What calilber for my SA build?

I currently have a model 12FV in .223 and I am looking to re-barrel it. I am wanting it to be a great varmint caliber for coyotes and the like out to 600 or so but would like to use it for whitetails if I want to as well. Not wanting to get too wild on wildcats because this will be my first build with a barrel change but I am really looking into just a McGowen 22-250. Thanks for the advice! Here are some pictures of the gun how it sits now.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pscdf4eeb7.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps0c9bb3de.jpg

.243 if you don't mind reduced barrel life. .243 is accurate to 1100 yards and you can hunt deer with it if you need to. 3350 fps with an 80 grain bullet.

Read-up on .260 or even .260AI. If I had to choose just one for a do-all, I think that would be it.

Already have a .243 but will look into the .260. Thanks guys

I've heard good things about the .260 and plan to build one this spring.

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Originally Posted by Bamapse

Already have a .243 but will look into the .260. Thanks guys

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260 is the next logical choice especially if you reload. You can use your 243 brass.

Double post.

If you hand load look into the 6mm br. 31.5 grains of Varget and an 87 Hornady VMax and your ready to go to 1000 yards.

I like the 260 Remington! ;-)

As a guy that owns two 260s:

Skip the 260 and go 6.5 Creedmoor. It does the same thing a 260 does, but IMO is a 'better mousetrap'.

You would also probably be surprised just how effective a 223 can be on a whitetail, given the proper bullet.

why not just have it rechambered to 22x250 ai? or even a 22x6mm or 243?
its probably a 9 twist which would work with the heavier 22 bullets.

Do you reload? If you don't then you'd probably be wasting time on a .260, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .22-250 for any kind of longer range work. .260 and 6.5 CM just aren't cartridges you'll find everyday unless your shopping online, and the .22-250 just doesn't use bullets heavier than 55 grains which aren't the best for longer range shooting. So if you don't reload I'd really look at the .308 or .243 as the best options for ammunition availability, but only because you don't want the .223. Although my daughter (10 years old) had been using the .223 and 55 grain TSX to hammer whitetail for the last two seasons.

I'm a die hard 6mm fan, I currently run a 6X47 aka 6mm-222RM for varmints, deer, and pronghorn, and a .243 Win for long range target shooting. My next one will probably be a 6XC when my .243 barrel craps out. My little 6X47 will push 70 grain Nolser BT's at 3100 fps out of a 20" barrel and only uses 26.5 grains of powder, which makes it a very efficient little killer of deer sized game and smaller. My .243 is a 1:7 twist that will run pretty exclusively all bullets 105 grains and heavier.

7mm-08

I really love my 22-250! There are quite a few great choices mentioned above though.

260 it will do it all or 243

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Originally Posted by taylorce1

Do you reload? If you don't then you'd probably be wasting time on a .260, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .22-250 for any kind of longer range work. .260 and 6.5 CM just aren't cartridges you'll find everyday unless your shopping online, and the .22-250 just doesn't use bullets heavier than 55 grains which aren't the best for longer range shooting. So if you don't reload I'd really look at the .308 or .243 as the best options for ammunition availability, but only because you don't want the .223. Although my daughter (10 years old) had been using the .223 and 55 grain TSX to hammer whitetail for the last two

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b.s. i rechambered my savage 223 with a 9 twist to a 22x250ai.
no problem with 69 gr bullets at all. never tried heavier but they might work also.

22br.....run 75's to 90's

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Originally Posted by yobuck

b.s. i rechambered my savage 223 with a 9 twist to a 22x250ai.
no problem with 69 gr bullets at all. never tried heavier but they might work also.

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What part of my statement was BS? I simply stated that if the OP doesn't reload, then the .22-250 is a waste of time. There is very little factory ammunition out there for the .22-250 heavier than 55 grains, and what there is runs a flat based semi-spitzer bullet that doesn't have any better BC than a 55 grain bullet.

Sure the 55 grain .22-250 will reach 600 yards, but there are better long range ammunition options for the .223 if you have the right twist. I'd stick to the .223 before going with a .22-250 and being stuck with factory ammunition. If the OP does reload then everything I said was moot.

Another vote for the 260. Great do it all caliber.

