22-250 and 243 for "small" plains game

[rdog]

For some guys, it is a challange to use the worst tool possible....
Same is .30-30 in Africa or .45-70 on dangerous game.
Use enough gun.....

HWL

Hello everyone hope everyone is doing well I was just thinking about a scenario whereas I was talking to my wife about joining me on a plains game hunt...she is a beginner hunter and I bought her a rifle chambered in 243 Winchester but myself also own a rifle chambered in 22-250 I know the calibers may be marginal for anything maybe bigger than impala and she said she would be more than happy to take any of the canines (jackal or spotted hyena) because she just wants the experience of african hunting, she's a little twitchy when it comes to anything bigger than a 270 Winchester....what are you guys opinion on 22-250 or 243 for animals up to springbok or hyena max, or do we approach it like coyote hunting here in America

Think about the 6.5s ie 6.5 CM, 6.5x55 OR A 260 REM.or a 6.5 PRC, light recoil& enough power

 

[CBH Australia]

Think about the 6.5s ie 6.5 CM, 6.5x55 OR A 260 REM.or a 6.5 PRC, light recoil& enough power

6.5x55 has certainly been proven for hunting and would probably hit the mark.

The 6.5 creedmoor will do the job with hunting projectiles. It’s probably more readily available in various rifle and ammo options too.

 

[Kharn]

The most popular calibers (imo) recommended in Africa (.30-06 .375 .470) are loaded heavy & fly slow (660m/s - 760m/s).

One of the frequently recurring statements I hear from PHs when they are talking to their client after the client has taken a shot with their own rifle is "...your bullet is too fast...".

 

[skydiver386]

This gal loves her .257 Roberts. On deer sized game and smaller, I think it's the best caliber to start a new shooter on their hunting career.

On plains game 200 pounds and under, I think a .243 Win is just fine. Of course, avoid the lightly constructed 58 or 75 grain varmint bullets, and look for the Barnes X or other 80+ grain big game bullet.

 

[flatwater bill]

I have seen the 22-250 used on pronghorn antelope with good success...mostly. There are a lot of 22's out there better than the 22-250 simply because most of those still running around have 1;14 twists and will only stabilize bullets of marginal size. I used the old 63 grain Sierra semi-spitzer in a 223 for this purpose and it worked quite well, but came apart at close range with a friend's 22-250. Anyway....I love the 243 and it is devastating on Mule Deer......(next time I come to Oz I expect a good beating from Bob.) (caveat....I only skimmed this thread)..........FWB

 

[62flint]

FWIW. I have never shot a member of the tiny 10 with a small bore.
But when I was younger, one summer I shot a lot of ground hogs with 223rem Fmj. I was thinking I was missing a lot. Until I noticed the blood trails to the den holes.
I would caution against using a solid/non expanding bullet in a small bore. A expanding bullet in a 223 or similar. Yes. But I would be concerned with punching a hole through and not doing enough damage. Resulting in a long tracking job or lost animal.
I have used partions and Barnes tsx out of a 223 with good results on varmits. Would not hesitate using on the tiny 10. expansion is enough to cause enough trauma with out blowing huge hole. But even then at close range. Hitting a bone you may have an impressive exit.
All that being said. A 22 hornet would certainly interest me for 200 yards and closer light game rifle.

 

[BryceM]

Use the camp .308 with a suppressor. Almost anyone can shoot such a thing well, and it’s quite appropriate for African critters.

 

[HWL]

Think about the 6.5s ie 6.5 CM, 6.5x55 OR A 260 REM.or a 6.5 PRC, light recoil& enough power

In Africa, hunting small game with small caliber is possible like everywhere.
But at any time, the big, angry guy can come around the corner.
A 9,3xwhatever is the right answer in any language.

HWL

 

[DelRock83]

@DelRock83 - I do a lot of Coyote & Fox shooting with a .22-250 and it is MORE then needed for both - hits Fox like a grenade and almost as hard on Coyote. I’ve killed 35-40 Coyote with the .22-250 using either 50 gr Hornady Superformance @ 4000 fps or 55 gr Winchester ballistic tip @3850. Most shots were 125 to 250 yrds and any broadside shot = Exit wounds 2”-3” diameter. Only lost one Coyote - poor shooting “leg hit”. I like the .22-250 very much and would use one on deer or impala BEFORE I would use it on Hyena….in fact I would Never use it on Hyena, they are VERY Tough, hard muscled and heavy boned and Spotted Hyena are larger then many realize. Even for Impala I would say .243 minimum and while I am comfortable using .243 for deer - I would use .270 and above for Hyena, just based on my limited experiance with Hyena they seem “disgustingly tough” and scare me more then any animal I saw in TZ….I’d rather fight a Leopard or Lion then a Hyena: I might survive the Leopard and the Lion would kill me quick & clean….but the Hyena would just crush every bone in my body and eat me alive !!

