Varmint hunting, upland game, and pest management span a broad spectrum of ammunition types. A working locker for a shooter who splits time between a centerfire varmint rifle, a magnum rimfire, a 20 gauge upland gun, and an AR-platform for predator control easily crosses eight cartridges across three ignition systems. This overview covers ten categories that together define the small-game and varmint ammunition landscape.

Magnum Rimfire Cartridges

The 17 Winchester Super Magnum was introduced in 2013 as the highest-performing rimfire available from factory. Standard 17 wsm ammo pushes a 20-grain polymer-tipped bullet at 3,000 fps, generating 400 ft-lbs of muzzle energy — roughly double the 17 HMR and 50% above 22 WMR. Effective range on ground squirrels and prairie dogs extends past 200 yards.

The broader magnum rimfire segment remains dominated by the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire). Quality 22 mag ammo in 40-grain JHP at 1,910 fps delivers ethical range to 125 yards on larger varmints like fox and raccoon, at a per-round cost well below any comparable centerfire.

20 Gauge Shotshells for Upland and Turkey

For upland hunters seeking 12-gauge-class pellet energy at reduced recoil, modern 20 gauge shotgun shells in 2¾-inch or 3-inch loadings cover pheasant, grouse, woodcock, quail, and dove. A 1-ounce 20 gauge load at 1,200 fps handles 90% of upland applications at roughly 25% less felt recoil than equivalent 12 gauge.

Spring turkey hunters have increasingly adopted 20 gauge platforms loaded with TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) and heavyweight lead. A premium 20 gauge turkey loads in No. 7 or 9 TSS delivers enough downrange energy at 40+ yards to match or exceed conventional 12 gauge lead at a fraction of the recoil.

Winchester has anchored volume shotshell production across bores for over a century. A winchester shotshell in the Super-X line covers general-purpose hunting and sport use at accessible retail pricing.

The Centerfire .22 Family: From Classic to Modern

The .22 Hornet is the senior member of the centerfire .22 family, introduced in 1930. Modern 22 hornet ammo pushes a 35- to 45-grain projectile at 2,800 to 3,100 fps, delivering ethical varmint range to 200 yards with exceptionally low noise and recoil.

Scaling up significantly, 22-250 ammo is among the flattest-shooting .22 centerfires in production. A 55-grain load at 3,680 fps extends effective range past 400 yards on ground squirrels and prairie dogs, with trajectory drop of only 7 inches at 300 yards when zeroed at 200.

Military-Derived Centerfire: 222 and 223

The .222 Remington (1950) was the direct predecessor to the .223 Remington, which became the basis for 5.56 NATO. Though eclipsed by the .223 in volume, 222 ammo remains produced in 50- and 55-grain loads for traditionalists, bolt-gun collectors, and a dedicated benchrest community.

The .223 Remington is the highest-volume centerfire cartridge in U.S. retail. Standard 223 ammo covers training, varmint control, and defensive use across AR-15 platforms, bolt-action rifles, and single-shots.

For hunters specifically, premium hornady 223 ammo in 55-grain V-Max or 75-grain ELD Match delivers both accuracy consistency and terminal performance on coyote and similar-sized predators at ranges to 300 yards.