BRUSE

I'm considering a new predator rifle. the t/c truimp to be exact just deciding whether to go with 22/250, 223, or 308. I have a few ideas for the 308 but wonder how bad it will tear up the coats on smaller game. I have other rifles to use for larger game so I'm not looking for a deer/yote gun but was just curious why the 308 was listed in a varmit gun. any suggestions

stapher1

A .223 or 22-250 would be outstanding choices for yotes. A 308 would tear up the pelt as would a 243. I've seen a 243 win make a grapfruit sized holes in them. I've talked to guys that use a .17 hmr, i prefer a .223 for the range and less chance of damaging the pelt.

halfbakedi420

you can find a bull bore 308. but i would go with a 22-250

300ultramagshooter

I have a Remington model 7 predator in 243 Win. and really like it I know some say its to big but I was lookin for a coyote/groundhog gun for me and something my nephew can use for deer to see if hes interested in hunting. glad to say he enjoyed hunting this year so for his birthday I'm goin to buy him a rifle either goin with a model 7 or model 700 SPS in 7mm/08 or 308 ?

Sheridan

Really what "most" would call common sense;

Rimfire for varmints

Small centerfire for predators

Medium centerfire for deeer size game

Larger centerfire / Big bore for big game or dangerous game


Now, if you are so good that you shoot everything within 100 yards or only shoot them behind the ear, use a smaller caliber.

If you are so good that you shoot everything at 1,000 yards use a bigger caliber.


I like the phrase; "right tool for the right job" - that includes the right bullet !


Perhaps this will help (although, some will say he doesn't know anything - LOL);

http://www.chuckhawks.com/gun_game.htm

halfbakedi420

my 12 year old daughter, at 175lbs..5'10"..just got her 7mm08 and was a lil recoil stricken with it the 1st time at the range, but she sucked it up and after a few shots she said she barely felt it. her first hunt she said she didnt even feel it. i put the 1st 2 shots through the same hole, thought i missed, but the tear after the 3rd was tellin me different, the same hole again, 4th..5th same hole..i can totally vouch for the 5R rifling..its awesome.

Nomercy448

For a dedicated coyote rig, I'm a fan of the .223rem. The .22-250 would be my second choice, .220swift my 3rd (never had a run in with a .204 Ruger yet).

There are a LOT of guys out there that will say you need a .22-250's extra power and speed over a .223rem, but if you look at the numbers, that 10% difference in MV and 20% difference in ME doesn't mean squat out at range. If you plot out both, the energy of the .223 is almost identical to the .22-250 50yrds further down range until about 650yrds, and then they run almost exactly the same energy. At 750yrds, both the .223rem and .22-250 have about 100ft.lbs. left, still running more energy than a standard .22lr at the muzzle!

The .243win or .243 WSSM, or .308win are great options if you're planning to have all of your shots pretty far down range. The .243's will surpass the 22cals past 500yrds for trajectory, and obviously has substantially more energy throughout. The .308win is a pelt killer. Yes, you can throttle the damage back by using less expansion bullets, or fragmenting bullets (either end of the spectrum works), but typical "varmint bullets" from a .308win will do a LOT of damage.

For most guys, a dedicated coyote rig should be a 22cal centerfire. The .243/6mm's are great for their long range performance, but they tend to do quite a bit of damage up close (under 150-200yrds). the 22cal CF's are also nice because you can usually keep the target in the scope, meaning your follow up shots will be a lot faster. A .243win is still POSSIBLE for this, but with a .308win, you gotta have a dang heavy rifle before your scope doesn't jump off a dog under recoil.

stapher1

* edited for huntingnet.com correctness.

So, are deer dangerous game? Cause that would explain the recommendations i've seen for a 45/70 for deer.

halfbakedi420

i think most was in quotes fer just this occasion.

homers brother

It's not uncommon for a "Varmint" rifle to find other uses - and often chambered in .308 - than that we'd generally refer to as "Varmint Hunting." Most manufacturers market their short-action, heavy contour barrelled rifles as "Varmint Rifles," generally in .223, .22-250, .243, and .308, occasionally including calibers like .204 and .220.

For general, all-around varminting, it's hard to beat the .223. The .22-250 is a great varmint cartridge, but it's generally loaded from the factory with lighter bullets (40 gr) than what you'll typically find loaded in .223 (usually 50-55 gr). While those lighter bullets and their higher velocities will almost literally vaporize prairie poodles, my experience with them on coyotes hasn't been as satisfactory. The .223 and it's heavier bullets driven at more moderate velocities have been far more suitable when I've had any concern about selling a coyote pelt.

The .243 and .308 are really both more at home when: 1) you're not concerned about selling the pelts, 2) It's windy, and/or 3) you're expect to shoot beyond 300 yards regularly.

Depending on how you plan to hunt coyotes, even the .223 might not be the perfect ticket. When I've called coyotes in the past couple of years, I've been using a .22 Hornet. Yeah, it's a little old-fashioned, but a 40 gr bullet at 2800 fps will easily do a coyote in at ranges under 100 yards, a bit farther out if you handload something with a higher BC. I know a number of guys who've used the .221 Fireball to equal effect, and the .221 isn't quite so finicky to handload.

In general though, I'd have to throw my recommendation behind the .223. Ammunition's plentiful and won't break the bank, rifles are widely available, and its not-so-blistering velocity and heavier bullets seem to work better on coyotes than the .22-250 does.