Introduction
Contents
The 22-250 and .308 Winchester cartridges are two of the most popular rifle cartridges in the world. They have been around for decades, and they continue to be used by hunters and military personnel alike. The two cartridges are very similar in nature: both offer higher velocities than most other hunting calibers, and their accuracy is legendary. However, there are some key differences between these two cartridges that you should consider when making your choice for a hunting or target rifle.
22-250 VS 308 HISTORY
The 22-250 was introduced in 1964, and the 308 Winchester was introduced in 1952. The .22-250 is a varmint and predator cartridge, while the .308 Winchester is primarily used for hunting.
THE BEGINNING
There are several factors to consider when choosing between the 22-250 and 308. Both cartridges were developed in the 1950s, with the 22-250 by Remington to compete with Winchester’s 308. The 308 is larger than the 22-250 as well and can be used on longer ranges.
THE RISE IN POPULARITY
The 22-250 has been a popular varmint round for many years and is used by hunters and target shooters alike. The cartridge can be used to take down small game such as coyotes and groundhogs, but also provides the range needed to shoot at targets over 1,000 yards away. This makes it ideal for long-range shooting competitions where you need to hit your target consistently at distances of more than 1,000 yards.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO RELOADING
When it comes to reloading, rimless cartridges are much easier to reload. The reason for this is simple: because the rim of a round has been removed, there’s no need for a special device to hold it in place when you’re loading your gun.
All you need to do is push down on the top of your bullet and seat it with some sort of pliers or other tool. On a rimmed cartridge though, you have to use something called an “ejector” to push out the old cartridge before loading up your fresh one—this adds extra steps that can make things more difficult if you’re just starting out with reloading ammunition.
Rimmed cartridges are also more expensive than their rimless counterparts because they require special equipment (like a press) which can cost hundreds of dollars if purchased new; but fortunately there’s plenty of used options available at relatively affordable prices!
PICKING THE RIGHT 22-250 VS 308
You have a choice to make. Which option is right for you?
The 22-250 is a popular round that has been used in the Olympics and by pros. The 308, on the other hand, can be used for both hunting as well as target practice. Both rounds are more accurate than their larger counterparts but in terms of power, the .308 has more punch.
This means that if you’re looking to get some good distance shots off quickly or want something small enough to carry around with you and still pack a solid punch then this may not be your best bet unless all you plan on doing is shooting paper targets at close range.
CHOOSING BETWEEN 22 250 AND 308 WINCHESTER
When it comes to choosing a cartridge for your next hunting trip, there are many factors that can be considered. Some of these factors include bullet type and weight, barrel length, muzzle energy and velocity.
The 22-250 is a great all-around cartridge for varmints and medium game. The 308 Winchester is the most popular rifle cartridge in America today that offers plenty of versatility whether you’re looking to hunt large game or compete in long range shooting competitions.
Start with how you plan to use your cartridge and then build your rifle around it.
The first thing to know is that the .22-250 and .308 are both “dual purpose” cartridges. This means they can be used for hunting and for long range shooting. The difference between these two cartridges is their size, velocity and energy (measured in foot pounds).
The 308 has more power than the 22-250 because of its larger case capacity, allowing it to hold more powder which results in higher velocity. It also has more energy than the 22-250 because of its heavier bullet weight as well as barrel length being longer than that of a 22-250.
However, this does not mean that a 308 is better at long range shooting than a 22-250! You really need to take into account how far away you’re going to be when shooting at an animal; if it’s less than 300 yards then either one will work fine but if it’s further away then there are better options available such as something like 7mm Rem Mag or even bigger gauges like 300 Win Mags (not recommended unless you’re experienced).
Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, so let’s recap what we learned. First, let’s revisit the history of these two popular cartridges. The 22-250 was developed in 1955 as a high velocity varmint round while the 308 Winchester was originally introduced in 1952 and became one of the most popular rounds on the market today. Both have been used by hunters worldwide for decades but each one has its own unique features that make them stand out from each other.