Some might only think of varmint control when they hear about small game hunting, but it’s much more than effective pest elimination. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever eaten expertly cooked rabbit. Like any other type of hunting, there are a lot of different ways to accomplish the same goal. The first thing you need to decide on is what the best cartridge for your kind of small game hunting is.
Rimfire ammunition is generally preferred, depending on your hunting style and if you’re harvesting for fur, meat, or both. Upland, waterfowl, and turkey hunters generally use birdshot rather than rifle cartridges for their game. Out of the dozens of cartridges on the market, let’s dive into the very best of them for small game hunting, and why you might prefer one over another in different contexts.
.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
The .22 Magnum is a cult classic, and can at times be underrated. Great for small game up to 20 pounds, this cartridge is not interchangeable with the .22 long rifle that most of us were raised on. Introduced in 1959, the .22 Magnum was created to be lethal to most small game within 125 yards with minimal recoil.
There are a few different loads of .22 Win Mag, with varying degrees of application. CCI even makes a .22 Magnum cartridge that houses 31 grains of No. 12 shot in a plastic capsule which is great for snakes. What’s fantastic about this round is the diversity of application-you can effectively use this particular .22 round for squirrels all the way up to beaver and raccoon, where a .22 LR may not pack enough punch to be lethal at the same distance.
| .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .22 Winchester Rimfire |
| Designed | 1959 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .224 in |
| Case Diameter | .242 in |
| Overall Length | 1.35 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1900 fps + (40gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 30-50gr |
| Effective Range | <125 yards |
One of my favorite 22 Magnum cartridges is the CCI Maxi Mag 40 Grain Total Metal Jacket. What you see is what you get with this box; these simple FMJs are affordable and can pack a punch. Past customers love this ammo’s reliability, and appreciate just how fast we can ship it to them.
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 LR is the rimfire round I was raised on, and is a favorite plinking cartridge of mine to this day. The .22 LR differs from the .22 Win Mag in both velocity and stopping power. It’s a relatively light round, with an overall slower speed of travel. Nevertheless, it’s a solid small game round in many situations. It’s also one of the most affordable and easy-to-source cartridges on ammo shelves today.
I’ve seen the .22 LR reach up to 300 yards with some sort of accuracy, depending on the cartridge load, but this round is reliably lethal within 100 yards for smaller game like squirrels and rabbits. If you’re looking to go after larger furbearers like foxes and bobcats, that lethal range goes down to about 50 yards.
You can find .22 LR in both hollow point and round nose, with varying grain loads to suit your needs from fending off coyotes to finding some tasty squirrels or rabbits. Even with a hollow point round, the impact to meat in smaller game is relatively minimal, making the .22 LR a great choice if you’re hunting to feed yourself.
| .22 Long Rifle Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .22 Long |
| Designed | 1887 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .223 – .2255 in |
| Case Diameter | .226 in |
| Overall Length | 1.00 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1200 fps + (40gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 30-40gr |
| Effective Range | <150 yards |
Another winner from CCI, the CCI AR Tactical 40 Grain Copper Plated Round Nose is a customer favorite. If you like to have fun on the range with a 22 AR, these rounds are made specifically for it; although, they work just as well in your bolt action .22 and cost the same as “simpler” designs.
.22 Hornet
The .22 Hornet is a very pleasant round to shoot if you’re off picking off squirrels and gophers on your property. This centerfire cartridge has a relatively low report and mild recoil, making it an easy-to-cycle round when taking rapid-fire shots. While it’s best for small game within 150 yards, it’s not unheard of for hunters to make successful headshots or behind the shoulder shots on larger animals like deer, though I don’t recommend making a regular habit of it.
This cartridge has a fun history of development as well. Wildcatters in the 1920s created the .22 Hornet that was eventually adopted by Winchester in the 1930s, and even spent some time as a training round for overseas militaries. Compared to the .22 LR, the .22 Hornet packs a bigger punch, has a little more recoil, and is a bit pricier.
| .22 Hornet Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | – |
| Designed | 1920s |
| Primer Type | Centerfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .224 in |
| Case Diameter | .298 in (base) |
| Overall Length | 1.723 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2600 fps + (55gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 35-55gr |
| Effective Range | <175 yards |
If you need a bit more power than the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire can offer, the Hornady Varmint Express 35 Grain V-MAX 22 Hornet could be the perfect for you. This round is scorching fast out of the barrel, and can handle anything from squirrels to coyotes and more, making it a great all around cartridge.
