Published: November 2025 | Last updated: April 2026
Varmint hunting is a strange category in the firearms world. There is no formal definition, no licensing structure in most states, and the targets range from half-pound ground squirrels to 50-pound coyotes – a span that makes the question “what’s the best varmint caliber?” more complicated than it first appears. The answer depends on terrain, range, intended quarry, and whether you plan to handload.
What has changed over the past decade is the availability of quality options at every end of the spectrum. The rimfire choices are better made and more consistent than ever. The centerfire landscape has seen genuinely useful new cartridges – the 22 ARC and 224 Valkyrie specifically – that fill real gaps the 223 Remington left open with heavy high-BC bullets. And the 6mm precision cartridges now dominate the long-range end of predator hunting in ways that would have seemed excessive ten years ago.
This guide works through the realistic options from close-range rimfire to 800-yard centerfire, organized by the situations each cartridge actually serves. The goal is practical: help you pick a caliber that matches what you are actually hunting, at the actual distances you are actually shooting.
Rimfire: The Right Tool for Close Work
Rimfire cartridges get dismissed by centerfire enthusiasts, but that dismissal misses the point. For close-range small game – rabbits, squirrels, tree rats, the occasional raccoon – rimfires are not a compromise. They are the appropriate tool. Quiet, inexpensive, and accurate enough for any realistic shot inside 150 yards, rimfire has been earning its place in the field for over a century.
22 LR – The Cartridge That Never Gets Old
The 22 Long Rifle is 140 years old and still the best-selling cartridge in the world by volume. That is not nostalgia – it reflects genuine utility. A 40-grain round-nose load at 1,200 FPS from a bolt-action rifle hits squirrels, rabbits, and similar small game cleanly inside 75 yards with no meat damage worth mentioning and minimal noise that matters on farms and suburban fringes.
The practical ceiling for 22 LR on small game is honest: 100 yards maximum for clean kills in calm conditions, 75 yards as a reliable standard. Past 100 yards the energy drops below 100 ft-lbs and wind drift becomes difficult to manage. Premium loads like CCI Mini-Mag and Federal Gold Medal Target improve consistency but do not extend the physics.
For handloaders, the 22 LR is not reloadable – but that is irrelevant because ammo cost is already trivially low. It is the rare cartridge where buying factory is the correct answer by every metric.
The 22 LR has no competition for its niche. If you need something quiet, inexpensive, and accurate to 100 yards on small game, nothing comes close to the combination of availability, selection, and rifle variety the 22 LR offers.
22 WMR – More Distance, Same Handling
The 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire sits between 22 LR and the lightest centerfire options. A 40-grain load at 1,900-2,000 FPS maintains flat trajectory to 150 yards and produces enough energy for clean kills on foxes, raccoons, and groundhogs. Energy at 100 yards is approximately 260-280 ft-lbs – about three times the 22 LR at the same distance.
For farmers and ranchers who do pest control year-round, the 22 WMR’s combination of modest report, flat trajectory, and adequate terminal performance on medium varmints makes it the workhorse caliber. It is not a prairie dog cartridge – the report is still loud enough to spook a colony – but for individual target work on nuisance animals it earns its place.
Ammo selection is decent from CCI, Hornady (30-grain V-MAX), and Federal. The 30-grain V-MAX load is the best predator option – the polymer tip produces reliable expansion on foxes and raccoons at 150 yards. For a comparison of the 22 WMR against the 17 HMR, see 22 WMR vs 17 HMR.
17 HMR – The Precision Rimfire
The 17 HMR – introduced by Hornady in 2002 on the 22 WMR necked down to accept .172-inch bullets – is the most accurate rimfire cartridge made in commercial production. A 17-grain V-MAX at 2,550 FPS stays flat enough that 200-yard shots on ground squirrels are legitimate with a confirmed zero and calm conditions.
The energy curve is aggressive past 200 yards – the 17-grain bullet drops below 150 ft-lbs around 175 yards – but inside that range the combination of flat trajectory and dramatic terminal effect from the polymer-tipped bullet is genuinely impressive. Wind sensitivity is the real limitation: the 17-grain bullet’s G1 BC of approximately 0.125 produces 6-8 inches of drift at 150 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind. The 17 HMR is at its best in calm morning sessions on prairie dog towns inside 175 yards.
The 17 HMR rewards the same discipline as centerfire precision shooting – consistent hold, proper support, confirmed range – and produces sub-MOA accuracy in quality bolt rifles from CZ, Savage, and Ruger. For hunters who want rimfire precision without stepping into the centerfire world, it remains the gold standard.
Centerfire: Where Range and Versatility Open Up
Stepping into centerfire territory opens the caliber selection considerably, and the decisions become more consequential. The right centerfire caliber for a Montana coyote hunter is not necessarily the right choice for a South Dakota prairie dog shooter, and both differ from what a Texas hog hunter using an AR needs for follow-up shots.
