Best caliber for small game hunting?

For varminting the centerfire .22s may be fine. For eating, rimfire. Not only that you will have the most affordable target /practice gun around. The centerfires will destroy the game and you have much greater concern for where the bullet goes....shooting a 22 hornet or .223 into a tree after a squirrel? nononono.
If you are serious about your small game hunting, then you will also get a shotgun. Don't think in terms of the 12 bore being overkill compared to a .22 or 17 rimfire. The purpose of the shotgun is the shot spread on moving targets...running rabbits in brush, squirrels through tree tops, ducks or other birds in flight, etc. Then you are likely to be hitting/ killing the target with only a few of the many shot pellets, which have a very short relative range and effective area.

Jacob McDermott said:

I have yet to own a shotgun, only shot a few. Been doing most of my small game hunting with rifles. Always planned on getting one but just not the best on them. All I hear from people is the the true and legendary mossberg 500 and how people love that thing.

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IDK how you're built but if you find the shotgun fits a lil awkward look closer at the compact/youth models......I run a 590a most days but the mossy sa-20 compact I picked up is too much fun to ignore, I intended for the rest of the family to use it as they have a hard time shouldering a standard lop, and the semiautomatic 20 ga is so light and light in recoil that they actually enjoy shotgunning now with me, but honestly I think I've put more rounds through it than any of them........if compact fit isn't the solution an sa 20 in standard configuration is still a hoot!

Squirrels and rabbits suggest a rimfire, .22LR or .22WMR.
Groundhogs and coyotes suggest a centerfire, .223 or one of the 6mms.

If you reload, you could download a .223 to rimfire velocities, but it would be an inefficient way to achieve what a rimfire will do.
I think you need a .22LR and a .223.

And a 20 gauge shotgun ought to make it into the mix at some point.

I lived in Onondaga County for a lot of years. My favorite small game gun at the time was a Savage 24 E-DL in .22WMR over 20 gauge. It took a lot of squirrels and rabbits. The 20 gauge was very useful harvesting squirrels from the branches of trees.

A lever action in 357 mag would be a good choice. Could use 38 special for rabbits and squirrels and 357 for yotes.

As someone else mentioned, 327 mag would be even better as you could go for 32 shorts. Thats only if you're not worried about ammo cost .

Shotguns are popular and effective for small game under 40 yards or maybe a little more. Especially fast moving targets. Unless it has wings I have always preferred a rifle a picking my shots and careful hunting. Just a personal choice. The problem with a pistol caliber is limited range compared to cartridges designed for small game like a .22lr, 22 Mag, or 17 HMR., 223 etc.. Unless you hunt with a pistol which I sometimes do.. Never understood the reasoning to use a short range pistol cartridge in a rifle but then it is a personal choice popular on here.

Jacob McDermott said:

I’m 5’8” around 150 - 160 so a 20 gauge would probably be better than 12. I’ve read 20 gauge is better for small game hunting over 12 anyway so it works out! I’ll have to look into them

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If you feel front heavy with previous shotguns, the compacts will feel amazing comparatively, and semi auto cuz it's too fun not to.

d2wing said:

Shotguns are popular and effective for small game under 40 yards or maybe a little more. Especially fast moving targets. Unless it has wings I have always preferred a rifle a picking my shots and careful hunting. Just a personal choice. The problem with a pistol caliber is limited range compared to cartridges designed for small game like a .22lr, 22 Mag, or 17 HMR., 223 etc.. Unless you hunt with a pistol which I sometimes do.. Never understood the reasoning to use a short range pistol cartridge in a rifle but then it is a personal choice popular on here.

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low recoil, low report, cheap to shoot, fun to shoot. Also, if you’re a hand loader, your carbine becomes a variable power multi tool. A low powered .32 h&r, 38 spl, .44 spl round will poke a lethal hole in small game without turning it into burger while a full powered or even somewhat hot rodded magnum load can be adequate medium game medicine within reasonable ranges.

the typical counterpoint is changing poi between light and heave loads. Easy solution, two scopes with QD rings. Or practice Arkansas elevation.

