Looking at upgrading my ruger hornet to something that can shoot a bit longer and hit a bit harder. Rabbits, foxes, kangaroos if i get the right permits, goats and cats. Out to 200 metres or just under 250 yards.

Have been offered a nice price for a howa 1500 synthetic/blue rifle with a 3-9x42 nikko stirling (which I might upgrade anyway)

Ive heard these rifle are accurate but anyone have personal experiene with any of the two calibres (223rem and 22-250 rem)?

It will be a spotlighting (off a rest at night) rifle.

yeah i have the Howa model 1500 in .223, and yes they are dead accurate. I shoot plenty of foxes, cats and kangaroos out to about 200 meters with it. I even use the .223 to shoot pigs but at about 100 meters max on them.
Ok you want either a .223 or 22-250.......Well i would say the .223 will kill rabbits, foxes, cats and roos even out to 250 meters. But for the goats i think that little bit of extra power out of the
22-250 would be more practicle. But even then you would'nt shoot goats at any further than 100 meters unless you can make a head shot or very good body shot. But as i said i shoot pigs with my .223 and they are just as tough or tougher than goats, but you just need to be that bit closer.
So in conclusion the .223 and the 22-250 will take all of these animals cleanly but the goats i would shoot no further than 100 meters. Which ever one you choose, the 55 grain bullets are good for the rabbits, foxes, cats and roos but i would use the 64 grain bullets for the goats. And as for spotlighting, thats mainly what i do so my opinions came from the spotlighting method. But if you decide to move away from these two calibers, the .243 packs more punch and would be the best all rounder for all of these animals out to 250 meters and that would be my choice.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Cheers mate

I know nosler make a 60gr partition that might be suited to the smaller pigs and goats a bit more. Im looking at the 55gr sierra blitzking or the nosler 55gr ballistic tip over the ADI benchmark 2 for a regular load and the 60 grainer as a bit more heavy duty hunting load.

I can do head shots at kangaroos and I see goats as no trouble either.

All my shooting buddies are using 220 swifts, 243's or 308's. Getting sick of holding the light when a challenging longer shot needs to be taken. Arranged one property owners permission for my application tonight so things are looking up.

Just need to sell my hornet

Thanks for the help

Get the 22-250. I don't know if you reload, but if you do there's not much difference in ammo cost. The 250 will give you quite a bit more energy at ranges over 200 meters.

When you say "Ruger Hornet", is this the #1 Ruger, the M77 Ruger, or the 77/22 Ruger?

The #1 and the M77 could be rechambered, but the 77/22 is a little light in the action for such a conversion.

Although I own a Ruger M77 MkII V/T in .223 Rem, I would suggest the 22-250 for what you are wanting to do. When reloading, the cost difference isn't all that great.

The Howa rifles are well made, IMO.

Yeah its the 77/22 mate. I really love this little gun as i finally got it shooting 3000 fps with 35gr v max and 296 powder, with groups down to 0.8", but its not a 250 yard gun nor is it legal for kangaroo culling. Time to step up the plate a little

Bob, I will be reloading using ADI Benchmark 2 and some form of 55gr ballistic tip- you may be able to help me by telling me if a boat tail ballistic tip will be more suited to the longer range shots- Nosler and sierra shows them as having one but not hornady...?

I got my second property permit today so off i go to the gunshop to order it tomorrow.

I'd keep that 77/22 Hornet just the way it is. Have one myself, along with a 77/22 in .17 HMR/22. WMR and think the world of both of them.

Hornady makes a boattail 50 gr V-Max and several in hollowpoint - the 52 gr, the 68 gr and the 75 gr BTHP's.

Brad, Why don't you look at a .308 or .243? They will give you better range and choices on larger game. My .223 (5.56x45) is great out to 250 yards even though it is a semi auto on vermin. If I want to hit something hard a long ways off, I use a Howa HB .308. Since I reload and grab bullets on sale, ammo cost is pretty low. I still use 165 grain even for vermin. The same bullets for vermin or hunting edible game. For my 5.56 I use Hornady 55gr V-Max or Nosler 60gr partition. Good luck, Jim

Brad, Why don't you look at a .308 or .243? They will give you better range and choices on larger game. My .223 (5.56x45) is great out to 250 yards even though it is a semi auto on vermin. If I want to hit something hard a long ways off, I use a Howa HB .308. Since I reload and grab bullets on sale, ammo cost is pretty low. I still use 165 grain even for vermin. The same bullets for vermin or hunting edible game. For my 5.56 I use Hornady 55gr V-Max or Nosler 60gr partition. Good luck, Jim


Truth be told its pretty hard to get ahold of those calibres unless you are a farmer round these parts. People have them but either got in before the authorities clamped down on high power rifles, or they travel a fair way to shoot in areas that hold larger game, and not so many residential areas. When you do your genuine needs test as part of your firearm application, they will consider what your shooting and if there are other calibres suited for it too. I know one guy who applied for a 243 and they came back to him saying its a 223 at the most buddy. Shooting doesnt take place over 300 yards generally so I will stick to the 22-250 if they approve it.

As for the hornet, well I have a 17HMR that is more accurate than my hornet and for what both are legal for, its a good choice of calibre. Cabinet space is an issue too as I cant tempt my father to sell his old mossberg 22WMR. As long as one of my mates makes me a good offer I will sell it.

Yeah its the 77/22 mate. I really love this little gun as i finally got it shooting 3000 fps with 35gr v max and 296 powder, with groups down to 0.8", but its not a 250 yard gun nor is it legal for kangaroo culling. Time to step up the plate a little

Bob, I will be reloading using ADI Benchmark 2 and some form of 55gr ballistic tip- you may be able to help me by telling me if a boat tail ballistic tip will be more suited to the longer range shots- Nosler and sierra shows them as having one but not hornady...?


