varmint rifle

[twilson_99]

I know everyone is now into thinking about shooting bambi's and such, but trying to get a plan on a christmas present for myself. I currently shoot gophers and other small critters with a 17hmr, it's a fun gun, but with the cost of ammo vs a 22lr, thinking maybe if I was to upgrade I'd go for something in a centerfire which I could reload.
I've heard good things about the .204's, shot some 220swifts and 22-250 and they were a lot of fun. Wanting something fast, and accurate with enough impact force to knock down 'yotes out past 500 yards. Any suggestions?
Thanks

[raised by wolves]

A .223/5.56 is a nice choice because of all the cheap surplus amm available.

[Scott N]

500 yards is pretty far out there to be knocking down coyotes with authority, so maybe be looking for a 243 or 25-06?

[munyee4321]

I use a .243 with handloaded 58grain v-maxes and has no problems with knocking down a yote at long distances the longest with min so far is about 400yrds. But this is a dual purpose gun as my gf hunts deer with this rife aswell with 85gr tsx.

I opted for the .243 cause of the ablilty of the cartridge to be a varmint and deer rifle. Plus i'm skeptical about the smaller .22cals knocking down yotes at ranges past 300yards. But thats me and i know people do it all the time, I just like a little more umph :D

[twilson_99]

the lower weight of the 22cals and lower was a concern for me. I have a 243 that's been passed down to me from an uncle so I don't feel comfortable modifying it to make it a target/long range varmint rifle. Could stick with it as it got me a ton of muskrats this year out to 200 yards with 68gr vmax bullets. I just don't like having it in the truck all the time packing around as it carries some family history. That, and I'd like to buy a new gun!!

[munyee4321]

buy a new .243 hehe never hurts to have two of the same :D. Other wise 22-250 would be my suggestion.. the 220swift is nice but i think thats a soon to be a handloaders only cartridge, factory ammo is hard enough to find. .204 ruger is super fast and nice but once again you hit that light weight bullet at long distances with some of the wind down south here lol its hard to hit your target.

[Homesteader]

If you're looking for a good truck gun, grab a stevens in what ever cal you like, as others have pointed out 243 is a good one, but they offer them in quite a few cals. Since you've already got a 243 you can make the arguement both ways that another is good so you only need one set of dies powder etc, or I'd say the better choice, get something different like a 7-08. A 7-08 is a pretty versatile round and would be alot of fun perhaps, not sure if you're big on reloading.

P.S. Is them the saber tooth muskrats you're killing with the .243 :)

[gube]

I've shot the 223's, 22-250s, 243's and the 25-06. My all time favorite right now is the 204 ruger especially in the prairie dog fields. A ballistic twin to the 22-250 but burns 1/3 less powder. I've whacked yotes out to 400 yds with them but most shots are under 300 yds.
If you want long distance (500 +) shots at yotes you are better off with the 243 or the 25-06.