Help on varmint caliber

[jims]

If one were to get a varmint rifle solely for accuracy under 200 yards what would you recommend, .204, 222 Rem, .223 or 22-250? I would not shoot alot so the price of ammo is not a concern and I would load my own in any event. I purely want the best accuracy. Thanks. I hope this does not create too much debate, I know everybody has their favorites.

[clintsfolly]

the fist good rifle you find at a good price will do it. i happen to find a 220 swift ruger no1 luv to shoot that gun clint

[wilmsmeyer]

If your shots will be under 200 yds, you can't go wrong with any on your choices, IMO. At that range, loads can be had anywhere from 3,500 - 4,000 fps, which will be a laser beam at <200 yds!!

If you feel that your ranges may increase from time to time, then I would refine my choices. If you are noise conscious, or if you're shooting around suburbs, you could even step down to a .22 hornet or .218 bee. Since you will handload, you'll find some very flat, efficient loads for them that will be 200 yd adequate.

Also a quality optic with a fine crosshair makes precise aiming a little easier.

JMO.

[bubba]

well, I have had all those calibers, I found the 222 the most accurate, although it is certainly not the most popular!

might check out that 17hmr as well, depending on what size varmints you are after - mine was really accurate!

cz452.....

-bubba

[Swede]

I just recently purchased a new 222 Rem for my 200 yard varmint gun. I was leaning towards the 222 because I already had all the components for reloading. I was using 6.5x55 & 25-06 with 85 and 87gr hollow points, respectively, for my varmint shooting but I wanted a rifle that would not burn as much powder and not have the report (noise) of these two calibers. Approximately 60% of my shots are with in 300 yards for which a 222 would be adequate. I plan on using the larger calibers for varmints out to 600 yards.

I agree that a quality scope with fine reticle would aid greatly in your shot placement. I utilized a Leupold 6.5-20x40, I had setting on the shelf, with the new 222.

Any of the calibers you mentioned certainly meet your requirements.

[RAF]

If you're shooting at 200 or under they are all good choices. If you might shoot at longer ranges my opinion is that the 22-250 would be the best choice. I have a friend that has a 17 Rem but IMO that's a little light if you're quarry is yotes. I personally have a 22-250 and load a 40 grain bullet and it's just over 4000 fps. At first I thought the bullet was a little light for yotes, but those I've shot were flattened on impact.

[billc]

Any of the calibers you sugest would be great and I agree with Clint -- find the rifle you like and the see what caliber it is. I finally ended up with a Ruger KM77VT in 223. I went with the 223 because I wanted to shoot a lot and most of the time I can buy loaded ammo cheaper than reloading. It means a 50 cent piece group at 200 yd instead of a dime sized group. I'm OK with that for trigger time and save the "good stuff" for when long distance is the next best thing.

[cityboy]

You would not go wrong on any of these calibers. If 200 yard + is your range, a 223 would be a caliber to consider. It does not bark a lot, shoots very good groups, and ammo/components are reasonably priced. Just purchase a good rifle, have some gun smithing work done ( bedding, trigger, etc.), and add a good scope (I use a Burris 3-12). Have fun!

[RAF]

BillC. I have to disagree that factory rounds are cheaper. I make my 22-250 rounds for about 28 cents a round. Granted that's Canadian so add 20%. This is, of course, for bullets, powder and primers. For the 22-250 I'm using 41 grains of powder which is a lot more than would be loaded into a 223. I didn't take into account the cost of brass, which I have tons of and most cost me nothing. I didn't include the value of my reloading equipment either. I consider that the cost of having a hobby .

[billc]

RAF, for any caliber except 223 I agree reloading is cheaper. If you watch the specials and buy 1000+ round lots you can routinely pick up 223s for less than 20 cents per round and sometimes as low as 15 cents. I also use the same accounting practices that time and equipment doesn't enter into the cost equation.

Reloading is a great hobby and I'm a fanatic when it comes to my big game rifle reloads. I have only used factory ammo on one hunting trip since 1976 (the year I learned to reload). While I do reload the 223 and I'm working on that "perfect load, Mark 1" for my Ruger plinking with a 223 is just so much fun I go for quantity sometimes ;D instead of quality.

I guess I'd have to sumarize and say the 223 is an inexpensive centerfire to shoot no matter how you get your bullets.

Bill

[predator11]

Get yourself a Savage in .223 you won't be disappointed.

[RAF]

BillC, I'm glad you clarified that. What you say then makes sense.

[cjp45]

jims,
I just bought a Savage .223Rem. varmint series 12FVSS. Put 60 rds through it an is shooting great.

[jims]

Thanks for the input everyone.

[brianm]

Does it have to be a factory round ? If not , my choice would be a 22 BR ! If you need a factory round , I would probably choose a .204 or a .223 . I have both in factory Savage rifles and they are very accurate .
You wouldn't regret a 22 BR though !

[jims]

Thanks for the information.

[ozark]

I agree the calibers you mentioned are all worth consideration. I have had most of them and all can be extremely accurate. But, without the 17hmr you will be missing the greatest short range (Up to 150 yards) fun rifle ever. I have stated and I still believe it is the greatest small varmint rifle offered in the last 100 years.

