Best "one size fits all" small varmint/game caliber?

As far as the comment about a squirrel surviving head shots, he must be hitting them in the ear. Any head shot with a .22 will kill them. I have almost had to pick up two pieces of squirrels when shot with my .17 HMR and those shots were further than 25 yards. I have killed groundhogs here in Pa with the .17 HMR out to 175 (CONFIRMED WITH BODIES LAYING THERE). Do yourself some research on the .204 RUGER cartridge. AWESOME caliber. I have shot coyotes at 200 with dead on impact confirmation. Bullet selection from 26 grain Barnes to 50 grain Berger.
 
Originally Posted By: TytalusHi everyone, I'm new here and to hunting in general.

I'm wanting to get my first gun soon and am looking at the small calibers for something that I can plink with and go after small game/varmints in the
 
Killing and eating and tracking and losing and animal are different things i don't think you could limit it to just one.
i'd have to vote on either a 12ga or .22lr....a 12ga could take most things from a #8 field load to a sabbot load of your choice it might just cover 99% of the animals on the planet..
But if you limit the size to a fox being the largest i'd say maybe a .223 and use fmj on small game when hunting
something small that you going to eat.
 
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Maybe look for a nice used Savage 24C. It's a combo shotgun/22. I'm sure there are plenty out there, and it would go a long way in solving your issue.
 
Take your pick and dance with who brung ya, no gun is perfect (or even good for that matter) for all things out to 150 yards.

IMO, pick the cartridge/platform that suits your needs for the majority of your shots and accept it's limitation on the rest. Yes, you might have to pass on some shots given your choice but that just becomes a fact of life.

Somedays I might pick a 12ga with a varity of loads and maybe even a couple choke tubes and know that critters outta range will get a pass. Somedays it might be a .22lr and just accept the fact that predators are gonna have to be dang close. Somedays it might be a centerfire and just accept the fact that if I wanna eat it I had better hit the head.

As for rimfires only being 25 yard squirrel guns????????? Learn to shoot.

Edited to add: Given only one choice my go to gun for all critters, small game on up, is my 22" Winchoke 1300 12ga. Only gun that I own that will do everything under 50 yards (maybe a touch more if I must).
 
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As for rimfires only being 25 yard squirrel guns????????? Learn to shoot.

I can't even count high enough to say how many successful shots I have taken way past this.
 
Originally Posted By: jacksondoghunterOriginally Posted By: TytalusHi everyone, I'm new here and to hunting in general.

I'm wanting to get my first gun soon and am looking at the small calibers for something that I can plink with and go after small game/varmints in the
 
Originally Posted By: StevolwevolWhere can you hunt wolf and mountain lion? In Michigan, they are protected. I'd love to hunt one of these with my 223, or 222.

Most western states have both, and a few have seasons for both, but I believe the OP is from BC Canada where there are both

Why would a 22cal centerfire or 243 be good enough for a 100lb + speed goat or deer, but not a 100+ lion or wolf? Most of natives in the W AK village I lived in used 223 for everything from rabbit to moose and big bears, many many wolves included, if it works up here, why not in BC?
 
Quote:Why would a 22cal centerfire or 243 be good enough for a 100lb + speed goat or deer, but not a 100+ lion or wolf?

I believe deer, and goat are much harder to kill pound per pound then the preditors that hunt them. The preditors are built for offense, and the prey for defense.
 
2 guns is the best solution. a .22lr or 22mag for small game and cheap practice. A .243 or 25-06 for coyote or larger. If you really had to have just one probably a 22mag or .223. I hunt small game with a .223 (cuz I lost my job and had to sell the rimfire guns). Doesn't matter if it is 22mag or .223 as long as you hit them in the head but it is loud and kind of expensive to shoot. Then again its so flat shooting I can hit things in the head to much longer ranges.

Really a 12 ga (heck even a 20 ga) shotgun is the most versatile weapon you can own. From the smallest dove or rabbit to deer and elk it will harvest anything nicely with the right shell and choke.
 
Originally Posted By: StevolwevolWhere can you hunt wolf and mountain lion? In Michigan, they are protected. I'd love to hunt one of these with my 223, or 222.

Minnesota just opened a season on them last year. Of course its based on a lottery draw to be get a shot at hunting one.
 
Originally Posted By: StevolwevolWhere can you hunt wolf and mountain lion? In Michigan, they are protected. I'd love to hunt one of these with my 223, or 222.
Wolves are no longer protected in Michigan. The DNR and State government has been working out a wolf season. Hopefully it'll be open soon.
 
Originally Posted By: JDolezalOriginally Posted By: StevolwevolWhere can you hunt wolf and mountain lion? In Michigan, they are protected. I'd love to hunt one of these with my 223, or 222.
Wolves are no longer protected in Michigan. The DNR and State government has been working out a wolf season. Hopefully it'll be open soon.
Well, it about time. The hunting guide says "don't make a mistake" when going after coyote. I haven't come across a wolf yet, but If I do, I would like a shot at one. The DNR hasn't even admitted there are mountain lions in Mich, but there have been numerous sightings.
 
well as far as guns go look into a tc encore and a few barrels way cheaper than several new guns! as far as a 22 past 25 yards not working om squirrels?? i use air rifles on squirrel crows and wood chucks out to 100 yards i have had many pass throughs with air rifles out to 75 on squirrels and my newest air rifle is my go to predator gun now it is a .308 shooting 96 grain hollow points!!!!
 
Originally Posted By: Stevolwevol
Well, it about time. The hunting guide says "don't make a mistake" when going after coyote. I haven't come across a wolf yet, but If I do, I would like a shot at one. The DNR hasn't even admitted there are mountain lions in Mich, but there have been numerous sightings.

This reminds me of The MN DNR years ago; there were two wolves shot about 25 miles north of the Twin Cities. The DNR had been sticking to its story that wolves had not migrated that far south and was "testing" these animals to determine what they were. If you seen the picture you knew they were wolves, beautiful examples. About a month later the DNR released the hides back to the hunters stating they in fact were not wolves but a some kind of Husky Coyote hybrid. Uh huh. Now just years later there are wolves all over and a hunting season has been opened on them. But they had story and they were sticking to it.
 
It's rumored that the DNR In Michigan has micro-chiped some wolves and mountain lion. If one gets shot the DNR might get alerted. I don't know if this is true or not.
 


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