Dedicated Varmint Rifle Cartridge?

Which cartridge is best for my application?

  • 6mm Creedmoor

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 243 Winchester

    Votes: 3 10.3%

  • 6 ARC

    Votes: 2 6.9%

  • 22-250 Remington

    Votes: 20 69.0%

  • Other (Specify below)

    Votes: 4 13.8%
  • Total voters
    29
D

davidheart

Member
Hey guys, new to the forum! I've scanned through it quite a bit over the years but never joined and commented. I'm looking for some "professional" advice. I'm an ardent hunter and I've killed over nearly 200 deer, a pile of groundhogs, turkey, small game, fox, etc. But I've never had a *dedicated* varmint rifle. One that I made specifically for groundhog, fox, and coyote. No deer. No squirrel/rabbit. Just those three.

So I decided I want to buy an inexpensive rifle to build on and make it such. I'm located in Pennsylvania.

I mainly hunt coyote and fox at night using a red light at short range, 100-200 yards, while my buddy is on a thermal long range. Groundhog I'm sitting over a 200-500yard field. I had a PRS rifle in 6mm Creedmoor I sent down the road that I used last year but I have all my reloading components for it. I got rid of the rifle because it weighed 15lbs, I stopped shooting PRS so much, and I don't enjoy carrying a rifle that weighs over 8/9lbs while hunting. I like to move frequently from spot to spot. I did enjoy the 6MM Creedmoor but the 6ARC and 243 has caught my eye in this search.

I'd like to keep the barrel 18-20" because I hunt suppressed and I'd like to not spend a small fortune but build upon the rifle over time.

I've reloaded for years and have reloading dies for 22-250, 243, and 6mm Creedmoor (among many others). Brass for 22-250 and 6mm Creedmoor.

So with all that in mind, I'm really needing help deciding not just the cartridge but the platform. I'm leaning toward a Ruger American Gen 2 20" in 243 or 6mm Creedmoor. Or a Howa Mini in 6 ARC and cutting the barrel down to 18". (Can't cut the fluted barrel of the Ruger Gen 2 down or I would.)

Any help from those with far more experience predator hunting than I would be appreciated!
 
I would think the magic button would be the Howa Mini in 6mm ARC the 20" HB isn't heavy, comes threaded and although it has a 2 stage trigger they can be made very nice.

If you just can't abide with factory stock you can get just a barreled action. I would look into new bottle m metal, I have a DIP one that uses factory mags that I bob to near flush. .There is a company in OR making ADL and BDL type bottom .metal for the Howa.
 
greengt88 said:
I’m in PA as well…I think 22-250 ticks all of your boxes. Fox and groundhogs are small…you already reload for 22-250…I will always recommend a Tikka, they have 1:8 or 1:14 twist available.
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Love my Tikka's. I have two of them. The only thing I'm not crazy about (whatsoever) is a short action cartridge in a long action.

I saw the Bergara is 1:9 twist on the 22-250 and 1:10 twist on the 243. The Ruger American is running a 1:7.7 Twist on the 6MM Creed and 1:9 Twist on the 243. I don't see a 22-250 Ruger American Gen 2. Howa's 22-250 is 1:12, 1:10 for the 243, and 1:8 for the 6 ARC.

Are we not worried about runners at night with a 22 cal bullet? Never used the 22-250 to hunt coyote. Just the 223 a long time ago and had a couple runners so switched away.
 
Tikkas… that’s my only gripe as well, one action size.
Ehh… you can have runners with anything, and probably will. I’ll catch some grief here on the ol interweb, but unless it’s a tournament situation or some real damage control work ( neither of which I do at all) I don’t really care if they run or not. I’ll get most of em down, a small percentage will run off and die….or live. I have respect for coyotes, but it’s gonna happen, and no, I ain’t spending a lot of time tracking, unless I feel like it….and that ain’t very often.
 
