.223 or 243.

[huntingman]

ok after some research i narrowed it down to these two. its for yotes and fox and when i go to washington state. it will have to be good for bobcats and cougars too. i wanna tan the pelts so just wondering about your guyses 2 cents on this?
thx

[greyfox1757]

Two very good choices I own both calibers and use them both often on coyotes and fox. My .223 is an AR-15 that I am in the process of modding out for coyote hunting. I love and use my Savage .243 the most. I have a Harris bi-pod on it, 3-9X12 scope, and McNett mossy oak break up gun wrap. The Savage I have made some lengthy shots and has so far been the most reliable gun. As far as which one you get I am in the middle with because I own both and love them both. Good luck and happy hunting.

[coyote6974]

If just for coyotes here in Indiana I'd go with the .243. Since you've thrown in fox and bobcats, and saving pelts, I'd have to go with a .223. BUT.. If you want to shoot lions, though not particularly had to kill, I'd want a .243. I wouldn't want a not quit dead yet lion in my face. Sounds like you should just get one of each.

[tobias]

.243 for me. I own both, but take my .243 90% of the time.

[huntingman]

well i asked on another forum and they said a 22-50

[baldguy637]

Ballistics on the 22-250 and .243 are pretty much the same. I'd go with the .243, you can go with 58gr v-max for yotes and up over 100gr for deer/bear, ect... in other states. I also own both, and grab my .243 80% of the time. I sold my 22-250 years ago and went with the .243 and haven't looked back.

[huxbux]

The 243 will be more expensive to shoot, but the heavier bullets will do better at long shots where wind may be a factor. I wouldn't use a 22-250 on cougars. When he falls out of the tree, I'd want him DRT.

[trapperdave]

223. cheaper to shoot, will kill anything up to deer dead with one shot

[huntingman]

well i wont be shootin that much i would go with the 22-250 but idk if it will be to much for foxes. and i want to be ablr to take cougars and bobctas in washington state with it. i have a deer rifle so whatever will work best for foxes, yotes, bobcats, and occasional cougar

[esshup]

Look at what your bullet impact speed will be. The 22-250 isn't designed to be a close range gun, and the bullets designed for it might not hold together at the range that you'd be shooting a treed cougar at. Also, at the speeds that it shoots, I don't know how large of a hole the 22-250 would be putting in the pelts if you want to save them and tan them.

Now, we're assuming that you'd be hunting them with dogs.

I'd vote for a .243 with a Barnes TSX for the cougar, and a different bullet for the smaller critters; or the .223 if the barrel has a fast enough twist to shoot a heavier bullet.

I have all 3, and for what you describe, I'd grab the .243.

What distances would you be hunting at for all the different critters?

[huntingman]

shots over 50 yards i would be hunting clearcuts in the west. we would be calling. i would have somone with a shotgun with me.

[huntingman]

Sept 2, 2010 17:31:32 GMT -5 baldguy637 said:

Ballistics on the 22-250 and .243 are pretty much the same. I'd go with the .243, you can go with 58gr v-max for yotes and up over 100gr for deer/bear, ect... in other states. I also own both, and grab my .243 80% of the time. I sold my 22-250 years ago and went with the .243 and haven't looked back.

bear with a 243 ? i wouldnt use anything under 30 cal for a bear

[derrick]

If it were me I would just paint a hand grenade red, throw it to the bear and hopefully he will think it's an apple....problem solved lol, no but seriously, i would opt for the .243 because it's a more versatile weapon with a wide range of ammo for many different circumstances