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Originally Posted by taylorce1

What part of my statement was BS? I simply stated that if the OP doesn't reload, then the .22-250 is a waste of time. There is very little factory ammunition out there for the .22-250 heavier than 55 grains, and what there is runs a flat based semi-spitzer bullet that doesn't have any better BC than a 55 grain bullet.

Sure the 55 grain .22-250 will reach 600 yards, but there are better long range ammunition options for the .223 if you have the right twist. I'd stick to the .223 before going with a .22-250 and being stuck with factory ammunition. If the OP does reload then everything I said was moot.

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well if you take the time to read the op and look at the pictures you might see why i said that.
at least to my old eyes that looks like a loading press attached to a very nice loading bench
and he did mention 22x250?

Touché! However in my defense when I typed my original post I hadn't had but about six hours sleep in the last 65 hours. I honestly didn't pay any attention to the pictures in the post. However, I did read the post enough to know he did mention the .22-250 as the one he was leaning towards. I'll try to pay better attention next time when I'm sleep deprived. ;) Hell I'm still a little loopy now and I crashed for about 15 hours since yesterday.

Hey kids! Stop bickering and help the guy out. If you dont like someones advice they posted then give your own opinion and thats it. without calling b.s. on someone who gave sound advice with both sides of his opinion.

Yes, theres reload equipment in the background. Is it his? How do you know without asking him! If you took a pic of me right now theres a $75000 cadillac in the background...i can assure you it is not mine!

Play nice or dont play at all.

.243 easy to get components for reloading cheap and effective.

Love the 22-250 and if you are looking to keep the Pelts then you may be able to find something that doesn't blow the coat off them!!

Just got a 22-250 myself and it's got plenty of grunt on the Goats we knock over at 600+ yrds using the 55 grain soft points and they are similar size to the Coyotes but the smell a lot worse!

The 260 is it hands down. It will run against a 300 wm , with the exception of energy . Oh and the 300 needs at least a 200 gr. bullet. Oh and recoil, "what recoil".

When I looked at the OP's first post, I noticed he mentioned "for whitetail deer" and for that reason I would rule out the 22-250. Heck it's most likely not even legal in most states as a deer cartridge.

For that reason, I would second the 243. Ammo SHOULD be a lot easier to find, and it's a solid 300yd deer round. You could even get an 8 twist barrel and go with some of the Berger long range bullets and put a real smack on yotes and just about any distance you chose.

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Originally Posted by chukarmandoo

The 260 is it hands down. It will run against a 300 wm , with the exception of energy . Oh and the 300 needs at least a 200 gr. bullet. Oh and recoil, "what recoil".

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dream on chuck. your pounding those books too hard.

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Originally Posted by yobuck

dream on chuck. your pounding those books too hard.

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Really? Tell me with your great knowledge where I'm wrong.

6.5 Creedmoor, as stated before, has a better case design than the .260.

Very good suggestions given. My .02 cents . . .

1st, 260
2nd, 6.5 Creedmoor
3rd, 243

3 suggestions, but I would lean hard towards the 260 for what your wanting to do. All three will do the job.

Dennis

243/22-250. Ive seen Muley's taken with a 22-250 65 grain (post 64/pre 97 winchester, 1-12 twist). He said nothing about taking whitetail at 600 yds. 22-250 with a 65 grain, in any 22" or longer barrel will do well if you are accurate enough. 243 has been doing it for ages.
-How far are you shooting whitetail?
-What ammo is available in your area?
Go to THE store that you go to when you forget ammo. Find out what they have in SA calibers/weights. Screw prices, you want a deer/coyote gun, versatility and range; it is going to cost $(25-06, 260, 6br, 6.5x284 norma, etc.). Report back with what they have; I would put money on the table that your answer will be fairly limited, if you want to go that route.
If you want a rifle no one else has in your area, take that list and pick something NOT on it.

Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry I did not make it clear but I DO reload and already have a .243 built and looking to stay in the 22cal range because I already have my .243. I would have some opportunities to shoot deer out to 600 or so but will be doing my predator hunting with this one in the 400-600 yard range. My current .223 savage 12FV barrel is 1:9 twists so I could run the heavier 22 bullets. Thanks again!