Thread: Best alround varmint cartridge

.223 + 75gr A-Max would be hard to beat as the easiest option. I want one.

Originally Posted by Normie

.223 + 75gr A-Max would be hard to beat as the easiest option. I want one.

I like the 223 for its ease of use, easy to reload for, to quieten down, shoot off hand, you can lose brass without worrying, lots of ammo weighs frig all, usually comes in a small light rifle. Just a good alround performer, on deer I use the 60g Partition @ 3200 FPS.

Interestingly when friends (with large calibres) and I come across a mob of goats or deer the 223 has always put down the most animals once the smoke clears.

Longest shot is hares at 510yrds.

Shot with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips @3200fps.

Enjoy using my .223, fun, accuracy, barrel life etc are all considerations for me. Yet to kill anything with it yet, still setting it up. Not going too well in that department.

If anyone is still reading this thread....I am curious as to why 22PPC has lost favour. It is cheap to reload, has a fantastic range of powder and projectiles, the barrels last well and as far as I am aware a 22PPC still holds a 600 metre international record...what more can you want from a Varmint gun...yet sadly there are not many around. I brought a Remington 700 in .204 Ruger and after 500x rounds of various loads I got rid of it...reason? I couldn't better 0.8" group....but my Omark rebarreled into 22PPC can sit on 0.5" on a bad day and 0.3 on the rest. With a Weaver T36 it is devastating on rabbits as far away as I can see them. Is anyone else shooting 22PPC??

how do you vote sorry not a whiz on a computer

223 brass is readily available (and cheap), plenty of recipes around for 'home brewing' your own 'pet load' and there's plenty of varmints (mainly rabbits), around to practise on. Pity that second hand rifles (all action types) are priced at near new, new or greater than new prices by the seller - the units are SECOND HAND! Restricts shooters on a (pension) budget, from renewing a 'love affair' with varmint hunting *sigh*

Originally Posted by WallyR

223 brass is readily available (and cheap), plenty of recipes around for 'home brewing' your own 'pet load' and there's plenty of varmints (mainly rabbits), around to practise on. Pity that second hand rifles (all action types) are priced at near new, new or greater than new prices by the seller - the units are SECOND HAND! Restricts shooters on a (pension) budget, from renewing a 'love affair' with varmint hunting *sigh*

What's your budget, there's more than a few sub $1000 centerfire rifles out there these days, The Ruger American, Savage Axis, Rem 770, etc.