The only one I would add to the above is the 250Ackley!
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

220 Swift
22-250
22 Hornet
219 Donaldson Wasp
222

It all started in 1903 when the U.S. decided to catch up with the rest of the World .Since 1906 the only thing spectacular that has happened was in 1925 when God created the .270 Winchester.

I couldn't agree more, especially on the 270 Winchester, although a man could add something in 6mm.

Jerry

1.22lr
2.223
3.22-250
4.220 swift
5.25/06

For actual impact on the game:

22 Hornet
220 Swift
22-250 Remington
222 Remington
223 Remington

For technical innovation:

17 HMR
17 Remington
204 Ruger
221 Fireball
25-222 Copperhead

There is a lot to be considered here! Historical, personal, actual performance.........this list could get long or it could be pretty darn short.
1)Historical............pretty much every one of us had a 22LR to start out with.
220 Swift was supposedly the ultimate until Mr Gebbe decided to neck the 250 Savage down to 22 caliber and then the 22-250 was born! Then came the 6's..........244 Remington and the .243 Winchester............The Remington version was superior to the Winchester version as originally developed. One year later the .244 became the 6mm Remington............same result..........still superior to the .243 Win!(And before you all J.I.M.S...........my first really good varmint rifle was a 700ADL in .243 Winchester with a Weaver V9 on it!! That one killed countless crows, groundhogs, feathered foes and a lot of paper!!........36 grains of IMR 3031 and 75 grain Speer HP is still a good load!! 47 grains of IMR 4350 and the same bullet will really light up a chronograph!!))
Present Day
1)17HMR!! Most amazing thing having to do with powder and projectiles I've ever seen! The "Johnny come lately" 22WMR loadings from Hornady, CCI and Remington are making the 22WMR a bit more appealing but it took the advent of the 17HMR to bring the 22WMR to full life!!!
2)222 Remington(should have put this in the historical section I guess but didn't)ACCURACY!! Darling of the 100-200 yard benchrest guys at it's advent!! A sorry shooting 222 is an anomaly!! Doesn't happen unless a teetotal idiot is running the lathe and chmbering the barrel!
3) Spawned the next batch.........222MAG and .223.............The 222MAG is a classic in itself but when you take the case "up or down)((6x47 or .204 Ruger)) you have accuracy and varmint killing power at great distance! If Palmer and Palmisano hadn't come up with the little ditty known as the "6PPC" in the 70's, all the IBS records would be from the 6x47!!
.204...............What can be added to the accolades? Faster and flatter with less wind drift than a 55VMAX from a Swift or 250 at 500 yards! No recoil!! Spot your hits and misses!!Timely dispatch of varmints up to groundhog size in an efficient manner. Shooting the 39 grain SIERRAS I am sure some of the great gunsmiths in the country could make it a 100-200 BR choice of champions!
Now to the heavys of varminting! The 6's and OD'S CHOSEN CHAMBERING.............25-06! We've talked about the 6mmRem and .243 Winchester.............they are both GREAT! And then comes GOD'S CHOSEN CHAMBERING! Recoil isn't terrible, noise is kinda bad, but it's a varmints worst nightmare! Blows them to hell and spreads them over realestate!! Hope you all are smiling at this diatribe! GHD

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
220 Swift
22-250
22 Hornet
219 Donaldson Wasp
222

It all started in 1903 when the U.S. decided to catch up with the rest of the World .Since 1906 the only thing spectacular that has happened was in 1925 when God created the .270 Winchester.

I couldn't agree more, especially on the 270 Winchester, although a man could add something in 6mm.

Jerry

I like that fivesome...

22 hornet
222 rem
223 rem
22-250
220 swift
above all the others the 220 swift reigns

50BMG

If a dead varmint is a dead varmint, then I would rather see something spectacular when I pull the trigger!!

But, then again, all the lists above include the best.

quote:

top 5 varminting cartridges of all time

since this is a 4-yr old thread, I looked back to see what I said then.....and yup...I changed my mind as the thread is of all time and because of that the .25-20 has to be included.

Then one has to be dropped so I'll choose to drop the .222!.....ouch!