[DannoBoone]

jims said:

If one were to get a varmint rifle solely for accuracy under 200 yards what would you recommend, .204, 222 Rem, .223 or 22-250? I would not shoot alot so the price of ammo is not a concern and I would load my own in any event. I purely want the best accuracy. Thanks. I hope this does not create too much debate, I know everybody has their favorites.

Well, I've never shot the .222 Rem, so cannot give an objective
answer there. As to the rest of the calibers, would have to give a
nod to the .204. I have a Tac 20, which is a ballistic twin to the
Ruger .204, and believe it to be superior to any of those you have
listed. Either the Ruger .204 or the Tac .20 will collect varmints out
to 400yds with very little problem, discounting very windy
conditions (heck, I bagged a crow @ 165yds with a Marlin .17hmr,
17gr Hornady VMax, leading 6" into the wind). C'mon, one just
needs to know the limitations of the rifle and how to compensate!

Otherwise, .223 factory ammo is the cheapest to get, cheapest to
check range drop, etc., etc.

If you load/reload, there are better choices than the .223. If you
don't, get the best .223 bullet/load for your rifle twist.

[briar]

i have all of them except the .204 and they all work.

[deadeye]

all info posted is good,if i had one(all around) caliber to chose from #1-22.250, i have shot 3" @ 650yds in perfect conditions & also taken this to 1,000 yds on paper plate w/55gn noslers. #2 -220swift-dont be afraid of this supposedly "throat-burner'',loaded w/55gn bullet its approx 100-150fps faster than 22.250 & deadly accurate as well. a few years ago out west(colorado) i had a "yote" bound out to 648 yds, look back & thought he was in the safe zone,he is not with us today! ;D

[thelefthand]

I agree with all the others. Any of them will work. My preference is .223 because that's what my current AR barrels are chambered for (some day I would like to have a match upper chamberd in 6BR). The argument on cost is all relative to what kind of bullet you want to shoot. Powder and primer cost about $0.11 per round max. Everything above that is the cost of the bullet. Pick up 1000 cheap 55gr spitzers, and you can still load them cheaper than you can buy them. Neither of my AR barrels have ever seen a factory round. Hopefully, if they ever do, they'll know what to do with it. Spit it out and leave that nasty thing alone!!!

Seriously though, to me the .223 is a very versitle round. You can load it cheap. You can load it hot. You can load it so that it smokes'm close, or you can load it so that it shoots consistantly at 600 yards and beyond. Both of my AR uppers will shoot well under 1/2 MOA when you feed the rounds one at a time whether I am shooting 40gr V-Max loads at 3800fps, or pumping a 75gr VLD out at 2900fps. They will shoot 1/2~3/4 moa when I'm stripping them out of a mag. I've noticed that the magazines in my bolt guns are a LOT more gentile on the ammo than my AR mags are, but it's worth it to me to have quicker follow up shots. Besides, I can't shoot service rifle with a bolt gun. Match rifle yes, but service rifle no.

Anyway, if I were to pick just one, I'd pick the .223 because everything you need, from components to load data to ballistic tables, is so readily available.

Just my two bits,
Mark

[richard]

I realize this response is a little outdated and you probably have made your purchase, but I would have to add an additional cartridge. Over the past year, Remington has come out with a .17-.221 Fireball. I have a reamer with which I built the original wildcat version known as the .17 Mach IV. This is a great little round which is a pleasure to shoot and is devistating out to 300 yards. It creates no BIG blood & guts & viscera type hits, just devistates the internals. Noise is minimal.
Richard

[ozark]

OK, you can all laugh at my choice. It is the .243. Many can equal it in a lot of areas but to beat it in all areas would be difficult IMO. Ozark

[redm1a]

I don't think you can beat the 222 for accuracy but the 223 is close and brass is easyer to come buy if you shoot alot

[RAF]

Jul 6, 2008 20:46:40 GMT -5 ozark said:

OK, you can all laugh at my choice. It is the .243. Many can equal it in a lot of areas but to beat it in all areas would be difficult IMO. Ozark

I'd go along with that caliber. I considered it but never got around to it. It can be loaded with 55 grain bullets and you can get 4000 FPS and as alway the 243 shoots great.

[petev]

In 1976 I bagged a woodchuck at 500 yards with a .243, and since then it has always seemed a little mystical to me.

[killahog]

Of the calibers you listed the one I would choose solely for accuracy is the 222. My second choice would be a 22BR.

[dka]

I personally like the 22-250 best, but all are adequate for what you want.

[runningdog]

I will vote for the 223 but have not shot some of those calibers. I do have a custom 22 BR. I like the 223 because you can shoot so many rounds without the barrel heating. When shooting Prairie dogs-its nice to shoot 50 to 60 rounds before cleaning or cooling. When shooting the 22BR I have to let the barrel cool after 15 or so rounds. One other thing-I seem to get more barrel life out of a 223. I get 3850 out of both of these rifles-223 with 40 gr V-Max and the 22 BR with 50 gr V-Max.