Long Range - 243, 22-250 or a 260

[Precision_Game_85]

After doing some searching around on here I've come to the conclusion that I'm most interested in either a 243, 22-250 or a 260. I'm still looking for the smallest amount of pelt damage possible, but I need to be able to reach out as much as possible "hunting in wide open country." Can anyone make a recommendation on one or the other? I've heard the 243 and 22-250 eat barrels for breakfast and I'm wondering if that's BS or if they really do chew them up "I don't want to replace match grade barrels once a month." Thanks in advance for all your help as I'm still learning the ropes in the coyote world.

 

[Rimfire]

They are all good cartridges. The 22's with heavy bullets can get out there and keep recoil down. The 22 BR running a 7" twist and 90 grain smks would get the job done

 

[KRP]

Considering case capacity/bore only the 260 should win the barrel life race. I've got a 260 I use now as a long range varmint gun that I'm going to get rid of and build another 6BR, this one with a fast twist. Easy and inexpensive to load, accurate, excellent barrel life, low recoil, and it will whump coyotes/chucks/etc. a long ways out there.

 

[Precision_Game_85]

Considering case capacity/bore only the 260 should win the barrel life race. I've got a 260 I use now as a long range varmint gun that I'm going to get rid of and build another 6BR, this one with a fast twist. Easy and inexpensive to load, accurate, excellent barrel life, low recoil, and it will whump coyotes/chucks/etc. a long ways out there.

I kind of figured that would last the longest. Any suggestions on bullet weight? I'll probably have it custom built "My first custom rifle" and I want to get the twist rate right. Thanks for the info!

 

[Rimfire]

Considering case capacity/bore only the 260 should win the barrel life race. I've got a 260 I use now as a long range varmint gun that I'm going to get rid of and build another 6BR, this one with a fast twist. Easy and inexpensive to load, accurate, excellent barrel life, low recoil, and it will whump coyotes/chucks/etc. a long ways out there.

+1

I sold my 22-250 (great rifle) and 6.5-284 another (great rrifle)

My 6br has enough to get the job done not nearly a the same as the 6.5 but plenty for what I use it for. In good conditions the little br can get way out there. Great brass no neck turn easy to load and accurate as all hell. G- hogs fox and deer hate it.

Stiller diamondback right bolt left port drop port
Brougthton 1-8 27"
Mac Millan Sako varmint stock
107 SMK @ 2850

 

[Iowaboy]

I couldn't agree more about the idea of a 6BR. I have a savage model 12BR and it is a shooter. I've won once at both the 1000yd BR comps I've been to in factory class shooting in 7inch 5 shot group range at 1000. Tore a big p-dog in half at 705 this year out in wyoming with it.

But just for FYI the 22-250 and 243 beening barrel burners. I'm not sure about the 243, it just depends how hard you run it. The 22-250 will go a long time it you stay with 55 grain bullets and not the little bitty fast ones. My buddies savage has over 3k on it and at a high rate of fire in the p-dog fields and it will still shoot inch groups at 100 but ymmv.

Oh yeah I shoot 105 amaxs over varget in my 6br 8 twist.

 

[tt35]

High BC bullets and "fur friendly" don't go together very well unless you get a stout bullet and figure on the coyotes runnining a ways if you don't hit the CNS or large bones. I'm shooting a .243AI with an eight twist barrel. It will shoot the high BC bullets and will run well over 1K rounds if you don't get too carried away with velocities. There are better cartridges to hit the varmint (pd) fields with but unless you are really going to be running it fast and furious, it will shoot a lot of coyotes. My son has a 58 grain V-max load that he shoots while calling that hits close enough to POA with his long range load that he can switch them out. That's about as close to fur friendly/long range as I've seen so far. The 58's do well on fur at calling ranges and AI velocities. You could probably do the same with a fast twist .22-250 using VLD's for LR and the 60 grain V-max at calling ranges. We've had pretty good luck with that bullet as well.

