^evidently he did or he’d probably still have the gun I’d guess??

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/204-ruger-32-gr-v-max-superformance#!/

Anyway, back to the op. I hope that you have enough info to make a decision on. Hydrostatic shock is what most often gets the DRT effect you are looking for. Speed + energy dump is how this is accomplished, heavy for caliber bullets are good for extending a rifles range, not necessarily it’s killing ability

If you don't reload for the 204 your are going to have splash hits due to the only thing for them made right now, I can't find any around here without reloading are frangible's ! I believe one would see the difference is dropping dogs with solids once they tried it !
The 204 was made for long range gophers, however its an excellent round for dogs when used with solids, there is no doubt about that !
I stopped using my 250 because of the entrance and exit's were most times to excessive to take the time to sew up except when I could pick body or straight on shots, you can't always do this of course. However if your just knocking them down and don't care about that, the 250 is an excellent choice, except for staying on target when the trigger is pulled. Although that could be a debate thing as well, for picky people. It was distracting enough to me though for quick pickups when needed or doubles. I've now spent the capital to make myself a AR platform for another 204 and will to be able to get better quick shots.

It's just the bottom line of what one wants and how they get there, I reload and the 204 is hands down better for less damage with solids then even the 250 which is what I load for it now any time it gets used, for me. I've shot enough dogs as well to know the difference in dropping them.

So it is really up to the user to decide what's hands down best for their use, you don't reload use the 250, you reload get the solids for the 204 and see the difference your self, as in most everything else the end point is the one that counts, both will do the job, but you have to do your part for the end result !

Thanks for all the info. I am looking for a 22-250 upper right now. Seems to be a few out there. Any experience on which brand is better. I found a couple Bear creek but they are 1:14, I would like a 1:12 or 1:10 twist. For you guys shooting the 250, have you found one to be better than the other. I would also like at least a 20" barrel, better would be a 22 or 24" if I can find it. I have contacted a local company about building one, but have yet to hear back. If I don't find something I like, I will find a bolt gun that suits me. We are going out tomorrow night. I found a few boxes of .223 in the Hornady Superformance 53gr Vmax. They shoot well enough to do the job. I ordered a box of Fiocchi field dynamics in 40 gr, they claim 3650 FSP. Will have to see how they shoot. But that's about the fasted .223 load that I can find. It has good reviews. So that's the plan until I can find a 22-250 that suits my needs. Thanks again for all the advice.

If you go heavier, you will get a lot of damage. I don’t ave a 22 but I used my 6.5 cm with 95 grain vmax and the bullet sure anchored them. They are not fur friendly at all. The damage was impressive. I think it has 3300 fps mv….

For the Love of God!!.
Matt, get some 50_55 grain soft points or Nosler btips and go shoot coyotes.

My only experience with Bear Creek was two of their 350L uppers. I would NOT recommend them. I can't say on their 250 uppers, but research them online before you buy.

Tikka T3 in .22-250 is a great rifle. It is 1:14 twist.

If your not going to skin them, shoot whatever your rifle likes. Good time to experiment with all the loads mentioned above and report back to us.

I shot the 33 gr VMAX at 4375fps, it is a terrible coyote bullet, splash hits are common, they blow up on the fur sometimes, I prefer the tactical.20 for coyote, with a berger 35 gr

6.5 is too heavy to avoid fur damage. There are no bullets available that won't penetrate the off side of a coyote which is where most fur damage occurs. Stepping down a notch to a 243 and the light for caliber 55 grain Sierra Blitz King will not blow out the backside. If you stay off of the point of the shoulder bone and stay off the edges, the 55 grain SBK is incredibly and predictibly fur friendly. It never exits and it drops coyotes on the spot of impact. Any impact in front of the hips and behind the shoulder drops coyotes on the spot.

Tear through the sternum or the backline and you'll get large holes with anything.

But this is not a thread about 6/6.5 Creeds and 243's nor fur damage. In the weight class the OP is restricted to, the 22-250 is king for coyotes.