I am looking for a sensible caliber for anything from shooting prairie dogs to coyotes and a small possibility of pigs? The furthest I would be shooting would be 500 yards and that would be strictly for plinking purposes. Do you guys have any suggestions? I was thinking between .204, .223, .25-06, and .243--I understand you would necessarily want to shoot a pig with a .204 but I would like to see your input!
Best caliber for what I am going to do?
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ugaarguy
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Most of my pig hunter friends down here in GA like AR-15s in 5.56 for cheap ammo; along with fast follow up shots, and good capacity when dealing with multiple head of bacon on wheels.
A 5.56 chambered gun loaded with proper .223 ammo is plenty for p-dogs & coyotes. Bulk 5.56 surplus ammo or bulk new production .223 ammo will let you plink on the cheap. There are plenty of semi-autos other than AR-15s with 5.56 chambers as well, so find what you like, if you like the idea of 5.56.
A 5.56 chambered gun loaded with proper .223 ammo is plenty for p-dogs & coyotes. Bulk 5.56 surplus ammo or bulk new production .223 ammo will let you plink on the cheap. There are plenty of semi-autos other than AR-15s with 5.56 chambers as well, so find what you like, if you like the idea of 5.56.
P.B.Walsh
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I would say .243, but I would pick .223 for low(er) cost practice, and in a 1-7" twist, you can load 65+grn bullets.
Well, that depends. Do you want to collect the pig, or just kill it? .223 is a good varmint and small animal gun, but I wouldn't ethically use it on deer or other game animals of the same size. .243 is a capable deer round for most close in shooting, but really runs out of steam at range. .308 is, to me, the functional minimum for deer hunting at range.
That being said, if you just want to blast varmints, and make sure the pigs die, and you just want to shoot paper at 500 yards, then go .223. If you'd like a slightly more powered round to maybe make the pigs die somewhere nearby, and maybe go deer hunting, then get a .243. If you want the pigs to die close or on the spot, and if you want to shoot animals at long yardages, get a .308.
Some people have different thoughts on feral hogs. The state classifies them as nuisance exotics, and thus they are not a game animal, per se. (This is why there is no season on them, and they belong to the landowner.) I have no ethical issues with blasting them with a light round and having them run off and die. Deer, on the other hand, are a natural resource whose hunting is sanctioned by the sate, and thus, deserve a rifle with enough power so that you can find them after they expired, and not waste the animal. Thus my comments on different "power minimums" for deer and pigs, sorry for the length.
That being said, if you just want to blast varmints, and make sure the pigs die, and you just want to shoot paper at 500 yards, then go .223. If you'd like a slightly more powered round to maybe make the pigs die somewhere nearby, and maybe go deer hunting, then get a .243. If you want the pigs to die close or on the spot, and if you want to shoot animals at long yardages, get a .308.
Some people have different thoughts on feral hogs. The state classifies them as nuisance exotics, and thus they are not a game animal, per se. (This is why there is no season on them, and they belong to the landowner.) I have no ethical issues with blasting them with a light round and having them run off and die. Deer, on the other hand, are a natural resource whose hunting is sanctioned by the sate, and thus, deserve a rifle with enough power so that you can find them after they expired, and not waste the animal. Thus my comments on different "power minimums" for deer and pigs, sorry for the length.
madcratebuilder
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If you are considering the AR platform, a 6.5Grendel well serve you well with pigs and small game up to deer/hog. It has the capability to reach out well past 500yds.
Rob96
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I would go with a 308. Might be a little much for p-daogs but for everything else it would be great.
barnetmill
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It really depends on the ranges involved and the of size of animals being shot.
For the .223 the slower twists are needed for the longer bullets for deer and pigs and thus it may not be so accurate with the shorter and lighter bullets needed prairie dogs. Deer are routinely hunted with the .223 in southern states. I suspect the ranges are closer and so the .223 will likely do if you restrict the ranges. For pigs you should use heavier bullets designed for penetration. Many states will not allow the use of .223 on large animals. You must verify the legality for your locality. If you have nothing else the .223 will serve.
I would chose the .243 as the minimum and take care with proper bullet selection to match the projectiles with the game I plan to hunt.
