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Varmint caliber?

utbrowningman
Don't have a varmint rifle yet but should since I live in Utah and coyotes and pot guts are plentiful. Just got a flyer in the mail from Cabela's and they have the Savage Edge/Axis .223, .22-250, .243, .25-06 on sale for $249. What caliber would/do you use for varimints? I would reload since I just picked up a reloader, too.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • idahoducker
    I like the various .22s for most varmints/predators and mostly use a 22-250.
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  • Justjump
    Personnelly I'd go with the 22-250 or the 243. But then I dont know what a "Pot Gut" is.
    I have found the 25-06 a bit finnicky to reload, I'm sure its just me, but that one caliber just gives me grief.
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  • utbrowningman
    quote:Originally posted by Justjump
    Personnelly I'd go with the 22-250 or the 243. But then I dont know what a "Pot Gut" is.
    I have found the 25-06 a bit finnicky to reload, I'm sure its just me, but that one caliber just gives me grief.



    AKA - rockchuck, ground squirrel, sage rat.
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  • ern98
    .223 is difficult to beat from the availability of quality ammo and surplus. I don't know anything about your skills at longer range shooting, but I try to limit my .223 to 300yds at most. If you think that you will be wanting to push out to farther then that then the larger cartridges will be the thing for you. If I want to reach out I then go for my 6mmRem and then to my 25-06. But they cost a lot more to shoot even if you do reload. Personally I have never had any problem with loading for my 25-06. Good luck with whichever you pick.
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  • templin9
    I would go for the 22-250. It can reach out to the distances you need and it won't splatter the animal all over the place.
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  • Richie Rich
    I have a savage in 22-250 and a M77 VT in 25-06
    the 250 is by far my favorite.5371826816_db64ef4669_m.jpg
    5371827178_23d3b7a1c3.jpg
    2506 on top
    Rich
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  • Justjump
    quote:Originally posted by utbrowningman
    quote:Originally posted by Justjump
    Personnelly I'd go with the 22-250 or the 243. But then I dont know what a "Pot Gut" is.
    I have found the 25-06 a bit finnicky to reload, I'm sure its just me, but that one caliber just gives me grief.



    AKA - rockchuck, ground squirrel, sage rat.

    OK I'm a tiny bit smarter now. I might ammend to the .223 then. Coyote days are spent with a M77 varminter in 243 Loading 80g ballistic tips. Crows and Groundhogs and the very rare prairie dog hunt are 223 usually 50g SX. I dont think you could go wrong with any of them
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  • pdog72
    I've always had great luck with the 22-250. Great velocity and accuracy. Good starting load is 38 gr of H380 behind a Hornady V-max 50 gr bullet. Try that with prairiedogs and just watch for the pink mist.
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  • dfletcher
    For some reason the 243 is one of my least favorite cartridges - love the 25.06, have the Ruger VT, Savage 112 and an Encore pistol but they did take a bit of work to get going well. The 243 seems to be easier to deal with and is good for everything thin skinned. Quite a selection of bullets too.
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  • Mk 19
    .223 if you want something that will do what ever you ask of it, it is easy to load for and also easy on barrels:
    http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

    22-250 if you want to increase your effective range over the .223, pickier on reloading and harder on barrels than the .223

    .243 of you want a duel purpose gun that will kill everything from Groundhogs to elk and shoot anything from a 55gr V-max at 4000fps to a 105SMK at 2900fps, one of my favorite cartridges to load for and to shoot:
    http://www.6mmbr.com/243win.html
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