which varmint gun would be good for foxes, yotes, bobcats, and occasional cougar

[rock]

and wouldnt kill the pelts for tanning but would still take down a cougar

[MtnMuley]

You can't use a .17 or 204 for cougars, so that narrows down your choices.  I'd go with the 22-250.

[demontang]

I have a soft spot for the 22-250. The 223 and 243 would do it too, I have yet to shoot a yote with the 243 so I can't say damage wise but I know the 223 and 22-250 both can do some damage with less then ideal shot placement and light bullets.

[HuntingFanatic]

.22-250. I really like the way my savage shoots!

[carpsniperg2]

22-250, all 3 will kill a cougar just fine. also about the pelts. that has a lot to do with your bullet selection not the caliber between those 3 guns.

[madcow41]

I like the 22-250 in a rem 700

[FALFire]

I would lean towards the 250 also and the only reason is for the foxes. They are very small and thin skinned so the 250 with 40 grain V-Max or Sierra 40 grain Varminter bullets would do well. HOWEVER, I would look at going to a 8 or 9 twist in the 22-250 so you could use a heavier bullet for the cougar, something like in a 68 to 75 grain bullet would be my preferred choice for the big cats. Otherwise I would stick to the 243 for everything if you were not concerned about pelt condition.

[Big10gauge]

243 all the way, The bullet construction and placement matters more than the caliber for pelt damage.

[FALFire]

Big10 may be right, but it seems that everything I have shot with a 243 has resulted in some pretty nasty exit  wounds. But then, with a 55 grain in the 243, you may have some good violent bullet destruction and no exit wound, not sure since I have never used them.

The 22-250 with a 50 or 55 grain V-Max bullet seem to just blow up inside and leave a dead dog. In any case as I have stated, I would take the 22-250 or the 243 over the 223 but, I have been a fan of the 22-250 for nearly 40 years so maybe I'm a little biased 

[Antlerking]

I you plan on selling the hides the 204 ruger is hard to beat IMO. I have seen what 22-250 does on bobby's not pretty. I have shotten 5 cats and no damage to the hide, although it is not a legel caliber for cougars. 204 all the way

[Elkslayer]

I use the 22-250 for yotes, if im just out targeting bobcats I take the 22Hornet works good on yotes too, just got to have them a little closer then the 22-250!

[rock]

well i will be calling and have heard cougars come sometimes to cyotes and bobcats calls or is that not common at all?

[sivart33]

Bullet placement, bullet placement, bullet placement.  That is how you kill things, a 22-250 will work good for cougars but its all about placement, a 243 will give ypu more wiggle room that you may need, now a great 243 shot should also save pelts on other animals.  Get 2 different guns get a 243 first for cougars then a 22-250 or 17hmr for the smaller game

[Bofire]

  in my 243 I went to Federal softpoints 80 grain, no varmit bullets. I tend to get a fairly small exit hole on yotes, I started using Hornady 55 grain soft points in my 223 instead of Vmax, they work well also.
bullet selection! placement
Carl

[rock]

well if i am calling and i have shootin sticks i dont get how you can miss other than the wind or it is not sighted in

[Grizzly95]

I am a fan of the 22-250, but I sold mine to get my daughter a bow. I am going to do some loads for the 243 this year and try it.

[fishnate]

243 all the way, The bullet construction and placement matters more than the caliber for pelt damage.

 

[CAMPMEAT]

22 mag...............except for cougars. 22 centerfire for cats.

[HerbieDerby]

.220 Swift. Nothing more to say.

[uplandhunter870]

243 for the added range and a little more wiggle room.  with the right bullet and being critical on shot placement i doubt you will see much pelt damage. however i would stress shot placement, last season i hit a coyote with a factory loaded winchester silvertip at about 35yds right in the shoulder blade that song dog was dead to rights before its nose hit the ground, but if i didnt tell you i used a 243 you would think it was hit by a 300mag

[rock]

i hear savage is a good varmint brand how about this? http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Centerfire-Rifles/Bolt-Action%7C/pc/104792580/c/105522480/sc/105523380/Savage-Arms-Model-10-Predator-Hunter-Bolt-Action-Varmint-RifleScope-Combo/706385.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-centerfire-rifles-bolt-action%2F_%2FN-1102332%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105523380

[CAMPMEAT]

Cabelas is awfully proud of their prices......wholly molly !

