Varmint Cal opinions wanted

Cal for Varmint hunting

  • Total voters
    5
GILLY

GILLY

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Rose Valley, Saskatchewan
I am going to buy a drop in barrel for my Encore to coyote/varmint hunt with and wanted to see what the general concensus is. I have pretty much decided on .223 but now find the .204 and 22-250 to have qualities I like.

If "you" were to buy a varmint set up, what cal would "you" prefer and why. I am really interested in hearing your opinions good and bad.
 
.223 --> Cheap ammo, long lasting barrel, readily available match grade brass, ammo available everywhere, can be Ackley Improved if you get bored of it (I know the 22-250 can as well) enough power to knock down varmints at extended range and mild recoil/report.
 
I voted 22-250, but own a 223, as I do more plinking than long range varminting


if I was to reach out and touch a yote at 300+ yards, I'd opt for the faster 22-250. In my case I'd grab either my 25-284 loaded with 85 gr. Ballistic Tips, or my 260 Rem loaded with 95 gr. Vmax. Wind drift is a big factor with the 223.
 
I have a 22-250 savage, and love it, handloadedm 55 grain BT to 3850 fps, kills the coyotes DEAD!

If you want to plink, the 223 might be easier to find cheap ammo for,
 
Thanks for the info and help so far, I am swaying more toward 22-250 the more research I do, however I have read that 22-250 is really hard on the barrel. I don't think I will be shooting 1000's of rounds per year so I really don't think this may apply to me. What I want is flat fast and coyote damaging.
 
I voted 22-250 because of reasons already stated but if I were hunting anything bigger than yotes, I'd be more comfy with a 243 Win.

My predator rig currently is a Win M70 Coyote in 243 Win. In season predators can reach 200 lbs where I hunt, wolf, big cats and shots can be waaay out there. The 243 is as perfect as it gets for this application.

Many will say that the 223 and 22-250 is all they use for wolf but I ask, would you be comfortable with shooting 200 lbs deer at 300 yards with the 223 or 22-250? Is it ethical? Why choose to be handi capped if your are starting with a new set up. :wink:
 
.222 and .223 are good enough, and the latter is probably the cheapest and easiest to feed of them all. 22-250 offers more performance and will cost you a bit more to run, but not outrageously so if you want that performance. If you decide you really want any of these four more than the others, just get what you want, and you will almost certainly be happy with it. If you aren't it shouldn't be too hard to sell.
 
I don't know about the kinds of wolves other folks are talking about, but the brute I shot weighed ~130lbs and the #1 BC wolf was actually weighed at 130lbs. My wolf was #12, so one can safely assume that a top 10 record book wolf will weigh less than 150lbs. I'll go further and say I doubt the average mature wolf will weigh over 100lbs. A large Coyote may go 50lbs. Why isn't a .222 or .223 enough for 100lb and under animals? Mind you I did shoot mine with a .300 WM. :oops:
 
You don't believe that a big northern moose eating Alpha male wolf won't reach 200lbs?

I was 10 yards from a wolf this year that made my 100lbs Rotti ##### look like a puppy.

I still would not want to shoot a 130 lbs wolf at 300 yards with a 223 and I would like passing the shot up as much as I would wounding it. :(

This is how I feel and theres nothing wrong with it. :wink:

The record books don't measure the body on a wolf.
 
here's a nice big bodied wolf that 280_ackley took a few years ago with his 22-250

Wolf.jpg


Wolf2.jpg



was a real nice male, maybe if 280_ackley checks this post he can chime in and add some details
 
The record books don't measure the body on a wolf.
Click to expand...

That is true.

This is how I feel and theres nothing wrong with it.
Click to expand...

And that is true

I was 10 yards from a wolf this year that made my 100lbs Rotti ##### look like a puppy.
Click to expand...

I find that they look bigger than they are because of their long legs and long, thick hair. My wolf was really big, so I can't imagine adding another 70+lbs onto him. His body looked like it was similar in size to the 4pt Whitetail my buddy shot that same day I got the him. There is only one way to find out: each of us should go and shoot a wolf (or two) this winter! The moose will thank us. :lol:
 
The record books don't measure the body on a wolf.
Click to expand...

That is true.

This is how I feel and theres nothing wrong with it.
Click to expand...

And that is true

I was 10 yards from a wolf this year that made my 100lbs Rotti ##### look like a puppy.
Click to expand...

I find that they look bigger than they are because of their long legs and long, thick hair. My wolf was really big, so I can't imagine adding another 70+lbs onto him. His body looked like it was similar in size to the 4pt Whitetail my buddy shot that same day I got the him. There is only one way to find out: each of us should go and shoot a wolf (or two) this winter! The moose will thank us. :lol:
 
this female was shot in December 2003, I believe she was about 75 lbs

13Pictures_866-med.jpg




damn I miss that 260 mountain rifle, my first 700~!
sadwavey.gif
 
1899 said:
.223 --> Cheap ammo
Click to expand...
.223 is a very good choice, but how many people buy this "cheap" ammo and actually use it much for varmints/wolves/coyotes :?:

It's probably good for blasting a bit, but I think most people want better performance when they spend a bag of cash on a tack driver :D

SC...................
 
For big varmints I prefer more capable calibers... like the .243, .257, .260 or even the .270 :idea:
Your not going to make a living selling coyote hides :? ... kill them where they stand at longer ranges with a heavier bullet... most times hunting weight bullets do less hide damage anyway.... :wink:
 
Very good info and advice boys, thanks a million. I plan on shooting for the hides but not to sell, I want a couple of good ones for wall hangers, one in my den and one in my ice fishing hut. I think too, that I am pretty much sold on the .223 for cost and ease of reloading. I would also use this cal on the vast herds of wild gophers we have here on the prairies. I think that the shear knock down power and long distance shootability would be my safest bet. The last thing I want is a wounded buck gopher charging at me, I've heard stories of what a wounded gopher can do.................to the cuffs of your pants :D :D :D
 
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