Best Varmint Caliber

gramps73 · #1 01-24-2009, 10:57 AM

What are some of your thoughts on the best varmint caliber?

Jeromeo · #2 01-24-2009, 11:03 AM

22-250!!! Just compare the ballistics to most varmint calibers and you'll see why. One of the flattest, fastest shooters. It's a blast. If I had a second choice it would be a 204 ruger or a 220 swift (if you can find one)

Scott N · #3 01-24-2009, 11:07 AM

I'll add the 223 to the list. It's main advantage is cheep ammo / availability.

Jeromeo · #4 01-24-2009, 11:16 AM

I reload so cheap ammo doesn't really cut it. The .223's are nice but just not fast enough for me

roger · #5 01-24-2009, 11:23 AM

what varmits are you talking about?
a 4000fps 22-250 with a 6-14 scope is a ideal combo for 300 yard open range work. but is really an underacheiver in heavy cover at close range where an open sighted 30-30 with soft points will do the job more effectively.
for arguements sake, if varmits are animals that do not require a licence to kill, then bears (and recently cougars with circumstances) are the biggest varmits.
getting the best varmit caliber has more to do with the conditions that your quarry lives in rather than caliber/cartridge/rig that pushes it.

222rem · #6 01-24-2009, 11:35 AM

There is no one best caliber .It depends what you are hunting and where .
If you going to shoot 2000 gophers you might consider .22rimfire , (no hell for coyotes ).If you shooting in more populated area 22Hornet might be better suited . Long 200+ yds shots you might want to use 22-250 or .243 . But if you going to shoot only one or two coyotes a year your deer or moose gun will do the trick.

Selkirk · #7 01-24-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramps73

"What are some of your thoughts on the best varmint caliber?"

Far too basic of a question ... all it does is raise more questions. Details please . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeromeo

" . . . 223's are nice but just not fast enough . . . "

500,000 dead coyotes (via .223) would disagree with you

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger

"what varmits are you talking about? . . . "

Quote:

Originally Posted by 222rem

"There is no one best caliber . . . "

'Amen' to those ^ !

gramps73 · #8 01-24-2009, 02:25 PM

Coyotes and smaller
G

Jeromeo · #9 01-24-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggerFinger

[LEFT]

500,000 dead coyotes (via .223) would disagree with you

]

Obviously fast enough to kill coyotes, just not fast enough for me.

Trust me, I will probably own one within the next few years. Not bashing it at all.

catnthehat · #10 01-24-2009, 05:43 PM

I devide varmint cartridges into three different categories, short range, long range, and pelt recovery.

For pelt recovery, the .204 Ruger, 17, 222, and 223 Remington rein here, because they can be used out to about 300 meters with great effectivness with minimum pelt damage, and can do it within 100 yards with many of their bullets as well.

Short range belongs to stuff like the 22LR, 22mag, Hornet, etc.
These are gogher things and incidental varminteing in close, but they are iffy for the most part in decent killing of anything bigger than a gopher farther out than 50 yards.
Long range is stuff like the 22/250 up to and in cl=uding boomers likt the 300 mage.
These calibers can go long, but don't expect to recover a decent pelt from a coyote at 200 when it gets shot with them.
I use the .222 Remington almost exclusively , and it has served very well since the mid sixties, but I have also used about everything else, just because - you should see what happens to a coyote when it gets hit at 500 with a 300 mag with a light jacketed bullet!!

Cat

Selkirk · #11 01-24-2009, 06:58 PM

Gramps ... I hope yer takin' notes! In four short paragraphs, Cat has basically put it all together for you. In a nut-shell, that's the 'lowdown' on varmint cartridges.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeromeo

"fast enough (for) coyotes, just not fast enough for me . . . "

... Jeromeo, are you sayin' you can run faster than a .223 ?!?!

sickfast · #12 01-24-2009, 10:54 PM

Not the best for everyone but for me its a 6MM. Here is my yote killer..Its a Remington VLS with a Fegen stock and a Bushnell 6500 2.5 x16x50. It shoots 55gr ballistic silver tips at over 4000fps. no hold over till 400 yard.

Pathfinder76 · #13 01-24-2009, 11:09 PM

.243 for me. 55 grain bullets at 4k are the bomb.

Literally.

eric2381 · #14 01-24-2009, 11:42 PM

I live in the south, so open shots are the norm. I don't usually shoot gophers with anything other than a 22 or my 357 lever. But coyotes, a 25-06 if it is a windy day, a 22-250 if it's not. But the 22-250 is my top pick. I had a 223 and traded it off. It couldn't do anything that my 22-250 couldn't do better. Good luck ,Eric