Round for varmints up to whitetail deer

"...WILL vaporize a rabbit..." Even with a change of bullet.
"...Most States do not allow..." And this. It's usually illegal.
Varmints are another thing though. A 90 grain FMJ out of a .243 will make a puncture would in a ground hog with no exit hole. They'll drop Wile E. and not wreck the hide too. Change to a 105 SP and hunt Bambi.
Of course, the .243 isn't the only cartridge that'll do that. Any .24, .25. .26 or .27 calibre will too.
 
I used to think the 243 was the answer to this question until I used a 25/06. If the ranges reach over 250 yards or animal size exceeds 200#, the 25/06 has a distinct advantage.
 
Thanks, everyone! You've given me a lot to think about! If I do "pull the trigger" (pun intended) on a new rifle, I'll be sure to let you know what I went with. Take care!
 
I have a 6mm Rem and two "pet loads", one with a 100 gr. deer bullet the other with a 75gr. varmint bullet. While I have shot many deer, a fox, and a bobcat with the 100 grainers, I've only actually used the 75 gr. once on a critter; a jack rabbit at about 75 yards. He didn't explode, no exit, but when I picked him up, it was like lifting a bag of jello. That box of ammo is gathering dust.

Now I look for for excuses in uses; I look for reasons to justify another rifle, not limit myself to one. I'm not saying buy two guns and send the kids to school barefooted, but a one gun solution to two jobs can sometimes leave you less than satisfied for at least one of the jobs.
 
243 for sure

I have been shooting that caliber since I bought a used Rem 600 in 1965. I shoot deer with an old sako 243 with either 85 gr. hand loads or 100 gr. round nose bullets. I use a 1976 version of a Rem 700 varminter with 60 or 70 gr. handloads for everything else, i.e., diggers to coyotes. It's worked for 50 years.
No matter what caliber you choose it boils down to learning how the bullet you shoot will shoot..............
 
Another vote for the .243

You just can't go wrong with it! Its flat shooting, ammo is readily available and it will handle a deer with no issue.
 
Okay, here's a novel approach if you need to shoot small EDIBLE varmints as well:

Buy a .308 or .30-06. This will kill any big game you might care to hunt, and while overkill, it will explode all the varmints you might care to explode.

Next, but a .32acp or .32 S&W chamber insert and go shoot some bunnies without tear I g them up. There are .22lr adapters for .22-250. Not sure about the .25 caliber stuff, though ant competent machine shop should be able to create one.

So on that note, a .257 Roberts (if you reload) or .25-06 (if you don't reload) for deer, coyotes and chucks, shooting .25 acp for bunnies. Sure, I could see that.
 
Okay, at .006" under bore the .25 might not be very accurate, but the .30/.32 and .22/.22lr ideas will work. The .32 is a couple thousandths over, as is the .22lr, but the working pressures are low enough not to cause harm.
 
I had the same dilema and went with the 25-06. I don't shoot bunnies with it but it works well for coyote (does put a hole in them but not too bad with an 80gr load) works really well on deer (mine likes 117gr) out to 250 yds.
 
I have a sako a7 cambered in 7mm-08 and this thing is a surgeon and a pest controller....in canada rounds are easy to findat your locap gun stores but not st the walmart.. average box is about $30. But the magic stats whe u start reloading...if not 139 grains work great...recoil is verybsimilar to a 243...so either or is gonna be good
 
My favorite is a .243 or .25-06 for what you want. I have both but my first choice would be the .25-06, pretty hard to beat for hunting.

The .25 has served me well for 37 years. I've used it for groundhogs, deer and have even used it for black bear.
 
Honestly it sounds more like you want 2 rifles. Something in the.243, .7-08, .25-06 etc. And a rimfire rifle for the little edible things.
 
A few years ago, I bought a Daniel Defense in 6.8 SPC and all I can say it is very sweet. Almost as accurate as the 6.5 and almost the terminal ballistics of the 7mm. Sorta a 5.56 with serious legs.
 
Chamber inserts work well in shotguns. I could see it working for centerfire to center fire cartridges. With the size difference in the weaker handgun cartridges use lead slugs to help prevent over pressure issues. But I see issues with 22/250 or the like chambered down to 22lr. The firing pin will not strike the rim fire primer, or the load won't be centered on the bore.

For small game it is simpler to hand load and use a light for caliber bullet and reduce velocity. The speed of the light bullets is what causes the splatter effect that you want to avoid with edible small critters. Hand loading is not terribly expensive to start. All you need is a single stage press and a few accessories. You could spend thousands on all the gadgets, but a couple hundred can get you started.
 
I always love these "1 Gun" discussions. I'm a bit of a minimalist (and a bit frugal as well) so it's always interesting to see where they end up. As others have said, I would look at 243 and possibly 25-06. Both are great cartridges with the added benefit for the 243 being that it's an awesome paper puncher as well. My buddy wins some of the Tac Style competitions in my area with a box stock Savage. It's a great, flat shooting round.

C
 
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