Which caliber to complete this trio
 

You have a Remington 700 bdl in 25-06 and a browning a-bolt medallion in 7mm mag. Which of the following do you purchase for coyotes and smaller? No rimfire please as there are plenty of 22's in the family.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I picked 22-250 but a 7mm-08 would be great. It would fit right in with the rifles you already have and makes a great long range varmint round or deer round with the proper choice of bullets. The 25-06 is also a great choice for both deer and varmints with proper bullet choices.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

He would be using the 25-06 possibly coyote, antelope and deer so this next will be for coyote and anything smaller. Thanks for the responses and votes so far!

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

What your really asking is, what "cartridge" to complete the combo, and my vote would be for the 22-250

DM

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I picked the .204 Ruger. It is a great rifle for coyote and smaller game. It doesn't have the recoil or the muzzle blast of the 22-250 and you can see the target explode through the scope when you pull the trigger. If you reload it becomes more economical than the 22-250 as it uses less powder. The barrels don't get nearly as hot as the overbored 22. My next choice would be the .223. It's a very under rated caliber when it comes to varmint hunting.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I'd say .223 for cost of ammo and varmints out to 300 yds. The 25-06 would work at further ranges.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I don't think a 7mm-08 enhances his collection at all. There's nothing it can do that you can't do just as well with the two rifles he's already got.

I vote for the .223. In an AR platform.... while you still can.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I'd get either the .223 (cheap ammo) or the .22/250 (good long range).

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I would have to say a 22-250 But the 204 ruger is a lot of fun to shot.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I voted for the .223. As already stated, cheap ammo, good accuracy out to 300 yds.and you can get it in an AR platform before it's too late. As to accuracy, there is a shooter at my range who regularly wins military style comps with an R-i5 in .223 at 600 and 1000 yds.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

220 Swift. A grossly under-rated, generally ignored, but excellent round!

Just ask Harvey Donaldson!!

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have to admit, I didn't think this would be as big of a spread as it is.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I voted for the .223. I'll tell you why...The 22.250 is great for longer ranges, if you practice a lot. The .223 is just as good out to 300 yards. After the 300 yards if you don't practice a ton, give it up.The cost of ammo practicing a lot can put a hurt on ya! I have a Remington 22.250 Varmint and it is a smoking gun, but out to 300 yardsmy .223 is right there with it, and a hell of a lot cheaper to practice with. I've never owned a .204, but I have a several friends that were not to impressed. The say they lack knock down power and had several yotes run and had to track them.(very fur friendly though)

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I went .223 for the same obvious reasons already mentioned. I also like the .220 Swift, but barrel burn out is a consideration if you shootquite often....and ammo isn't particularly common. I've also heard of the downrange energy/knockdown problems of the .204. I noticed no one mentioned the .243, or even the 6mm Rem (.244)...which is slowly making a resounding comeback. Somewhat close to the quarter bore you already have...but very versatile nonetheless. The .222 had it's day, but nothing is gained in that cartridge that the .223 and .222 Rem Mag don't already handle better.

Nobodyshould give a rat's a$$ what I think, but this is how I'd rate them:

.223
.22-250
.222
.204

Good luck, anyway.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I voted for "other" and my choice would be the 243. Thats my go-to varmint rig for pdogs, jackrabbits, coyotes, etc. It also doubles nicely as a deer/antelope gun.

If 243 is out of the question the 223 would be my second choice, a guy can never have too many 223s......Just ask me I think I have around 4 of them right now. :D

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

:D22-250 should do it ...

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

Ah, now its getting to be a closer race like I had imagined.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

i have a few coyote guns ,but for some reason i have always preferred the 243,

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

If the .243 wasn't so close to the 25-06, it would've probably made the list.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

.223 Remington. The ammo is probably cheaper. If you reload, it is probably cheaper. The rifle report is probably quieter. I'm guessing the coyotes and other critters are just as dead. Extra range from the .22-250? Maybe a wee bit.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

we are missing a group,up here in NY lots of coyotes are taken with a 12 gauge with buckshot because of the thick woods and brush that they hang in.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

no, no group missing. While shooting coyotes with a 12 ga. could happen around here while hunting pheasants and what not, odds are you won't get that close. This is wide open farming territory, rifles rule the roost.

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

I had to choose when I bought my coyote rifle but I went with a .223.

If you are shooting them just to shoot them your 25-06 is more than good enough (heck so is your 7mm). I've taken more with my 7mm RM during deer/elk hunting that I have with my .223.

But if you prefer to have a predator-only rifle you just can't go wrong with the 223. Ammo is very affordable, especially lately, and mine shoots so well I can't imagine a need for anything better. If you wanted to hunt predators (coyote, bobcat, as well as groundhogs or marmits) all the time you may be better off with a 22-250 or 220 swift as they are slightly flatter shooting. But much more expensive too. And as mentioned, the 204 may be a little light for song-dogs, especially at longer ranges. I've never had to shoot a coyote more than once with my 223 so it works plenty fine for all my encounters.

Good luck and congrats on the new rifle no matter what you get!

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

If you hunt in open areas that shoot long distances, then I would say either 22-250 or .220 Swift.


If you hunt in woods, I'd go with a .223 Ruger Carbine or, if you'd rather keep bolting, then get a CZ bolt-action 10-rounder in 7.62x39,don't remember the model name of it.

Ordinarily, I'd recommend the .243 Winchester, but, seeing as you've already got a 25-06,a .243 would exactly add muchvariety to the mix, now would it?

One last thing, and I know this might begoing toofar, if you can find a Ruger 10/22 in .22 WMR, then get it, it's not made anymore, and it'dmake a fine varmit gun, may not be the best for coyote, but I think you could use light 25-06 ammo just fine for coyotes, couldn't you?

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

22-250

RE: Which caliber to complete this trio
 

http://www.savagearms.com/40Varmint.htm Id go with the old 22hornet(40gr/2800fps) which is making a comback latley. Good yote gun out to 200+yds and just as cheap as 223 which I believe is, or may become in short supply due to global war efforts.