Varmint Calibers

257Roberts

257Roberts

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 92.9%
12   1   1
Location
Peterborough ON
I have seen a lot of threads regarding overall hunting or what would be the best caliber for that dreaded Jackalope but what about calibers for situation varmint hunting.
What would be a good shorts range, long range, in the bush and populated areas.

How about your 3 or 4 cartridges for specific situations.

My choice at present,
17 HMR for small game to 100 yds.
22 Hornet for wood bears, gridinitters, AKA wood chucks. short range.
243 for yotes long range.

Lets see what your choices would be.

David
 
223 covers 90% of my pest control.
17hmr for the other really tiny stuff like birds n squirrels.
12guage if I'm feeling lazy.
 
22LR for anything under 50m or so.

223 if I want to play the NR black rifle card.

22-250 for anything varmint.

Cheers
Jay
 
22 mag for ground hogs 100 yds and under
223 for 90% ground hogs to coyotes
243 for coyotes
 
.22-250 would be the quintessential varmint hunters caliber. Dual purpose or long range would be.243... short range 200-300yrds which is what most of us that are east of the prairies is used too ....and the distances most of us are capable of, the .223 would be fine.
 
Make yourself a favor, go with the 243 and a 22 magnum. A 223 is boring as fuk... and the 22 mag is awesome up to 100 yds.
 
Last edited:
I like to diversify...

22 LR for yard squirrels
22 WMR/17 HMR for the crows
22 Hornet/204 Ruger/223 for the fakkin beavers
222 and 222 Rem Mag for the cool factor...or the fakkin beavers...
243 for coyotes and wolves

Probably forgot one or two.
 
At one time I had a 225 Winchester and it was nice to have but I found the 243 much more versatile.
Never had any luck with the 22 RF as a pest control cartridge, but I do like the 17 HMR.
Have yet to put the Hornet to work.
I am looking at the triple deuce as a round that could replace the Hornet.
Not one old round yet.

David
 
22lr when shooting hundreds of rounds in a day at gophers
Also take the 22-250 for those days too. Nothing is more fun that sending pieces of gopher 6 feet in each direction when you hit him with a 40gr hollowpoint at 4000fps.

22-250 is pretty universal as I use it for coyotes out to 500 yards as well.
 
22lr for starters, 17 Hornet for fun, 204 for serious gopher and coyote killing, 222 and 223 for even more fun. A 22-250 with a fast twist barrel is likely going to put in an appearance in the near future. I do like the 204 the best right now. Like Clocked92 I loved using the 22-250 years back with 40 and 45 gr bullets as fast as I could load them, wore out several barrels in the 70's.
 
I use 17 mach 2. 22 Lr. 22mag. 223. 25/06

However my goal is
25/20. Cast for edible game. Jacketed for non edibles
25/35 or 250 savage for mid range
25/06 for long range

This has you covered from grouse and squirrels and bunnies to fox and ground hogs and crows to coyotes wolf and deer. Bear and caribou could be added as well
 
17mach2 for ground squirrels to 100 yards or so
17Hornet for ground squirrels to 300 yards
20Tactical for long range ground squirrels or coyotes to 300 to 400 yards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom