Good Varmint gun

[nwgdutchie]

I would really like to get a good gun for all around dogs and varmint.

I am debating between the 22-250 or the flat shooting, the .223 for the ease of finding ammo or the .17 fireball for the speed and accuracy.

I am going to be shooting wolf, yote, and if I can find fox's them also.

In BC (lower main land to be more spacific) we don't have gophers or prarie dogs and I am not that interested in shooting them.

What would your first choice be and why?

NwG Dutchie

 

[Pyd]

I would take a .204 over anything listed. They are all great rounds for what you are looking to do, and if confined to your list I would choose the 22-250.
The .204 is a bit flatter that the 250, and much quieter. There are many other reasons to choose the .204 over the rest if you do not reload.

 

[Boomer]

For our conditions here, due to the size of our wolves and the range and wind conditions in which they are encountered I would prefer a .243 or a .25/06, but I expect that advise to be ignored. For everything else either the .223 or the .22-250 is excellent. While the .22-250 has higher velocity, few can make use of the difference in trajectory, and it is easier to find a .223 barrel with a fast twist suitable for heavier bullets when you go after your wolf. Check with your provincial regs though, if there is a minimum caliber for big game it might not be legal to take a wolf with a .22 as many jurisdictions list them as a game animal.

 

[KDX]

^x2

 

[nwgdutchie]

I would take a .204 over anything listed. They are all great rounds for what you are looking to do, and if confined to your list I would choose the 22-250.
The .204 is a bit flatter that the 250, and much quieter. There are many other reasons to choose the .204 over the rest if you do not reload.

I do reload but I have never thought about this round. I have always thought the .204 was a waeker trajectory compaired to the 22-250. I guess I was wrong!

For our conditions here, due to the size of our wolves and the range and wind conditions in which they are encountered I would prefer a .243 or a .25/06, but I expect that advise to be ignored. For everything else either the .223 or the .22-250 is excellent. While the .22-250 has higher velocity, few can make use of the difference in trajectory, and it is easier to find a .223 barrel with a fast twist suitable for heavier bullets when you go after your wolf. Check with your provincial regs though, if there is a minimum caliber for big game it might not be legal to take a wolf with a .22 as many jurisdictions list them as a game animal.

I have thought about the 25-06 but I thought it would destroy a yote or fox. I can get a custom made one (used) for $450 I have always thought about the 1/4 bore as a sheep or elk rifle.

and you are right about the .22, but only in rimfire. .22cal is legal in centerfire only.

Thanks for the insight. I am going to re-assess All of my uses for this gun and will make a better decission from there!

Thanks Again!

NwG Dutchie