Boat tail's really don't shine til you get past 300 meters Brad. Usually you'll get a little better groups with plain base bullets. Sometimes it depends on the rifle also.

I shoot both a plain base 32 grainer and a 40 grain boattail in my 204 and both seem to group about the same, but the 204 seems to like about anything I put thru it under 40 grains. I've been away from the 22-250 for about five years now. Been shooting a 243 til the 204 came along.

all I put thru the 22-250 were 55 grain Sierra's at 3850 fps over my chrono. These were accurate and killed coyotes well.

Boat tail's really don't shine til you get past 300 meters Brad. Usually you'll get a little better groups with plain base bullets. Sometimes it depends on the rifle also.

I shoot both a plain base 32 grainer and a 40 grain boattail in my 204 and both seem to group about the same, but the 204 seems to like about anything I put thru it under 40 grains. I've been away from the 22-250 for about five years now. Been shooting a 243 til the 204 came along.

all I put thru the 22-250 were 55 grain Sierra's at 3850 fps over my chrono. These were accurate and killed coyotes well.

Thanks for the honest opinion mate, I ordered the rifle today so Im waiting on the serial numbers to get in for the last bit of the application. Its still a while away yet, but I will use time to get more properties to shoot on. I had a good day yesterday, picking up two properties with a total of over one thousand acres of land. Plenty of foxes, rabbits and kangaroos on each one.

Gday brad,I am using nosler 55gn BTs exclusively in both my 222 howa and my 22/250 model 70 winchester.I have just bought a howa 22/250(waiting for paper work) and am hanging to get it working.Spotlighting is great fun and im sure the 22/250 or 243 would be plenty of grunt.Most times you wont shoot past 250m under light.Unless you have a really good light and still conditons.The load my howa 222 likes is 18gns of ADI 2207,55gn BT,federal SR primer,remington brass.This load is burning very clean and its shooting well under an inch at 100m.My 22/250 load for the mod 70 is 32gns of ADI BM2,55gn BT,federal LR primer,winchester brass.This rifle is zeroed at 200m.Not much gets away from this thing.I cant wait to get the new rifle and make a load that works.Out of interest,i have just bought a box of barnes varmint grenades,36gn HP.Has anyone tried these things??

Yep im going to try the benchmark 2 first off, maybe some sierra blitzkings first and will be using CCI primers. Most ballistic tips have good reps for doing the same thing, so its seems choose your flavour and go. I do want to do a close range pig/goat load with the 60gr nosler partitions too.

Whats the highland brass like in that cal?

Those varmint grenades look good for the hornets, get close to 3000 fps and if they blow up as per their description, bunnies wont stand a chance.

Im going to try and load the 36gn barnes into the 22/250.I hope they dont fly appart on leaving the muzzle hahhahaha.

The 60gn partitions have interested me for awhile.Be interesting to see if your gun likes them.I have a 1/12 twist barrel on the model 70 and i think it should stabalise something that big.It loves 55gn.I have highland brass for my 22/250 and have never loaded it yet.Have got around 400 winchester cases im working through.I rate highland brass up above winchester and pmc.I like remington brass,some people say its winchester anyway.But in my 303 it lasts a **** of a lot longer than winchester.I use highland brass in my 303 and 300wm.Its good gear mate.

Your mention of the firearms application rules does limit your choices in your country. We are not that bad yet but the authorities are trying to make things harder here in Canada.
It seems your stuck with .22 cal. I looks like the 22-250 is your only sensible choice.

Looking at upgrading my ruger hornet to something that can shoot a bit longer and hit a bit harder. Rabbits, foxes, kangaroos if i get the right permits, goats and cats. Out to 200 metres or just under 250 yards.

Have been offered a nice price for a howa 1500 synthetic/blue rifle with a 3-9x42 nikko stirling (which I might upgrade anyway)

Ive heard these rifle are accurate but anyone have personal experiene with any of the two calibres (223rem and 22-250 rem)?

It will be a spotlighting (off a rest at night) rifle.
I have Howa 1500's in both .223 and .308. I have used the .223 mostly as a coyote and praire dog killer. My partner shoots the .22-250 and it is better at the longer ranges. The down side to the 22-250 is that in camparison to the .223 is throat erosion. I haven't shot coyotes in several years now and I keep thinking I might sell it off. Seems like I just can't quite bring my self to getting rid of it. Jeff.

Nothing wrong with the Howa as the rifle.
22-250.
You don't have to load the round into the thermo-nuclear velocity regions for it to do its job. Off-the-shelf 55gr stuff will do the job, as will a plain-jane 55gr spitzer with 38gr of H-380. The barrel will probably outlast you. I'd avoid a steady diet of the super-hi-speed 40gr value-pak ammo. They are very fast, shoot surprisingly well, but a steady diet of them might cause some premature wear. Other than that the 22-250 isn't as rough as some think until you make the jump to light speed.

;)

For accuracy I agree with Bob on the 55 grain Sierra's. If you want a little more punch go with the 60 grain Sierra's. They will not shoot as flat, but will have more energy when they get to the target. My favorite load is the 55 grainers, though i rarely shoot enything over the size of a coyote with it.

Boat tail's really don't shine til you get past 300 meters Brad. Usually you'll get a little better groups with plain base bullets. Sometimes it depends on the rifle also.

I shoot both a plain base 32 grainer and a 40 grain boattail in my 204 and both seem to group about the same, but the 204 seems to like about anything I put thru it under 40 grains. I've been away from the 22-250 for about five years now. Been shooting a 243 til the 204 came along.

all I put thru the 22-250 were 55 grain Sierra's at 3850 fps over my chrono. These were accurate and killed coyotes well.

How Many Rounds would you say you've put through the CZ now?