Olon said:

As someone else mentioned, 327 mag would be even better as you could go for 32 shorts. Thats only if you're not worried about ammo cost .

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You kind of have to roll your own if you want to shoot the .32 revolver rounds for cheap. Pennies a round once you’re invested in brass.

Jacob McDermott said:

I’m 5’8” around 150 - 160 so a 20 gauge would probably be better than 12.

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A 20 gauge might be better for you because of your intended use but your height and weight have nothing to do with it. I have quite a few shotguns with 20 gauge being well represented. If I only had one shotgun there is no question it would be a 12. A light 20 gauge can also have more felt recoil than a 12 so you are gaining nothing in that area if recoil reduction is the goal.

Jason_W said:

low recoil, low report, cheap to shoot, fun to shoot. Also, if you’re a hand loader, your carbine becomes a variable power multi tool. A low powered .32 h&r, 38 spl, .44 spl round will poke a lethal hole in small game without turning it into burger while a full powered or even somewhat hot rodded magnum load can be adequate medium game medicine within reasonable ranges.

the typical counterpoint is changing poi between light and heave loads. Easy solution, two scopes with QD rings. Or practice Arkansas elevation.

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I was going to argue with you but decided it doesn't matter. Pistol cartridges in pistols and rifle cartridges in rifles but to each his own.

d2wing said:

I was going to argue with you but decided it doesn't matter. Pistol cartridges in pistols and rifle cartridges in rifles but to each his own.

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I’ve never shot a rifle chambered in a handgun cartridge and don’t have any desire to. I don’t understand the allure and doubt I ever will. And that’s okay. I know a number of people who can’t understand my love of Donaho saddles with suicide forks and that’s okay too. But if I owned a Lever Action rifle company I’d damn sure make some chambered in handgun cartridges because there is a market for them.

There is no better small game cartridge than the .22LR. For everything from ground squirrels to coons (my opinion), it is perfect. Anything else is going to be a small to a huge compromise, to varying degrees. For me, the .22LR covers 120-130yds on small game but I try to limit my shots to 50yds on stuff like possums and coons. I wouldn't make a habit of shooting coyotes with it but it will certainly do the job within certain limitations. Ammo is cheap and you can hunt with the same loads you plink with.

The .17HMR & .22Mag are great field cartridges but the ammo is at least five times that of .22LR and that limits practice and plinking. In my experience, the .22Mag easily covers 150yds on anything that it is suitable for. It handles coon-sized critters with greater authority and works fine on coyotes. The .17 gives you more range on smaller critters. Either can be used on small game but shots must be placed carefully if you're going to be eating what you shoot. The lighter bullets, up to the 40gr .22Mag JHP's are explosive on smaller critters, so FMJ's and/or head shots would be preferable for table fare.

Virtually any centerfire can be used for small game but some are obviously going to be better than others. To me, the .223 is not one of the better choices. I don't want to be spending an enjoyable afternoon rabbit hunting with a .223. Leverguns were mentioned, cartridges like the .218Bee, .25-20, .32-20, .32H&R, .327Fed up to the .38Spl and even the bigger ones are all fantastic small game cartridges if centerfires are legal for use in your area. Mild loads with cast bullets don't tear up much meat and heavier loads can be used for larger varmints. So unless you're going to choose one of these, you really need two rifles. I would strongly suggest spending a lot of time with a good .22LR and proceed from there.

Jason_W said:

low recoil, low report, cheap to shoot, fun to shoot. Also, if you’re a hand loader, your carbine becomes a variable power multi tool. A low powered .32 h&r, 38 spl, .44 spl round will poke a lethal hole in small game without turning it into burger while a full powered or even somewhat hot rodded magnum load can be adequate medium game medicine within reasonable ranges.

the typical counterpoint is changing poi between light and heave loads. Easy solution, two scopes with QD rings. Or practice Arkansas elevation.