22 Hornet – A Century-Old Classic That Still Earns Its Place
The 22 Hornet was introduced in 1930 and has been quietly effective ever since. It fires 35-45 grain bullets at 2,600-2,900 FPS with a report noticeably softer than the 223 Remington – important for night hunting and proximity to farm buildings where noise matters. Effective range is honest at 200 yards on medium varmints.
What makes the Hornet relevant in 2026 is specifically what it has always been: mild, precise, and sufficient for foxes, bobcats, and close-range coyote work in the 100-175 yard range where most timber hunting actually happens. It is not the cartridge for a 400-yard prairie dog setup. For reloaders, it works well with Hodgdon H110 and Alliant 2400 powders for consistent accuracy with 35-45 grain bullets.
See the full 22 Hornet complete guide and 22 Hornet ballistics for detailed trajectory and energy data.
204 Ruger – The Velocity Specialist
The 204 Ruger arrived in 2004 and immediately established itself as the fastest commercial varmint cartridge, pushing 32-40 grain bullets at 3,900-4,200 FPS. That velocity produces trajectory figures that justify the term “laser-flat” – a 32-grain load at 4,225 FPS drops only about 4 inches at 300 yards from a 200-yard zero.
The 204 Ruger’s limitation is its light bullet mass. Past 350-400 yards where velocity drops below 2,800-2,900 FPS, the light bullets begin to drift more in crosswind than heavier 6mm or .22 centerfires at the same distance. Wind sensitivity limits the 204 Ruger’s practical edge in the open terrain where long shots are common – the 32-grain bullet at 300 yards drifts 6-7 inches in a 10 MPH crosswind, comparable to the 223 Remington 55-grain.
The 204 Ruger is at its best in calm conditions at 200-400 yards on prairie dogs, groundhogs, and similar medium varmints. For reloaders it works well with Hodgdon Varget and Alliant Power Pro Varmint. See 204 Ruger complete guide and 204 Ruger ballistics.
223 Remington / 5.56 NATO – The Standard and for Good Reason
The 223 Remington is the practical centerfire varmint standard – the cartridge with the widest factory ammunition selection, the most reloading data, the most rifle availability, and the most flexible bullet weight range (40-77 grains) of any option in this category. A 55-grain V-MAX at 3,240 FPS produces flat trajectory and reliable explosive fragmentation on coyotes inside 400 yards. The 77-grain SMK extends the precision envelope to 600+ yards in a bolt rifle.
The 223 Remington’s versatility is its defining characteristic. The same rifle can hunt prairie dogs with 40-grain V-MAX, take coyotes with 55-grain BlitzKing, and reach to 600 yards in competition with 77-grain MatchKing. No other cartridge covers this range as efficiently.
For AR-15 users, the 5.56 NATO chamber handles both 5.56 and 223 Remington ammunition safely – the reverse is not true. Note that 5.56 NATO chambers with leaded primers can cause slam-fire risk; use small rifle primers for AR-15 loads. For precision bolt-action work, dedicated 223 Remington chambers produce better accuracy than 5.56 NATO chambers with standard commercial brass.
Reloading options are extensive: Hodgdon H335, Hodgdon Varget, Hodgdon CFE 223, Alliant Reloder 15 are the standard accuracy references. See 223 Remington complete guide and 223 Remington ballistics.
22-250 Remington – Still the Flat-Shooting Classic
The 22-250 Remington arrived in 1965 and earned a long-standing reputation as the go-to varmint cartridge for open-country shooting. Pushing a 55-grain BlitzKing to 3,680 FPS, it produces exceptional trajectory inside 400 yards – roughly 20 fewer inches of drop at 400 yards compared to the 223 Remington with equivalent bullets.
The 22-250’s limitation is barrel life (approximately 1,500-2,500 rounds with light bullets) and its inability to effectively drive the heavy 80-90 grain bullets that give the 22 ARC and 224 Valkyrie their long-range performance. With 50-55 grain bullets the 22-250 is still one of the flattest-shooting varmint cartridges available. For hunters who engage prairie dogs at 300-450 yards in variable terrain where trajectory simplicity matters, it remains excellent.
See 22-250 Remington complete guide and 22-250 Remington ballistics.
22 ARC – The Genuine Precision Evolution
The 22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) was introduced by Hornady in 2024, derived from the 6mm ARC parent case to drive 75-88 grain high-BC .224-inch bullets at 2,900-3,000 FPS from AR-15-compatible platforms. It fills a real gap: a cartridge that uses the heavy high-BC 22-caliber bullets in the same AR-15 platform that the 223 Remington occupies, at meaningful velocity gains.
