What caliber other than .204 for vermin?

[Varoum]

I am considering the .243AI but the 6mm is also an option with a 30in barrel. For the long and very long shot. But a .20 extreme for up to 500 yards.

[Joe O]

I have started to look into a .243AI. My only fear is that of getting the standard .243 and the .243AI cartridges mixed up... although I'm one anal dude when it comes to reloading and shooting in general.I

No worry.Once e 243 cartridge is fireformed in the Ackley chamber,it won't chamber in a 243 Win chamber.Of course the standard 243 Win will safely chamber in the Ackley chamber.I have both.I would put the 204r ,20AB,20VarTarg,20PPC,20BR,223AI,22-250,and 220Swift,all with 1:11 or faster twist,except the smaller capacity cases where the 1:12 is Ok as the top PD guns.Some of the 17s are fun to have/shoot, when the wind is down.For Grins I will shoot some Hornady 45gr SP in my K1V 204R today.Btw,I was surprised to find I can reach the lands with all the bullets in that gun.Right at 2.360 jams,with the 32 SBKs,so I load 2.355.

[Guy M]

My son really likes his old 6mm Remington for rockchucks, coyotes and mule deer. It smacks a rock chuck real hard...

I've grown real fond of my .25-06 mule deer rifle for coyotes.


Light bullets shoved fast through a .308 and a .30-06 have done real well. When I was young, we didn't have a specialized varmint rifle, so Dad and I just busted rock chucks & stuff with our .30-06 rifles. We used to choose the 130 gr Speer hollow point, accurate and devastating. Recently I loaded up a batch of 110 gr Sierra hollow point bullets and busted a few chucks with them. Wow...

[WY-NEvarmints]

A gunsmith friend of mine goes through a lot of 6-284 reamers for sheep and cattle ranchers that want a good flat shooting yote round. I bore one out for a family friend that makes some of his spending money off yotes. He absolutely loves the terminal effects of the round on ol wily.

[sharps45-120]

I have a 204Ruger I purchased late summer 2011. I have had & shoot a 17Remington for about 25 years now. I love both rifles. The 17 Rem. is a screamer & deadly at over 4,000fps with a 25gr HP & 4,300fps with a 20gr. I dropped a 1,000# American Bison with one shot & a 25gr hollowpoint. It dropped streight down like it's legs had been cut off. I love it as I can see what I shot with no knock out of view from recoil since there is none. I have owned a 22-250 & two 220 Swifts. I hated not seeing what I shot at due to recoil. Also the 17 is as fast or faster than the swifts and very explosive on small varmints. Almost no meat damage on the Bison. If you know someone who has a 17Remington I suggest you try one before buying the 22-250. Good hunting & God Bless!

[tuck2]

I m an old timer so I had a 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift and 243 Win and other varmint rifles a long time befor the 204 Ruger came out.

[Bill K]

I m an old timer so I had a 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift and 243 Win and other varmint rifles a long time befor the 204 Ruger came out.

Me too, Tuck. Have 22-250, 243AI and 25-06 for years, but had to add the 204R and then a 20VT.. Love those two rounds, but still break out the others on on occasion, just to make sure they still on on the mark.. Bill K

[clint85]

This is a (not very good) picture of a feral hog I got with the .22-250 loaded with Barnes triple shock bullets. It was a pass through shot at about 120 yards. It clipped the spine and dropped him in his tracks.