.22 wmr or .223 for varmint hunting?

[YALE]

I'll take a 223 or 22-250 any day over the 204 it gets pushed around a.good bit by the wind.

Up where you are, for sure.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Depends on distance shooting and wind speed.

lets, for example, 200 yards, 40mph gust. Just for fun.

[dee]

I don't own a 22 with a scope so 200 is out of my realm but exact data will be needed such bullet bc and exact velocity. My 22-250 running a 55gr Nosler BT at 3650 will get pushed around 10-14" with a cross wind that high. Drop is little to nothing though which would be a good consideration with the rimfire. Truth be told if the wind is that strong the 7mm will come out.

[dee]

Up where you are, for sure.

As much as it blows I might as well be in the panhandle.

[BlackGT]

lets, for example, 200 yards, 40mph gust. Just for fun.

All with 100 yd zero, 40mph cross wind with target at 200 yards. All with VMAX bullets in the given caliber and using the Muzzle Velocity from the Hornady Rifle Ballistics table and BC's found on the net for the given bullets.

Corrected per Dee's specs.

.204
.210BC Hornady VMAX, 4,225fps 32gr - 1.1" drop, 16.4" drift
.275BC Hornady VMAX, 3,900fps 40gr - 1.4" drop, 13.4" drift
.281BC Berger Match/Varmint, 3,500fps 50gr - 1.9" drop, 14.4" drift

.223
.214BC Hornady SXSP, 3,350fps 50gr - 2.7" drop, 21.4" drift
.271BC Hornady HP, 3,000fps 60gr - 3.5" drop, 19.0" drift
.287BC Barnes TSX-BT, 2,900fps 62gr - 3.8" drop, 18.7" drift

22-250
.214BC Hornady SXSP, 4,000fps 50gr - 1.7" drop, 17.9" drift
.271BC Hornady HP, 3,530fps 60gr - 2.1" drop, 15.5" drift
.287BC Barnes TSX-BT, 3,400fps 62gr - 2.3" drop, 15.1" drift

[dee]

Pick comparable bullets for all, not equal weights. The higher weight will generally have a higher bc so use a 55-60 in the .224 diameter stuff just to be fair. As long as quality ammunition is used drop will be consistent given no change in altitude, but wind is the bitch.

[BlackGT]

Updated with BC's of each bullet and comparing as close as possible to same BC for each caliber...
.204 still appears to be the winner...

[dee]

What bullets and specs are you using? I've had both and have seen consistently the 250 wins over the 204 in these types of winds.

[BlackGT]

Updated with Bullet Mfg/Type, and Velocity used.

Handloading will make a difference in velocity which will impact drop and drift...

[dee]

Had to go back and pull my old data up. 204 was a 1:12 twist (which most factory ones are that I've seen) and it won't stabilize anything over 40gr. The 40-50 require a slower twist, you might get by if your elevation is a bit higher with the 40 and a 1:12 twist but it will be borderline.

The data above shows the 204 wins but if a slow twist 250 is used the tables turn again.

[BlackGT]

Had to go back and pull my old data up. 204 was a 1:12 twist (which most factory ones are that I've seen) and it won't stabilize anything over 40gr. The 40-50 require a slower twist, you might get by if your elevation is a bit higher with the 40 and a 1:12 twist but it will be borderline.

The data above shows the 204 wins but if a slow twist 250 is used the tables turn again.

Agreed, there are so many variables that it's almost impossible to compare apples to apples. Either way, the .204 or .22-250 is a better choice, for me, than the .17WSM...