The practical advantage over the 223 Remington is substantial with heavy bullets. A 22 ARC 88-grain ELD-M at 2,975 FPS drifts approximately 17-18 inches at 600 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind. The 223 Remington 77-grain SMK at 2,750 FPS drifts approximately 22-23 inches at the same distance. For a coyote hunter who regularly engages at 400-600 yards in variable plains wind, those 4-5 fewer inches of drift matter.
The 22 ARC requires only a barrel change and appropriate magazines in an AR-15 – the bolt is the same as the 6mm ARC. Factory Hornady Black and Match ammunition covers the common load weights. For handloaders, Hodgdon H4350 and Hodgdon Varget produce competitive performance. See the 22 ARC complete guide, 22 ARC ballistics, and best bullets for 22 ARC.
224 Valkyrie – Long-Range AR Performance
The 224 Valkyrie arrived in 2017 from Federal, using a shortened 6.8 SPC case with a rebated rim to drive 88-90 grain high-BC .224-inch bullets at 2,700-2,825 FPS from standard AR-15 platforms. Its design goal was specific: stay supersonic past 1,000 yards with high-BC bullets in an AR-15.
For varmint and predator hunting the Valkyrie’s practical argument is wind resistance at 500-700 yards. At 600 yards the 88-grain ELD-M drifts approximately 29-30 inches in a 10 MPH crosswind – less than any lighter 223 Remington load can achieve and competitive with 6mm cartridges at that distance. The downside is starting velocity: the Valkyrie starts approximately 200-300 FPS slower than the 22 ARC with equivalent loads, which shows up in trajectory inside 500 yards.
The Valkyrie requires 1:6.5 or 1:7 twist for reliable heavy-bullet stabilization, and factory ammunition variety from Hornady Match and Federal is adequate for competition and hunting without handloading. See 224 Valkyrie complete guide and 22 ARC vs 224 Valkyrie vs 22 Nosler for side-by-side comparison.
6mm Calibers: When Varmint Hunting Becomes Long-Range Precision
The 6mm cartridges occupy the performance ceiling of varmint hunting – not because varmints need that much cartridge, but because wind resistance, energy retention, and trajectory at 600-800 yards require it. Coyote hunters in Kansas, predator callers in Nevada open range, and rock chuck shooters in Oregon have all discovered that 6mm precision is the practical answer when ranges stretch and wind is variable.
6mm ARC – The AR-15 Deer-and-Predator Option
The 6mm ARC uses the 6.5 Grendel parent case in AR-15 format with a rebated rim, driving 103-108 grain high-BC 6mm bullets at 2,725-2,750 FPS. For predator hunting specifically, the 6mm ARC outperforms every .22-caliber AR-15 cartridge in energy and wind resistance past 400 yards. At 500 yards the 108-grain ELD-M delivers approximately 1,200-1,225 ft-lbs versus the 224 Valkyrie 88-grain ELD-M’s approximately 748 ft-lbs.
For hunters who use one AR-15 for both deer-size game and predators, the 6mm ARC covers both applications without compromise. Energy above 1,000 ft-lbs to 555-565 yards supports ethical deer hunting; the same load handles coyotes to 700+ yards with reliable fragmentation. Factory Hornady Black and Match ammunition makes it accessible without handloading. See 6mm ARC complete guide and 6mm ARC ballistics.
6mm Creedmoor – When Wind and Distance Push the Limits
The 6mm Creedmoor drives 103-108 grain high-BC bullets at approximately 2,900-3,050 FPS from a short-action bolt rifle. For dedicated predator hunters who regularly take coyotes at 600-800 yards in open terrain, the 6mm Creedmoor produces wind resistance that rivals premium 6.5mm loads from a smaller bore.
The practical argument for the 6mm Creedmoor over the 6mm ARC is velocity – approximately 150-300 FPS more – which translates to approximately 20-30 fewer inches of drop at 800 yards and 8-12 fewer inches of wind drift. For a rock chuck shooter in Nevada who needs clean kills at 700+ yards in afternoon wind, the 6mm Creedmoor’s performance edge is real.
Reloaders benefit from excellent powder options: Hodgdon H4350, Vihtavuori N540, and Alliant Reloder 16 all produce competitive results with 103-108 grain bullets. See 6mm Creedmoor complete guide and 6mm Creedmoor ballistics.
Choosing by Terrain and Target
The most important caliber decision is matching the cartridge to the specific hunting scenario – not selecting the best technical performer and adapting your hunting to it.
Thick brush, timber, and close cover (inside 150 yards):
22 LR, 22 WMR, or 22 Hornet. The 22 LR’s quietness and the Hornet’s mild report both matter in environments where noise carries. Heavy calibers are wasted here, and the mechanical complexity of a precision centerfire rifle is counterproductive in brush where quick mounts and instinct shooting matter.