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Exactly! Some folks just don't get it and never will. Where I live and hunt, there are no shots over 100yds. So why deal with the recoil and blast of a rifle cartridge when a pistol cartridge does everything I need?

My personal experience with the .22 lr on smaller game hasn’t been encouraging. I found that high velocity frangible rounds like the stinger can make a real mess while non hollowpoint ammo can drill a hole that doesn’t kill fast enough. I’ve had game as small as red squirrels take a .22 through the thorax and run off. I’ve also seen them torn to shreds by a stinger or yellow jacket.

Yes, it’s not a problem if you only take head shots, but head shots can be tough on small game under field conditions.

I’m definitely in the shotgun club for small game. Yeah, one hole through the meat is better than peppering it with shot but with any kind of rifle, I have to pass on a lot of shots for the sake of safety and practicality.

maybe there are guys who can knock a flying bird out of the air with a .22 or ding a rabbit that bursts from a brush pile, but it ain’t me. Man’s got to know his limitations etc.

The answer is somewhere in the middle. I don't use roundnose for anything but targets. Very disappointed with it on small game. Same for some HP's that only have a dimple like Federal bulk but don't actually expand. A high velocity hollowpoint will anchor anything quickly. Hyper velocity rounds like the Stinger are better for stuff you're not gonna eat.

I can probably count on two hands the number of rabbits I’ve shot since the 70’s. Back then if I was hunting specifically for rabbit I used a shotgun.

fpgt72 said:

This is a good suggestion if inside of 100 yards.

I actually suggested this to a neighbor in a general round table bullsh... session with a bunch of other guys over some very good bourbon. He was having issues in losing chickens to everything from coyote to skunks and raccoons. This guy was not a gun guy and at the WELL inside of football distances we talked about the 22LR seemed to be what came up most. I had issues handing someone that had VERY little shooting experience a 22lr and telling him to kill coyote with it.....in the dark.

I am very firm in the camp that I don't care what it is no animal deserves to go off with a bullet in its hind hip to be in pain for the rest of its days.....or to be gut shot and go off into a hole to die a slow death coughing up blood. I don't care if it is mice on up, everything deserves to be taken in an ethical manner.
We really need to think of the experience of the shooter when they are asking questions like this....it comes up in the air gun world all the time....when the experience goes down the size of the hole needs to go up for things like pesting.

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Very good points here. I actually keep my 1911 with some good hollow points on me as a weekend carry gun. In the short time I've had it I've dispatched 3 raccoon, 2 feral cats and one ornery arse opossum from around my best friend's chicken pen and coop. All inside of 30yds & all 1 shot kills. I am not bragging about this; just simply stating what I was asked to take care of for him. His eyes don't focus fast enough for quick shots for pest control. I forget what he told me the doctors call it.
A carbine in 327 or 357 would be an excellent choice as well. I'm considering one of the 357 magnum henry single shots for this kind of thing actually. With some magnum lite or 38+p's it would be a pretty handy pest control gun. Just gotta make that one shot count though.

Fine Figure of a Man said:

Everyone needs at least one .22. It's as simple as that, get one.
The 17HMR is also a very versatile round. I have shot many coon, skunk, possum, woodchuck, badger, etc, some at well over 100 yards. I use Hornady 17gr VMax, it is a very accurate and effective round.

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I absolutely love the .17 HMR. It's a quicker killer than the .22 WMR in most varmints like woodchucks, skunks, even coyotes, according to my experiences in the past year or so. It instantly killed an eastern coyote running away from me at 130 yards and another at about 40 yards. Instant death for woodchucks around 40-50 yards and they're especially tough to kill quickly. The .22 WMR is not as accurate at 100 yards, nor as effective quick-killing power at any range I've experienced, but that could be more the stiffer bullet design than cartridge power.

If HAD to choose between the two to kill a deer (heaven forbid), the .22WMR might be the better choice, but higher on my list is "don't shoot a deer with either".

jmr40 said:

Everyone needs a 22 LR. It will do 95% of what you want to do for the smaller end of the spectrum. The rifles and ammo is cheap and they are great for practice. You can take coyote or medium size game with a 22, but there are better options.

