Modern varmint rifle caliber

vpsalin

vpsalin

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Given these three choices, what should the modern varmint rifle caliber be for general purpose work you think?

  • .223Rem
  • .243Win
  • 6.5 Creedmoor

I'm still leaning towards 223 for eastern coyotes...maybe .243... Are varmint hunters switching to 6.5 Creedmoor in recent years despite the more established calibers?
 
Ah okay.

Myself I use my 308 cause ammo is cheap and it's a good cal all around. Imo 243 ammo is expensive and I have no experience with 65cm. 223 would be my second choice over 308. Wish I had more to add.
 
.223, .22 Hornet, .22 Rimfire.. hell, I'll shoot a coyote with the 270wsm if the target presents itself.
Some of those calibers been killing varmints for a hundred years or more.
Fear not the gun, just the hole it makes.
Rob
 
Hard to beat the .243 in this role. (When you use the term 'varmint', I am assuming you are not saving fur.)
 
a few thoughts.

.243 is mild in recoil, has reach but does suffer from drift and won't damage the pelts if you're looking to collect.

same story for the 6.5 Creedmoor; granted it has a bit more recoil, but that comes with further reach, doesn't suffer from drift and bullets still small enough not to damage the cape.

.223 has even less recoil, doesn't have as much reach, won't cause much damage to the hide and has the bonus of costing much less than the other two.

if you reload, ammo costs won't be an issue, but .243 and the 6.5CM will cost more due to the need of more powder.
 
To OP - perhaps it will help if you refine what you are thinking when you say "general purpose"? If you go down to USA on prairie dog safaris, you'll fire 500+ rounds per day. If you are hunting coyotes for fur over a caller, might get two or three shots a day. I'd go with .223 in 55 V-Max for the first; .243 in 55 Ballistic Tip for the second - only because my rifles shoot little tiny groups with them, and I have my lifetime's supply on hand. If you are just wanting to blast coyotes and leave them, use your deer rifle, whatever that might be - almost as good practice as shooting at jackrabbits on the run.
 
It kind of depends on location. If your in NB, NS, or NFLD and hunting during varmint season you are limited to a bullet size of .224.
 
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