HEY GUYS
everyone who posted in my other post on which .243 to choose was a huge help im now looking at some suggestions for a varmint caliber to shoot everything from coyote to
rabbit sized game i figured the .243 was a good choice and could double as a deer rifle with the right load but now im hearing great things on the 25-06 and 22-250 i need something to get out nice and flat to 250-300 yds is the .243 a good choice?? or should i do something 25 caliber
my only snag is is that my ammo selection for anything other than the standard calibers is very limited so i need
to choose something i can buy over the counter at most places thanks for any help guys
divr6347

dvr6347,

It depends....

Like most decisions regarding rifles, the answer depends on LOTS of variables. After spending too much time answering questions such as yours for myself and reading publications like Varmint Hunter magazine (a journal actually) by the VHA, here is a list of questions to get you started...

Do you already own a .243? Which twist? the lighter 55-60gr .243 loads would work but are suseptable to wind and barrel twist

How many shots will you fire at varmint targets? -barrel contour, recoil, barrel life, and barrel heating are an issue depending on the caliber, rate of fire, and muzzle velocity

Do you hunt while walking on your own hindlegs or will you haul your gear (heavy rifle) and shoot from a portable table or stand??

Do you like to see the bullet impact through the scope? if so then getting a light recoiling cartridge in a middle weight rifle would be useful (i.e. .222 or .223)

Or do you like to see the divot uprooted by a missed shot? That upturned sod lets you correct windage and elevation for the second shot. Higher velocity and more bullet weight allow this more easily.

Serious varminters have rifles for specialized applications. Try to define your objectives and develop a solution from there. You may already have one varmit rifle already.

For instance,
I use a Rem M788 in 7mm08 with Burris 3x9 with 120HP for calling coyotes, a Rem M700ADL in .223 with Simmons 4.5x14 and 55gr Vmax for groundhogs-crows-coyotes, and a Ruger 10/22t with Weaver 2x10 for all the really small stuff - rats,starlings,squirrel etc.

Regards,

If you're restricted to factory ammo I'd suggest you stick with the .243 due to ammo availability. And I don't even like the .243! Reality is however that the .257 Roberts is a handloaders delight but rather pedestrian over the counter. The 25-06 is a great one, but it's a bit much for the bottom end of your needs, plus there isn't much out there in the way of really good high BC bullets for the 1/4 bore. AND, if you ever get some place where you can do a lot of sustained fire they get hotter quicker because they burn more powder, and maybe more importantly, generate more recoil. The .25's get a bit annoying after a box or two of ammo.

The .22-250 is a dream but to use it on deer you realistically need as least a 60 gr Partition and that is about as much as you can do before you start having stability problems with production barrels and need a quicker twist. I don't even know if that bullet is available in factory ammo but I'd guess it is.

To end the ramble, I think your choice is good, stick with it. Or buy more than one gun.

If you're looking for an all around caliber that can also be used for deer I'd suggest a .243Win. or 6mm Rem. They both pack a decent punch, are readily available, and very moderate in recoil. If you're looking for a rifle to use on varmint only it's hard to beat a heavy barrel .22-250Rem.
It'll reach out about as far as the above mentioned .243's and has no recoil to speak of. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

hey guys
thanks for the replies so far
i have a .270 for deer hunting so im good in that area
what im basically looking for is a 300 rd coyote gun that will shoot rabbit /squerril size game also .243 may be a little much on the squerrils but maybe not at 250 yds ive never owned a varmint cartridge gun before so im looking for opinions this will be a walk around gun not a field bench gun however i will probably mount a bipod on it for kneeling shots if the 22-250 would be accurate out to say 275yds i could probably live with it coyote is probably the biggest i will shoot with whatever i end up with
thanks guys
divr6347

I use a Howa 1500 sporter in .223 Rem as my walking varmint rifle. My son has the same rifle in .243 Win. Both are very accurate. They are available in .22-250 and it would probably fit your need for a for a walking varmint and coyote rifle. You also might want to look at the Savage 16FSS in .22-250.

After reading this entire thread, my recommendation would definitely be to go for the 22-250. I regularly shoot mine in the 4-500 yd range, and shot sub-half MOA at 650 yds this weekend. Okay, the only groups that went that small were fired on a dead calm morning. My point is that the '250 is an effective round at fairly long ranges, and at the ranges you have mentioned its' killer. Not too much wind drift at 300, and mild recoil.

divr6347,



If your still discussing a compromise cartridge in this thread then you have to finally pick one. There is lots of overlap in rifle cartridges. In general the 243 Win is the best choice for you considering the double purpose and factory load requirements.



