What is the ULTIMATE Varmint Round??

A

adamthebad

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Here are the choices:
17HMR, 204 Ruger, 223REM, 22-250REM, 220SWIFT, 243WIN, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and the 308WIN.

these are the deciding factors
Cost per round (bought or hand load), MOA (at 100, 200, 300 yards), availability of accessories, projectiles, barrel twists (factory or after market), Improved or not improved
 
22-250 AI with a fast twist (1:8) for me then a 243 win with a 1:9 twist. The others work fine (minus a 17 hmr or 204, too small for me) but at the end of the day its preference. I say 22-250 AI for a few reasons. 1) The gains by going the AI version are worth the cost and hassel of forming brass. You wont be able to launch an avg weight 22cal (55gr) lead faster out of any standard caliber then a 22-250 AI. The swift is close but still not there and if you get there, your burning more powder and your barrel out. 2) You forget your AI loads at home, but find a box of factory 22-250 shells in your truck, your still set. The 22-250 AI is FLAT as hell, and hits hard. Seen dogs eat dirt at 650 yards with them before with 0 issues. And if you wanna load up some 75gr leads, you can launch those around that 3400-3500 FPS mark. My 2nd choice is 243 win. Bucks the wind better then most 22 cals, variety of leads (55gr to 115gr) and same as 22-250, 223 etc, shells are everywhere for it. And with proper shot placement can be fur friendly on coyotes and wolves. If the 6mm needmoor was more commonly available it would be before the 243, but I have yet to see shells for one in a rural hardware store. I would also suggest a 243 AI but thats opening a whole nother can of worms ;)

No matter what you choose, if you want to keep pelts, its all shot placement and bullet choice.
 
To me, a "varmint" rifle is a rifle you take out to shoot gophers and prairie dogs..high volume shooting. For that game you want something that you can shoot all day and not go broke and not torch a barrel in a season. I think that the 223 is perfect for that game.

If you want a predator rifle you might need more reach and your shooting volume will be much lower. For at I'd take a 22-250.
 
I’ve gon with 243s, have shot standards from Hornet to Swift. The biggest difference is performance at distance. Across a big pasture I like the 243, calling the Hornet works ok. Just read BUMs post, my views are for coyote guns not gophers.
 
Cost-per round is a bit of a flier itself, as there aren't any centerfire rounds you'll be able to load for $0.35 each, about the cost of a 17HMR round. I'd also add that unless conditions are very calm, 100 yard/sub MOA is about as far as you can push those little fellas. After that, application matters most in my opinion. Up-to-coyote-size varmints out to about 200 yards, .223 would be the best choice in my opinion. Cheapest brass, easy to find great loads for, staggering number of bullet types/weights, longest barrel life, relatively low heat, relatively low report, etc. If they don't exceed that size/distance, .204Ruger is awfully fun, and I'm probably getting back into that caliber in 2019~only because I already have a .223. I might add, were I after say...coyotes all the time, I'd probably opt for .243. Lots of oomph, great bullet selection, modest recoil, etc. Since I mostly shoot groundhogs and sometimes go after coyotes, .223 is my first choice. Everyone's sensibilities are different. If you want the fur (coyote) then everything on your list except 17HMR will get it done. 204R would be the cleanest probably, 220 Swift.....not so much, and you'd have the benefit of having people 10 miles away knowing what you're up to. :) Bullet choice, as mentioned earlier=plays a big role.

Since my own varmint shooting is fairly groundhog-centric, I'd been curious about how little it takes to kill them reliably. (noise/cost mostly) Having used 17HMR, 22WMR, 17 Hornet (new this year), 204R, .223, .243, .270, 20 and 12ga shotgun..the 17 Hornet is the clear winner. I've hit big ones out to almost 200 yards, and they were bang/flop propositions...barely a twitch. .204 Ruger might be my favorite for the job, but I originally bought .223 for economy...and that caliber does an admirable job. Gooey photos available, opted not to post. :)
 
.220 Swift would be my pick if I could only have one, but in .22 cals, I currently also shoot .222, .223 and .22-250.
 
