[innerpiece]

Hi!
I used to have a .17HMR, was great for critters.

I want a little more range and knockdown power. I was thinking .222 or .243 but I dont have experience with either load so I dont know their limitations.

I dont need a .308... just something for yotes out to 300yds.

Id love to hear any ideas.

Thanks, ip.

[PotatoJudge]

You have lots of options. Try to figure out a price range and features you want, and remember to set aside $2-300 for a decent scope.
Also, do you reload?

[Bartkowski]

I lot of people will probably recommend a 22-250, and although its good I still like .223's. The only reason being that I like to shoot at ranges a lot and .223 is cheaper and easier on the barrel. If you only want hunt with it then go for a 22-250.

[jmr40]

.223 is nearly identical to the .222 ballistically and is a lot easier to find and cheaper as well.

[Savage Shooter]

.223 if your worried about ammo prices
consider a 25-06 if your not worried about cash, shoot like a laser will knock a coyote down with authority at 300 easy can go much farther if the shooter can.

[Georgia Gunner]

I second the 25-06 , I have one that I use on deer and coyotes ,very accurate.

[MCgunner]

.243 would be quite excellent as is .22-250 or .220 swift. .257 Roberts or .250 savage are excellent. I don't worry about ammo, I make my own.

[Titan6]

.243 has the same case size as .308 so if you don't want a .308 why get a .243? .223 is the standard for 300 and under critters.

[B.D. Turner]

.223 for cheap ammo and long barrel life.

[kmrcstintn]

.223 is a good caliber; .22-250 gets em out there a bit flatter with less crosswind upset; .220 swift is suppossedly better, but I don't know much about it; .243 is good & serves as a good dual purpose caliber when loaded properly for antelope, mountain sheep, and deer; .25-06 is heavier & serves in a dual role also...it is 2nd only to .257 weatherby mag in the .257 calibers; even though a few guys I know went with .22-250 & .243, I stumbled onto a .25-06 Savage 111G that I hope to eventually handload for groundhogs...for now she makes a fine deer gun :evil:

[Grumulkin]

I would say:

204 Ruger
222 Remington
223 Remington
22-250 Remington

Of the four, the 204 Ruger and 22-250 Remington would be my favorites and I've tried them all.

[moooose102]

.223, 22-250, or 25-06, in that order. these are very available, and so is the ammo, everywhere. forget the .222 ammo isn't widely available at retailers.

[MCgunner]

Or 17 Remington if you could find one and want to go small.

.243 has the same case size as .308 so if you don't want a .308 why get a .243?

Because, perhaps, it's a totally different cartridge? Just because the cases is the same rough volume doesn't mean it's the same. The .243 is a great varmint caliber for large varmints and can double as a thin skinned big game rifle for deer/pronghorn. It's not capable on elk, a bit small, where the .308 is a better choice. It is quite soft on the shoulder compared to .308.

Lots of choices to be had here in .22 caliber. The Swift isn't a huge improvement over .22-250 and between the two, unless I just wanted braggin' rights, .22-250 components are more common, brass and such. I'm sure Midway carries .220 swift, though. The Swift has only a couple hundred fps on the .22-250, but reaches that magical 4000 fps level a little easier with a little heavier bullets.

I guess I'm assuming you handload. Most serious varminters do because accuracy matters and you can't get real serious about accuracy shooting factory crap. But, if you don't handload, I still think .22-250 is better than .223 because you're going to be shooting serious ammunition, not mil surp crap. Sub MOA is the rule in the varmint world. Of course, coyotes at 300 yards ain't prairie dogs at 600, either, I guess. But, ammo availability is a non-issue to a handloader. That's why you should handload. It opens up a world of good calibers and makes shooting a LOT more affordable as a bonus. Why would you want to limit your choices based on ammo availability? That's just dumb IMHO.

[skinewmexico]

Load the right bullet in a 243, and it's got better ballistics than a 300 Winmag. Nothing wrong with that.

[koja48]

If you don't reload, 223 would be an excellent choice, but 204 Ruger is my favorite (204 and 17 Remmie are to the 223 what the 17HMR is to the 22 and I use them all, though I retired my 17 Rem & rarely shoot the 22-250 anymore.). 25-06 is a great all-arounder & superb for long range shooting . . . my "go-to" varmint rifle when long shots are anticipated.

[ArmedBear]

There's nothing quite like the 6.5-08 Ackley Improved Weatherby Magnum Rimfire.

Literally.

[koja48]

. . . with depleted uranium bullets . . .

[one-shot-one]

my choices in order of caliber not choice:

.223
.243
.257
6.5X55 sweed
.260

[rcmodel]

If you only want hunt with it then go for a 22-250.+1
The 22-250 kills coyotes deader then many bigger calibers.

I use that and a 25-05, and have had more one-shot instant stops with the 22-250.

rcmodel

[Harve Curry]

I read that Savage has a new varminter built arouond the case sizes of .223

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You said "rifle" but then you discussed caliber, so let's take that first:

Two
Forty
Three
Winchester

75-85 grainers. Does the job, bucks the wind. Flat trajectory. Light recoil. Common ammo. That or it's fraternal twin, the 6mm Rem.

Second choice, .22-250. Third choice, .223 rem.

Now, rifle -what's your budget?

How's about a Savage 10 Predator:

http://www.savagearms.com/10Predator.htm

That'll GIT ER DONE! :)

[marksman13]

I'm gonna throw out a vote for the 223 or 243. If you want to hunt deer with it as well as yotes, the 243 gets the nod. As far as rifles go, it's hard to beat the Remington Model 700. My personal favorite though, is CZ. Awesome rifles, but cost a little more than the standard 700s. Shop around, handle a few different guns and see which one feels the best. Don't count out Savage or Browning either.

[coyotehitman]

I use a 22-250 for yotes, but a 223 will work. If all you are hunting is yotes, a 223 with a good ballistic tip projectile will work fine, but cost savings will not be significant over 22-250, especially if you reload. If you might see deer hunting in your future, the .243 is a good dual purpose round.

[LAK]

I like the .257 Roberts for a smallbore rifle. It is versatile and pleasant to shoot.

I would however recommend the .243 as it is about equally as versatile, pleasant to shoot. Factory ammo is all over the place, in a variety of loadings and prices.

The key is the bullet; the choice of bullet for particular tasks.