What caliber do you like for predator/ varmint hunting?

[Beendare]

223, 55 gr V-Max

Yeah, me too….How is that not on the list?

.223 is ubiquitous… maybe it’s not as good as some of the others ballistically but in this day and age where ammo is hard to find, Im glad I chose .223.
.

 

[Sonoman]

I've shoot a sako in 22ppc that I bought about 30 years ago. Great shooter and has killed alot of ground squirrels. Now that I've got to shoot non lead ammo I've been searching to find a replacement for the sierra bullets I was reloading with. Of course I've got a couple hundred non legal rounds loaded up. Might have to sneek them in the hunting areas anyway.

 

[mbania]

I run a 22-250 with 52 grain amax (no longer make), they are devastating on coyotes but not bad on the pelts.

 

[BLACKTAIL 8541]

I run a 6x6.8 with 55 grain Nosler lead free ballistic tips. Accurate and hard hitting.

 

[Bad habit]

There are many scenarios whether it is the size of the animal, if fur is being sought after or we just want to put down some animals, but when it comes down to it what caliber do you like to use when going on the pursuit?

Below do the poll and make a post on what cartridge you run, maybe the bullet you most trust and if you want some loads and /or load data.

My go to caliber is .224
You can go way down to a 40 grain in something like a .222 rem and up to running heavies like a 75 to 80 grain in a 22 250 ai, 22 creed or 22 243 win (these I have all ran).

currently I am running a 22 grendel in an ar 15 platform with a 69 grain tmk at around 3175 fps and will be trying some 64 tgk at around 3400 soon. This is a recent group from a pressure test I was running with the 64 grain tgk, it was hot but I was very impressed with the ar at 100 yards with three shots and little load work up.

Good luck out there with the fox, coyotes, raccoons whatever your game.

I like a 22-250 with 60+ grain bullets

 

[IdahoRoger]

I run a .22-250 with 52 grain BTHP. I load them kind of light @ 3300 fps. Just killed two coyotes at 150 yards and did just fine.

 

[dittydogood]

I just picked a 6 arc shooting the new 55gr vamageddon. Testing my hand Loads are around 3300 fps. Shooting the 108 match eldm absolutely drops yotes as well. So far pretty happy with my AR setup


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[IdahoRoger]

If I'm hunting in close I'll use a .22 Hornet or .22 Mag.

 

[IdahoRoger]

If I'm shooting whistle pigs my go to caliber is .17 HMR or .17 WSM.

 

[Travis907]

22-250 all the way. In my opinion no better coyote hunting round out there, but again that’s just my opinion.

 

[IdahoRoger]

If it ain't broke don't fix it, .22-250 works for me!

 

[Nick87]

.22-250

 

[Megalodon]

Yeah, me too….How is that not on the list?

.223 is ubiquitous… maybe it’s not as good as some of the others ballistically but in this day and age where ammo is hard to find, Im glad I chose .223.
.

It is on there….

The 223 Remington cartridge uses a .224 caliber bullet.

 

[Spec361]

So I don't reload and everyone is aware of the ammo situation. .223/5.56 isn't hard to find where I am and it works fine. Im wanting a new dedicated yote gun. A round that has caught my attention is .224 valkyrie and my local gun shops ALWAYS have this round in stock. Idk if it's because no one knows about it or because it's trash. Im torn between a .224 valkyrie or a 6mm creedmore. Anyone have any experience/thought with/about this .224 round?

 

[Wingshooter]

IF I were in the market for a new caliber I would source a large amount of the ammunition first. There have been a few times when I wish my .220 swift was a .243 that's very rare. 22/250 is hard to find as well. I loaded 3 boxes up for a friend that wasn't able to feed his varmint rifle I don't have a 22/250 but already had dies and brass from other friends that do. One of the great things about reloading is the flexibility it gives you.

 

[justin davis]

22-250 and 6 creed

 

[TheGDog]

BTW.. DEFINITELY checkout these 35gr NTX loads for .223 Rem from Hornady. They advertise 4000fps!

While not a lot of data so far (only took one yote, my biggest so far with it) It worked QUITE well!

Another thing that worked well was trying Hevi-Shot Bismuth Duck/Goose Load at like #2-#4 shot. And I was actually impressed by how undisturbed the hide was except for the little shot-pellet holes which you'd totally never see on a mount. This worked great when calling them in to a bush like 25yds away.

 

[VernAK]

If I'm around the neighborhood and expecting coyotes, I carry one of my 22-250s. I have three that are twisted differently for different bullet weights. I have taken wolves with the 22-250 but prefer something a bit heavier.

I wore out two barrels on a 243 over 30 years and liked the performance but didn't like loading for it. I picked up two Fieldcraft 6CMs when they were on the market and this is by far my favorite predator rifle when wolves may be present. The 108 ELDMs are good but the 95LRX is my favorite.

In some areas we keep a 12 ga handy should a grizzly respond.

 

[Coyote Commander]

22-250 and 6 creed

My favorites as well.

And with coyotes being worth about……$5 these days, the creedmoors getting to stretch its legs year round now. Been tickled pink with the 108 ELD-Ms from 40-700 yards thus far. Coming up on 200 coyotes with it now, bang flops on all but three.

 

[uhcoog1]

Not listed, but I prefer 12 gauge for the brushy country we hunt. Tungsten #2 or #3 shot works great out to 60 yards, albeit a bit expensive per trigger pull.