Which cal for varmint bolt gun?

[Tex68w]

I have a short action Manners Night Stalker stock on order due at the end of the year. This will be built on a Zermatt TL3 short action and I'll likely use Proof pre-fits if available (not opposed to a caliber that'll require me to get something spun up). I plan to build a gun specifically for night time thermal hunting to be used as a field overwatch gun mostly for pigs and coyotes. I have my calibers sorted in both gas and bolt guns for medium and large game and I have a 6 ARC for a gasser varmint option (mostly used for long range plinking) but I want this gun to be a dedicated system for this one job. I prefer a caliber with reputable factory ammo availability as I no longer reload.

So given all of that info, which caliber do you recommend?

 

[justin davis]

22-250 or .243 / 6 creedmoor

 

[TxLite]

If pigs are included I’d go 243.

 

[tann435]

6.5 grendel with 100 grain bullets is what i use.

 

[Tex68w]

6.5 grendel with 100 grain bullets is what i use.

In a bolt?

 

[ckleeves]

Proof prefits and good factory ammo pretty much lands you at 6 Creed.

 

[MJB]

.223 oldie but a goodie

 

[MallardSX2]

22-250

 

[omicron1792]

223

 

[huntsman22]

 

[pacoalcracker]

204 Ruger, 22-250AI or 220 Swift.

 

[B23]

I'm a big fan of 22 cals for varmint guns but for your intended purpose based on what you said I think a 6 Creedmoor would be the perfect fit for you and give you a, very, wide range of versatility.

 

[Waterdoctor]

It’s hard to improve on a 22-250

 

[RockSlip]

223 works.

 

[journeyman713]

204 ruger

 

[shtrbc]

Not flashy or the latest-greatest, .223. Hard to beat all around.

 

[6.5x284]

204 Ruger. Do everything the big boys do with less powder.

 

[Tex68w]

Thanks for all of the replies, lots of classic suggestions. I have a lot to mull over.