What caliber do you like for predator/ varmint hunting?

What caliber do you like for predators/ varmints

  • .204

    Votes: 33 10.4%
  • .224

    Votes: 186 58.7%
  • .243/6mm

    Votes: 90 28.4%
  • .257

    Votes: 11 3.5%
  • .264/6.5mm

    Votes: 29 9.1%
  • .17

    Votes: 30 9.5%

  • Total voters
    317

mitchell

FNG
Joined
Jan 26, 2024
Messages
27
Browning Bar 243 is best for coyote if you are looking for great kill ability and minimal pelt damage. I use a Remington 100 grain Core-Loct pointed soft point bullet and it drops them instantly on a 100 yard broadside shot. To top it off, no exit wound. Kinetic force of bullet all gets absorbed inside of animal. Dont dare use this setup for fox or cats.
 

Rafter_K

FNG
Joined
May 25, 2022
Messages
16
Location
Abilene TX
I'm loving my 25 creed I put together. Running 70gr. sierra blitzkings right around 3800. That quarter bore hits like a ton of bricks with minimal to no pelt damage.
 

atrouth

FNG
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
19
Currently running 6.5 creed with 95 vmax running at 3400 FPS. Building a 6 creed and plan to shoot 70gr Nosler Ballistic tips or the 80gr ELD-VT depending how it performs.
 
Joined
Jun 25, 2021
Messages
7
Location
WNY
Was running 223 gas, 243 bolt for a while. I then used 6.5 Grendel for a couple years, good performance, tough on fur. Recently the 204 has been my go to using Hornady 45gr sp. Factory doesn't load anymore so I hope to find some to reload, which i am just learning to do. Currently am focusing on 22ARC.
 

atrouth

FNG
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
19
Was running 223 gas, 243 bolt for a while. I then used 6.5 Grendel for a couple years, good performance, tough on fur. Recently the 204 has been my go to using Hornady 45gr sp. Factory doesn't load anymore so I hope to find some to reload, which i am just learning to do. Currently am focusing on 22ARC.
I have a 22ARC barrel being made for my next AR, something to play with to see how it performs.
 

TaperPin

WKR
Joined
Jul 12, 2023
Messages
3,229
I never expected to be in this awkward position, but I might have just ordered a 30 cal varmint barrel. It seemed like a good idea at the time - I wasn’t even day drinking. I have a few slow twist 6br barrels and one fast twist, but really I’d rather just grab the 22-250 for most beedy-eyed critters - heck a 22 br makes more sense than what this barrel is. Well, a slow twist 30 br fell out of the sky, before the left side of the brain talked it over with the right. I have no idea what I’ll do with it. There are 4 guns I’d rather shoot prairie dogs with and 20 that are ahead of it for big game. Lol
 

Mortar

FNG
Joined
Jul 15, 2022
Messages
13
only choose .224 because state regulate sit at night. hopefully that goes away this year and 6mm it is.
 

Mortar

FNG
Joined
Jul 15, 2022
Messages
13
What about 22 ARC or 22 Creedmoor?
I would be very happy with either round. If I am going to buy a new gun I would still prefer a .243 or better. I can shoot a .243/6creed cheaper and find ammo locally.

Would love to have both though.
 

atrouth

FNG
Joined
Aug 30, 2020
Messages
19
I would be very happy with either round. If I am going to buy a new gun I would still prefer a .243 or better. I can shoot a .243/6creed cheaper and find ammo locally.

Would love to have both though.
Thats definitely fair, 6 creed seems to be catching on and ammo is starting to pop up more. Took a few years for the 6.5 to do so, but now its everywhere. On gas guns I would definitely go the ARC route, im building a 22ARC next for places that have the night caliber restrictions. My go to has always been my 6.5 but im venturing into the 6mm territory with the latest build, hopefully your state gets rid of those restrictions.
 

farmermail

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 24, 2018
Messages
152
Location
Southwest ID
.221 Fireball is my favorite. 40grn NosBT. Not a long range gun, but inside of 300yds, great on just about any varmint or predator.
 
Joined
Jun 3, 2024
Messages
20
17HMR

I shoot fox for fur and small game for food. On fox 17gr tipped bullets almost never exit and are instant death within 150yards. Drop and drift are light years better than 22LR in open windy country. 17gr hollow points do ok but don’t shoot as well, 20gr hollow points are too tough and usually leave a big exit. FMJs are good to have a few of - good for birds, though anything ptarmigan sized and larger it’s OK to use expanding bullets with junction of neck/breast shots. Squirrels and hares, 22LR is better but 17 is ok with head shots. Larger rodents like beaver, 17hmr is perfect. Like a little mini 223. Anything bigger is tough on hides and meat. 223 with fmj is way too destructive on fox, rabbit, ptarmigan, etc…. 17 Hornet also tho to a lesser extent. At least within 100 yard where most of these small critters are shot. Squib loads for bigger rifles work well but are kind of a pain and rarely shoot as well as the HMR. I would like to try light loads for the 223, something in the 22 Hornet level but with sleeker bullets for wind resistance. Then a guy could use full power ammo for big game. One rifle for everything. My preference for medium game currently is 6.5 Grendel because I have a lot of ammo for it, but I suspect a 223 may be better general purpose due to the availability of different bullet types and weights. I have a 100gr fmj light load for the Grendel but have not used it on game yet.
 
Joined
Nov 8, 2016
Messages
1,777
Location
Kiowa/Deer Trail, CO
first blood for the new 22 ARC.
IMG_1552.JPEG
 
Joined
May 3, 2024
Messages
2
Location
Nunn, CO
Love my 22-250 have shot many varmints with it, have thought about doing 22-250 AI but the gun shoots to good to mess with even for a gun I bought on clearance for $300.
 

Elkhntr08

WKR
Joined
Nov 3, 2016
Messages
1,151
I’ve got a REM 700 Classic in 22-250 that just doesn’t seem to miss. Hard for me to change to anything else. If I did, I’d grab my 257 Weatherby.
 
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