22 LR
204
223
22-250
6mm Rem

1-222Rem
2-223 Rem
3-22-250 Savage
4-220 Swift
5-243 Win

My very first 22 center fire was a dandy also, the 225 win. I've owned all the above except the Swift, not sure why not.

I think just about every combination has been given. I don't know how I'd do it differently, but there needs to be a .243 in the list.

.220 Swift
.222
.223
.22-250
.243

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

top 5 varminting cartridges of all time

since this is a 4-yr old thread, I looked back to see what I said then.....and yup...I changed my mind as the thread is of all time and because of that the .25-20 has to be included.

Then one has to be dropped so I'll choose to drop the .222!.....ouch!

Vapo- Say it isn't so! Drop the deuce? One of the all time best.

swheeler, the 250-3000 was a savage cartridge
as was the 300Savage it was derived from.
The 22-250 is officially known as
the 22-250Remington.


Any list that DOES NOT include:

1)223Rem
2)22-250rem
3)243Win/6mmRem

Is worthless.

what two other cartridges?

Well the 222rem never caught on for varmint shooters the way the 223Rem did, even though the 223Rem came later.
for a long time the 222 was the darling of the benchrest set, until eclipsed by the 22PPC....

IMO the 220Swift was the "Brittey Spears" of the 22cal world, but for all the people who looked at one, handled it fantisized about it... very few actually took one home.
It's the one you buy a drink, but you don't take it home to meet mom, because mostly people realized that no matter how big you make a 22 it'll never be a 6mm.

Talking about the 220Swift is like talking about Corvettes. Nice. Draws you into the showroom, bu most people actually drove home
in a 6cyl Chevelle


The 17HMR? wait ten years before you include it on any such list, it's "too new".
Hey if the internet had been around in the 1970's someone would with annoyingly similar poor judgement would have included the 5mmRem on a list just like this one.

the 204Ruger? same story.

I don't see any other commercialized 20cal's...

AD

.22LR
.223
.22-250
.17HMR
.204 Ruger

First three are classics and just hard to beat for popularity, the last two are modern and do what they do very well.

.22LR
.22 Hornet
.223
.22-250
.243 win

22 lr 22 hornet 222 223 22-250

Ok - I'll play. Also, fun to see the old answers!

• 17 HMR
  
• 17 Rem
  
• 223 Rem
  
• 22 CHeetah
  
• 6 mm Rem
  

PS: I also remember reading an artical some time ago about one no one has mentioned yet.


Title was "The Ultimate Varmit Gun" = Shot a 1 ton high fragmenting round and was accurate to 50 yd groups at over 35,000 yds

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

top 5 varminting cartridges of all time

since this is a 4-yr old thread, I looked back to see what I said then.....and yup...I changed my mind as the thread is of all time and because of that the .25-20 has to be included.

Then one has to be dropped so I'll choose to drop the .222!.....ouch!

Vapo- Say it isn't so! Drop the deuce? One of the all time best.

If one was to count the number of shots taken at varmints he just might put the .22 Long Rifle at the head of the pack....then which cartridge does he throw out?

I guess I would go:

22lr
218 bee
222
223
22-250

just my opinion

ddj

My pick would be:

.17 Remington
.22 Winchester Magnum
.22 Hornet
.222 Remington
.220 Swift
.22-250 Remington
.243 Winchester

GHD, Im with you on the 25/06.My 257stw with a 75gr vmax at nearly 4100 is a hoot on hogs.Im saving farmers a bundle on fertilizer in my corner of S W VA.

22BR, everything else a toss up for second......
Cdog.

22 LR
.223
22-250
.243
220 Swift

Although used for dispatching varments I consider the .22 Long Rifle more of a utilitarian rifle. My personal experience is limited to:
.22L.R -utility rifle/ varment gun
and the following:

.22 W.M.R.
.223 Rem.
.22-250 Rem.
.243 Win.
.25-06 Rem.

The calibers I would put at the top out of performance or popularity:
.22 Hornet
.223 Rem.
.220 Win. Swift
.22-250 Rem.
.244/ 6mm Rem.

Didn't mention my .17 Remington because I just got a few days ago and have not fires it yet. Looking at the ballistics of it, maybe it belongs in the "top five". Rodney.

