What is the real difference??
What is the actual difference between the calibers .222, 223, 22-250? I am wondering about the actual effective range, the accuracy, and any other information that should be considered when thinking about buying a 22 caliber rifle.[:)]
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Velocity, and preferred bullet weight are the main reasons for having these different case designs. The 222 is a very old design, but it is still a much used varmint round with light bullets. The 223 is also used for varmint, but is also associated with military use. They tend to use a heavier bullet. The 22-250 is also for varmint, but is better for long ranges due to the higher velocity which means a lot less bullet drop. It is also known for using a lighter bullet. Which is better?? Depends on what you want. The 222 is accurate, and at moderate ranges works well. Recoil and noise is lower than the others. 223 is good for longer ranges, and carries more energy than the others due to the bullet weight. If you want to hit a groundhog at 500 yards better take the 22-250. 0 -
DonCP,
I think harold provided very complete information about these cartridges. All are .22 caliber.
I believe also that the most effective cartride at long range is the .22-250. The .22-250 started life as a wildcat and is the most flexible of the high powered .22's and is also one of the most popular. It is known for its long range accuracy. All of these cartridges are in the varmint class, meaning they are not recommended for deer or other medium sized game animals.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]0 -
Don,
To get any more refined answers, you have to tell us what your intended use would be for any of these cartridges.
I have seen and used the .223 with heavy bullets out to 1000 yards, accurately. The military competes in Palma matches with custom AR's shooting the 5.56 with 77 grain VLD bullets, single shot and seated long. I've been in the pits when you can hear the supersonic crack of their 22 caliber bullet and then see it go through the target. It's an unusual application with specialized bullets but the .223 is not limited to just intermediate ranges.
And lastly:
The listed world record benchrest 100 group is .009, and that has yet to be eclipsed. The rifle was chambered in 222 Remington. using BLC#1 powder and home made bullets made by the shooter Mac McMillan. Mac was 59 years old at the time the group was fired at a sanctioned benchrest match.
Best.0 -
For my 2 cents, I think we should mention barrel twist rates. The different weight bullets respond better to different twist rates. 70g and up want 1 in 9 or slower. 50g and lighter want 1 in 12 and faster. My meaning is that you can't just pick up a rifle in .223, or whatever, and start shooting everything from 45g to 80g and expect the same amount of accuracy. Some slugs will not stabilize and others may over stablize depending on the twist rate. So once you decide on what you are going after, and at what range, then you can better decide on how much velosity/powder capacity you need to launch a given bullet. Knowing these things the cartridge will usually just pop out as a no brainer. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ern98
For my 2 cents, I think we should mention barrel twist rates. The different weight bullets respond better to different twist rates. 70g and up want 1 in 9 or slower. 50g and lighter want 1 in 12 and faster. My meaning is that you can't just pick up a rifle in .223, or whatever, and start shooting everything from 45g to 80g and expect the same amount of accuracy. Some slugs will not stabilize and others may over stablize depending on the twist rate. So once you decide on what you are going after, and at what range, then you can better decide on how much velosity/powder capacity you need to launch a given bullet. Knowing these things the cartridge will usually just pop out as a no brainer.
ern98...
You have your terminology backwards... 1 in 9 (one turn for each 9" of barrel) is a faster twist rate than 1 in 12 (one turn every 12"). As the bullet weight increases, the twist rate needs to be faster in order to properly stabilize it.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
In general, 22-250 is a better choice (flatter trajectory, longer range, etc.), but .223 is cheaper than dirt to shoot. Keep that in mind. 0 -
Actually, the twist rate is determined by the length of the bullet and not the weight. It's just that for the general populace it's easier to assign twist rates by weight, generically, than to explain the subtle differences by lengths. The formula that is used predominately, is the Greenhill formula including an updated constant:
Twist = 150 X D2/L
Where:
D = bullet diameter in inches
L= bullet length in inches
150 = a constant
It is the constant of 150 that gets changed to update for more modern (faster) velocities.
I'm not trying to pick on anybody, just trying to keep us on a straight road for information.0
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