Round for varmints up to whitetail deer

I have killed deer with my 223's and handloads or good quality factory ammo. The first caliber that popped in my head when I read the OP was a .243. I have one of those too and it drops deer just like everything else and you can buy varmint ammo and deer hunting ammo for it as well as the .223.
 
The hard part Bamashooter is that he throws small edible game into the mix. The .223 & .243 will flat mess a bunny up. You could maybe throttle the .223 back enough that FMJs won't, but I'm not sure.
 
Samsmix
That 22 chamber insert sounds like a PITA. And it can't be much less than a decent used rifle in 22 lr. Got my last one for an even hundred out the door. How much is the chamber insert your talking about?
 
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(wasn't a driveby.. still reading!!) :)

However, to throw something into the mix: I read that .243 (as a necked-down, lighter pilled .308) eats up barrels. I won't fire this that often, so barrel life isn't a huge issue, but something in the back of my mind makes me worry. Does .25-06 fare better in the barrel longevity department?

I realize I'm asking for the best "jack of all trades, master of none" for varmints to deer. And now I'm asking it not to beat up the throat of my rifle. Much I've read says move up to .270 for barrel life. But that would incinerate small game.

So, the wrench thrown is "which one discussed so far doesn't destroy hides, or barrels, sooner than others"? I don't need this to be a tack-driver, but 10 years down the road I'd like it to still be hunting-accurate without having to pay a smith to re-barrel!
 
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None of those are wickedly notorious barrel burners. I like the .25-06 better on deer. I have a friend who hunts coyotes for a living in the winter. He uses a .22-250, but has cleanly taken a dozen or so deer with it.

CZ...or maybe it was Baikal, makes a nice over/under in .243/12ga or 20ga. This might be okay if you aren't shooting sod poodles at 500 yards.


Big All,
I agree, it would be a PITA. Cottontails here are not flighty, so it is doable but yes, a PITA. I only mentioned it to stick to the spirit of the original post. A second gun, even a beat up $50 H&R topper or better yet the $100 .22 you suggested would be FAR more appropriate.
 
There are a lot of 6.5mm cartridges which will accomplish what you seek. Unfortunately, once one steps out of the 223 arena, the price of ammunition becomes much greater, but at least here in Colorado used to be, and maybe still is, 223 was illegal for big game hunting.
 
For hunting purposes I would not be worried about shooting out the barrel. Competitive shooters care about barrel burners because they see a difference after a few thousand rounds. How long will it take you to shoot your hunting rifle 5,000 rounds? Even at that the competition shooter is only upset because the rifle is shooting bigger groups than it takes to win. That shot out competition barrel still shoots sub MOA. Some of us would be jumping for joy if a new hunting rifle shot that tight of groups.
You have to keep in mind where the reputation of a given cartridge started. And what you are expecting from the rifle.
 
There are rifles that will shoot .38 special/.357 Magnum. You could buy .38 special wadcutter target ammo for rabbits and varmints, then switch to 125 or 158 grain jacketed hollow points for deer and larger varmints.

Trajectory and/or remaining energy may limit range to 100 yards for deer and smaller varmints, but they could do the job.

Another option would be to buy a Thompson-Center Encore or Contender with a rifle stock and two or more barrels in various chamberings. Scopes are mounted on barrels, so you wouldn't have to re-zero when switching barrels.
 
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