{"id":2323,"date":"2024-07-24T14:51:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2024-07-24T14:56:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T18:56:26","slug":"choosing-varmint-cartridges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/choosing-varmint-cartridges\/","title":{"rendered":"CHOOSING VARMINT CARTRIDGES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Craig Boddington<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Although<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When selecting a hunting cartridge, three considerations are most important: Accuracy, shooting ranges, and power<\/a>, all adequate for the game to be hunted. These apply for hunting any game from prairie dogs to pachyderms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For varmints, power might seem a silly consideration, so let\u2019s consider that first. The word \u201cvarmint\u201d is uniquely American, a corruption from the English \u201cvermin.\u201d The implication is noxious pests, generally removed with minimal restrictions (such as seasons, bag limits, and license requirements). The game Americans generally consider \u201cvarmints\u201d range from grass-eating and hole-digging rodents up to coyotes. The distinction can change. In British East Africa (now Kenya and Tanzania), lions were classed as vermin until late in the game. In Europe, the marmot (relative to our woodchuck) is highly prized, often hunted with seasons and limits. In North America, \u201cfurbearers\u201d often have separate seasons, sometimes a separate license.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Coyotes<\/a>
Coyotes are extremely tough animals, but almost all centerfire cartridges are more than adequate. This coyote was taken with a 6.5 PRC, plenty of gun but from .223 Remington upward pelt damage is inevitable.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Because of numbers and voracious predation, rules for coyotes are usually liberal. It\u2019s old Wile E. Coyote that calls up the power question on varmint cartridges. From small gophers to the largest woodchuck, any of the rimfires on up are powerful enough, just a matter of how close you must get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coyotes are different, pound for pound for pound very tough animals. Power doesn\u2019t matter so much if the encounter is close. However, unless one is calling, coyote encounters aren\u2019t often close. For me, coyote hunting is a centerfire game. Which one depends on required range, and whether pelt damage is a concern. Serious callers (which I am not) often use shotguns with heavy charges of coarse shot. Easier to hit moving coyotes coming to the call, and minimal pelt damage past 25 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"For<\/a>
For a May 2024 prairie dog shoot in Wyoming Gordon Marsh hauled the guns. These include .17 HMR, .22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, and .22-250, a fine selection for all ranges and conditions.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The .17 Remington was developed in Australia, no coyotes but problems with non-native foxes. Light, frangible .17-caliber bullets tend to enter and come apart without exiting, so wonderfully effective without ruining the pelt. The popular .17 HMR<\/a> rimfire is an awesome medium-range varmint cartridge, but marginally powerful for coyotes unless the shot is close. Today we have centerfire .17s from .17 Hornet<\/a> up through grand-dad .17 Rem<\/a>. Plus the rimfire .17 Winchester Super Magnum<\/a> and the .22 WMR<\/a>. All are adequate for coyotes, effective range depending on velocity. Above that, the .204 Ruger<\/a> and all the .22 centerfires are fine for coyotes.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hornady\u2019s<\/a>
Hornady\u2019s Seth Swerczek with a .17 HMR, shooting prairie dogs from field positions. The little .17 HMR punches far above its weight class, surprisingly effective to 200 yards\u2026until the wind comes up.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I do little specific coyote hunting. The majority I take are targets of opportunity while hunting other game. This means I\u2019m usually carrying a centerfire adequate for deer-sized game. Effective for coyote control, but don\u2019t expect salvageable skins. A partial compromise is to use a milder .22 centerfire like the .223 Rem<\/a> with non-expanding military or FMJ <\/a>match bullets. Caliber-size entrance and exit holes are common. Just check your regs; non-expanding bullets aren\u2019t legal for hunting in some jurisdictions. Also, poor choices for other varminting. Frangible \u201cvarmint\u201d bullets aren\u2019t quick-expanding just for explosive effect; also, to reduce ricochet.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"They<\/a>
