What is the best caliber.. to use on Varmints?

[Keg]

Particularly to prevent tearing the hide up….? High power rifles can make a mess of the hide….

[Keg]

And bullet?

[RifleBowPistol]

I have read info written by guys who take off the whole winter to hunt coyotes, foxes, and wolves. Those guys kill a bunch every year. They like 14 and 17 caliber guns. They posted info on where to get bullets. I want to say they like calibers in the size range of 17 Mach IIs and 17 Fireballs. I don’t remember what the 14 caliber wildcat calibers were.
Me I kill coyotes to kill coyotes, usually not too worried about pelt damage. With my 16” barreled AR, with 52 gr. hollow points leaving the muzzle between 2400 and 2700 fps. I usually have just a small entrance and exit holes. I did shoot one through the shoulder, with some loads that were pushing 2700 fps out the muzzle, it blew the opposite side shoulder off. That was the only time I ever had any significant damage, then it was pretty major.

[okrattler]

For a .223 my favorite is Hornady 52gr. BTHP or Sierra Varminter 60 grain HP.

If you're bound to get further shots a 22-250 shooting Hornady 52gr BTHP or Sierra 55 grain HP's. If you have a .243, 87 grain V-Max or 90 grain softpoints. The lighter bullets in .243 blow them up bad.

The best thing for not tearing critters up is a shotgun though. Absolute best for not hurting fur. Can't even tell they've been shot most of the time until you pick them up by the back legs and blood starts draining out.

The best rifle I'd have to say is a .17cal of some flavor. The thing with fur friendly calibers/bullets is you have to find the balance between enough killing power but not so much that you'll blow stuff in half.

[DUKFVR]

Had to look at what kind of varmints you were hunting. 2 legged or 4.

[Fordnandez]

I use 204 ruger. Ammo became hard to come by and still isn't cheap at $2 a trigger pull but worth it if you ever shoot that big bobcat that you want to mount.

[tigerscowboy]

Assuming bobcats, coyotes, and hogs are included: 243/6mm are our favorites. No running or searching.

[Mike D]

17 Hornet, 22 Hornet, .204, .223.

Pretty much any frangible Varmint bullet should work.


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[Mahan]

22-250

[hully1029]

90g vmax 243 is awesome

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[diamond10x]

I have read info written by guys who take off the whole winter to hunt coyotes, foxes, and wolves. Those guys kill a bunch every year. They like 14 and 17 caliber guns. They posted info on where to get bullets. I want to say they like calibers in the size range of 17 Mach IIs and 17 Fireballs. I don’t remember what the 14 caliber wildcat calibers were.
Me I kill coyotes to kill coyotes, usually not too worried about pelt damage. With my 16” barreled AR, with 52 gr. hollow points leaving the muzzle between 2400 and 2700 fps. I usually have just a small entrance and exit holes. I did shoot one through the shoulder, with some loads that were pushing 2700 fps out the muzzle, it blew the opposite side shoulder off. That was the only time I ever had any significant damage, then it was pretty major.

Are you referring to .14/.22 short, .14 Ack. Hornet, and 14/.221?

[Drycreek3189]

I killed a bunch with a 22-250 with Hornady ammo, 40 grain bullet. That sucker is whistling at nearly 4,000 fps and it didn’t tear them up. Don’t use it on the ribs of a 250 lb. hog though, he’ll give you a dirty look !

[TacticalCowboy]

30-378

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

243 if you don’t care about fur. 75-87gr vmax blows them up.


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[westtexducks]

I love my .204 Ruger. I shoot a 40 gr VMAX and have also shot reloads with 39 gr blitzking and they both work great. Most of the time can't find the entrance they just die like they are struck by lightning. On foxes it can get a little messy depending on you angle and where you hit it but never had any problems messing one up on a frontal shot.

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