Calibers Varmint rifle

an alert rodent hide underground before hunters can approach within 100 metres (110 yd).

since varmints smaller animals, large, heavy bullets not needed. light, fast bullet gives flat trajectory, making range estimation less vital accurate shot placement. velocities modern varmint rounds in excess of 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s) , such .220 swift , .204 ruger can exceed 4,000 ft/s (1,200 m/s). allows long range shots short time of flight, , little change in trajectory @ different ranges (see external ballistics). bullet drop of couple of inches (about 5 cm) enough cause miss on smaller varmint animals; flat trajectories increase hit probability @ long ranges. fast, lightly constructed bullets have additional advantages of rapidly disintegrating upon initial contact. disintegration minimizes range of ricochet particles; , energy release of disintegration kills small animals more penetrating wound.

rifles firing .22 caliber bullets became popular varmint guns after world war i. calibers .264 caliber (6.5 mm), including .243 winchester, 6mm remington , .25-06 remington, became popular ranges on 200 metres (220 yards) ballistic advantages of heavier bullets recognized. varmint shooting 1 of few areas calibers smaller .22 (5.56 mm) found; .17 remington , various other .17 caliber (4.5 mm) wildcats have vocal following, , new .204 ruger suited varminting, , may first in new line of .20 caliber (5mm) rounds.

for shorter ranges (less 100 yards (91 meters)) rimfire cartridges such .22 magnum, .17 hornady magnum rimfire, , .17 mach 2 popular. .22 long rifle do, low muzzle velocities result in supersonic subsonic transition on way target, can negatively affect accuracy.

.22 caliber varmint cartridges

typical varmint rifle cartridges on 0.25-inch (6 mm) grid (from left right): .22 long rifle small animals @ ranges less 100 meters, .22-250 represents high velocity .22 calibers longer range shooting, , .25-06 larger animals @ ranges 400 meters.



5.6x52mmr introduced savage arms in 1912 necking down .25-35 winchester case fire .228-inch-diameter (5.8 mm) bullet. .22 marcianti blue streak wildcat modification; following cartridges fired more popular .224-inch-diameter (5.7 mm) bullets.
.22 hornet became first commercially successful varmint cartridge in winchester model 54 of 1930. remains popular cartridge because of relatively low noise created small powder volume.
.22 lindahl chuckers ballistically similar wildcats developed leslie lindahl rimmed .219 zipper , rimless .25 remington.
.218 bee necked-down .25-20 winchester introduced in winchester repeating arms model 65 of 1938. lever-action rifle not received varmint hunters, , cartridge has remained relatively unpopular.
.219 zipper necked-down .25-35 winchester introduced in winchester model 64 of 1937. lever-action rifle not received varmint hunters, cartridge , wildcat modifications (like .219 donaldson wasp) became popular in other actions.
.220 swift introduced in winchester model 54 in 1935 first commercial cartridge bullet velocity exceeding 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) per second. .220 arrow wildcat modification of .220 swift.
.221 remington fireball shortened version of .222 remington introduced in remington xp-100 bolt action handgun (sometimes called hand rifle) in 1962. cartridge has attained popularity in conventional rifles low noise level consideration.
.222 remington new cartridge (resembling 3/4 scale version of .30-06 springfield) introduced commercially in 1950. enjoyed great popularity until eclipsed military derivative, .223 remington.
.222 remington magnum lengthened version of .222 remington introduced in 1958. never popular .222 remington, , has subsequently been replaced similar .223 remington.
.223 remington became available in 1964 civilian version of 5.56×45mm nato.
.224 weatherby magnum introduced in 1963 replacement weatherby s .220 swift wildcat .220 weatherby rocket. weatherby rifles have been commercially chambered cartridge.
.225 winchester commercial modification of .219 zipper offered in winchester model 70 1964 1971. cartridge unsuccessful in replacing ballistically similar .220 swift in winchester product line.
.22-250 wildcat developed in 1937 j.e. gebby .250-3000 savage , commercially loaded remington arms in 1964.
.22/3000 lovell wildcat developed hervey lovell old .25-20 single shot case (different .25-20 winchester). popularity of lovell s cartridges declined when manufacture of .25-20 single-shot cartridges ceased.
.22-4000 schnerring-sedgley wildcat developed frankford arsenal proof house foreman george schnerring necking down 7mm mauser.
.303/22 wildcat developed .303 british in canada , australia during 1930s.




^ cite error: named reference craige invoked never defined (see page).
^ hornady, j.w. hornady handbook of cartridge reloading (1967) hornady manufacturing company
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press pp.118-147
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press pp.36-43
^ skinner, stan (september 2005). .221 remington fireball . guns&ammo. intermedia outdoors. retrieved 16 september 2010. also, shooters in populous eastern u.s. discovered noise signature notably less conspicuous considerably hotter .220 swift. 
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press pp.73-93
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press pp.27-35
^ landis, charles s. twenty-two caliber varmint rifles (1947) telegraph press p.242