I like the coyote of the bunch, the .22-250. It survives all challeges over the years, and is as popular as ever. Like coyotes, you just can't get rid of it with any latest/greatest round that comes along. The.223, I think, gets a ton of it's popularity from the cost of ammo, and cheap as hell to reload. Shoot, I like everything anyway.

LOL .. how to revive a ailing thread!!!

My fav still include

22LR - Because when silenced .. with subsonic rounds ... u can drop a bunny .. next to his mates .. and they dont even run!and u can shoot all day .. for next to nothing .. with No over heating ur equipment.
22-250 .. coz it spectacular ! and has near lazer beam trajectory.
.243 .. ability to drive slightly heavier projectiles ..

Another Legally Hobbled Brit here, .22LR still haven't retired this yet, .17HMR is now taken out much more than the former, .223 for Fox & smaller deer (Roe/Muntjac/Cwd), Also get to be "ALLOWED" to take fox with .270W/7mm WSM "Whilst stalking" Steve.

The female side of my brain is telling me to change my earlier post.
Remove the 220 Swift, and in its place add the 223 Rem...
(There may be more....LMAO)

Don

This thread is getting old enough to start shaving.

Five best?

Have to eliminate a lot of good ones but I would go with:

1. .220 Swift (If I were allowed only one varmint cartridge, it would be the Swift - have always had at least one since 1964).
2. .222 Remington
3. .257 Roberts (with 75 grain Sierras)
4. .222 Remington Magnum
5. .218 Bee, especially in my Ruger #1B.
6. .225 Winchester

Say, that is six, isn't it? Oh well. I always was arithmetically-challenged.

22 LR Scoped Handgun
223 Rem 1 in 12 twist
22-250 AI 1 in 8 twist
6mm BR 1 in 14 twist
6mm-250 AI 1 in 14 twist
But never live home without this others.
223 Rem 1 in 9
223 Rem AI 1 in 9 twist
25/6.5X47 LAPUA 1 in 10
6mm AI with 1 in 10 twist
6mm AI with 1 in 8 twist

Hey Villareal! Welcome to AR, guy. Glad to see ya here.

Show 'em a picture of your 6mm AI. They'll all be drooling.

quote:

PS: I also remember reading an artical some time ago about one no one has mentioned yet.


Title was "The Ultimate Varmit Gun" = Shot a 1 ton high fragmenting round and was accurate to 50 yd groups at over 35,000 yds

Yep, Sub MOA groups too... but 406mm bore brushes aren't cheap.

Not to mention the 55gallon drum of Hoppes #9 to dunk it in...

Also the component manufacturer stopped making the 15.4million grain projectiles in 1946.

AD

22LR
17 Rem
222
223
22-250
220 Swift
243
25-06

18 months & 75 replies into this thread.....

Except for the exotics that pop up occaisionally - the list mcuh appears to be similar.

22lr
.22 Hornet
.222 Remington
.223 Remington
22-250 Remington
.243 Winchester

Euroeans cannot really comment on varminting.

However, you all may find that interesting from a German perspective:

222 Remington: a BIG hype in the 70's for roe dee (now only for good shooters)

22 Hornet: occassionally used for everything, even a local council got a sign off for small pigs (lots of roedeer seems to be shot with it)

22 Savage aka 5,6x52 Savage: still common but even the users consider it amazing...

J-Frank,

'cept that I'm American and own five dedicated Varmint rifles (not counting the 22lr but the remainder in the chamberings as listed) for trips to the States to participate in said activity.

The .222 Remington is my Keppler DJV Match Rifle - works just as good for DJV targets as Prarie Dogs!

Waidmannsheil,

Well I think I win!

quote:

Originally posted by jaegerfrank:
Euroeans cannot really comment on varminting.

However, you all may find that interesting from a German perspective:

222 Remington: a BIG hype in the 70's for roe dee (now only for good shooters)

22 Hornet: occassionally used for everything, even a local council got a sign off for small pigs (lots of roedeer seems to be shot with it)

22 Savage aka 5,6x52 Savage: still common but even the users consider it amazing...

Interesting about the .22 Savage
If it was ever really popular in the US it must have been way before WWII because it has been virtually unseen since.