They look cute, but prairie dogs consume prodigious quantities of grass and destroy pasture with burrows and mounds. They offer a target of maybe 12×3 inches, a difficult mark on the usually-windy prairie.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The varmint hunting I know best is small rodents: Ground squirrels in California, prairie dogs on the Great Plains, both found in colonies. I\u2019ve done some rockchuck shooting in the West, but I can count all the woodchucks I\u2019ve shot without taking my shoes off. Power isn\u2019t an issue. I\u2019ve had great fun shooting prairie dogs with .22 Long Rifle<\/a> hollowpoints, Some serious Eastern hunters make a game of stalking woodchucks with rimfires.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Introduced<\/a>
Introduced 96 years ago as America\u2019s first varmint cartridge, the little .22 Hornet is faster and more effective than it looks. Also shockingly accurate, as proven by this CZ .22 Hornet.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Wherever, shooting rodents isn\u2019t about raw power, but about accuracy and range, which sort of go together. Prairie dog shooting is perhaps the most demanding of raw accuracy. Small targets open country, usually windy. An adult prairie dog might offer a target as much as twelve inches nose to tail, more like three inches from brisket to backline. Presentation may be anything, but is usually either standing vertically, or horizontal. Either way, there\u2019s a large target in one direction, very small the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We typically judge rifle accuracy by average group size. In America, usually at 100 yards. For a hunting rifle,<\/a> the Holy Grail is generally one Minute of Angle (MOA), even for mountain game. One MOA means one inch at 100 yards, natural dispersion spreading to two inches at 200 yards, three inches at 300 yards, and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Ruger No. 1 isn\u2019t known for tack-driving accuracy, but heavy-barreled models are often surprising. This is Boddington\u2019s favorite varmint rifle, a stainless-and-laminate No. 1 in .204, a genuine half-MOA rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

On the windy prairies, and with animals often moving while bullets are in flight, there\u2019s no such thing as hitting prairie dogs with every shot. I prefer hitting to missing. When I inevitably miss, I like to understand why, then correct with the next shot. Doesn\u2019t do me any good to miss because I\u2019m out of accuracy. So, for a general-purpose prairie dog rifle, one MOA accuracy isn\u2019t enough. That means I\u2019m beyond Minute of Prairie Dog at 300 yards. That\u2019s a fair poke on a prairie dog-sized target, nobody hits them all. However, if you start with one-inch groups at 100 yards, naturally expanding groups will cause misses beyond 300 yards. Since I like hits better than misses, I expect a serious prairie dog rifle to do better. No such thing as too much accuracy for small varmints. Also, no limited to how far one can shoot at prairie dogs! Only a few blessed and gifted rifle barrels will deliver one half MOA groups on a consistent basis, but that\u2019s the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"This<\/a>
This heavy-barreled Ruger No. 1 in .204 Ruger belongs to Gordon Marsh. He and Boddington both believe the .204 is the best all-around choice for prairie dogs: Plenty of range, but mild recoil allows calling shots through the scope.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It’s not about cartridges. However, my heavy-barreled Ruger<\/a> No. 1 in .204 Ruger will do that. In May 2024, I was delighted to see that friend and prairie dog shooting partner Gordon Marsh found a No. 1 in .204 that will also do that. I\u2019ve had various other .22 centerfires that grouped as well or better, also 6mms and some larger cartridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That level of accuracy is not essential. It\u2019s just that, with less accuracy, effective range is limited. Well, absent wind-bucking and trajectory-flattening velocity, range is limited anyway. On prairie dogs, that\u2019s part of the fun; just depends on how personal you take misses.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Gordon<\/a>
Gordon Marsh on the bench in a prairie dog town with his heavy-barreled Savage .22-250. When the wind comes up and shots are long, it\u2019s time for the \u201cbig gun.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The last time I shot prairie dogs with a .22 rimfire was with a Ruger 10\/22 target rifle. It averaged .75-inch 50-yard groups across several loads. Theoretically, Minute of Prairie Dog to 400 yards. Between ridiculous holdover, huge wind deflection, and long flight time, you\u2019re not going to hit many prairie dogs at 400 yards with a .22 Long Rifle<\/a>. Once I figured holdover and wind, it was deadly at 100 yards, and I was surprised at how consistently I could hit at 150 yards. Then, I was done, time to break out a faster cartridge.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"<\/a>