Long as you have been hunting and reloading the only one that can answer your question is you. Problem is you. This is about personal choice as all will work. There is no best but there is what appeals to the user. If I were to take up varmint hunting and needed a special rifle, I have a 243 which I figured would work pretty well. But preference enters into it and I'd be looking for a 222 Rem. Secret to making a quick kill is placing a bullet very well. Mod 788 Rem in 222 Rem was the most accurate rifle I ever owned. Also the most pleasant rifle I ever shot. So having one dedicated cartridge simply won't work. Your gonna find yourself sooner or later wanting something with more range. Not because you need it but because you want it! Get a 243 and shoot it for long then borrow someone's 222 Rem or 223 Rem and your gonna want one of them. Not because you need them, ya just want them!
 
Polock said:
Long as you have been hunting and reloading the only one that can answer your question is you. Problem is you. This is about personal choice as all will work. There is no best but there is what appeals to the user. If I were to take up varmint hunting and needed a special rifle, I have a 243 which I figured would work pretty well. But preference enters into it and I'd be looking for a 222 Rem. Secret to making a quick kill is placing a bullet very well. Mod 788 Rem in 222 Rem was the most accurate rifle I ever owned. Also the most pleasant rifle I ever shot. So having one dedicated cartridge simply won't work. Your gonna find yourself sooner or later wanting something with more range. Not because you need it but because you want it! Get a 243 and shoot it for long then borrow someone's 222 Rem or 223 Rem and your gonna want one of them. Not because you need them, ya just want them!
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Hit the nail on the head. I am the problem and I know it. That's why I'm asking the professionals. Lol

I already have a Howa Mini 223. I don't trust it on coyote or long range groundhog. I'm personally leaning toward 243 1:9 or 8 twist in a 20" barrel so I could shoot light or heavier bullets. The 6CM in my previous experience was throated too long for 70-80gr bullets. Of course that was a competition rifle....

If I did 6ARC it would live on 58-70gr bullets like my 6PPC benchrest rifle. I don't really **personally** think the 105gr bullets belong in a cartridge that small...

My first rifle was a 22-250 and I kind of miss it. Got rid of my 22-250 for a 308 Model Seven, years ago. Killed a pile of deer, groundhog, squirrel, and the odd turkey with it since. Never a fox or coyote.

So the solution is buy them all. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Gonna run my mouth some more here on this… I’ve used a 22 250 for over 35 years on coyotes. I personally consider it the minimum for coyotes nowdays though…FOR ME.
A big 22, 243, 6 creed or better will hammer them harder, but I still love calling with my 250 cause it’s a pleasure to shoot..very low recoil, power, speed and it’ll do some hammering with the right load/bullet. I will go to my 243 with 75/87 grain bullets if I want to hammer more. I ain’t going beyond that for coyotes.
A 22 250 will make a mess on fox a lot of times.. or most of the time… depends.
I’ve shot hundreds of grey fox with one and it does a number on em as anyone can imagine.
Also, not a long range guy and I prefer sporter weight bolt rifles with classic style stock. I don’t really like a vertical grip/long range style setup for calling, and I’m almost exclusively a day caller. I don’t want super light weight either. Had my fill of carrying heavy guns and tripods etc around.
 
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I vote .22-250.
Got a 26" 9 twist and a 22" 12 twist. Have no complaints.
53gr nosler varmageddons at 3900fps do everything i ever wanted with the 12 twist. Even used it on deer last year.

the 9 twist .22-250 gets 80gr bergers and is fun to shoot long range.
 
Get whatever caliber with a longer heavier barrel for your varmints like groundhogs and get a another gun with a little shorter barrel and a little less weight for predators like coyote and fox. I think most guys will agree varmints will be shot at longer range and coyote will be under 200 yds for the most part.
 
I picked up a Bergara Stoke (compact) in 22-250 today. It has a 20 inch barrel with a 1:9 twist and a compact stock. I'll likely switch the stock out for a chassis of some sort but like y'all said, for this application the 22-250 will do everything I need it to do in spades. Thanks guys!
 
Since it's going to wear a suppressor if I cut this rifle down to 18 inch and I'm really giving up anything for coyote out to 400 yards? Our max field shot is ~450.
 
Duhhh said:
You should only lose 50-60 fps by cutting it 2 inches. So I’d say you won’t give anything up.
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I went ahead and cut it down to 17.5" and I'm getting 3400 fps from 55gr PPU ammo. I'm sure I'd be able to eek out some more velocity if I so chose to with my handloads but I'm pretty happy with this too. Thanks guys!
 


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