what do you consider to be the best varmint cartridge?

[Mr. Friendly]

I'm thinking of varmint's up to about the size of a coyote. thinking range to be a maximum of 200 yards. what would you favor? and on the side, how good/bad would you consider the .32 Special for varminting?

 

[Scott_N]

Inside of 200 yards a 223 is tough to beat.

 

[sealhunter]

Personally, I believe the best varmint cartridge evermade is 223 wssm

 

[heavenIsAlie]

204 ruger hands down

 

[303carbine]

I will have to stick with the traditional and say the 22-250,

 

[heavenIsAlie]

I will have to stick with the traditional and say the 22-250,

he said coyotes inside 200, if it was coyotes to 500, or wolves to 300 id agree but small stuff inside 200 22-250 just seems like more kick for no reason

 

[Mr. Friendly]

.22-250 would fit just fine...I actually never realized it had that much on the .223! :eek

just thinking about a varminter class to buy. was thinking of something like the .243 so I can take the low end of large game too, but it would be interesting to get cartridge in lever action. handgun ammunition is a lot cheaper then rifle ammunition.

 

[Crazi]

204 ruger hands down

 

[woodchopper]

I will have to stick with the traditional and say the 22-250,

I'm with you here,

But I find myself thinking that I should buy another small caliber, and 223 keeps comming up..... but damit the 223 is just not a ###y round

 

[manbearpig]

if price of ammo is a consideration at all then nothing beats .223 with white box Wally-World™ Winchester varmint ammo.

if you are shooting big fatty groundhogs like we have here in Ontario, then the .243 and .25-06 offer some really spectacular kills -- and switch the loads and you have an ideal deer gun to boot.

if you are getting your first varmint gun the .223 is hard to beat. as a second or third there are so many cool choices - i think my next will be a .22 Hornet. i cant even explain why i want one, just that i do

 

[martinbns]

I love the 223.

 

[Mr. Friendly]

is accutrigger worth it? I have a line on a Savage 11 .223 w/Simmon's scope (which I'd move over to my .22 I think) for cheap. the M11's have Accutrigger...just dunno if it's worth the premium tho as for $70 more I can buy a M111 w/o accutrigger and get it new.

 

[a j cave]

I have to be different, for knock down power at over 250 my pick is 243. I have used all the 22's from hornet to swift(no 204 though) and I still take the 243 out. I still have many 22 CF but use them for calling; gophers; or beaver. Just what workes best for me, the fun is in trying things out yourself.AJ

 

[C Broad Arrow]

223 inside 200... 22-250 200 and beyond.

 

[Wrong Way]

Yawn.

.223 and 22/250 : BORING
.204 and 223 WSSM : Trendy
.17 Rem: NOW yer talkin'! Gotta love a classic that makes a cloud o' pink mist

 

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

G.D. What about Bob? 60grs through to 120 grs. Nice rifle in a Ruger Hawkeye and easy on pelts.

 

[smokingunn]

220 swift, a classic.

 

[Mr. Friendly]

G.D. What about Bob? 60grs through to 120 grs. Nice rifle in a Ruger Hawkeye and easy on pelts.

in my noobishness, I don;t understand anything said there, but for the Ruger Hawkeye. what or who is 'Bob' that shoots 60 - 120g?

edit - I meant to ask about the SKS. considering how cheap you can get the rifles for and how the ammuntion costs are almost on par with the .22 Mag and being so much more powerful, perhaps it fits.

 

[sealhunter]

Mr Roberts !!!

 

[manbearpig]

'SKS Varmint Rifle' is wrong on so many levels

if you want a cheap varmint rifle that is also accurate, get a Stevens 200 in .223 for $300 and go blow up some dirtpigs
the .223 and .22-250 Wal-Mart Winchester white box bulk packs are still the best deal on varmint ammo unless you drop down to rimfire.