The 243 Win is a very powerful varmint cartridge. It's range can be far beyond the 300 yds you mentioned. There are downsides to every cartridge for every purpose but as far as varmints go there is no sense getting you to worry over stuff as far as 243 is concerned.



On deer with the 243 it's not optimum as it's just a matter of the game being big for the small bullet.



As I said before you have to pick something and the 243 is the best choice for you. Don't overthink it.

I might as well throw my hat in the ring....

I had a .243 in a 788 Rem many years ago, and thought very highly of the inherent accuracy and versatility. In Factory ammo, you have plenty of choices.

Still, I have a 25-06 that is truly my favorite rifle for long range varmints, while still being totally capable of long range work on deer size game too. Very flat shooting, accurate, and amazingly deadly. Factory ammo is not as diverse as many other cartridges, but what do you really need?....A 100 gr. bullet from a 25-06 will do groundhogs or deer out to 400 yds.

I have yet to find a rifle that has so much recoil that I don't want to shoot anymore!!! I just love shooting!!!

And I do love the 25-06 for an all around cartridge.

I guess I need to jump in here!! "If I could only have one rifle(GOD forbid!!) for varmints to whatever I may want to shoot(I live in VA so the last grizzlies and elk and buffalo left a few monts back!!!!) it would be a 25-06!!! Varmints to deer, the stuff!!!! Loaded with 85 grain Nosler BT's or 87 grain Hornady VMaxs, a varmint's nightmare!!! Loaded with 115 NoslerBT's, 117 grain Sierra SPBT(one bad bullet for deer sized game!!!!!!) 120 Hornady HP's, a long range killing machine!!! As far as recoil....No you probably won't see the bullet impact quite as readilyy as the other mentioned choices.(With a Sendero shooting the 85 Noslers, recoil still allows veiwing of 200 yard plus varmint shots from a rest) However the results of the bullet impact are readily distinguishable!! I have a fondness for the 243, 6mm and think they are great crtridges! However the 25-06 is a "one choice fits all" chambering!! If I couldn't have a 25-06 for my "one rifle" deal then I'd probably opt for the 22-250!!! BULLET PLACEMENT is the key for shooting game!! Don't shoot a "bull in the ass with a BB gun"!!!! GHD

One more vote for .22-250. The question was about calibers for varmints.

Divr - The best over the counter rifles for deer on down would, IMHO, be the 25/06 or .243. The .22/250 is a superb varmint cartridge and will certainly take down a deer...but the laws of physics really start draining the little bullets at long range. BIG deer at fairly long range could be a problem.

As for the 25/06 & .243, no question the 25/06 will do it ALL. Only penalty there is a bit more recoil and blast. Plus each pull of the trigger is going to burn more $ worth of powder.

The .243 will do it all as well, but I think a shooter had best be much more careful about bullet selection, especially on the big deer. The .243 is a fine and capable rifle but it's produced some spectacular failures because of poor bullet selection and poor shot placement.

A 243 shooter needs to shoot enough that he is GOOD with this weapon.

" The .243 is a fine and capable rifle but it's produced some spectacular failures because of poor bullet selection and poor shot placement."

Pecos the 25-06 I never regreted getting rid of also fell into this catagory. roger

hey guys
thanks for all the replies this forum is a wealth of information
i will not hunt deer with the .243 i will use it for nothing bigger that coyote i just figured it might be better at longer ranges due to the wind bucking ability and heavier bullet weights im hoping to get a good 75-85 grain load to go nice and flat out to 300 yds anything beyond that will be shot with my .270 so the .243 will be a walking varmint rig i think i will be really happy with the .243 though i have read they are not as accurate as the 22-250
divr6347

dive, Since you have decided on the 243 Win, load you up some 70 grain Nosler Balistic Tips in front of 41.0 grains of Varget, Federal Match 210 primers and see if your rifle doesn't like that load pretty darn good!!! Good woodchuck or coyote medicine in the ranges you are talking about! 36.0 grains of IMR 3031 and a 75 grain Speer HP will open up a groundhog from "earbone to butthole" too!!! Not quite as much speed as the 1st load but definitely does a number when it get's there!!! GHD