With 125 gr varmint loads your 308 will pick up where the 22 leaves off. Ideally a 22 centerfire would be a good option between 22 and 308 and I'd add another rifle at some point. I like 223, but there are other options. Until you can justify a 3rd rifle you can do everything you need to do with a 22 LR and your 308.

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This is what I was going to say. Back in the day, when the only HP I owned was a 30-06, I hunted groundhogs with the 125 Sierra PH. Back then, groundhog hunting was touted as a way to get practice with your deer rifle in the off season. Its not the best option if you are a dedicated long range varminter but would fill the gap until you get a dedicated varmint rifle.

Using a high-power for small game hunting is not a good option, IMO. Get a .22 or a shotgun.

Picher said:

I absolutely love the .17 HMR. It's a quicker killer than the .22 WMR in most varmints like woodchucks, skunks, even coyotes, according to my experiences in the past year or so. It instantly killed an eastern coyote running away from me at 130 yards and another at about 40 yards. Instant death for woodchucks around 40-50 yards and they're especially tough to kill quickly. The .22 WMR is not as accurate at 100 yards, nor as effective quick-killing power at any range I've experienced, but that could be more the stiffer bullet design than cartridge power.

If HAD to choose between the two to kill a deer (heaven forbid), the .22WMR might be the better choice, but higher on my list is "don't shoot a deer with either".

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In general I think it is safe to say that 17 seems to be more accurate over the 22wmr.....is that the round or is that the guns the round is used in.....I really don't know.

I have for....heck decades it seems....been saying I should get a 17.....then I say to myself, why? You have a 22mag that does all the same jobs. I have two 22mag rifles, one that german company that starts with A that I would spell just so horrid, the other a lever marlin. The marlin shoots eh ok, the bolt gun is a tack driver. I have shot 17's and been very impressed and walk away saying you know FP you should get yourself one of those.....never happens because MY 22mag bolt rifle shoots just as well as those 17's....and hits about as hard.

What is the terrain like? Thick woods make for harder shots on moving animals. Open ranges make it harder to get shots in close. Coyotes with 30-30 in thick brush works well, 223 in open ground does better. As for small game, anything rimfire. Several states limit small game to rimfire or shotgun so there’s a legal aspect that may be missed if you go straight to centerfire calibers for squirrel or rabbit.

fpgt72 said:

In general I think it is safe to say that 17 seems to be more accurate over the 22wmr.....is that the round or is that the guns the round is used in.....I really don't know.

I have for....heck decades it seems....been saying I should get a 17.....then I say to myself, why? You have a 22mag that does all the same jobs. I have two 22mag rifles, one that german company that starts with A that I would spell just so horrid, the other a lever marlin. The marlin shoots eh ok, the bolt gun is a tack driver. I have shot 17's and been very impressed and walk away saying you know FP you should get yourself one of those.....never happens because MY 22mag bolt rifle shoots just as well as those 17's....and hits about as hard.

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The .17 HMR has a flatter trajectory than the .22 Mag and shoots more accurately than the .22 Mag barrel I had in my CZ. The .17 barrel also is heavier, and fluted, so it feels and looks better. The .22 mag hasn't been back in the rifle since...even though I still have ammo for it. (I must admit that the .17 barrel is locktited in the receiver, but could be removed with heat, if I were so inclined.)

The best part of the .17 HMR is the trajectory. Sighted in .53" high at 50 yards and it's zero at 125 yds then within an inch of point of aim out to about 130 yards and 1 1/2" at 150 yds., then minus 3 3/4" at 175, and -7" at 200. Frankly, if the quarry is beyond 150, chances are, it may get away, unless it's big enough to get caught in the trajectory rainbow. There are a lot of critters that are within 1 1/2" of point of aim (150 yards) that I probably don't need to know where the bullet's going to be beyond that.