Dedicated fox cat rifle

[Blr243]

A while ago I toyed with the idea of a 204 mainly because of the flat shooting capabilities but I ended up thinking I can do similar with 55/58 in my 243. But now that I’m looking again I have done some research on a 22250 and have realised I can get a rediiculously flat traj with 40 grain v max ....and I can also carry some stoutly constructed 60 grainers for pigs I Might see ...this rifle will also be perfect for wild dogs at Somerset .......I can get a Brand new heavy barrelled Howa For 595 dollars .....I’m aware I might have to upgrade the trigger. I know I may have to replace the barrell at some stage down the track. I already have a recently acquired 308 and 4570 that cost me nearly 2 grand each so I can’t justify a 22250 in a tikka or sauer. Your thoughts please ?

[bladeracer]

A while ago I toyed with the idea of a 204 mainly because of the flat shooting capabilities but I ended up thinking I can do similar with 55/58 in my 243. But now that I’m looking again I have done some research on a 22250 and have realised I can get a rediiculously flat traj with 40 grain v max ....and I can also carry some stoutly constructed 60 grainers for pigs I Might see ...this rifle will also be perfect for wild dogs at Somerset .......I can get a Brand new heavy barrelled Howa For 595 dollars .....I’m aware I might have to upgrade the trigger. I know I may have to replace the barrell at some stage down the track. I already have a recently acquired 308 and 4570 that cost me nearly 2 grand each so I can’t justify a 22250 in a tikka or sauer. Your thoughts please ?

Does the .22-250 have the twist rate to run 60gn bullets?
For flat-shooting I'm assuming this is for spotlighting?
You can indeed get a very flat trajectory with 50/55/58gn bullets in the .243 around 4000fps, and still be able to use 100gn bullets for the bigger beasts. If you have a tight-twist .223Rem you can do similar with 35gn bullets at 4000fps and heavier 80gn bullets for bigger stuff - with a lot less powder than the .243, and the option of cheap factory ammo when you want.

[Blr243]

Impulsive and impatient creature that I am , have just placed a 25 per cent deposit and just donE my pta . So probably no turning back , but love to hear any tricks associated with this rifle or the reloading for it. I sometimes have struggled in the past with a touch of lube on the inside of my necks hampering powder flow in my 243 so I expect this one to be worse in that dept ....so I will really have to get it together on this one I’ll probably get a cheap Ss pin tumbler to ensure They are clean and use a touch of graphite. Generally I use a full length size ing die and size just enough to achieve a slight feel as I lower the bolt handle .....I’ll probably buy 100 factory loaded ppu to Start with and load my own from then on

[bladeracer]

Impulsive and impatient creature that I am , have just placed a 25 per cent deposit and just donE my pta . So probably no turning back , but love to hear any tricks associated with this rifle or the reloading for it. I sometimes have struggled in the past with a touch of lube on the inside of my necks hampering powder flow in my 243 so I expect this one to be worse in that dept ....so I will really have to get it together on this one I’ll probably get a cheap Ss pin tumbler to ensure They are clean and use a touch of graphite. Generally I use a full length size ing die and size just enough to achieve a slight feel as I lower the bolt handle .....I’ll probably buy 100 factory loaded ppu to Start with and load my own from then on

What have you ordered?
.204 can be a pain to get powder into, you might even have to buy a new funnel, many only go down to .224" calibers. I use the Lyman powder tray funnel thing which works fine. I use Lee Collect neck dies, no lube needed.

[Ziege]

if money is an issue just get a howa in 223, both cheap ammo and extremely affordable rifle considering the bang for buck. strap on a reasonable scope and youre done

[Blr243]

It looks like the 22250 Howa 1500 vt has a 1/12 twist rate. If it not produce good results with longer bullets I can live with it. My current rcbs green funnel works with a 224 neck as long as the insides Of the neck are clean and dry .......blade , with the lee collet dies I like the idea of no lube , do u stil have to FLS sometimes ?

[Bill]

blr243 question is do you want a barrel burner or less than flat trajectory .....

probably too long a wait for you but the new Hornday 6mm ARC should be available in the new year in a Howa mini.

58gr 6mm projectile at 3600fps sounds like a good thing

I know Ill be getting one for a truck gun

[bladeracer]

It looks like the 22250 Howa 1500 vt has a 1/12 twist rate. If it not produce good results with longer bullets I can live with it. My current rcbs green funnel works with a 224 neck as long as the insides Of the neck are clean and dry .......blade , with the lee collet dies I like the idea of no lube , do u stil have to FLS sometimes ?

Occasionally, but loading short of factory velocities greatly extends case life. I don't own .22-250, but I have .204, .223 and .243 in that area of performance.

[straightshooter]

It looks like the 22250 Howa 1500 vt has a 1/12 twist rate. If it not produce good results with longer bullets I can live with it. My current rcbs green funnel works with a 224 neck as long as the insides Of the neck are clean and dry .......blade , with the lee collet dies I like the idea of no lube , do u stil have to FLS sometimes ?

The consequences of the 12" twist are that some 60 grainers might not stabilise enough to provide acceptable accuracy. It is bound to be the longer VLD types but typical hunting soft points should be OK. At the other end 40 grainers will shoot OK but they make an already overbore cartridge even more so.
I would consider a 223 with a 9" twist a far better choice as far as barrel life and long term accuracy is concerned.

[Skinna]

I would have said a 204 is the go if youre just targeting foxes & cats, as its more than plenty of hit for those creatures.
Ive never hit a fox in the chest at 300yds even with mild loaded 32gr bullets & had the fox take a single step-they just fall over.

