Proven Varmint Hunting Cartridges and Loads
Rimfire vs Centerfire
- Rimfire for small pests and short to medium ranges. Quiet. Affordable. Minimal recoil.
- Light centerfire for coyotes, wind, and longer shots. More authority. Still easy to shoot.
Rimfire Picks
- .22 LR, 36-40 grain HP. Inside 50-75 yards. High velocity for quick expansion. Subsonic for lower noise where legal.
- .22 WMR, 30-40 grain JHP. Flatter and stronger to 100-125 yards. Good for raccoon and fox with careful placement.
- .17 HMR, 17-20 grain polymer tip. Very flat to about 150 yards. Light recoil. Explosive on small pests.
- .17 WSM, 20-25 grain. Extends rimfire reach to about 200 yards with better wind performance.
Centerfire Picks
- .204 Ruger, 32-40 grain varmint bullets. Low recoil. High speed. Violent fragmentation with a proper backstop.
- .223 Rem, 40-55 grain varmint bullets. Versatile. Anchors coyotes inside about 250-300 yards from a solid rest.
- .22-250 Rem, 50-55 grain . Flat and wind tough. A classic coyote choice for big fields.
- .243 Win, 58-75 grain varmint bullets. For longer shots and wind. Doubles for deer with heavier bullets
Shotguns, Limited Use
- Useful for pest birds near structures and very close coyote work where legal. Keep ranges short. Pattern before season.
- 12 Gauge No. 6 for small pests to 30-40 yards.
- 12 Gauge BB to T for close coyotes to about 40 yards. Use a Full or predator choke after patterning.
- 20 Gauge No. 4-6 for lighter recoil in tight spaces.
- .410 only for very close small pests with strict range control.
Minimal Gear Checklist
- Ammunition Selection: Test several bullet weights and styles. For meat hunts, start with .22 LR solids. Move to small HPs or .22 WMR when you need a little more reach.
- Optics: A low-power rimfire scope with adjustable parallax (AO) is ideal. Clear duplex or fine crosshairs. Red dots shine in thick timber and for fast shooting.
- Cutting Tools - Compact skinning and processing knife with a small sharpener.
- Game Handling Gear: Light gloves, a breathable game bag, a few paper towels, and a zip-top bag for hearts and livers.
- Clothing: Quiet, weather-ready layers. Add blaze orange as required by local law.
- Scent Control: Sprays, clothing, and storage solutions to reduce detection.
- Calls and Decoys: Species-specific tools for bringing game into range.
Know your regulations. Some public lands require non-toxic shot, and certain seasons restrict firearms or shot sizes.