I've seen videos on the different hyenas and I was just wondering about that with the exception of the brown Hyena they look no bigger than a Doberman but that brown Hyena is big AF....LOL

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello everyone hope everyone is doing well I was just thinking about a scenario whereas I was talking to my wife about joining me on a plains game hunt...she is a beginner hunter and I bought her a rifle chambered in 243 Winchester but myself also own a rifle chambered in 22-250 I know the calibers may be marginal for anything maybe bigger than impala and she said she would be more than happy to take any of the canines (jackal or spotted hyena) because she just wants the experience of african hunting, she's a little twitchy when it comes to anything bigger than a 270 Winchester....what are you guys opinion on 22-250 or 243 for animals up to springbok or hyena max, or do we approach it like coyote hunting here in America

I would prefer to work her up to something a bit bigger. Maybe a 7mm08. The .243 would work for some that you plan to hunt. Hyena are primarily only available on DG hunts. No one told me that either years ago.

 

[Betterinthebush]

@Philip Glass “Hyena are primarily only available on DG hunts. No one told me that either years ago.”

That’s gold, right there. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[SafariCurious]

I'm no expert and I haven't been to Africa yet so feel free to not read the rest of this.....but I'm doing a guided black bear hunt this fall, and when I was talking to the guide about which rifle he advised I bring he actually recommended a .243.

I would think if .243 works well for black bear, it should work well for similar sized or smaller game.

 

[sureshot375]

.243 will work for something like impala. Ideally she would work up to something like a 6.5 or 7mm-08.

A suppressor makes a world of difference.

 

[375Fox]

I've seen videos on the different hyenas and I was just wondering about that with the exception of the brown Hyena they look no bigger than a Doberman but that brown Hyena is big AF....LOL

I’d be right around 230 in these photos. You can guess the weight. Males are a lot smaller than big females. Top photo is a younger male. Bottom is a dominant female. Hyena are built more like a pitbull than a Doberman.

 

[375Fox]

@Philip Glass “Hyena are primarily only available on DG hunts. No one told me that either years ago.”

That’s gold, right there. Thanks for the heads up.

Not so much because they are only sold on DG hunts more so because that’s the only areas you’ll find them. Most game farms do not have any hyenas or predators. There are a few exceptions in South Africa and Namibia where they can be an add on to a general PG hunt, but it’s something you have to plan in advance.

 

[HankBuck]

.243 will work for something like impala. Ideally she would work up to something like a 6.5 or 7mm-08.

A suppressor makes a world of difference.

@sureshot375 - I’m not in the “Suppressor Club” and while I am impressed by the noise reduction they provide they are still “loud”. I’ve Night hunted predators using one and it made only a marginal difference regarding how many Neighbors could hear the shot = ALL of them….just Not as loud. As far as the game animals go - they All hear it. I’ve seen most run off the same as on a Non suppressed shot and some “stay” and appear bewildered —- the same as I’ve seen a few animals react to UNsuppressed shots fired. I don’t believe many more game animals are killed because someone used a suppressor. Recoil difference is also very minimal….that’s based only on my VERY Limited experience and an opinion biased by my general disdain for them as an “interesting but Not essential” piece of equipment (I respect the Marketing Genius that has convinced a new generation of Hunters that they “Need them”).
Your quote “A suppressor makes a World of difference” caught my attention, I think they make a very small - if any - difference in most hunting situations, look “ugly as Ass” on the end of any nice rifle….but they are Very COOL !

 

[skydiver386]

@sureshot375 - I’m not in the “Suppressor Club” and while I am impressed by the noise reduction they provide they are still “loud”. I’ve Night hunted predators using one and it made only a marginal difference regarding how many Neighbors could hear the shot = ALL of them….just Not as loud. As far as the game animals go - they All hear it. I’ve seen most run off the same as on a Non suppressed shot and some “stay” and appear bewildered —- the same as I’ve seen a few animals react to UNsuppressed shots fired. I don’t believe many more game animals are killed because someone used a suppressor. Recoil difference is also very minimal….that’s based only on my VERY Limited experience and an opinion biased by my general disdain for them as an “interesting but Not essential” piece of equipment (I respect the Marketing Genius that has convinced a new generation of Hunters that they “Need them”).
Your quote “A suppressor makes a World of difference” caught my attention, I think they make a very small - if any - difference in most hunting situations, look “ugly as Ass” on the end of any nice rifle….but they are Very COOL !

Supressors can vary widely in their noise and recoil reduction, very much like mufflers on an automobile. Some "Cherry Bomb" type mufflers can be heard blocks away, while larger mufflers make the same engine so quiet you can barely tell it's running at idle.

Another huge variable is the caliber and velocity of the particular ammunition. Any ammunition that breaks the speed of sound will still produce a supersonic "crack", as the suppressor only eliminates muzzle blast.

Most any centerfire hunting caliber can be brought down to hearing safe levels.

Any caliber that is already subsonic can be made incredibly quiet. For example, a .45ACP with factory 230grain ammo producers around 850-900fps. Through a 20 inch carbine barrel and a suppressor the sound is like a heavy book being dropped on a carpeted floor.