Shoping for a varmint rifle

JPDubois

JPDubois

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
QC
I there ...

I am starting to shop around for a varmint gun ... looking for opinions on which caliber would do the best job on coyotes , there are quite a few on my buddy s property and we would like to give the deer a break this winter.

Looking forward to some good tips

Thanks
 
Some say that the .17 will do the job for Coyotes, others don't think so as much. I am a ferm believe in always use enough gun. I would say that the .17 would take a coyote to about 75 yards out there reliably and anything past that is somewhat hit and miss (having said that I have heard of guys taking them out further, but you don't want to injur them).

The .22 mag is IMHO, more suited for the coyote, with the bigger bullet, and the much higher energy.

With the .22 mag, generally accuracy is not quite up to par with the .17, but can be preatty close, depending on which type of gun you get.

So, if you would like to stick with rimfire calibers, the .22 mag would be a good choice for shots out to maybe 150 yards, but if you don't mind going centerfire, then that would be good as well. Something flat shooting, such as a ruger .204, or a 22-250, or something along those lines would work as well.

If you are decided upon rimfire calibers, I would highly reccomend the CZ 452 :) :)

And Welcome to CGN :)
 
a rimfire is no good for yotes
rimfire = gophers, squirrels, magpies, etc (I know ((22 mag wont cut it)))
get a .223 or a 22.250
if your from a windy part of the country (southern ab? go for a 6 mm or a .257)
 
Thanks for the input

I think I will go with center fire to get a bit more range ... as you say, a 22-250 would probably do the a good job .

I will spotted at about 150 yards out from were they come out would it be better to even go up to .243 or is that too much
 
I dont think there is a need in your case to goto the .243 but it is a great varmit gun and alittle more versitile as it can be used for deer.
 
If you're saving the hides, go .223 and watch your shot placement. If you're just picking them off to give the deer a chance, shoot what you want. Hell, go .308 and realy blast them :D .

(E) :cool:
 
look for a CZ in 221 FB. can be loaded up for dogs, or loaded down for lil dogs.
the one i have is very very acurate and very mild report, which is good for the lil dogs
 
A 22 rimfire isn't a coyote gun. Not that they won't kill a coyote, but it's too light to do it everytime and be humane.

blindman said:
.223 or 22-250 will do just fine!
Click to expand...

I agree with this, you couldn't go wrong with either of these choices. The 22-250 would add 100 yards... maybe a bit more to the effective range of your rifle. One nice thing about the 223 though is that the recoil is less, and usually you can spot your own shots. I've found with my 22-250 that there is just enough recoil that I don't always see where my bullet hits after the shot.

Ammo for either calibre is available everywhere. I'd say if your shots will be less than 300 yards, go with the 223. If you shots will be longer, go with the 22-250.

The 204 also seems interesting... the range of a 22-250 with the recoil of a 223. Ammo availability might be an issue at times though.
 
Last edited:
There are many center fire Varmint calibers out there,
Such AS: .222, .223, .221 fireball, .220 swift, .204 ruger, 17 Remington, 22 hornet and the list goes on.
There are also many "deer" calibers with Varmint ammo available.
SUCH AS: .243, .270, .25-06 etc. etc. etc.

But "the .22-250 is still king" That was the title of an article in a hunting mag I read a few months back. The .22-250 is the most versatile, has the most ammo options available and can be loaded to your specs some guys use them for deer with heavy bullets but that is an ongoing debate not to be had here.

There are pros and cons with most of them but the .22-250 seems to be the best all round Varmint load.

I personally am using a 50Gr Vmax loaded with 37Gr of Varget and it is deadly accurate, I have yet to shoot a dog with though, just started using this ammo a few weeks ago.
 
If you don't want the hide, the .22-250 is great. I had one for a few years and any dog I shot inside of 200 yards was quite a mess. It sure did a nice job on the ones that where 300-400 yards though.
 
Guys,

Thank again for your input and knowledge sharing ... I think I will go with a .243 with a good scope, it may a little overpowered for coyote but it would be a good backup gun for the deer season.
 
daniellybbert said:
a rimfire is no good for yotes
rimfire = gophers, squirrels, magpies, etc (I know ((22 mag wont cut it)))
get a .223 or a 22.250
if your from a windy part of the country (southern ab? go for a 6 mm or a .257)
Click to expand...


Give me a bloody break! When my Dad had a trapline we shot everything from marten to beaver to yotes with a 22lr and a 22 mag (cause thats what we had). People that say a 22 mag is no good for yotes is sucking wind through thier butts. Yeah, you'll have to pass on the 500yrd shots, but most people shouldn't be taking shots that far anyway.

They are the ones that are not patient enough to wait for the perfect shot, or not willing to pass up a shot if its no good. I've also shot a couple with my 30/06, and while the kill was spectacular, the pelt was worthless. (If your going to kill something might just as well get some $$ for the pelt.IMO)

Its been said a million times before and people just don't get it , shot placement is king!! A 22lr in the heart or brain of any creature will surely kill it. So a guy (or girl) that can practice religously with a rimfire and put thier shots where they want, will not be under gunned looking for yotes, as long as you know your limits.

However, for a dedicated varmint rig who can argue with a 223, its cheap to shoot and great for yotes, wolves and the occaisional deer (with proper bullet placement of course!). Practice is the key, period.
 
We use the small centerfires for our coyote calling , and they work great for shots out too 250 yards over bait or in a calling cet up.
Although the .22 mag has taken lots of game, and yes I have used one extesivly on the trapline, it is totaly inadequate for a DEDICATED varmint rig for fur , and I will explain why.
It may be a good truck rig or on the snomobile, but varmint hunting is more than a shot of oppurtunity.
Many of the shots are out past 100 yards, and the .22 mag just doesn't shoot flat enough or hard enough out there.

.17 rem, .222Rem, .223 Rem, 204 Ruger, etc. all work very well.

If you want to go way out there on shots, the .243, 257 Roberts, etc.
or even the big .30's.!:eek:

This is the criteria we use for hunting for pelts.
If one is doing damage control for varmints, i would use a big .22 like a 22/250, etc., or the 6 mm or 25 cal cartridges that shoot flat but rip 'em up inside 150 yards.

Just an opinion, but I have been a serious varmint hunter for over 30 years and have used or seen alomst every caliber used for coyotes.
Cat
 
JPDubois said:
I there ...

I am starting to shop around for a varmint gun ... looking for opinions on which caliber would do the best job on coyotes , there are quite a few on my buddy s property and we would like to give the deer a break this winter.

Looking forward to some good tips

Thanks
Click to expand...
You need to be more specific on the surrounding area. Are you shooting large open areas where a .223 .22-250 or .243 etc. would be good. Or, are you shooting them in a trap where you could just shoot them with a 22 lr? I have shot them with lots of calibres (.22 mag, .22-250 rem, .270 win, .303 british, .50 cal muzzle loader & 12 gauge). 22 Mag is great close in (under 100 yards) but I prefer the .22-250. I think that I would really consider a .223 if I had to buy another. Good for point blank to 300 - 400 yards or what you feal comfortable as your maximum limit. I don't re-load yet and you can buy cheap ammo for plinking in the .223 . Just my 2 cents!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom