Best varmit round for 2-300 yards

[574mag]

I’m sure this has been discussed. But I’m wanting to get a rifle that is flat shooting a couple hundred yards for wood chucks and the like. Want a light kicking relatively quiet round. So my 7mm rem mag is not an option. Would love to hear what others think is the perfect round for this?

 

[snapping turtle]

22-250 if you want to not worry much about bullet drop. It is like the 7mm rem mag in it's bullet trajectory. I would not call it a quite round.

243 if you want something you can switch ammo with and become dual use.

Personally I use the triple deuce (222 rem) for coyotes and ground hogs. 300 would be about my limit for the round. It is a older target rifle round and very accurate. Then again it is about the same as 223 win but I think it is more accurate.

 

[Michigan Slim]

.223 or .243 would do well for you. I have both but my Ruger No 1 in .243 is my favorite.

 

[574mag]

I have the 22/250, not a 243. But that is something I will have to look into. Thx

 

[Michigan Slim]

I have the 22/250, not a 243. But that is something I will have to look into. Thx

My little girl makes 300 yards look stupid easy with 58 grain bullets from her .243. She hunts deer with 100 grainers and hits to 300 with the same point of aim with the 58s.

 

[natdscott]

.22-243 Middlestead. .240 W'by. .220 Redline, or...

Realize that for any small-to-medium capacity 17-to-24 caliber rifle, 2-300 yards is a very short distance.

I'm not suggesting you need to shoot something with a .22 LR drop chart, but you can move the knobs a few minutes one way or the other and do very well.

When that reality is accepted, then choosing a rifle by overall accuracy becomes much easier.

Me? Preference?

I'd set up a mid-weight 6BR, use benchrest bullets (real ones), and once I found a 1" load at 300, I'd never look back.

 

[Twangbanger]

I’m sure this has been discussed. But I’m wanting to get a rifle that is flat shooting a couple hundred yards for wood chucks and the like. Want a light kicking relatively quiet round. So my 7mm rem mag is not an option. Would love to hear what others think is the perfect round for this?

Savage still makes the Model 25 in .17 Hornet, if you want a less expensive gun option. But you'll need to get dies and brass, because that cartridge didn't really take off. (Only one gun left in that caliber, I think). You can still get Hornady 20gr. Vmax factory ammo for it, if you look a little bit. It's a 3600 fps. + muzzle velocity in 20 gr. At 200 yards, it has approximately the same energy as 17 HMR at the muzzle.

 

[42769vette]

Light varmint bullets I'd go 243. Heavier bullets I'd start to move to a 6 creed.

 

[Basher]

From a longer (22-24”) barrel, you can squeeze a decent bit of velocity from .223 running the 53gr V-Max and have a pretty flat trajectory. From a light recoiling, economic, easy to find/load standpoint, the .223 is hard to beat IMO.

 

[Mgderf]

.204 Ruger is a very flat, and very fast round.
Perfectly capable of taking coyote at 300 yards and next to zero recoil.
It has a VERY loud report, but no recoil.

 

[10mmfan]

I’m sure this has been discussed. But I’m wanting to get a rifle that is flat shooting a couple hundred yards for wood chucks and the like. Want a light kicking relatively quiet round. So my 7mm rem mag is not an option. Would love to hear what others think is the perfect round for this?

.223

 

[johntheplinker]

Another vote for 223. Lots of different rifles and types of ammo. Little recoil, not excessively loud. Plenty of power for even a coyote at 300. No real downside to it really.

 

[ilcaveman]

I have taken many critters with 223 and 22-250. I prefer the 22-250, flat shooting.

 

[Onebad06vtx]

Any off the above wil work.
But my favorite is the 17 remington and I use it to save fur also.
But you really need to be a reloader for the 17.
But the 223 works well also.
Now If you want to shoot out to farther distances,the 6mm BR is a AWESOME cartridge.

 

[DragonGunner]

Used 22-250 in the 70's and 80's and took a bunch of woodchucks. Never wore ear protection back then and my ears are still ringing.

 

[ruger1800]

seven millimeter, shooting times western all the gun you'll ever need.
.204 ruger very little recoil and muzzle rise, will be able to see your hits.
.223 or 22/250

 

[Hookeye]

IMHO hot steppin varmint cartridges all roar.
Electronic earpro and go get em.

Ive used .22 hornet, .222,.223,.22 250 and .243.
Id be content w just two though.

A Ruger #1B in .243 and a CZ .22 mag ( the latter for a lighter close range " quiet " rig ).

 

[Hookeye]

FWIW

Leupolds used to have forgiving eyebox.

Could watch hits at 200 plus w my .243 Rem 700 and Ruger #1 w Leupolds at 9x.

 

[augdog]

243 is one of the best.

 

[drm-hp]

223 for out to 300
220 Swift for longer shots with a 22 caliber.
6mm Dasher or 6mm x 284 Winchester for long range vermin.