I don't have any ideas on a small game rifle, but I'm thinking about a .22-250 or a 25.06 for a all around small game rifle for target, coyote and other varmit hunting.

What do you think about .22 centerfire rifles?
All my other rifles are C&R large bore, and I want too find something different.

Thanx infer

.22-250 would be cheaper and it drops yotes and makes p-dogs or gophers literally explode.

22-250

I am having the same dilemna lol, except im trying to decide on one of the 4 following calibers as a all around rifle to keep in my truck, primarily it will be used for yotes but would like it to be enough for mountain lions too. The calibers I'm trying to decide from are the 22-250, 243, 6mm and the 25-06.

Infer, go with the .22-250.

Wolf, I'd go with the .243 or the 6mm. The selection is wider when it comes to slugs, so that way you can keep some smaller rounds on hand for the yotes as well as the larger, hotter rounds for the cats.

If you hand load the the 6mm. (75 grain) predator (100 grain) deer. .243 for off the shelf round. (55-75 grain) predator (100 grain) deer. Hope this helps. Both are good all round rifles. Shoot flat. 2950 fps to 3900 fps muzzle velocity. I shoot .220 swift 3900+fps with 50 grain drops them like a stone.

Till our trails cross,
WW

Howdy infer and welcome to the forums.

A lot of people use .22 centerfires for varmints. They are flat shooting with low recoil, and ammo is relatively cheap and easy to find. THe .22-250 has a little more range than my .223, but ammo is a little more expensive. It is capable of taking varmints at ranges of over 300 yards on a good, still day. .22 caliber rifles are an especially good choice if you plan on keeping the pelts. Varmint tip bullets will make a small entrance wound, then fragment so that the bullet doesn't make a big exit wound.

I just got a .25-06, and I really like it. It is flat shooting and has a lot of range on it also. Recoil is still manageable. I use it for shots requiring a little more distance. Since it is capable of shooting a 120 grain bullet, it bucks wind a lot better than smaller calibers. It is also a deadly long-range deer and antelope caliber. At close ranges, it will do more damage to hides, but it has a lot more knockdown at long range. A 25-06 will handle a wide variety of bullet sizes, from 75 grains up to 120. For a cat, I'd definately choose a 25-06.

if you want to save the hides get the 22-250. if you just want to have some fun and dont care about ammo costs 25 -06 will work great but will destroy the hides.

got my choices boiled down to a 22-250 and a 243 now.

HDW... good choice, either one will work for a truck gun... the 243 will not be as fur friendly as the 22-250, if you're looking to sell fur... either will take out a Mtn Lion easily... lions just aint that bullet proof... if you reload, the 22-250 is very user friendly... have never had any trouble finding a load for a good barrel... I've been messing with the 250 for over 30 years now and it's still one of my favorites... kills everything from groundhogs to deer...