Firearms Hunting
What’s the Best Varmint Caliber? Here are the Top 5 Options
A varmint hunt is an experience unlike any other form of hunting. You’re aiming for a target that is smaller than any form of big game hunting, meaning that you’ll need to rely on as much accuracy as you possibly can in order to achieve successful results. Because of that, you’ll want to be sure to do some research to find the best varmint caliber out there.
Thankfully, we’ve done the research for you and have come up with a list of the best varmint calibers available. Read on to learn more about what to look for in a varmint cartridge, the best varmint calibers, some varmint hunting FAQs, and more!
What to Look for In a Varmint Cartridge
Varmint hunting provides a unique set of challenges for hunters. While any big game rifle will certainly be successful in killing any varmint, it may be overkill and may not give the hunter the best performance possible. There are three main factors that you want to look for when choosing a varmint cartridge — accuracy, speed, and distance.
Accuracy
First and foremost, when you’re hunting varmints, the first thing you’ll need to focus on is accuracy. Varmints include small and shifty creatures like coyotes, groundhogs, prairie dogs, raccoons, and foxes, which can be much more difficult targets to hit than animals like deer, elk, or moose. This means that you’ll need a cartridge that provides you with the most accurate shot you can possibly get. Even if you’re the best shot in the world, if you don’t have a cartridge that is optimized for accuracy, you won’t have much luck in the field.
Speed
As mentioned earlier, varmints are incredibly shifty creatures. They’re all notoriously fast animals that can duck in and out of your line of sight within milliseconds. You’ll want a cartridge that will travel from the barrel of your rifle to the target as quickly as possible. While each cartridge coming out of any rifle is going to be moving at a fast speed, there are some that travel faster than others. When you’re varmint hunting, speed is a crucial element of success, so you’ll want to shell out for the fastest cartridges you can find.
Distance
Varmints often possess incredibly acute senses. Since they are such small animals, they’ve evolved acute senses in order to combat the fact that so many predators in their environment want to kill them. It’s nearly impossible for a human hunter to sneak up close to a varmint undetected, meaning that you’ll likely be taking your shot from a long distance. This requires you to use a cartridge that is capable of effectively hitting a target from a long distance while maintaining true to the shot line of the rifle.
Our List of the Top 10 Varmint Calibers
With these three factors in mind, we’ve created a list of five of the best varmint cartridges available. There are some newer caliber options out there, and we're evaluating them to see if they will be long-term winners. Here are our picks for the 10 best, tried and true caliber options:
.17 WINCHESTER SUPER MAGNUM
Developed in 2012 and launched in 2013, the .17 Winchester Super Magnum is one of the newer cartridges on the market, but it’s made quite the impression on varmint hunters since it arrived. This cartridge is capable of pushing a 20-grain bullet at 3,000 fps, which makes it a reliable cartridge out to 300+ yards. It’s also large enough to take down a varmint up to the size of a coyote, which is a great combination of power and precision.
Pros
- Capable to reaching speed of more than 3,000 fps
- Can reach out to and beyond 300 yards
Con
- Need to be aware of the size limitations on such a light bullet
.243 WINCHESTER
If you’re aiming for something on the larger end of the spectrum for varmint hunting, then you’ll want to go with a .243 Winchester. This do-it-all caliber from 1955 is powerful enough to take down a deer while containing the ability to send a 58-grain bullet over 3,400 fps. Many hunters love it on a windy day, and it’s reliable enough to hit any target well over 300 yards. However, if you’re hunting a smaller varmint like a squirrel or a prairie dog, it may be more than you need. You’ll want to use this cartridge for any varmint that’s on the larger end of the spectrum.
Pros
- Can double as a deer rifle and a varmint rifle
- Ammo can be found easily
Con
- Bordering on overkill on smaller varmints
.204 RUGER
If you’re looking for as much accuracy as you can possibly get, then one of the first places you should look is the .204 Ruger. Based on the .222 Remington Magnum, it was introduced in 2004. It can accurately send a 32-grain bullet at over 4,200 fps and is quite popular for any hunter who is hunting any animals like foxes or groundhogs. It can be tough to find ammo choices for this caliber, but if you do, you’ll likely be happy with what you find.
Pros
- Clocks in with speeds more than 4,200 fps
- Incredibly accurate caliber even at great distances
Con
- Ammo can be hard to find and expensive
.220 SWIFT
If you’re going to be shooting smaller varmints from a long distance, then you’ll love using the .220 Swift. This caliber can shoot a 35-grain bullet at a speed of well over 4,400 fps, making it a very popular choice amongst all sorts of varmint hunters. When introduced in 1935, it was the first commercial cartridge with a muzzle velocity of more than 4,000 fps. Unfortunately, it can burn up a barrel in a hurry, but if you have the option to use it, it’s a great varmint cartridge that can get the job done.
Pros
- Lightning fast speed of more than 4,400 fps
- Can be loaded to faster speeds than the .22-250 Remington
Con
- Caliber is tough on barrels
.22-250 REMINGTON
If you’re looking for speed, accuracy, and devastating impact at long ranges, then the .22-250 Remington is a great option. Designed in 1937 as a wildcat, it went mainstream with factory production in 1965. Skilled hunters can use this cartridge to regularly hit a shot from 400+ yards away, and it’s billed as one of the fastest cartridges available with the ability to shoot a bullet over 4,400 fps. When it comes to taking long shots at small targets, this varmint cartridge takes the cake.
