Varmit/Paper Caliber Question...

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viking499

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I know that this is sort of an open ended question, but...............It's about time to start thinking bout a winter project.

If looking at centerfire rifles between .220 and .264 for something that is accurate to 300 yards+, has good barrel life, cheap to shoot or reload, is not easily affected by the wind and still has some energy left in it when it gets where it is going, what caliber would it be?

Bullet size from between 40-50 grain up to 100-120.

Varmits would range from groundhogs to yotes and paper would range from paper to............

In "common" calibers, I think my 3 nods would go to 222, 223 and 243. Am I wrong in thinking that?

In other calibers, I am thinking 6BR. Probably no PPC's.

Other options???
 
Sounds like you are on track. What platform (bolt gun, AR, etc)? .223 would be your cheapest that would work for your intended purpose and the 22-250 or .243 arent too far behind in the common calibers.
 
.220 swift!!!! Not the cheapest as far as brass goes for reloading but it is in a league of it's own. The really "smoking" rounds such as the 3950fps 50 grain can be a bit rough on an unlined barrel but with todays technology and latest barrel coatings, that is pretty much a non issue. There is a newer lining material that is titanium based that would give you 40 to 50k barrel life and is not that expensive. Mine was built 20 years ago and still holds less than 1/2 inch groups at 100. Chrome lined barrel from Hart built on a K98 mauser action. A friend built the thumbhole stock for it and it now wears a Nikon 4.5-14x40 Nikon Coyote Special (Put that on it a few days ago)
 
On the higher end for varmints, but I am a fan of the .260. Not too common, but ammo is out there and its easy to reload. 6.5mm bullets, .308 brass.

Extremely good long range ballistics, extremely accurate, in a short action.
 
I have a couple 6.5x55's, but they stay on the heavier bullet end of the varmit choices.
 
243 is the most versatile of the 3. & the Rem Mohawk 600 is a real nice walking rifle & easily found in 243
 
Another vote for .243 if you want to get up to that 100 gr range. 25-06 would be a possibility too, but would be a little more gun than you'd really need.
 
My son-in-law has a Savage in 6BR. Exceptionally accurate (hand loads shoot >.3's for 5 shots) with factory barrel and trigger. Heavy for caliber bullet. Super mild recoil. Longer barrel life than most any of the hotter factory stuff and flatter shooting.

Fits your criteria better than most anything else. That's why the BR boys shoot them. He's getting into +600 yard shooting with it.
 
The Swift is a great cartridge, but I would recommend a .22-250 (I have one). It is a bit easier on barrels (at a bit less velocity granted), very accurate, and ammo is easier to find. If you handload (and you should) it is moot. The .243 is ideal for what you are looking for, but with more recoil, and it burns more powder, if you don't handload it should be a first choice, ammo is easy to find, at good prices, with a variety of bullet weights to choose from.
 
The .243 is probably one of the most versitile rounds made. Bullets are available for every size and type of game from groundhogs to deer. Extremely accurate and deadly. I have a Savage Model 12BVSS in .243 and it is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned.
 
Just get a 223 and be done with it. Cheap ammo, accurate, easy on the shoulder, and accurate. No need for a big boomer for paper and varmint shooting.
Click to expand...

^ Ditto^ rodger that, have a 223 AI in the works right now, twisted for heavy pills, varmints will be in danger
 
You mentioned barrel life, so I would say .223 all the way. The .243 or 25-06 eat barrels. Cost of components also .223 all the way. Less powder, cheaper bullets and brass, good selection of varmint and target bullets.

--RobW
 
I think I would like a 6BR down the road, but for now, I am going to stick with the 223 or 243 for choices and selection.
 
Let's see....cheap to shoot, paper and varmints only and you say 300+ yards.

How much + to 300 yards. The 223 will begin losing it's steam at those ranges, otherwise it is the obvious choice.

That leaves you with the larger .22s or the 243. The .22s would be less expensive to shoot but the .243 is not too bad either.

Personally I would go with the .243.

Just my opinion.
 
I like and shoot a .243, but it fails your long barrel life test. While they may be good enough for hunting for longer, for reasonably serious paper punching it seems around 1500 rounds is it, it's a very overbore cartridge.

A savage in 6BR might be just the ticket though, 5000 round plus life for the barrel. Have a look at this site http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html .
 
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Browningguy, Just were is it you are getting your barrels that they are only getting 1500 rounds? With todays metals and barrel making technology, I would slap someone if that was all I got. I have a .220 swift that has at minimum 4500 rounds through it and it was made 20+ years ago and it STILL drives tacks. And a .220 swift is a barrel eating round WAY more than a .243
 
204; better ballistics than a 223, excellent bullet selection, easy to handload, cheaper to handload, is a laser shot out to 300 yds, little barrel burn, little recoil, super accurate40 grain bullets do a fast 4000 fps, from a good bbl.
next i would choose something quick in 6mm, to keep down cost, powder and reload cost, and keep up a great bullet selection.
Last but not least, the perfect varmint round out to 300yards, in my opinion, is the 17machIV, but thats just me. You know , you could do a 20 vartag, or 20 practical as well...
 
I went through all of this a couple of years ago. I chose the 22-250. It seemed that it came close to the 220 swift but was more popular and easier to get ammo for it.
 
For out to 300 yards

Any of your 3 choices should be fine.

I shoot and reload for 4 calibers in heavy barrel bolt rifles. A cooper in 204, a Sako L461 .222, Custom single shot Mauser in 22-250 and a Rem. varminter in .243.
Out to 300 yards they all pretty much shoot the same once zeroed in. I prefer the Sako 222, more because of the rifle than the caliber. I can shoot it better.
If I know I will be shooting yotes at over 300 yards I lean towards the 243. Yotes, or any other similiar critters, do not like 70 gr. Sierra HPBT match bullets at around 3600fps, and they really shoot well out of that rifle.
 
As I mentioned, for paper punching only, 1500 rounds is about what you should expect for peak accuracy. For hunting you can get more, but you probably won't be winning any matches with it. Mine is not even 1/2 way to 1500 but that is all I'm expecting.

Now keep in mind most of the guys at 6br are shooting smaller groups at 300 and 600 than most of us can at 100 and 200. 6br.com has guys like the captain of the US F-class team, and many world record holders in 600 and 1000 yard shooting events so they shoot in a way I am not familiar with. When a gun won't hold 1/4-1/2 MOA at 600 they know the barrel is shot out, at least for their shooting it is, it would probably still be the most accurate gun I would have.
 
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