if you could have only one varmit caliber

[outdooraddict]

I dont want to hear what brand, stainless or blued, synthetic or wood. Just the caliber. If you could have only one varmit cartrige what would you choose. coyotes, rock chucks, kids learning to shoot, medium range 300 yrds max,  what would it be and why.  im in the market for one and cant decide.

[Henrydog]

.223 Cheap, available, fair number of loading, no recoil.

[jackmaster]

223 for sure, pretty much can always get rounds 

[DOUBLELUNG]

My caliber would be .22, chambered in .220 Swift.  Mainly just because it is a classic round I grew up reading about and lusting to own.  Still on my bucket list.

[Eric M]

I like the 22-250. Without looking it up, I think the drop is about 7 inches at 300 yards. Low recoil. Lots of load data available. Another thing I noticed was a few years ago when it was hard to get 223 the 22-250 was still readily available on the shelf. I also like the 204.

[MooseZ25]

.243

[CAMPMEAT]

223.

I have a blue barreled action in 22-250 for sale. $400 plus shipping, insurance and FFL by buyer.

[wolftrapper]

.222 Remington for me....but  would advise you to go with the .223.

[Jonathan_S]

Can't believe I'm saying it but .223 is probably what I'd recommend.

The .22-250 shines at all distance but not enough within 300 to out weigh how awesome it is to own, load for, and shoot a .223

[Karl Blanchard]

Obvious answer is .223 for all practical reasons but man it's boring therefore I say .243 with a 58gr vmax pushed to within sniffing distance of 4k fps.  It explodes everything it hits! So much awesome

[WapitiTalk1]

therefore I say .243 with a 58gr vmax pushed to within sniffing distance of 4k fps.  It explodes everything it hits! So much awesome

   Nice. 

[AWS]

I have to go with Wolftrapper.  I have three 222 Re., not a single 223 left any new 223's get rechambered to 22-204 everything a 223 AI but no fire-forming, a little more capacity, and feeds better.   I have a 22-250 but it stays in the safe.

Sako 222



Model 70 222



I do like to save pelts

[Fatherof4]

.204 Ruger is a Screamer and drops coyotes in their tracks!!

[jasnt]

243.  With 26” barrel and re15 I had a 62gr Berger column at 4010 FPS.   Red mist!

[Cougartail]

The real decision is weather you are "hide" hunting or not. Hide hunting and the 223 is tops. If not, the 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor would be good ones for runaways are few.

[RadSav]

.243

[timberfaller]

With all the calibers available and I could ONLY have one,  it would be the 220 Swift.

That being said, all my years of "pest" control,  the 257 Roberts put them down the hardest!!   Never shot for saving their pelts.

[Holg3107]

If you are pelt hunting - .222 Rem

If you are looking for budget friendly - .223/5.56

If you are looking for a utility gun that can be used for mid sized game as well - 6mm Rem or .243

If you want something weird - Ask Yorketransport

[jay.sharkbait]

.225 Winchester

[porcupine]

For varmints, .22 Mag.  Bigger critters, .22-250

[konradcountry]

With 22 mag you give up some range but it is better for training kids and shooting smaller varmints.

223 is fun to shoot but will kick more and is a lot louder which can intimidate early shooters. Keep in mind that an AR softens the kick quite a bit compared to a bolt action.

I would suggest starting them on a 22 mag and then later get a 223.

If I had to pick one I would probably go with a 22 mag. It's enough for 100 yard coyote and west side woods don't allow for long shots anyways. So where you hunt is also factor.

[X-Force]

6.5 creedmoor 


Actually a 223/5.56 ammo ammo ammo

[BKMFR]

.17 Remington, love no recoil, watching bullet hit, and no sewing up coyotes!

[Okanagan]

The kid learning factor tilts the answer to .223.

Otherwise, 6mm Rem. if you reload, but only in a long action. In short actions we can't seat the bullet out far enough to take advantage of the extra powder capacity over a .243.

If you don't reload and/or want a short action rifle, my one cartridge choice for varmints would be .243. 

[tallcooljuan]

With all that criteria, .223 hands down.  What did you end up with?

[yorketransport]

If you are pelt hunting - .222 Rem

If you are looking for budget friendly - .223/5.56

If you are looking for a utility gun that can be used for mid sized game as well - 6mm Rem or .243

If you want something weird - Ask Yorketransport

Either a 6.5 Badger (or slum it with a 26 Nosler ) loaded with 100gr ballistic tips at about 3700 fps or a 6br pistol. How’s that for weird?

I really like the 204 Ruger in a light weight rifle. It’s probably a little light for a big coyote at 300 yards but I’m sure it would work. I used one as my general purpose woods gun until I got a bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel, which wouldn’t be a bad option either.

[kim204]

.204 Ruger is a Screamer and drops coyotes in their tracks!!

I will 2nd that Have drop them in they tracks as far as 478yds .

[b23]

I have a wee bit of a varmint gun addiction, so just reading the words "if you could have only one varmint caliber" gave me cold sweats and sent me running for my OCD medication. 

But, then I re-read the title to this thread and realized the OP was asking about caliber, not cartridge, and in that case I'd have to say .22 cal but I really really like the .17's, 20's, and 24 calibers too. 

[Huntboy]

.243

[Skillet]

22-250

[Scheindogg]

.50 BMG

[KFhunter]

Im seriously thinking 223 wylde or 224valk, if not for 22 cal rule on cougar id look at the 17s harder, 17rem seems fun

sent from the telephone

[theleo]

22-250 gets my vote as I've exploded a fair share of critters with mine, but there's a definite chance a 20 tactical might make it's way into the gun safe one of these days.