 An accurate .22 LR is a wonderful varmint rifle, just need to keep shots short. This Ruger 10\/22 target model was wonderful fun on prairie dogs, effective to a bit past 100 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In our prairie dog group, Bill Green and Ronnie Whitten love their .17 HMRs.<\/a> Amazing accuracy, uncanny performance. I\u2019ve seen them hit prairie dogs at 300 yards too often to be flukes. However, the .17-caliber\u2019s light bullets are extremely susceptible to wind, great training to learn to deal with it, but the .17 HMR<\/a> is pretty much done at 200 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Gordon<\/a>
Gordon Marsh in a Wyoming prairie dog town with his suppressed CZ .22 Hornet, amazingly effective to nearly 300 yards. Behind him, Bill Green is shooting a .223, always an effective varmint cartridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This year, Gordon borrowed another page from my book and also brought a CZ <\/a>.22 Hornet.<\/a> Introduced in 1930, the Hornet is America\u2019s first factory varmint cartridge. Despite its archaic rimmed, tapered case, it is shockingly accurate and surprisingly fast; lighter bullets can be loaded to nearly 3000 fps. Fitted with a suppressor, the little Hornet turned out to be Gordon\u2019s primary prairie dog rifle this year. When it was calm, I was impressed to see how consistently he was hitting clear to 300 yards. When the wind came up, he was done, needed something faster.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Left,<\/a>
Left, a heavy-barreled .22-250; right, a .25-06. Both these rifles have the extreme accuracy needed for long-range varminting. A .25-06 with light bullets is probably the most powerful cartridge that makes sense for varminting. Above .22, a primary drawback is too much recoil.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Since power isn\u2019t an issue, prairie dogs can be shot with anything that\u2019s accurate enough. Kansas friend Vance Cain told me he used to shoot prairie dogs with his .458<\/a>. When I was a kid, I shot a lot of prairie dogs with my .264<\/a>, and my \u201cgo-to\u201d was a .243<\/a>. Many folks use various 6mms and .25-calibers with light bullets. The .22-250<\/a> reigns as the most popular \u201cfast\u201d varmint cartridge. I used the .22-250<\/a> for years, and Gordon always has his heavy-barreled Savage .22-250<\/a>, his \u201cbig gun,\u201d brought out when the wind comes up or only distant \u2018dogs are visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
A 6mm ARC set up in a prairie dog town. Accurate and flat-shooting, all the 6mms are effective for varminting. The major drawback: Too much recoil to call shots through the scope.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are many great varmint cartridges: All the .17s, .20s, .22s, even the 6mms and .25s if one prefers. Some are old, some new. Both the 6mm ARC<\/a> and brand-new .22 ARC<\/a> have been wonderfully successful. The .22 ARC<\/a> has similar velocity to .22-250<\/a>, but AR-compatible, and barreled with faster twist to use heavier bullets, which buck wind better, but produce more recoil.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Although<\/a>
Although there are many other good choices, these are Boddington\u2019s favorite varmint cartridges, left to right: .17 HMR, .22 Hornet, .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .22-250. On a given day, which is used depends on game, distance, and wind.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Unlike much varmint shooting, prairie dogs tend to offer multiple opportunities. So, for me the ideal prairie dog rifle has lots of reach, but mild enough recoil to allow calling shots through the scope. Call the wind, take the shot, see the strike, reload and adjust. The .223<\/a> allows this. Unless very heavy, the .22-250<\/a> bounces just a bit too much, as do all larger cartridges. The .204<\/a> is faster but, with lighter bullets, has less recoil; it has become my favorite all-around varmint cartridge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Craig Boddington When selecting a hunting cartridge, three considerations are most important: Accuracy, shooting ranges, and power, all adequate for the game to be hunted. These apply for hunting any game from prairie dogs to pachyderms. For varmints, power might seem a silly consideration, so let\u2019s consider that first. The word \u201cvarmint\u201d is uniquely … Continue reading “CHOOSING VARMINT CARTRIDGES”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[7,101,21],"tags":[8,19,42],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_6627-3-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1703&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2323"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2345,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions\/2345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}