Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Favorite Varmint cartridge/bullet combo

Gonesouth,

I have a Cooper Model 54 Jackson Game in 22-250 w/ a Z5 Swarovski 5-25x52mm BT 4W. It is the perfect walking varminter. I had originally wanted a 204, but fell in love with the wood on this one. On big PA woodchucks, I prefer the 22-250. This rifle would meet your weight requirements. You could also get a Model 51 in 204, 222 Mag etc.

Thanks Kingston, I'll check them out. I only have one Cooper,a fluted SS barrel LVT in 22lr & love it.
Jim D

Coons to coyotes, no little fuzzies? Well, since I don't hunt for hides, I just blow shyte up, I'd have to say the 6x.284 twisted slow running 70 grain ballistic tips upwards of 3800 or 65 grain VMAXes a little closer to 3900. Other good choices would be a .220 Swift launching 50s as close to 4000 as possible or a .25-'06 pushing 75 grain Sierra HPs.

The smaller .222-based cases are more practical but I don't shoot enough of those things to need to worry about practical or efficient, I can focus on maximizing the "fook shyte up and put a silly grin on my face" factor.

Of the smaller cases the .204 is probably the most practical and the .17s are the most fun. However, I generally save them for 1-3 pound rodent-y things. Nothing wrong with the .222 or .223 so far as function but they come up short for sheer entertainment.

Tom

Hasn't been much posted on bullets so here it goes. YMMV but this is what I have seen work well or have personally experienced.

20 cals it is very hard to beat the 39 Sierra Blittzking, since this bullet came out my bids have killed countless dogs with them and never had a splash, DRT most of the time.

.22 calibers you have a bunch of good choices but I tend to like 40, 50 and 55 Ballistic Tips, the solid base of the jacket holds these bullets together but still have that audible impact sound on game that I love. Sierra 50 and 55 SP or SBT good too. No experience w much in V-Max line up other than a handful of 50 grain on coyotes from my 22-250, all shot in front end and DRT.

24's have a bunch of great choices too. 70-87 grains depending on your desires. I am messing with the 70 Nosler Varmageddon right now because my gun does not like a boat tail bullet. 1 coyote DRT.

My preference in my 6mm Remmy is the Sierra Varminter 85 grain SP. Coyotes have always been DRT and deer usually are too with maybe 1 runner out of every 10 deer shot.

A lot of good bullets from all manufacturers, pick one that shoots best from your iron and shoot straight.

I have killed a bunch of coyotes this winter distributed about evenly to the 204, the 223AI, and the 243.

In the 204, the 39-gr Blitzkings have been like a heart attack--no mark on the animal.

In the 223AI, 50-gr Nos BT has done well and in the 243, the Sierra 85-gr BTHP proved tough--not too destructive, but instant lights out also.

204 Ruger with the 39 or 40 grain bullet that shoots the best groups from your particular rifle.

My RAR-Predator seems to prefer the 40 grain VMax at 3,650+/- with H335. I can go a little faster, but 26.4 grains seems to be this rifle's sweet spot with this particular powder/bullet combination.

Thanks to you above. I'll give those bullets a good try. Thanks for all your help.
T O M: My favorite of all calibers the 220 Swift. I have three but all heavy barreled heavy weights. I shoot 50's & 52's and you are correct, they blow chyte up badly.
Jim D

I you are a fan of the Swift go ahead and hunt down a new or used 77 MkII skinny barrel. Those are a 24" pipe and shoot lights out.

Mine is simple and its my every day truck gun. Ruger predator .223 with 55r Vmax hand loads.

I load 52 gr tsx in 223 for my coyote rifle....does a number on em ..but my plinker load is a 55 gr hornady SP.over 748 I really have killed more stuff from crows to rabid coons to coyotes..can't say it wouldn't work as a go to load...

I like the 223 for economy...

but LOVE the 22.250 for performance...

223

Out to about 400yards in no or moderate wind, I use The 220 Swift with 55 grain Ballistic tip and Reloader 15 @ 3800fps. In the wind a 6mm-06 to way out there, and if it is howling and I want to continue to try and hit them, I drag out a Sendero in 270 Winchester a 130 ballistic tip @ 3250.

.223 rem/53 gr. v-max

Rifle du jour -

17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 K-Hornet, 223, 22-250, 220 Swift, 243, etc.

.22/6mm and a 55 gr NBT.

6BR with 75gr V-Max good out to 800 yards

Your photo is so incredible! I am so impressed.

The coyote has ruined chuck hunting here in New England.



roundoak's photo above.

I traded a Savage 24 in 22 over 20 in "iffy" condition for another RAR-Predator in 223 on Saturday. That gives me three of them, so I can leave a 223 RAR-Predator in Colorado and South Dakota and won't have to deal with the hassle of flying with a firearm when I want to shoot varmints 500 miles farther west.