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

[Cajun Blake]

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

17 calibers shooting 25 gr pills at 4,200+ fps

watch this video below of my late friend Blane Eddy (RIP)

this dude was the master at shooting coyotes and finishing the hides for fur buyers. His primary rifle was the 17 DT (Dog Terminator - shortened PPC case) He also hunted with a .14/221 Walker shooting 15 gr bullets at 4,400 fps

Blaine taught me everything I know about 17's and even helped me design my own cartridge ... 17 Little Nasty . Blaine grew up outside Salt Lake City and as a teenager and young adult he would sweep the floors at PO Ackley's gunshop. He would ask questions and that's how he became so educated on small caliber wildcats and AI cartridges. Blaine did all the load data and testing for Mike Bellm (T/C Contender master gunsmith) who was Ackley's son-in-law.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qp5OMLqFA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qp5OMLqFA[/ame]

[Mac]

I use 556 fmj’s, on yotes it leave two tiny holes regardless of where I hit em, now cats and foxes are a toss up. I’ve had really good results and I’ve had a couple that hit shoulder bone and left a pretty decent exit hole. The Hornady varmint rounds I tried left gaping holes on the offside and haven’t tried another brand yet. The plus side to the fmj’s is if we roll up on hogs it handles them as well with head or high shoulder shots.
This is a pic of the worst hole I’ve had in a cat and it’ll stitch up



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[okrattler]

I can't believe no one uses a 22 lr or 22 mag. Both are lethal and do minimal hide damage.

I use a .22 mag quite a bit. For the longest time it and the .17HMR is all I used. I like the .22mag for close range coyotes but it's best to shoot them in the head or neck. I've lost several do to shots to the body. Sometimes they just fall over shooting them in the body. It all depends on the coyote there's really nothing consistent with the .22mag unless you're shooting them in the head or neck. Which isn't always that easy. If they're walking straight away or running off it sucks to have to pass on a shot. The goal ain't to wound them, can't sell fur if it stays on the critter.

[Keg]

17 calibers shooting 25 gr pills at 4,200+ fps

watch this video below of my late friend Blane Eddy (RIP)

this dude was the master at shooting coyotes and finishing the hides for fur buyers. His primary rifle was the 17 DT (Dog Terminator - shortened PPC case) He also hunted with a .14/221 Walker shooting 15 gr bullets at 4,400 fps

Blaine taught me everything I know about 17's and even helped me design my own cartridge ... 17 Little Nasty . Blaine grew up outside Salt Lake City and as a teenager and young adult he would sweep the floors at PO Ackley's gunshop. He would ask questions and that's how he became so educated on small caliber wildcats and AI cartridges. Blaine did all the load data and testing for Mike Bellm (T/C Contender master gunsmith) who was Ackley's son-in-law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qp5OMLqFA

Thanks for that info… I have a 22 magnum.. but will invest in a 17 caliber….

[Cajun Blake]

Thanks for that info…

Probably 95% of these coyotes were shot with a .17 by Blaine. Find you an older REM 700 chambered 17 Remington or 17Fireball and you’re set. 2nd choice would be the same rifle chambered in 204 Ruger.

These 200+ song dogs were shot over a 3 month period in the Wassatch Mtns of Utah

Great read —-> http://www.saubier.com/smallcaliber/...furupdate.html

[WyoBull]

17 calibers shooting 25 gr pills at 4,200+ fps



watch this video below of my late friend Blane Eddy (RIP)



this dude was the master at shooting coyotes and finishing the hides for fur buyers. His primary rifle was the 17 DT (Dog Terminator - shortened PPC case) He also hunted with a .14/221 Walker shooting 15 gr bullets at 4,400 fps



Blaine taught me everything I know about 17's and even helped me design my own cartridge ... 17 Little Nasty . Blaine grew up outside Salt Lake City and as a teenager and young adult he would sweep the floors at PO Ackley's gunshop. He would ask questions and that's how he became so educated on small caliber wildcats and AI cartridges. Blaine did all the load data and testing for Mike Bellm (T/C Contender master gunsmith) who was Ackley's son-in-law.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qp5OMLqFA

I have 2 17 Rem's and love them. Before Hornady quit making the 25 gr HP I bought enough to last me a lifetime. I have a Rem 700 and CZ527 Varmint. I love them on the coyotes but up here in Wyoming with the wind we get, I have to pick the right days to use it while calling.
One thing I really like about the speed of the 17 is that on a running coyote I don't have to lead them!

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[WyoBull]

I can't believe no one uses a 22 lr or 22 mag. Both are lethal and do minimal hide damage.

I have a Heckler & Koch model 309 in 22 magnum and used it for a lot of years for close in calling. It is a great caliber for short range calling.

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[Radar]

17 calibers shooting 25 gr pills at 4,200+ fps

watch this video below of my late friend Blane Eddy (RIP)

this dude was the master at shooting coyotes and finishing the hides for fur buyers. His primary rifle was the 17 DT (Dog Terminator - shortened PPC case) He also hunted with a .14/221 Walker shooting 15 gr bullets at 4,400 fps

Blaine taught me everything I know about 17's and even helped me design my own cartridge ... 17 Little Nasty . Blaine grew up outside Salt Lake City and as a teenager and young adult he would sweep the floors at PO Ackley's gunshop. He would ask questions and that's how he became so educated on small caliber wildcats and AI cartridges. Blaine did all the load data and testing for Mike Bellm (T/C Contender master gunsmith) who was Ackley's son-in-law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qp5OMLqFA

Good Stuff Blake , glad to see you posting