Best Do It All Varmint Cartridge

[andy54409]

What is the best of the AR-15 compatible cartridges for varmints and your optimal barrel length?

 

[RockAndSage]

What is the best of the AR-15 compatible cartridges for varmints and your optimal barrel length?

Which of these do you already own? And why?

 

[surfr716]

huge fanboy for the 22 ARC after the last year of shooting it at everything from rock chucks and prairie dogs, to coyotes, up through whitetail. currently running the factory 62 gr eld vt in a 16 inch rig for coyotes, and shot a 77 tmk handload at a big whitetail, both have worked famously.

like it enough to build a 16 in howa bolt action as well after ordering a preferred barrel from @herinaz on his website, little more velocity than the ar in a light handy package.

 

[Clatta]

If I was going to build something new for both deer and predator I’d go 6 arc in an AR.

On a side note I wouldn’t build an AR I would run a 18 or 16” built gun in .22 creed.

 

[Dude270]

I'd say that the 22 ARC is probably the best from a pure performance angle, but it is very hard to beat the logistics of a 223 if you plan to shoot it a bunch.

 

[406flyfish]

Enjoy shooting my .223 but ready for a change. Any recommendations on complete uppers for 6 or 22 ARC?

 

[AZsniper]

If I was going to build something new for both deer and predator I’d go 6 arc in an AR.

On a side note I wouldn’t build an AR I would run a 18 or 16” built gun in .22 creed.

Plus 1 on the 6 arc. It is way better in the wind, zero recoil. I get 2600fps in my 16in Cmmg upper. With factory ammo. And you can use it on hogs and deer.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I’ll toss one more into the mix.

22GT in a 18inch bolt gun.

I’ll be building one of these in the near future and can report back but ballistically I think it will do what I’m wanting out of a 22 cal gun.

 

[zia shooter]

In an AR15 I think 22 arc is a good way to go so you can use 75gr eldm. The 75 eldm is the best all around varmint bullet its got high bc and kills small or big stuff well. In a bolt gun I would build a 223 or 223AI with a throat and mag that will take a loaded round at 2.5". The 77 tmk is also a great ar15 bullet but you eat up a lot of case loaded at 2.250 with a 223.

 

[112Savage]

I don’t own one, but of your choices, 22ARC in an AR15 is likely “the best all around” for my uses and ranges in the east I like the 6ARC, but that is also pressing it into use for deer culling in a 6mm minimum state.

 

[AZsniper]

I don’t own one, but of your choices, 22ARC in an AR15 is likely “the best all around” for my uses and ranges in the east I like the 6ARC, but that is also pressing it into use for deer culling in a 6mm minimum state.

22arc is a great choice, depending where you hunt. I hunt in the open West, Arizona. Usually 10-20mph winds in the open areas. 22arc is like shooting a curve ball at 2-300 yards. But it gets there much faster than the 6arc. I take the slower speeds because the 6arc is so much better in wind. I think it depends on where you are hunting.