.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire
The .17 HMR is a strange lovechild of the .22 WMR and Hornady engineering. Hornady developed this cartridge in 2002 when they necked down a .22 WMR casing to fit a .17 caliber bullet. It turns out that experiment created a round with over 2500 fps muzzle velocity with minimal recoil and supersonic specs out to 200 yards. This cartridge is a favorite among squirrel and prairie dog hunters because of its accuracy and power at longer ranges, but also it is destructive enough for raccoons, coyotes, and foxes at long ranges.
One thing I’ve learned about the .17 HMR is that it’s a relatively lightweight round, and this can make it more susceptible to wind influence, but if you’re shooting within 100 yards like most hunters likely would, you shouldn’t have much of a problem. You should also keep in mind that this round is a bit destructive if you’re hunting for meat; fragmentation is more likely and you may end up with a lower yield.
| .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .22 WMR |
| Designed | 2002 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .172 in |
| Case Diameter | .238 in (base) |
| Overall Length | 1.349 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2350 fps + (20gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 15-20gr |
| Effective Range | ~200 yards |
The 17 HMR is a cartridge that is constantly flying off the shelves. One of my favorites is the CCI 17 Grain Poly-Tip V-Max 17 HMR. This cartridge takes advantage of a ballistic tip to place more of what little material this bullet has near the rear. This keeps your bullet small, but helps give a strong impact down range.
.17 Winchester Super Magnum
A close cousin to the .17 HMR, the .17 WSM was born from necking down the case of a .27 caliber nail-gun blank cartridge to fit a .17 caliber bullet. Developed in 2012-2013, this cartridge is a super-charged version of its predecessor and is best for varmint elimination and predator hunting, but that’s not to say with the right shot you can’t yield a respectable amount of meat or fur.
The .17 WMS has a muzzle velocity of over 2500 fps and is a flat traveling round that’s fast, accurate, and good at its job. Some compare it to the .22 WMR in terms of predator hunting performance, though I’ll pick up the .17 WMS first if I have farther to shoot.
| .17 Winchester Super Magnum Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .27 caliber nail-gun blank |
| Designed | 2012 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .172 in |
| Case Diameter | .269 in |
| Overall Length | 1.440 – 1.590 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2600 fps + (25gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 20-25gr |
| Effective Range | 200-250 yards |
Our most popular .17 Winchester Super Magnum is the Winchester Varmint HV 20 Grain Polymer Tip. It is certainly at the top of the list for the most effective cartridge against coyotes, prairie dogs, and other varmints, and the smooth shooting just makes this cartridge fun.
.17 Hornady Mach 2
This zinger of a round was developed in 2004 is a necked down .22 LR “stinger” case that houses a very light .17 caliber bullet. Despite the similarity in name, the .17 HM2 is not interchangeable with the .17 HMR. This cartridge is exceptionally accurate at longer ranges, with reliable lethality up to 175 yards, depending on the load. The HM2 is a great round for predator control, but I like it best for rabbits, squirrels, and even foxes. It creates less destruction on average than the HMR round, but still packs a deadly punch at over 2100 feet per second.
| .17 Hornady Mach 2 Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .22 LR stinger |
| Designed | 2004 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .172 in |
| Case Diameter | .226 in |
| Overall Length | 1.00 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2100 fps + (20gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 17gr |
| Effective Range | <150 yards |
One of the most accurate 17 HM2 cartridges around is the Hornady 17 Grain V-Max Varmint Express. The Hornady FTX bullet in these rounds flies quick and straight with its ballistic tip, which also aids in expansion on impact. If you ever wanted a “tack driver”, 17 HM2 might be the cartridge for you.
.204 Ruger
The .204 Ruger cartridge is a bit of a niche cartridge, even for centerfires, but a real delight for shooting small game and varmin. Developed in 2004 by Hornady and Ruger, its parent case is the renowned .222 Remington. At the time of its introduction, this was the only commercially produced round for bullets of .204 inch / 5mm caliber and the second-highest velocity commercially produced ammunition on shelves.
It’s a slim cartridge that’s quick with a very low report and hardly any recoil. I’ve seen a lot of success with this round among coyote and bobcat hunters, and they typically reach for this cartridge because of the combination of lethality, low destruction and increased range over other smaller cartridges. All in all, the .204 Ruger is a nice bridge between the .17 caliber rounds and .22s that doesn’t limit you.
| .204 Ruger Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .222 Remington |
| Designed | 2004 |
| Primer Type | Centerfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .204 in |
| Case Diameter | .3764 in |
| Overall Length | 2.2598 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 3600 fps + (45gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 24-45gr |
| Effective Range | <400 yards |
Our best selling 204 Ruger cartridge is the Hornady Superformance 24 Grain NTX. This cartridge is known for flying far with its ballistic tip, and it delivers rapid expansion on impact. Plus, the superperformance aspect of this Hornady round gives you an extra 200 fps in velocity without increasing your chamber pressure.
