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.