 

[7 loader]

The 250 is a barrel burner but with a fast twist ( 1-7), and the 80 gr a-max not loaded to the max you should be fine. As for the 243 my wife has had hers for 20 yrs not one factory round has been run through it. After countless rounds it still shoots sud moa groups.gun)

 

[Precision_Game_85]

High BC bullets and "fur friendly" don't go together very well unless you get a stout bullet and figure on the coyotes runnining a ways if you don't hit the CNS or large bones. I'm shooting a .243AI with an eight twist barrel. It will shoot the high BC bullets and will run well over 1K rounds if you don't get too carried away with velocities. There are better cartridges to hit the varmint (pd) fields with but unless you are really going to be running it fast and furious, it will shoot a lot of coyotes. My son has a 58 grain V-max load that he shoots while calling that hits close enough to POA with his long range load that he can switch them out. That's about as close to fur friendly/long range as I've seen so far. The 58's do well on fur at calling ranges and AI velocities. You could probably do the same with a fast twist .22-250 using VLD's for LR and the 60 grain V-max at calling ranges. We've had pretty good luck with that bullet as well.

I was thinking of using the Barnes TSX Tipped bullet in 260 (120 grain) with a B.C. of .443. I'm curious what B.C. has to do with fur friendly? I was thinking that since the bullet doesn't expand much and it has a long shank after impact "more of a solid like performance" that it should exit without a large exit wound. Please help me out with what you mean about B.C. because I'm a bit lost on what it has to do with terminal ballistics "I could send a high B.C. FMJ through and have no fur damage at all for instance." Thanks for everyones help and I'm just trying to gain all the information I can "new to this sport."

 

[tt35]

PG85: BC is not specificly related to fur performance. The problem is that the heavier, high BC bullets tend to not be great fur bullets because they will, in all likelihood, exit. Your thinking on the TSX is sound though which is what I meant about a heavier constructed bullet. You need to either go with something fragile enough to fragment without exit or stout enough to not blow a large hole upon exit. The stouter bullets just won't put the coyotes down as quickly since they lack the shock of fragile bullets. Since you're hunting open country, that may not be as big of a deal for you as it would be for someone in brushy country that will have a harder time finding the coyotes if they run a ways. Coyotes take a lot of killing. FMJ's won't reliably kill coyotes. And, if a FMJ hits bone and tumbles, it may make a bigger exit than an expanding bullets. JMHO.

 

[Precision_Game_85]

PG85: BC is not specificly related to fur performance. The problem is that the heavier, high BC bullets tend to not be great fur bullets because they will, in all likelihood, exit. Your thinking on the TSX is sound though which is what I meant about a heavier constructed bullet. You need to either go with something fragile enough to fragment without exit or stout enough to not blow a large hole upon exit. The stouter bullets just won't put the coyotes down as quickly since they lack the shock of fragile bullets. Since you're hunting open country, that may not be as big of a deal for you as it would be for someone in brushy country that will have a harder time finding the coyotes if they run a ways. Coyotes take a lot of killing. FMJ's won't reliably kill coyotes. And, if a FMJ hits bone and tumbles, it may make a bigger exit than an expanding bullets. JMHO.

Ohhh...ok...I guess we are on the same page then afterall. I'm thinking I'll use the 260 for open field work and for the woods either a lighter caliber with a fragile bullet "like you mentioned" or maybe a shotgun. I've just never been a fan of 22 calibers at long range "I seriously feel like I'm about to run out of clicks when setting windage." Thanks for your help in this. Now that I know the caliber I have to pick someone to build it (and explain to the soon to be wife that I need another gun .)

 

[Rimfire]

Good advice fast light bullets that dont exit are great lile a v max 22 cal BUT BUT for long range they are going to give you a fit with wind drift. The faster 22's with heavy high bc bullets 90 grain are a whole different creature. You cant have the best of both worlds with one cal / bullet. For LR pick a high bc heavy for cal sturdy bullet like a 107 smk they open enough to put em down but not much damage

 

[trebark]

260 with an 1:8 twist barrel would be great. 8 twist will allow you to shoot the 140 grain bullets (and 120 and 130).

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-260-mcr-59628/

Fur friendly bullets are bullets that do not expand much, so target bullets like the SMK and VLD are good choices.

 

[Precision_Game_85]

260 with an 1:8 twist barrel would be great. 8 twist will allow you to shoot the 140 grain bullets (and 120 and 130).

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-260-mcr-59628/

Fur friendly bullets are bullets that do not expand much, so target bullets like the SMK and VLD are good choices.

That is a beautiful rig!! I'm not going to ask what you paid, but can you tell me what the average price is for a MCR build?