[Big10gauge]

Big10 may be right, but it seems that everything I have shot with a 243 has resulted in some pretty nasty exit  wounds. But then, with a 55 grain in the 243, you may have some good violent bullet destruction and no exit wound, not sure since I have never used them.

The 22-250 with a 50 or 55 grain V-Max bullet seem to just blow up inside and leave a dead dog. In any case as I have stated, I would take the 22-250 or the 243 over the 223 but, I have been a fan of the 22-250 for nearly 40 years so maybe I'm a little biased 

I was just stirring the pot as usual    I've used a 22-250 for about the same time frame and it is still one of my favorite calibers, I just don't take it out much anymore since there's too many ARs that I somehow have accumulated now. We called in a couple of Bobcats a few weeks ago while calling for bears but didn't shoot since we were carrying a 270 and 243. Thought it might be better to come back later with a more suitable caliber. I do think the 243 is hard to beat for coyotes and larger predators. The 223 has and will continue to kill coyotes but isn't very high on my list just because of the type of coyote hunting we do here in central wa. By the way I missed a cougar with my bow in Sept, shot right over it's back after calling it in to 51 yards. Now if I just could have had my 243 with me I would have had an opinion on 243 and cougars 

[dontgetcrabs]

I voted 22-250 imho it's a good middle of the road cartridge for the ones you have listed. That being said I would not hesitate to shoot a big cat with my 223 ar,  or completely obliterate a coyote with my 25-06 so call me weird.   

[Grizzly95]

Big10 gauge-
What are you loading the .243 with? I am going to be using my daughter 243 this year and all I have loaded for it was the 105 gr hornady when she was deer hunting with it. I am not too concerned with the pelt, I would like to skin a few just to practice. That and I am trying to get my trappers license and would rather screw up a few dogs before I get a nice cat or badger.

[VarmintVentilator]

Love my 22-250 with 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, but every once in a while it will open a dog up.  Just depends on the shot placement.

[woodswalker]

22-250 if the cat is occasional...243 if you want it for more.

OR just use a 30-06 for EVERYTHING

[Big10gauge]

Big10 gauge-
What are you loading the .243 with? I am going to be using my daughter 243 this year and all I have loaded for it was the 105 gr hornady when she was deer hunting with it. I am not too concerned with the pelt, I would like to skin a few just to practice. That and I am trying to get my trappers license and would rather screw up a few dogs before I get a nice cat or badger.

Currently I'm using a 65gr Vmax and am very satisfied with results. Couldn't get the 60gr to fly as well. I'm shooting it out of a 27 in barrel.

[ser300wsm]

Well all 3 of them are more than adaquet for killing those critters. I must agree that bullet placement is the key to not doing to much damage to the pelt. I myself voted for the .223 because i have one of course and i love it. Just behind the ear is a pretty good choice for a shot..

[Wile E. Hunter]

My varmint guns are an AR in .223, a 40XBKS in .220 swift, and a 700 Sendero in .25-06. I looked long and hard at the .243 when I got my .25-06, but found that the .25-06 has more bullet selection, and better overall ballistics. It's my heavy varmint/light deer gun, and it has proven to be a very good choice. Just dropped a song dog yesterday with it at just under 500 with a Nosler ballistic tip 85. 117 Sierra BTSPs do quite a number on deer a good ways out, too!

"That's all I got to say about that...."

Wile E.

[HuntingFanatic]

i hear savage is a good varmint brand how about this? http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Centerfire-Rifles/Bolt-Action%7C/pc/104792580/c/105522480/sc/105523380/Savage-Arms-Model-10-Predator-Hunter-Bolt-Action-Varmint-RifleScope-Combo/706385.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-centerfire-rifles-bolt-action%2F_%2FN-1102332%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105523380

Thats the one I shoot! Love it!

[saylean]

I have a savage .223..LOVE IT!..

But that is really my only option for predators, as my .300wsm is a bit much...so take it for what its worth.

[thepredator]

go for the .243. If you use large game loads, they wont expand and much and it will be just like punching a hole. No huge exit wounds. Like stated before, the caliber doesnt matter nearly as much as the ammunition.

[seth30]

I have a savage .223..LOVE IT!..

But that is really my only option for predators, as my .300wsm is a bit much...so take it for what its worth.

  I have the stevens 223 and love it as well!!!!

[mebco09]

You can't go wrong with a .223/5.56 in the AR platform.  They are surprisingly cheap right now....  

Just use expanding bullets to be legal. Surplus stuff and most 5.56 is FMJ 

Looking cool is also a by-product.