BigUglyMan said:
To me, a "varmint" rifle is a rifle you take out to shoot gophers and prairie dogs..high volume shooting. For that game you want something that you can shoot all day and not go broke and not torch a barrel in a season. I think that the 223 is perfect for that game.

If you want a predator rifle you might need more reach and your shooting volume will be much lower. For at I'd take a 22-250.
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Have to agree here - if 22lr is not on the list, .223 is the best balance of availability, cost, and shootability. I used to shoot a 17hmr at the prairie rodents, until I realized I could reload .223 with 50gr v-max for around the same price (this was a year after the 17hmr came out - not sure what prices are now).
 
Another vote for 223 Remington, easy to load or buy factory ammunition and does the trick from the small stuff up to yotes and such without issues. Also, you can always get your something like a Modern Varminter down the road and really lay some lead down on those gophers.

Edit: My second choice would be 22 TCM if we ever get another rifle chambered in it and better selection of reloading supplies. 40 Gr. at 2800 FPS with 9.5 grs of powder really speaks to me. Plus being able to feed from common pistol magazines also has potential.
 
I have used everything on your list except the 6.5 Creedmore, but I do like the 260s. I would eliminate the rimfire right away. Although I have used 17HMR and 22LR on everything up to coyotes, I prefer something a bit faster and heavier for anything bigger than a rabbit. I would also eliminate the 220, 243,308 because of cost.

My focus would be on the 204, 223, and 22-250 as best all-rounders. I love the 204 because of its size, velocity, and relative inexpensive cost of shelf ammo. The catch would be difficulties finding 204 on a shelf. I love the 22-250 because of the velocities and its reach-out-and-touch-something appeal, but it can be a bit of a barrel burner and the costs go up when the barrel gets hot.

So, that would leave me with the 223. I love the 55grain or heavier loads, a short barrel, and a 1:8 or 1:9 twist. I can't post any pics, but I went through this debate a year ago and built a Rem700, 223, 16" heavy barrel with a 1:8 twist, HS stock with palm swell, and a Leupold Varmint up top.
 
Duncan Idaho said:
I have used everything on your list except the 6.5 Creedmore, but I do like the 260s. I would eliminate the rimfire right away. Although I have used 17HMR and 22LR on everything up to coyotes, I prefer something a bit faster and heavier for anything bigger than a rabbit. I would also eliminate the 220, 243,308 because of cost.

My focus would be on the 204, 223, and 22-250 as best all-rounders. I love the 204 because of its size, velocity, and relative inexpensive cost of shelf ammo. The catch would be difficulties finding 204 on a shelf. I love the 22-250 because of the velocities and its reach-out-and-touch-something appeal, but it can be a bit of a barrel burner and the costs go up when the barrel gets hot.

So, that would leave me with the 223. I love the 55grain or heavier loads, a short barrel, and a 1:8 or 1:9 twist. I can't post any pics, but I went through this debate a year ago and built a Rem700, 223, 16" heavy barrel with a 1:8 twist, HS stock with palm swell, and a Leupold Varmint up top.
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i think to handle the bit heavier rounds i would go 26 inch heavy barrel with a 1:7 twist. Isnt a bit longer barrel better then a short??
 
204 Ruger hands down. I have owned a bunch of rifles. and for reloading cost, speed, terminal performance and distance, it is pretty hard to beat. But it does depend on the Varmint you are shooting. Wanting to stroke a Wolf/Coyote over the 600m mark, ethically, I want more power, and reach for my 7 rem mag.
 
adamtheweird said:
Does anyone know of a 223 or 22-250 to vaporize varmits? What is the best out there without paying thousands...no semis...no fulls (had my fill of these and they just are money wasters) just a simple action (short) push feed as opposed to control feed with or without optics. Open sight is ok as my vision is still ok.

any opnions????
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I thought you had it narrowed down in the open sights 223 vs 22-250 vaporizer thread.
 
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