What is your experience with Varmint calibers in Pistols?

[sscoyote]

Here's a link to an article on my buddy Ray Prager's .223 AI/22-204 AI Contender's-- http://www.ottllc.com/specialtypistols/sp33.html

The pr. dogs he shot in those pics were @ 775 and 650 yds. respectively. The 650 yarders were 2 in a row with his rig. What a great shoot that was. I'll never forget Ray shooting that rig, while i spotted thru my Big Eyes. It was 1 of those days when u could see the vapor trail real easily. I saw the vapor trails on all 3 of those hits. It was also written up in in Fall '06 issue of 'One Good Shot' magazine too.

 

[greg223]

I use my Contender in .223 with a 14" barrel (52gr HP bullets) on gophers. It is extremely accurate with the handloads. I used it part of the time on the last gopher trip. It has a 2.5x Leupold on it. The biggest drawback is me. I absolutely must use a good rest. I do use shooting sticks, but I find my pack works better. I really like packing it on the long hikes to the high meadows to hunt gophers because of the weight issue. I don't use it for coyotes around here because the cover is dense and I can't get on target as quickly as I can with a rifle.

 

[Totch94]

Thanks to everyone for your input. In the last week, I bought a .17 HMR barrel w scope for my Contender and have had a ball shooting it. It is one of the most accurate things I own out to 100 yards, and this includes rifles! I really can't believe how well it shoots. I have settled on a .223 and 7-08 barrel in the near future for varmints and deer. Great, already bitten by the EBR bug, now the Pistol Bug is bitting!