The 204 should also easily take dogs down, but to be sure, & maybe for use on pigs as well, the 22-250 is the go

The 22-250 will make very big messes of cats & foxes unless you load on the very mild side, but the dogs should fall over out a long way no problems with a 50 or 55 to the vitals.

Id only go 40 gr bullets to slow them down with reduced loads, which is well worth trying for a bit of fun & practice. But reduced loads will still be suitable out to an easy 200 yds on cats & foxes, but you'll introduce a loopy trajectory back into the equation.
Great fun on bunny's though.!

You'll like the 22-250. Like the little brother of the 243. It gives a decent bang, & makes a very loud pop when a 50 hits a fox & turns it inside out.

[bigrich]

best fox rifle back in the day was 222 and 17/222 rem if i remember correctly . i'm playing with 40 vmax loads in my 222 for flatter trajectory for a cat/rabbit/fox setup , they shoot around 1/2 to 3/4 at 100 due to going with 1-12 twist when i had it rebarrelled . with 1-14 on the old pitted barrel it would make one hole with the 40's , wish i hadn't been talked into the 1-12 twist in hindsight but the 55's shoot great and buck the wind better but with not so flat a trajectory .any flat shooter would do i reckon , 22-250 is a good thing , but there's always compromises

[RoginaJack]

Mate, I was using the 22Hornet for small holdings, little noise or a 222 for bigger but the 243W with 75gr, H.P. is great for foxes and dogs and cats. The 22-250 would be ideal, if noise is not a concern.

[Blr243]

My vmax 243 foxes and cats are 99 per cent of the time suitable Subjects for ethical photos if I position / rearrange them first

[Oldbloke]

You have a 243. I would just use that. So what if ocassionally your over gunned. If you ask around it's considered the beesnees for dogs.

[Blr243]

I think I just want a new toy. I so need to get out of this city. Just a couple more small Contracts to complete then I’m free as a bird .... I’m off to the bush with no real plan at all of how long I might be away

[SCJ429]

I find 50 grain Vmax are accurate and devastating on furry creatures, flat shooting and hard hitting out to 400 metres. My 22/250 has shot over 2000 rounds and is still going strong. A bore scope shows considerable erosion of the lands so I expect that accuracy will start to decline soon.

[TassieTiger]

If your howa comes with the HACT two stage trigger, spend the $15 from the gunbloke and the trigger will be equal to any factory tikka! I’ve done it my 300 and it is night and day difference.

[bigrich]

I think I just want a new toy. I so need to get out of this city. Just a couple more small Contracts to complete then I’m free as a bird .... I’m off to the bush with no real plan at all of how long I might be away

sounds good mate , best of luck with getting away from the PC , vegan infected city . i feel your pain for a new toy , i've got the blues for another myself , but the finances aren't good atm

[bigrich]

You have a 243. I would just use that. So what if ocassionally your over gunned. If you ask around it's considered the beesnees for dogs.

better over gunned than under gunned in my opinion too OB

[boingk]

Hi mate, for my money I'd go with another Ruger American. I've got two now, the 450 Bushmaster (16" barrel) and 308 Compact (18" barrel), both are bloody good rifles for the price. Pretty sure they do the American in 223 so that'd be perfect for foxes, cats etc.

For the money you can't go wrong, I can't say a bad thing about them to be honest.

- boingk

[Ziege]

If your howa comes with the HACT two stage trigger, spend the $15 from the gunbloke and the trigger will be equal to any factory tikka! I’ve done it my 300 and it is night and day difference.

so, I went to get this off him but the turn around was gonna be like a month, anyway, some yankee YT vids show ya how to do everything he is doing for nothing.. soz gun dude, but yeah

[boingk]

BLR, just a thought.... playing devil's advocate here...

...you could always run some 300gn projectiles through the 45-70. ADI data says they'll be pumping along at up to 2400fps with a load of 2207 behind them. Should be good for + / -3" point of aim out to 250m.

Flat? Not really. Overkill? Definitely. Fun? Good-gawd-yeah!

[marksman]

the 22-250 is a very good proven round usually in a 1 in 14" twist, mine stabilises the 60gr sierras and they hit very hard,
l feel 60gr bullets take the 22-250 to the next level, my usual load for the 22-250 is nosler 50 gr shots, 2208 powder, win cases, and federal LRM primers
a very flat shooter that l have used to fill the freezer plenty of times

[Blr243]

Boingk. I already got some 350 grain flex tips for the 4570 I figure when I’m piggin I’ll run into a fox or two

[boingk]

Boingk. I already got some 350 grain flex tips for the 4570 I figure when I’m piggin I’ll run into a fox or two

Hell yeah, thats the go mate!

[hunting99]

I bought an older rem 700 in 22-250 a few months ago and love it. I load it with 50gr Zmaxes sub .4 moa all day. Shoots flat and hits harder than a 204 and hardly any recoil. I should of got one years ago, so much fun.

[bigpete]

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I use a 22/250 with 50gn sierra varminters for my nv007 now. Accurate,flat shooting,and reliable. I've recently loaded up some 40gn noslers at around 4200fps that seem to be equally accurate and hit to virtually the same point of impact. I'd be more than happy to try 60-65gn pills in mine. The only thing I've had issues with are reduced trailboss loads,it doesnt like them so far unfortunately. I've shot up to fallow deer with it,mind you I'd not choose it for stalking them

[Blr243]

I just ordered the trigger upgrade from gunbloke after the suggestion from TT. I never heard of gunbloke before. Is it an overseas operation and any idea how long the delivery is? I’m not fussed Too much I can deal with it

[SCJ429]

I got my trigger springs from YoDave Triggers in Canada but I believe Gunbloke is in Australia and mostly does business on Ebuy.

[Blr243]

Thanks SJ. if it’s in stock I’ll probably see it arrive before my pta