Varmint caliber ideas?

[JORTZ]

Alot of 6br posts. Sounds like 6mm probably would be the way to go.

 

[Webster]

So i have a 204 220swift 223 22250 243 basic calibers for varmint hunting. Im looking for something different to do. Any ideas?
Im throwing a couple ideas
Another 220 swift
20vt
30br
Looking for something different

Forget to 30BR, it has the ballistics of a brick. You already have a lot of the light bullets covered. Sounds like you use factory barrels. Custom barrels are expensive. How about a 6BRX shooting 105 AMAX type bullets. 87-90 gr bullets definetly good to at least 600 yrds. Accurate, good barrel life. See if your gunsmith will rechamber your 243 to 6BRX. Just bought a 6BRX barrel from own of the best gunsmiths $650. It cost no more to cut a chamber to 6BRX than 6BR. Good for another 100-150 fps.

 

[Rich S]

How about a 22 BRA? A little faster than the 22 BR but easier to fire form brass than a Dasher.

 

[Gabe22BR]

20-221AI Lapua case

22BRAI with 53 gr Vmax

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

if you were looking for a high volume super efficient varmint cartridge out to 500 yards i would recommend the 20SCC (20-221AI), beyond that range the 20-223ai is a nice option if utilizing the 39 sierra blitzking. I own reamers for both and have done plenty of testing to support the recommendation. Personally i would avoid the 20-250 and also the ai version of it, the case capacity is way too much to get any kind of efficiency with a 20 caliber bullet.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Something different? 17 HMR or 22 MAG. I personally use a 22 pistol on occasion

 

[centershot]

6mm TCU.

 

[Andy Work]

My first thought after seeing what you already have was something in 17 or 25.

 

[mongo chicago]

For medium - 600yds - to long range - 1000yds - I use 6mm Remington. Shoots sub minute all the way. After you decide on a cartridge, decide on a bullet wt. The heavier longer bullets need a tighter twist to stabilize.

 

[SmokinJoe]

For what you said you were going to use it for, I would build a 6 Dasher with 9 or 10 twist barrel & shoot 87 V-Max in it. It will shoot pretty flat to 600+, buck the wind pretty well & blow up the vermin pretty well - a good compromise all around. If you don't want to form the brass yourself, get DJ's to do it for you. Be sure to let us know what you do and how it works out.
If you want to go the other way (mucho fun!), build the 20-221FB AI (20SCC), or as Phil recommended above a 20VT w/40* shoulder (all the same cartridge), which is great to 350 - 400 yds, and can be stretched farther on good days. Fun little round with great performance and accuracy. Ask Dave Kiff for a 20 FireBlaster reamer print and go from there. Good luck and have fun! Joe

 

[JORTZ]

For what you said you were going to use it for, I would build a 6 Dasher with 9 or 10 twist barrel & shoot 87 V-Max in it. It will shoot pretty flat to 600+, buck the wind pretty well & blow up the vermin pretty well - a good compromise all around. If you don't want to form the brass yourself, get DJ's to do it for you. Be sure to let us know what you do and how it works out.
If you want to go the other way (mucho fun!), build the 20-221FB AI (20SCC), or as Phil recommended above a 20VT w/40* shoulder (all the same cartridge), which is great to 350 - 400 yds, and can be stretched farther on good days. Fun little round with great performance and accuracy. Ask Dave Kiff for a 20 FireBlaster reamer print and go from there. Good luck and have fun! Joe

If i go dasher isnt there a bunch of brass prep?

 

[22DASHER]

If i go dasher isnt there a bunch of brass prep?

No. Not if you get your brass formed from DJ

 

[onelastshot]

I've got a 6mmAI that's an absolute screamer. Reloader 17 pushing an 85-87 grainer it moves out at 3,500-3,600fps. It gives you a 600-800 yard killer.

 

[powderbrake]

I have tried most of your calibers on prairie dogs, and I went with a 6BR with a no turn neck for my longer distance prairie dog gun.

Fast twist (1:8) and heavier bullets (I use 88 gr Berger Varmint bullets) I value high ballistic coefficient and hitting them over high velocity and explosive results. Mine runs 3090 fps.

No hassle on loading, no neck turning, no fire forming, no fragile necks, very, very accurate.

 

[JORTZ]

I have tried most of your calibers on prairie dogs, and I went with a 6BR with a no turn neck for my longer distance prairie dog gun.

Fast twist (1:8) and heavier bullets (I use 88 gr Berger Varmint bullets) I value high ballistic coefficient and hitting them over high velocity and explosive results. Mine runs 3090 fps.

No hassle on loading, no neck turning, no fire forming, no fragile necks, very, very accurate.

How long barrel u run?

 

[ROCKJAG4]

How long barrel u run?

I HAVE BEEN HUNTIN CHUCKS FOR 58YRS. HAD EVERY CALIBER U CAN THINK OF. THE BEST I EVER BUILT WAS A 22/243 A.I. 7 TWIST 28 ". SHOT 80 GR. LIKE LIL LAZERS.FANTASTIC ROUND. ROUGH ON THROAT.THO.

 

[LarryDScott]

From 1 yd to 500yds the 20Tactical loaded w/32Hornadys or 39 Sierras for windy days.
For greater than 500 a 6Br in 8 Twist. It will shoot the 87Gr Vmax with great accuracy, then if you want to stretch the distance, load the 107 Sierra MK. Two calibers that you cant
go wrong with, in the PD field. JMHO. LDS

 

[Webster]

If i go dasher isnt there a bunch of brass prep?

The main advantage of the 6BRX over the Dasher is no case prep. Just load them and shoot to fire form. Same ballistics.

 

[bloc]

Go retro! Think about the fiendishly accurate .225 Winchester. You can make brass from .30-30 cases, and it's roughly the same as a .22-250.

 

[scope eye]

A 22-243 Middlestead fits your criteria. I have a 10 and a 12 twist and both like 69gr and 77gr sierra's and are both capable of sending them past 4000 fps.

Dean