land with sagebrush hills, pretty wide open terreain...hence, some potential long shots. I understand the 22-250 ballistically has its advantages over the 223. However, people often mention the cost of ammunition being 223 friendly. Any thoughts on either cartridge? Plus, just shooting around can be a good time...maybe the 223 is a bit more "user friendly".

I like the Remington Model 700 which leads to my next question...Cabelas has a synthetic stock mossy oak model 700 (probably ADL model I suppose) for like $490 bucks (includes a Cabelas 3-9x40 scope which I will replace) in the 223. They also have a stainless steel synthetic stock varmint model 700 with the bigger barrel for like $540 in the 22-250 or the 223. Any thoughts on either one of those...the good, bad, the ugly? With that, I am certainly not opposed to other suggestions in either cartridge other than I am kind of partial to Remington.

Anyhow, I have got to pull the trigger (no pun intended) on either of the above as the sale ends Wednesday I believe. So, any help and/or thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

For what it is worth, I currently have a 300 win mag, a 270 and a 6mm....

Thanks in advance!!!

I spend a lot of time varmint hunting with the 223 and the 22-250. To answer your question it really depends on how you will be using the rifles. 223 ammunition has went up a bunch in price, so pricing issues have become less of a factor.

I will tell you how I decide which rifle to hunt with each day I go.

I am a fixed position hunter so rifle weight is not a real issue with me.

I consider the 223 as a rifle capable of cleanly taking varmints out to about 300 or 350 yards(max). If you shoot varmints past that distance with the 223 then you are going to have "crawl offs". I have been able to extend this distance to about 450 yards with my Rock River AR15 Varminter. I have been able to extend this distance because I deliver a fast "double tap". That second shot will anchor them down. When shooting coyotes I really believe the effective "drop em dead" distance for the 223 is 300 yards. Any longer distance and you will definitely have "crawl offs" or "run offs" with the 223 cartridge.

Whenever I hunt a field that will have regular shots over 300 yards I take my 22-250(or larger cartridge). I feel extremely confident in my 22-250 out to 600 yards. That extra "ooooomph" is needed to anchor a varmint. Especially a larger coyote.

So to sum up what I do:

Short fast shooting out to 250 yards. I hunt with a suppressed Encore in 223 Remington. With a 40 grain V-Max bullet that is on a rope out to 250 yards. This rifle is short, lightweight, and quiet. Great for short distance.

When I set up in a field and shots are out to 450 yards max., I hunt with my RR AR15. the rifle is a heavy barrel. I shoot a 50 grain V-Max with the Leupold VH reticle. This is a great rig. I am going to add a suppressor to this rifle this winter.

When I hunt in fields out to 600 or 700 yards I hunt with my 22-250 and a 75 grain A-Max bullet. It bucks the wind well with a high BC. This is my tack driving rig. I am having another one built right now with a Krieger 1in8 twist barrel.

You really need to decide how you want to use your rifle. Then your decision should be simple. However if I was only going to have one rifle only. It would definitely be my 22-250. Tom.

Very well put Tom. The only thing I could think of trying to add would be the fact that extra long shots take a great scope, loading your own rounds, and a lot of practice. Most of us average hunters are going to be good out to 300 to 350 yards. If you think your shots are going to be 300 yards are less, you are fine with a .223. That being said, if I had to choose only one, it would be my 22.250.

You should also really think about a heavy barrel, because they are very heavy. They are great for stand hunting, but are a chore to carry around.