.220 Swift
This one is an interesting cartridge, to say the least, but is a powerhouse of a round. Introduced in the mid 1930s specifically for varmint hunting and small game, the .220 Swift holds the title of the first factory-loaded rifle round with a muzzle velocity over 4000 fps. Its closest competition in the vermin-extermination world was the .22 Hornet, but the .220 Swift reaches farther and with more accuracy.
This cartridge is a great choice for those that want an extra reach without compromising accuracy, and wants to preserve a respectable amount of meat and hide. From fox and beaver to coyote and bobcat, this round is fast, accurate, and has a much further lethal range than other similar rounds.
| .220 Swift Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | 6mm Navy Lee |
| Designed | 1935 |
| Primer Type | Centerfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .224 |
| Case Diameter | .473 in |
| Overall Length | 2.680 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 3600 fps + (60gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 40-60gr |
| Effective Range | <400 yards |
If you are looking for a cartridge to help you put away vermin, the Hornady Varmint Express 55 Grain V-Max is what you need. Like a few other of the cartridges I have suggested, this one comes with a true flying hornady bullet that expands on impact at over 3000 fps.
30-30 Winchester
Okay, this one is a little controversial for a small game round, especially if you’re wanting to yield some sort of harvest from the game. However, reduced 30-30 loads are surprisingly effective for your smaller furbearers like beaver, coyote, fox, bobcat, even raccoon. While this cartridge alteration is geared toward reloaders, usually a gallery load will reduce the muzzle velocity to about 1100 fps and be an effective, short-range small game round. I’d recommend using this inside of 35 yards, and highly recommend using it as a brush gun.
| 30-30 Winchester Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .38-55 Winchester |
| Designed | 1895 |
| Primer Type | centerfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .308 |
| Case Diameter | .506 in |
| Overall Length | 2.550 in |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1100 fps + (90gr bullet, gallery load) |
| Bullet Weight | 110-170gr |
| Effective Range | <50 yards (at gallery load) |
If you are not into reloading yourself, or just hadn’t had the chance yet, the factory Hornady Subsonic 175 Grain SUB-X cartridge could be ideal for smaller game. I would recommend this cartridge to anyone who already has a 30-30 and just wants a load with a little less fire for vermin hunting.
Winchester .21 Sharp
This cartridge is a newer cartridge with samples first being released in 2024. The .21 Sharp’s goal is to give the .22 LR an update in a way, and solve some long-standing issues with a round that hasn’t seen much of an advancement since its first creation.
The main difference is in the case design. The non-heeled design of the .21 Sharp is ballistically more efficient than the heeled case of the .22 LR. If you don’t know, non-heeled just means that the diameter of the base of the bullet is the same as the diameter of the case; there is no neck or step down. The 22 LR isn’t necked down, but it does have a small step if you pay attention.
The other major selling point is the .21 Sharp uses a lead-free projectile, unlike your usual 22 LR. In terms of small game hunting, the .21 Sharp performs very similarly to the .22 LR and adds another economical option to the shelves of your favorite ammo store; although I do not see it replacing 22 LR anytime soon.
| Winchester .21 Sharp Specs and Ballistics | |
| Parent Case | .22 LR |
| Designed | 2024 |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .2105 in |
| Case Diameter | .2255 in |
| Overall Length | – |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1500 fps + (34gr) |
| Bullet Weight | 25-42gr |
| Effective Range | 200 yards |
Choose the Best Round for Your Hunting Style
These small game cartridges are all fantastic in one way or another; the important thing to remember is to know what you want to get out of your hunts before choosing one. If you need to handle vermin around a property, I’d recommend choosing something that’s accurate with farther reach. If you plan on harvesting meat or furs, I’d choose something that had less decimating qualities, even if that means sacrificing a bit of reach.
Calibers like those listed here are comfortable to shoot all day, fun, and efficient. Some cartridges are more expensive than others, and this can play into what you choose to shoot. The .22 LR is readily available and pretty cheap, whereas the .22 WMR is harder to find and more costly to double as a plinking round.Whichever cartridge you choose, make sure you read your local hunting regulations, know what you want to get out of your hunt, understand your firearm’s specs, and have fun.
