Best varmint long range cartridge in 224 caliber?

[Deleted member 31469]

I just sold my .223 and have several hundred Barnes and other non-lead bullets in 224 caliber. Looking for a more powerful long range cartridge. I reload everything. Thinking of f 22-250. Want a bolt action rifle. Any suggestions on something better than the 22-250? Thanks.

 

[Hunter527]

Theres not a 224 caliber cartridge on earth that can compete with the mighty 243 Winchester. I knew a ground squirrel who would agree.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I shoot a Ruger Number 1 in 220 swift because I was a velocity advocate in my youth but if I had it to do over again it would be the 22-250. I also have a model 700 in 222 which has served me well over the years. I can't think of a better 22 caliber long range varmint cartridge than the 22-250. 6 mm's are great as well and work better at extended ranges because of bullet weight but that's another conversation.

 

[ilovesprig]

I just sold my .223 and have several hundred Barnes and other non-lead bullets in 224 caliber. Looking for a more powerful long range cartridge. I reload everything. Thinking of f 22-250. Want a bolt action rifle. Any suggestions on something better than the 22-250? Thanks.

I feel the .243 is a little much for even prairie dogs.......

.

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

So are you saying my (borrowed) 300 win. mag. would be a bit much for ground squirrels?

 

[Hunter527]

So are you saying my (borrowed) 300 win. mag. would be a bit much for ground squirrels?

No!

 

[Hunter527]

I feel the .243 is a little much for even prairie dogs.......

.View attachment 49836

A little much but a lot of fun! Not to mention you’re fertilizing the soil with squirrel bits and helping to grow bigger bucks!

 

[MJB]

Sell the components and buy a 204!
Barnes VG at 225yds for yotes unless you go lead then 300yds.
Ground squirrels 350yds after that it has no energy.
Loud, but no kick I can watch the squirrel in my scope disappear into thin air.

 

[GUNDOGLOVER49]

No!

Good to know. I was starting to wonder.

 

[DragonSlayer69]

I just sold my .223 and have several hundred Barnes and other non-lead bullets in 224 caliber. Looking for a more powerful long range cartridge. I reload everything. Thinking of f 22-250. Want a bolt action rifle. Any suggestions on something better than the 22-250? Thanks.

22 Creedmore

22 Creedmoor, What, Why & How? - LoadDevelopment.com

The Creedmoor in 22 Creedmoor denotes the fact that it comes from a 6.5mm Creedmoor which has been necked down to accept a .224 bullet.

www.loaddevelopment.com

 

[TRICER]

I feel the .243 is a little much for even prairie dogs.......

.View attachment 49836

243 is one of my favorite calibers. It’s definitely my go to for Coyote.

 

[Aeon]

damn you 6mm thread thieves... stay on topic

ok

220redline aka 22saum, short action ultramag case necked down to 22. Take your wimp of a 22-250 and go home as the mighty saum spits out 75gr bullets at like 4k opening a worm hole to a alternate reality and killing us all.

barrel life should be in the 2 or 3 shots before you have put a new tube on but who is counting?

 

[Fishnplay57]

Im liking what my 225 is doing to squirrel. Smoking them out to 243 yds. How fun is that..

 

[KoozeDeer]

I hunt Coues deer regularly with a 22 creed. I use 90g vlds at 3060. I have killed deer past 600 without issues.

 

[White Smoke]

You can't get much better than a 22-250 in a .224 offering for long-range "work" if you stay with the .224 bullets. The only drawbacks with the 22-250 are that throat life is shorter than others and powder use is more than others. That said, it will take a lot of ammo to burn out the throat and powder usage just a bit higher than some others in a .224. As someone up above said, you might consider the 22 Creedmoor. It has been described as a 22-250 Improved. There are others out there, but you specifically asked abut long range shooting with a .224.

 

[Stikbrandon]

My .223 smashed them like my 6.5 CM kills everything I shoot.

 

[NBK]

Hard to beat a .223 Rem. Low recoil and good to go on squirrels through yotes. And accurate as well. Some have power some have less. The .223 is just right.

 

[Snake Charmer]

My first rifle was and still is a .222 Remington model 700 circa 1974 with a Bushnell 3-9. Much hailed in the benchrest world when it came to light way back when.... I still own and shoot it. Next one I bought was and still own is a Ruger #1 single shot in .220 Swift with a Leupold 6.5 to 20 way back in 1979. Both shoot the eyes out of squirrels at whetever range I care to shoot them at. Also own some .223's as well. BTW.17HMR gets it done at "200 and under.

 

[Aeon]

22 Rsaum for the win!

 

[NBK]

22 Rsaum for the win!

I was hoping for so much more in that video.