need a little help

[Wolf]

got the money to buy a savage rifle but I want to shoot from 100 to 500 yards, and hit ground hogs, and just a little smaller things, should I get 308, 243, 223 22-250 leaning for a 308 I don't re load thanks

[yobuck]

For groundhogs and other small creatures to the distance you mentioned id buy a 22/250.
You would be pushing a 223 at 500 yds, and the 243 isnt really necessary on the animals you refer to.

[Kadams1563]

I think a .223 would work fine. Maybe not if your trying to hit really small things at 500 yards but I'm sure it would work.

[Texas Solo]

I've taken groundhogs consistently at 300yds. with a .223, beyond that things like wind become a factor.
I'd opt for the 22-250, but be aware that a 22-250 is a throat burner.
The .308 your leaning towards is not the best choice for your intended use.

[GaCop]

For groundhogs and other small creatures to the distance you mentioned id buy a 22/250.
You would be pushing a 223 at 500 yds, and the 243 isnt really necessary on the animals you refer to. +1 for 22/250.

[Dennis]

You will have a blast with a 243 and nosler ballistic Tip's, 55grn or 70grn.

I have a 22-250, but the 243 get's my vote, that's if you like red clouds!

[yobuck]

[QUOTE=Dennis;354929]You will have a blast with a 243 and nosler ballistic Tip's, 55grn or 70grn.

I have a 22-250, but the 243 get's my vote, that's if you like red clouds!

But but Dennis, he dosent reload. Anyway some of us are perfectly happy just making things dead. lol

[Dennis]

These are factory rounds and can be purchased almost anywhere, nosler ballistic Tip's, 55grn or 70grn, Federal makes them.

Look them up.

Dennis

[67tundra]

22-250 would be my choice in your situation.

[Wolf]

I got the 308, bull barrel savage 11vt

[Robinhood]

Wolf, You are a funny guy.

[handirifle]

I also vote 243. Should you get that 500yd shot, you will flat anchor them with the 243. Also should you decide to hunt larger animals, like coyote or even deer, you will have a capable and legal rifle for them as well. I wouldn't go much past 300 on deer with it, but those heavier weight bullets will make the difference between a miss, or one that crawls away, and seeing it drop on the spot.

There isn't a snits worth of difference between a 22-250 and 243 in recoil, using the 70gr ammo in a 243. I would even suggest bullets in the 80-85gr if you find longer shots more the rule. I used to coyote hunt with the 243 and Sierra 85gr BTHP. When I hit the boiler room, never had a yote even flinch, no matter what the range. I had one that I nicked him high (as in skimmed the back) and that dropped him. A second shot ended the wiggles.

That same bullet, when making broadside shots, is a deer bomb.

The Vmax bullets will not usually exit, so ricochets are usually no concern.

Also might want to look at this, for a comparison. http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ballistics/2016-Standard-Ballistics.pdf This is Hornady ammo only, but a good representation. At 500yds the 243 with a 75gr Vmax is still considerably faster and has a lot more energy that the 22-250 with it's 55gr Vmax. By the way, it's near impossible to find 22-250 ammo heavier than 55gr. Mainly cause the rifle twist rates are usually too slow to support heavier bullets, in the 22-250.

The 243 can stabilize anything from 58gr to a 105gr with the standard 1-9 twist.