What Caliber ?

[red rick]

I am just kicking around a rifle caliber for coyotes and groundhogs . I was thinking .22 magnum or .17 , but those calibers might keep me around 100 yards . What caliber would you choose ? I am guessing most will say .223 or 22-250 . If I go that large in caliber I would also like it to be legal to hunt deer with , so it has to be over .22 caliber .

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Is there a reason to want one caliber and rifle?

I don’t hunt so I’m curious what the reasons would be besides cost, and standardizing ammo and gun.

 

[firedawg60]

I did that for a while with a 25-06 while my hunting buddy used a .243. I probably would go .243 now.

 

[red rick]

One caliber and rifle would save money . I also reload so that would save even more money with dies , powder and brass . But if you have the money I don't see anything wrong with having a rifle and caliber for every sized game that you are going after , there would be no compromising . That is not me though .

 

[ColtPythonElite]

.260 followed by 7mm-08

 

[rdnktrkr]

What about one of the 6.5s they can go for distance and big enough for deer

 

[red rick]

I am considering .243 and 6.5 as my top 2 choices if I go over .22 magnum and .17 .

 

[Hokie_PhD]

If you can use an AR it would seem like a good option. I did a quick search and didn’t see anything that says you can’t use one in Virginia. Just get the right uppers and magazines. One of the reasons I love ARs is the modular design (among other things).

Otherwise I’m not sure what would make sense.

 

[red rick]

You can't use .223 for deer in VA. and if I go with a caliber larger than .22 magnum I would like a caliber legal for deer in Va. .

 

[LoonWulf]

dual purpose, with the primary consideration being varmints, id go .243. Bullets are still cheaper than 6.5s and theres a better selection of varmint bullets. For deer hunting youve still got decent bullets in the 100gr range.

To use the high bc bullets in 6mm youll need a fast twist barrel, which isnt standard on most .243, and MAY tear apart the lightest varmint bullets, but for hunting purposes the long heavy vlds arnt really necessary.

While i LIKE the 6.5s i just dont see them as being ideal small game/varmint rounds.

Personally im bored with the .243, id probably opt for a .250 or .257, which has a decent selection of lighter varmint bullets, and offers an extra 20grn of top end weight.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

You can't use .223 for deer in VA. and if I go with a caliber larger than .22 magnum I would like a caliber legal for deer in Va. .

That’s why I said get the right uppers.

6.5 Grendel or 300 Blackout are just two of the larger calibers for ARs that come to mind that might woek

 

[LoonWulf]

oh forgot to mention that if medium game were the primary use for the rifle id consider the 6.5s much superior to the .243.

 

[Goosey]

I would be thinking about a .22 Hornet or maybe even trying 17 WSM if you wanted more range than a .22 Mag yet keeping it smaller than .223, or about going to .243 for something to take deer as well.

 

[red rick]

A good upper will cost more than a rifle most good rifles .

 

[jmr40]

Coyote or groundhogs at close range, any rimfire. At extended ranges any 22 centerfire, but I think 223/5.56 is the most versatile. If legal where you live a 22 center is just fine for deer size game out to about 200 yards if proper ammo is used. If not legal then you have to move up, but the last time I checked the regs there were only 4 states that did not allow 22 centerfire for deer that also allowed any other centerfire rifle cartridges. There are a handful of other states that are shotgun, muzzle loader only, and a few more that allow a limited selection of mostly handgun cartridges in rifles.

A 243 is enough gun for any deer that ever walked and is borderline acceptable even for elk size game. That sounds like the most likely choice for you. You can go up to something in 26, 27, 28, or even 30 caliber. They would be better options for game larger than deer, but don't kill a deer any deader than a 243. They would be less desirable on varmints than 243 though. If you don't think you'll ever hunt game bigger than deer buy a 243 and don't look back. If there is a possibility of game larger than deer my personal pick is 2 rifles. One in 223, and the 2nd one in either 6.5 CM, 7-08, or 308.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

A good upper will cost more than a rifle most good rifles .

Yea they can. But you can also buy the parts and assemble them as budget allows which is one of the things I love. And you can choose each part and decide exactly what you have.

PSA also has some great deals on some nice ones.

Of course if you’re like me having uppers without lowers would drive me nuts so there the cost of more lowers.

I guess you have to see what makes sense to you. Nice rifles have all kinds of price points. So lots of options besides ARs

 

[.308 Norma]

Personally im bored with the .243, id probably opt for a .250 or .257

And here I thought I was the only one that finds 243s boring. I've been considering getting a 257 Roberts for myself as a designated mule deer rifle. Or more interesting yet (IMO) having it turned into a 257 Ackley Improved. By coincidence, I saw "257 Ack" on a license plate this morning.

 

[Grumulkin]

A 17 HMR and 22 WMR will work fine for groundhogs but I wouldn't count for either of them much for coyotes. Energy also drops off fairly fast so you probably wouldn't want to shoot much over 100 yards if that. Of the two, I'd go with the 17 HMR.

If you decide to go with a deer rifle, a 243 Winchester, 25/06 Remington, 270 WInchester, 308 Winchester, etc. will work great on everything from groundhogs to deer.

A 300 BLK would be legal but I wouldn't count on it putting game down as fast as the other 4 centerfire cartridges I mentioned and it's range wouldn't equal any of them.

 

[red rick]

Coyote or groundhogs at close range, any rimfire. At extended ranges any 22 centerfire, but I think 223/5.56 is the most versatile. If legal where you live a 22 center is just fine for deer size game out to about 200 yards if proper ammo is used. If not legal then you have to move up, but the last time I checked the regs there were only 4 states that did not allow 22 centerfire for deer that also allowed any other centerfire rifle cartridges. There are a handful of other states that are shotgun, muzzle loader only, and a few more that allow a limited selection of mostly handgun cartridges in rifles.

A 243 is enough gun for any deer that ever walked and is borderline acceptable even for elk size game. That sounds like the most likely choice for you. You can go up to something in 26, 27, 28, or even 30 caliber. They would be better options for game larger than deer, but don't kill a deer any deader than a 243. They would be less desirable on varmints than 243 though. If you don't think you'll ever hunt game bigger than deer buy a 243 and don't look back. If there is a possibility of game larger than deer my personal pick is 2 rifles. One in 223, and the 2nd one in either 6.5 CM, 7-08, or 308.

I already said .223 is not legal in Va. for deer or that would be my first choice since I already reload for that caliber . I agree on you with the .243 .

 

[Demi-human]

A Six Creedmoor is not a Two Fourty Three. (But it really is.)

 

[Armored farmer]

If you want to cover all the bases, i would buy a .243.

 

[cdb1]

I too find the .243 boring. The reason it’s boring is good though.

So I say .243, 6mm-.284, .257 Roberts or .257 Weatherby Mag.

 

[gotboostvr]

What about an Encore with a couple spare barrels?

.223 scoped for 'yotes, scoped 308 for deer, open sighted 45-70 to hammer whatever pig or elk you'd come across.

 

[red rick]

That probably would be the cheapest option without much compromise , except single shot and the only time that I have needed a fast second shot has been with small game and birds .

 

[Legionnaire]

I like .243. If you’re bored, bore it out to a .243 Ackley. While a 1:8 twist would be best, there is a lot you can do with 1:9.125.