Favorite Varmint Round??

the KING of varmint cartridges the 1 and only 220 SWIFT

For a lazy man.

My varmint calibers of choice are .22 and .204 Ruger. Both allow me to see what I hit through my scope without the recoil jump of the 22-250 or higher calibers. I can watch my targets either drop or explode (depending on the round fired).

6mm Remington and then 22-250. Several different factors (game, weather and terrain) decides which one gets the nod for the day.

19 Badger because it is so sweet and deadly and I can see my hits through the scope.
22-250 because sometimes the 19 is just a little too small.
223 because it was my first varmint caliber.

My current groundhog rifle is a 221 Fireball, 40gr. V-max at 3250fps.

I am heading out today to have a 22br chambered that I am hoping to get upwards to 4000fps out of the 40gr. V-max.

Pretty excited about that.

Alan

22-250 it just works. 22 LR was and it my reach for first varmint round.

I find my self using my CZ 22 HORNET & 17 REM, more all the time. And have grown very fond of both of them. The 22 HORNET takes care of 95 % of my Varmint Hunting needs, so I guess it is my favorite. ((( RIGHT NOW ))
ken

.223 and .17 HMR

My favorite Varmint rounds are the .223 Remington with 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, or Varmageddon's, or Hornady Z-Max or V-Max's. Really like those 40 gr bullets at 3700 fps + and the ability to spot your own shots. Same with the 17 HMR, very good performance out to 200 yards on small gophers, etc. and quiet for more populated areas. Also zero recoil so you can see where your bullet hits without a spotter.

I would have to say the .22-250 is my first choice. I love the little round and the ballistics.

2nd- .243
3rd- .308

But since we are saying "varmint" round, I will stick with the .22-250.

.223 for coyotes and a .243 for the bigger wolfs

What kind of varmint??

They come in numerous sizes & ranges.
Ranging from a few ounces to close to 50 pounds.
And from a few yards to 500+ yards.

And each requires a different caliber for optimum performance.

rc

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I agree with this.

Having said that Ill also separate Varmints and Predators. Although both have calibers that overlap.

I like the V-Max bullet for most things but may not be my first choice for a wolf.

The .204 ruger is from what I hear VERY pelt friendly and flat shooting but may not be the right choice for Yotes and long distance in the wind. .223, .22-250 and .220 swift have been getting it done for so long can you go wrong with any of them?

I have had a .223 Vanguard and traded it in on a 6.5 creedmoor for long range youtes and wolves, and also as a back up for deer. I still ave an AR so have the ability to save pelts on yotes and bobcats (hopefully) if needed.

The creedmoor is amazingly accurate at range, bucks the wind and hits hard to drop a yote in his tracks at any distance and should do for any wolf here in Idaho.


I guess the ideal varmint round would be one that is light on recoil, relatively in expensive to shoot, bucks the wind and has down range energy. Pretty hard to choose an ideal. Hard to beat .223/.22-250, .243, .17 HMR etc for availability and ease of acquiring ammo (in normal times) just to name a few. Sure I could use 110gr V-Max in my .270 WSM but how long would the barrel last ad would I want to shoot high volume of it in a sitting? A .338 Win Mag would work too but why? Even if you reload you get very little out of a lb of powder.