Mixed terrain, 150-400 yards:
17 HMR at the rimfire end, 223 Remington for the standard centerfire option. The 17 HMR covers 200-yard ground squirrel work efficiently; the 223 Remington with 55-grain V-MAX handles 300-400 yard coyotes in most wind conditions. These two calibers together cover nearly every mixed-terrain varmint scenario without overcomplicating equipment.
Open plains, 400-600 yards:
22-250 Remington, 22 ARC, or 224 Valkyrie. At 400-600 yards in Kansas or South Dakota where crosswinds are predictable but persistent, the heavy-bullet .22 centerfires hold a meaningful advantage over light-bullet loads. The 22 ARC’s velocity combined with 88-grain ELD-M’s BC produces the best practical combination in this range bracket for AR-15 users.
Extreme open country, 600-800 yards:
6mm ARC, 6mm Creedmoor, or 204 Ruger in calm conditions. Beyond 600 yards, wind management becomes the primary challenge. The 6mm cartridges maintain both energy and wind resistance at 700-800 yards in ways that .22 centerfires cannot reliably match. This is specialist territory – the hunter who shoots this far regularly needs confirmed range, real-time wind data, and a rifle that consistently groups inside 0.5 MOA.
Bullet Technology: What Has Actually Changed
The practical improvement in varmint hunting over the past decade is not in new cartridges – it is in bullet technology that makes older cartridges perform at longer range.
Polymer-tipped fragmentation bullets have become extremely reliable across all calibers. The Hornady V-MAX in 40-grain for 22 caliber and 87-grain for 6mm consistently initiates fragmentation at velocities well below 2,500 FPS, extending the reliable fragmentation range of any cartridge by 50-100 yards compared to older cup-and-core designs. The Sierra BlitzKing delivers the same improvement with Sierra’s dimensional consistency that produces excellent lot-to-lot accuracy uniformity.
High-BC hunting bullets like the Hornady ELD-X have made the transition from varmint work to predator and deer hunting seamless. The bonded construction handles the high velocities of 22-250 and 22 ARC at close range without the core-jacket separation that older cup-and-core bullets suffer, while the high BC maintains terminal velocity and wind resistance to extended range.
Lead-free varmint bullets – Hornady NTX, Barnes Varmint-A-Tor – are now required in California and other lead-restricted areas. The performance gap versus lead-core options has narrowed significantly; modern lead-free designs in 204 Ruger and 223 Remington achieve fragmentation comparable to lead polymer-tipped bullets inside 400 yards with proper load development.
Practical Selection: What Matters in the Field
Three questions cut through the caliber selection noise for most varmint hunters.
What is your actual maximum range?
Be honest. Most hunters who answer “600 yards” shoot 98% of their animals inside 300 yards and occasionally push to 400-450. If that describes you, the 223 Remington handles everything you need. Matching your actual hunting to the caliber – not the theoretical maximum – produces better results than owning the ballistically optimal tool for a range you rarely achieve.
Do you handload?
If yes, the caliber decision opens considerably. Handloaders can extract the full performance from the 22 ARC, 224 Valkyrie, and 6mm Creedmoor with optimal bullet-powder combinations that factory ammunition cannot replicate. The investment in dies, components, and load development is repaid in performance. If factory-only, stick to cartridges with excellent factory selection: 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington, and 6mm ARC have broad commercial support; the 224 Valkyrie is adequate; the 22 ARC and 6mm Creedmoor are growing but more limited.
What platform do you prefer?
AR-15 users are well served by the 223 Remington, 22 ARC, 224 Valkyrie, and 6mm ARC without leaving the platform. Bolt-action hunters get better accuracy potential and more caliber options but slower follow-up shots. For predator calling where follow-up shots on multiple coyotes are common, the AR-15 format’s practical advantage often outweighs the bolt’s precision advantage.
The Bottom Line
There is no universal best varmint caliber – that answer does not exist. The 22 LR dominates inside 100 yards for small game. The 223 Remington covers the broadest range of general varmint work from 50-400 yards without compromise. The 22 ARC and 6mm ARC raise the performance ceiling on AR-15 platforms at 400-700 yards. The 6mm Creedmoor and 6mm GT push the precision boundary to 800 yards and beyond for dedicated long-range hunters.
What every caliber in this list shares is that it works well within its range envelope when the shooter knows what that envelope is and respects it. Wind reading, accurate ranging, and consistent practice matter more than the caliber choice once you are above the baseline of a functional varmint cartridge. A skilled 223 Remington shooter outperforms an unskilled 6mm Creedmoor shooter at 600 yards every time – the difference is the shooter, not the number.
Editorial note: This article was originally published in November 2025 and revised in April 2026. The revision expanded all caliber sections from brief bullet-point lists to practical field-oriented analysis, added the terrain-and-target selection guide, added bullet technology section with specific product links, replaced generic advice with specific caliber-to-scenario guidance, and added the three-question practical framework.
