I have a .223, .22-250, and a .17HMR that I use for ground hog hunting.

It seems that I always grab the .17. Inside 150yds it gets the job done extremely well...and I've shot a couple at nearly 200 with wonderful results.

If your shots are inside 100yds consistently, the 17 will anchor a groundhog. Especially if you shoot the V-Max bullets.

The centerfires work extremely well and are somewhat more powerful and do a wonderful job on coyotes, too if you ever do that.