Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Thinking About a Varmint/Predator Rifle -- What Chambering?

Title about says it. I am looking for what will probably be my final rifle purchase,and have a hankering for a groundhog/coyote cartridge.

I reload.

What about a 204? Any reason not to?

223? I have great supply of once fired brass.

22-250? Any reason to brn the extr powder?

243? I don't need one to doule as a deer rifle -- already have a 6.5 Swede.

25-06? 257 Roberts? 250 Savage? Any advantages to them?

Be a while before I make the purchase. Help me decide.

Anything less than a 222 Remington Magnum is just that ...Less. Anything more is just too much of not enough...

You can't go wrong with a .223 Keith. I had a .22-250 and it was a great shooter. I also have a .243 and a 6MM Remington.
But the .223 is my favourite. I've used a variety of powders, from Blue Dot to H335, H4895 and a couple of others and it's not hard to find an accurate load.
I had a Ruger #3 with a 1 in 12 twist and am now using a Savage with a 1 in 9 twist. Both shot very well, but the 1 in 9 is more versatile since it will stabilize the heavier (longer) bullets.

Every American should have a rifle chambered for the current service rifle cartridge. Preferably with a fast twist to maximize versatility. That goes for Canadians too.

223. As you mentioned you already have a great supply of brass.
Over the years I have come to realize that the 223 can do most anything the 22/250 can using quite a bit less powder and recoil.

204 - Some folks have had luck using them on coyotes, but even using hard bullets (Bergers) I lost a few when the hit was on the shoulder bone. IMO 204 bullets do not have quite enough jacket hardness and thickness to work for coyotes. It is a great cartridge for ground squirrels etc. but the very thing that makes it work so great for them plays against it when the bullet hits a solid bone.

In my part of the world the 22/250 used to be king, the 204 was a hot item for a couple of years and now most everyone is back to the 223, it seems to be a good balance of power and recoil.

drover

If I were buying a factory rifle I'd look for a Montana or Ruger in .223 and the 1-9" twist.



Travis

Sako or CZ in 222.

Might not be the latest and greatest but it's stood the test of time and still has good Lapua brass available.

222Mag's a goodun too, but it's doubtful that you'll find a rifle chambered in it these days unless you spring for something like a Cooper. Even then finding brass'll be hit or miss.

Luck

Yep.

For groundhogs and coyotes, I find the .223 lacking.. It is super for p. dogs, gophers, and such.. But if you are shooting at chucks and coyotes like we do in Wy. then a .22-250 is the best bet.. If you chucks are close say under 250 and your coyotes are called, then the .223 would work fine...

My yote hunting will be done in Manitoba, which has exactly one hill, but it is north of where I'd hunt. Some shots could start in Manitoba and wind up 300 miles west in Saskatchewan. Keeping the hides is not going to be done. Fleas are supposed to be pretty bad.

Thanks for the advice so far. Keep it coming.

'Fleas' sound like an excuse not to take care of 'em, to me.....

they're easily gassed.

It must be so easy that I can figure it out by myself, I guess. Looking for solutions, here.

223......Savage or Tikka...

I suppose if I had to pick just one it would be the 223 but the 22-250 does so much more I won't ever be without one.

The 204 earned it's keep last year so it's not going anywhere either.

But a fast twist 223 is a good place to start. (If going custom go Ackley Improved and an 8 twist.)

a vanilla triple deuce is less, but MORE than enuff......

.223 With a 1-9 twist.

Cheap to feed, accurate, more rounds per pound.

Did the 22-250 thing before a .223 came along. Found myself shooting the .223 more and for cheaper than with the ol'250.

Maybe if a guy was consistently all the time, everyday shooting past 300 yards more powder might help or a little bigger bullet. But with those two items comes more boom, recoil and cost of operation.

For my uses, its tough to beet the .223.

I've ben shooting the 223 for the past 15 years and never thought About needeing more gun. I bought a 204 Ruger this year, been shooting 40gr Bergers with great success. Ive read alot on the cal, pros and cons, I find it to be perfect on yotes. Im not trying to do more than the cal is made for, drops about 5 inches at 300 with a 200 yard zero and gets there in a hurry. I like seeing the impact in my scope and to me the 204 is a little quiter than my 223,but that most likely has to do with the longer barrel.

It would be a hard choice between the 223 and 204. I love all my 223's but Im sure having alot of fun with my 204.

you could build a 6mm-06 like i did will reach out and get the job done fast.. I push a 55gr. Combined tec at 4200 fps with b.c. of .267 works great .. But i went 1 in 12 twist should have a faster twist to take advantage of higher b.c of heavyer bullets have killed groundhogs out to 450 yds . Barrel is 28 inch douglas xx action is 03 springfield..

How about a 20 Extreme, designed by a fellow who lives in Alberta. You can see threads on it at the Saubier web site or Alberta outdoorsman. It is a slightly shortened 222 case with a slight shoulder adjustment and necked down to 20 caliber. One of the very interesting things about this round is the tremendous varieties of powder and bullet combos he has used that all deliver superb accuracy and decent velocity. He has had Hornady make up a bunch of die sets which he has and may have a completed rifles for sale right now. If I didn't have an HS Precision in 204 ruger I'd have one of these. G

+1 Never had a problem with fleas skinning coyotes without gassing them. Maybe im lucky