For the .223 the slower twists are needed for the longer bullets for deer and pigs and thus it may not be so accurate with the shorter and lighter bullets needed prairie dogs. Deer are routinely hunted with the .223 in southern states. I suspect the ranges are closer and so the .223 will likely do if you restrict the ranges. For pigs you should use heavier bullets designed for penetration. Many states will not allow the use of .223 on large animals. You must verify the legality for your locality. If you have nothing else the .223 will serve.
I would chose the .243 as the minimum and take care with proper bullet selection to match the projectiles with the game I plan to hunt.
Redneck with a 40
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I'd go for a .243 bolty, that would be about perfect for you're application.
Idaho Slim
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x 3 for the .243.
I would also fall into the .243 camp, though it is a bit much for vermin. .223 also works, and the popularity of the cartridge in autoloading firearms would help assuage any worry I personally would have about the possibility of not making a clean one-shot-kill on larger game.
if you can afford it, a Browning B.A.R. in 25-06 would do everything you want, extreemely well. it would be more expensive to shoot, but would have a lot more power for clean kills on larger game. a 308 winchester (7.62x51nato) would even be better, but it was not on your list. they also make that in an ar platform, the ar-10, which would be the same rifle for the 243 in an ar platform. the 25-06 is not available in an ar platform as far as i know. also, if you do not want a black rifle, remington is offering both ar's in a camo version named R-15 (ar-15) and R-25 (ar-10).
451 Detonics
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A round not mentioned is the 22-250. It is a better longer range round than the .223 and is well known for accuracy. My Savage 12 BVSS shoots the BAVC ammo under 1/2 inch at 100 yards.
You mean tighter twists are needed for longer bullets
Abel
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I wouldn't want the 223 & smaller for a hog at 300 yards. 25-06 to cover all your bases.
jleyring
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+1 for the 22-250. That gun can reach out and touch something far away. It has power and is very accurate.
gatorjames85
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.243 would do the best at covering all your needs.
.243 is the minimum for big game where I'm from.
.243 is fine on coyotes and PDs, and has plenty of punch for deer.
I'm not sure I'd trust it on big pigs.
.243 is fine on coyotes and PDs, and has plenty of punch for deer.
I'm not sure I'd trust it on big pigs.
sixgunner455
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Any of those calibers would do each of those job. Each has strengths and weaknesses, so you'd have to adapt your hunting and range to the round and rifle you actually end up with.
I wouldn't think of trying to take a pig with a .204, but I'm sure someone has. I wouldn't consider trying to take a deer with one. I would consider the .223 adequate for 150yards and in on deer and pigs.
If you are just doing pdogs and coyotes, get a .204 or .223. If you really might be taking pigs, and possibly deer, with the same rifle, get a .223 or .243. If deer and pigs and antelope and other medium game is on the agenda, and you might also shoot coyotes and whistle pigs and an occasional pdog, get a .243 or .25-06.
What kind of rifle are you thinking about?
I wouldn't think of trying to take a pig with a .204, but I'm sure someone has. I wouldn't consider trying to take a deer with one. I would consider the .223 adequate for 150yards and in on deer and pigs.
If you are just doing pdogs and coyotes, get a .204 or .223. If you really might be taking pigs, and possibly deer, with the same rifle, get a .223 or .243. If deer and pigs and antelope and other medium game is on the agenda, and you might also shoot coyotes and whistle pigs and an occasional pdog, get a .243 or .25-06.
What kind of rifle are you thinking about?
oneounceload
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They are down here - many a .223 used for deer; add a suppressor and night scope and you have a hog gun
Myself, I've owned a .25-06 for 34 years. This gun and cartridge have never failed me for anything I needed to hunt. The benefit to the 06 is you can use heavy bullets and go deer hunting or light bullets for varmints.
The 06 has taken groundhogs for me at ranges that were very long. It is a spectacular varmint round.
Its fault is that it heats a barrel quickly. Never owned a .243 but I would not hesitate to purchase one. I suspect it would heat a barrel almost as bad as the 06 though.
The 06 has taken groundhogs for me at ranges that were very long. It is a spectacular varmint round.
Its fault is that it heats a barrel quickly. Never owned a .243 but I would not hesitate to purchase one. I suspect it would heat a barrel almost as bad as the 06 though.
barnetmill
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Actually it should be faster twists and I was wrong in saying slower twists. I do not know where my mind was when I wrote that error.
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