Pros
- Lightning fast speed of more than 4,400 fps
- Plenty of load data available if you're a handloader
Con
- Can burn out the barrel quickly if you're not careful
.223 REMINGTON / 5.56 NATO
Developed in 1957 as part of the US military's desire for a new cartridge, the .223 Remington became the 5.56 NATO once adopted. While not 100% interchangeable, the two are almost completely identical. It can send a 55-grain bullet at 3,200 fps, which is more than enough needed to take down even the largest of varmints. In fact, it is versatile enough that you can use it for medium-size game like whitetail deer. Because of the ubiquitous nature of the caliber, it's a popular choice for all kinds of shooters and hunters.
Pros
- Ammo is affordable and can be found everywhere
- Wide variety of firearms chambered for the caliber
Con
- Those looking for a truly dedicated varmint caliber will likely look elsewhere
.17 HORNADY MAGNUM RIMFIRE
The .17 HMR became the bane of prairie dogs' existence when introduced in 2002. Hornady necked down a .22 Magnum to take a .17-caliber bullet and the result was the .17 HMR that can send a 17-grain bullet downrange at 3,650 fps. Now available in a variety of weights and bullet types, the .17 HMR can be used for a wide variety of varmint hunts, with shooters lauding it for its super flat trajectory, allowing them to reach out hundreds of yards and pick off their targets.
Pros
- Has a very flat and accurate trajectory
- Lots of commercial options from which to choose
Con
- More expensive than .22 LR ammo, but cheaper than centerfire
6MM REMINGTON
Introduced in 1955 and based on a necked-down .257 Roberts, the 6mm Remington has gained a reputation as being high velocity, flat shooting, and highly accurate at long distances. It's also a great option for new shooters or those sensitive to recoil because it produces very little. Loaded with a 55-grain bullet, it has a muzzle velocity of more than 4,000 fps. With multiple grain options available, hunters can use the 6mm Remington both for varmint hunting and for medium-sized game animals.
Pros
- Slightly better ballistics than .243 Remington
- Known for having very light recoil.
Con
- Not as commercially popular as other options
.22 LONG RIFLE
Dating all the way back to 1887, the .22 Long Rifle (LR) has serious staying power. While it doesn't boast the speed or range of the other calibers on this list, it cannot be discounted among varmint hunters who aren't trying to reach out hundreds of yards. A 30-grain bullets can reach speeds of 1,600 fps, which is no slouch if you know how to use it and understand the limitations of the caliber. If you're looking to take on squirrels and other similarly-sized varmint out to 100 yards, you can't go wrong with the .22 LR.
Pros
- Ammo can be found everywhere
- Perfect for varmints out to 100 yards
Con
- Lacks speed and range
.22 HORNET
If you're looking for a Goldilocks caliber that fits in well between .22 WMR and .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO, then the .22 Hornet is just what you need. When the .17 HMR came along, some thought the .22 Hornet was dead in the water. Instead, the two coexist quite well together. Introduced in 1930, the .22 Hornet can send a 35-grain bullet down the barrel at speeds up to 3,00 fps. This gives it comparable fps to the .17 HMR but with a bullet that weighs twice as much. Plus, since the .22 Hornet is a centerfire cartridge, it can be reloaded.
Pros
- Very little recoil or report
- Cartridge cases can be reloaded
Con
- Factory firearm variety is lacking
H2: Common Varmint Caliber Questions
Still, have some questions about varmint calibers? We’ve got the answers you’re looking for!
What’s the best long-range varmint caliber?
The best long-range varmint caliber would likely be the .22-250 Remington. Even an average shooter can reliably hit a target from hundreds of yards away using this caliber, and the flat-shooting ability of the cartridge makes it a fan-favorite amongst hunters of varying experience levels.
What’s the best caliber for coyote hunting?
A coyote is the largest animal that classifies as a varmint, meaning you’ll need a powerful varmint caliber in order to get the job done. The .243 Winchester is probably the best option for you to choose. It may not be as fast or as accurate as some of the other cartridges on the list, but coyotes also aren’t the smallest nor the quickest varmints that you can hunt.
What this cartridge lacks in speed and accuracy is more than made up for in pure power. As mentioned earlier, a .243 Winchester is powerful enough to take down a deer, so you can rest assured that any coyote hit with this caliber is sure to go down.
Check out our guide to the best cartridge for each type of game if you’re a regular hunter and don’t just stick to varmints.
Can .223 kill coyotes?
The .223 Remington cartridge is a powerful and accurate cartridge that you can rely on to take down a coyote. It can propel a 55-grain bullet at over 3,000 fps, making it plenty strong enough to stop a coyote in its tracks. Some hunters prefer a smaller cartridge so that they can preserve the hide of the animal, but if you’re just hoping to do some pest control, then this cartridge is the perfect addition to your ammunition drawer.
Get the Upper Hand on Your Prey
When you’re varmint hunting, you’re going to want to utilize every advantage that you can. One of these advantages is keeping the element of surprise by hunting with a suppressor from Silencer Central. A suppressor can help you maintain stealth when you’re hunting, which will keep the varmints in an unsuspecting state and improve your odds of success. Learn more about how Silencer Central can help you on your varmint hunt today!
