Which cartridge?

[Reverend Mr. Black]

Forgive my rehashing what's likely an old subject - tho twist rates have changed things a bit. The following "short list" includes my personal preferences - not disagreeing with your good opinions.

Am looking at two Tikka rifles strictly for Coyote - no other game. Can't decide between the 243 Win & 22-250. BOTH have 8 twists. Sorry, Not considering other (great) cartridges (204 / Creeds / etc).

Bullets ONLY in the 55 to 75 grain range - no higher - no lower. Won't be shooting true LR - I have another rifle for that.

Personal "comfort" level - Max distance: 450 yards.

Which cartridge?

TIA.

Cheers.

 

[SquirrelShooter]

Maybe longer barrel life with .243, but greater SD/BC with 22-250. I think with 8tw barrels though, and that bullet weight, 22-250 is the better.

 

[FEENIX]

Forgive my rehashing what's likely an old subject - tho twist rates have changed things a bit. The following "short list" includes my personal preferences - not disagreeing with your good opinions.

Am looking at two Tikka rifles strictly for Coyote - no other game. Can't decide between the 243 Win & 22-250. BOTH have 8 twists. Sorry, Not considering other (great) cartridges (204 / Creeds / etc).

Bullets ONLY in the 55 to 75 grain range - no higher - no lower. Won't be shooting true LR - I have another rifle for that.

Personal "comfort" level - Max distance: 450 yards.

Which cartridge?

TIA.

Cheers.

Either one will do; pick one and have fun with it.

 

[Prairie Sasquatch]

Both will work to 450 yds but if your only going to shoot those grain weights get a 22-250. I have both a 1-8 twist .243 and 1-8 twist 22-250 in tikka rifles so I've shot a lot of both. The .243 is a better overall rifle for anchoring coyotes but not until you step up to at least an 80 grain bullet.

 

[dogz]

Either will do you just fine, choose the one that tugs on your heart

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

PS.....

Thanks. Sound like a lot of experience behind your thoughts. Pls share a bit more on why and which 80+gr bullets.

Appreciated.

 

[SquirrelShooter]

PS.....

Thanks. Sound like a lot of experience behind your thoughts. Pls share a bit more on why and which 80+gr bullets.

Appreciated.

Which caliber?

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

Dogz...

Thanks. Trying hard to be very objective here. Leanin' towards .243.

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

SS...

Gotta love that 22-250 FLAT trajectory. Not sure I could keep the same trajectory WITH accuracy with similar bullet weight in 8 twist .243?

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

Squirrel...

.243 Win w/8 twist

 

[SquirrelShooter]

You may have to go mono to get best BC/SD in that weight. I havent shot a .243 in 45yrs, but it is a Rockstar round. Im sure there are others with current hands-on experience. Im just speaking analytically. But, who knows!; Windypants is getting crazy accuracy with a 95gr. (non mono) .25cal and 7½tw.

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

SS... Thanks. Sorry, little faith in monos - just me personally.

I greatly appreciate the good folks on this Forum. Always, always helpful. For the record, my late last year Tikka - 8 twist .243 - accuracy problems resolved and then re-surfaced. Over the last few months - weather permitting - it again failed to group well alongside other .2 moa rifles / cartridges that did - consistently. Traded it on another T3x Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor for Deer & Hogs << confirmed once again, another Tikka .1 / .2 moa rifle.

Which brings me to another Coyote only rifle, which cartridge? After reading the good thoughts here and elsewhere online about an 8 twist in .243, I just ordered another Tikka - 8 twist - .243. Cautiously optimistic.

Will start testing next week with a select few 70 to 87 gr Varmint bullets.

Be safe.

Cheers.

 

[Prairie Sasquatch]

My experience with the .243 has been primarily with an 87 vmax at 3200 fps. Recently I've shot some coyotes with the 105 Berger hybrid.

The .243 with the heavy bullets has a lot more energy than a 22-250. My 87 grain load has 1034 ft lbs at 400 yards. My 50 grain 22-250 load has 586 ft lbs. Both are totally adequate to kill coyotes. But the .243 load kills coyotes even on marginal hits. At 450 yards BC just doesn't matter for either load.

I can point and shoot with the 22-250 out to 300 yards because it shoots so flat but it's not as good in wind as my .243. Most especially at long range. My furthest kill with the .243 and an 87 grain vmax is 778 yards.

But I really like the 22-250 for 300 yards and under if it's not windy.

Each has its place

 

[Reverend Mr. Black]

Well said PS. I'm going to start with a 70 gr & step-by-step carefully move up in weights to the highly favored 87 gr vmax. Am counting on this new 8 twist rifle to work. With the one exception, all my other Tikka's have.

Appreciate your views & certainly agree.