Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Most effective varmint cartridges

The 204 is pretty much up there getting a 40 gr. bullet moving 3900 FPS.

50 /60 grain 22's / 243's. who do you put next?

.22 mag. for close gophers and p. dogs.
.223 for gohpers and p.dogs.
.220 Swift for coyotes, chucks, etc.
.243 or .25-06 for the wind.
.270 for coyotes in very heavy wind...

P/dogs are my game......
I use a 17M2 ocassionally...calm mornings 125-150 yds..Eley
20 Vartarg...so very sweet.....40 V max
20 Practical...amazing....40 V max
20BR...dogs fly then die....40 V max (very quick)
223AI...seems to be a thread describing this cartridge Nosler 55BT or 53 V max
6BR...designed for BR...but excells on p/dogs..70 NBT or 75 V
6XC....when the 6BR runs outta steam....80 gr NBT
6.5x55....get this out when the dogs think you don't see 'em
140 A max or 142 SMK
All Savage s/shots...except the M2

50 bmg. stops everything.

Spotshooter: I have realy put my various 204's through the paces over the last 9 years now and I now use the 32 grain bullets for "effect" in all of them.
Depending on what your definition of "effective" is do you mean most lethal - or most accurate - or...?
I do know this - with an upper body hit on virtually any Varmint I have Hunted I RARELY (if ever!) needed to shoot them again.
I think another couple of reasons why my 204's are so effective for me on Varmints is because of the inherent accuracy of the cartridge and the extremely flat trajectory along with its ability to "buck the wind".
If I were starting out Varminting today knowing what I now know the 204 Ruger would suit all my Varminting needs wonderfully well.
I usually put it another way when expressing my high high regard for the 204 Ruger - I contend it is the BEST "all around" Varminting cartridge to date!
Long live the 204 Ruger.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I was going to say 300 win mag, but a 50 bmg would do the trick as well.

22-250AI

Can shoot factory 22-250 or when you load your own its like shooting a laser beam. Carnage on small critters is incomparable.

Now this is kinda funny. Seeings how the 250AI has the exact case capacity of the 220 Swift (which is its primary purpose) and shoot the same bullets. Just how is the carnage incomparable, and makes it a laser beam when the Swift is not?

You guys need to spend a day in the p/dog field with a hot 20 cal

You'll forget all about the 250AI & Swift

"50 bmg. stops everything."

True but so will a .458 and at less cost even if your garden's being raided by elehants.

These 'what's the best all around ....' threads are a bit silly; use what's right for the task.

Not everyone can be lucky enough to have a 225 Win.

I shoot 40gr .204 and 55gr 22-250 at groundhogs. The 204 is my preference due to less recoil and it being cheaper to reload.

I never said the swift was not. I am aware that the 22-250 AI is similar case capacity as the swift. I guess I was not very clear. My mistake. I like the advantage of being able to shoot factory 22-250 when handloads are not available. What I meant by no compare was high velocity rounds in general are pretty brutal on critters.

I should be able to anser your qestion about cartridges, that is more than one cartridge. I started shooting prairie dogs in 1949. Sofar I have shot them with 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 LR RF, 22WMR, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 243 Win and some big game cartridges. I plan on getting a 17 Hornet and Winchester 17 SM rifle when one shows up that I like. None of the cartridges are worth a darn unless fired from an accurate rifle, that is 1/2 inch or less 100 yard groups for centerfire rifles. During the 2005 year I shot a bit over 1,000 prairie dogs with the 17 HM2 and 17 HMR rifles but I would never take them out coyote hunting. The 22-250 Rem`and 220 Swift are fine coyote rifles but I would have burnt out the rifleing if I had used them in 2005 instead of the 17 rimfire rifles. For the hunting I do and could have only two rifles they would be accurate 17 HMR and 204 Ruger varmint rifle with top quality scopes. Its unlikley that I ansered your question..

Bracer,

I haven't shot prairie dogs quite as long as you have, but have used the same rounds you list, plus a few others.

I would also pick the .17 HMR and .204 Ruger as the perfect pair of varmint cartridges if I had to be limited to a rimfire and centerfire. When shooting PD's I like to start out on a town with a rimfire, in order not to scare everything down its hole with big bangs right away. The .22 Magnum seems to kill maybe a little better than the .17 HMR (at least with the right load) but is louder and not as accurate.

I just got a .17 Hornet CZ and it REALLY shoots. Suspect you might like the "little Hornet" when you acquire one.

I am enamored with the .204 as an all purpose varmint rifle. Some Big Shot Gun Writer talked me into one a couple years ago.....

22LF
22-250
257 Roberts AI
30-06

The most effective from the list above for that which I do is the .22-250.

I agree with MD on the .17 HMR and the .204 being a great combo for vermin without excessive blast and noise.

Ingwe, the .204 reminds me of a little bitty .270...

DF

This is where we will have to 'agree to disagree'. The .204 is fast, efficient, fun, and Ive never seen anyone who was gay shooting one.......

Ya think the "shrinking" process sucked all the bad out of the .270...

DF