Not every round that sounds intimidating on paper performs the same way in the field. When you’re after varmints—groundhogs, prairie dogs, coyotes—you need fast, flat-shooting cartridges that hit hard enough to anchor them quickly. The trouble is, some calibers carry big reputations but don’t translate into consistent results on small targets. Whether it’s because the bullets don’t expand properly, the velocity isn’t ideal, or the round was designed for larger game, you end up with more runners than clean drops. That wastes ammo, time, and can make you question your rifle when it’s really the caliber that’s at fault. These are cartridges that might look impressive in a catalog or sound menacing when you tell someone what you’re carrying, but in real-world varmint hunting, they too often fail to deliver.
.30-30 Winchester
The .30-30 Winchester is legendary for deer in the woods, but when you bring it into the varmint fields, its shortcomings show quickly. With a slow, heavier bullet, it lacks the flat trajectory needed to hit small, quick targets at distance. Past 150 yards, you’ll find your shots dropping faster than expected, which makes connecting on a coyote or groundhog a guessing game.
Expansion can also be hit-or-miss. Bullets designed for deer don’t always open up well on smaller animals, leading to pass-throughs that don’t anchor varmints cleanly. While the .30-30 has proven itself on whitetails for over a century, it simply doesn’t adapt well to varmint work. You’ll spend more time compensating for drop and less time getting clean results. If you’ve ever wondered why those coyotes keep running after being hit, the caliber itself is a big part of the problem.
.45-70 Government
The .45-70 Government is a powerhouse on big game, but when you point it at varmints, it’s overkill in the wrong way. The heavy, slow-moving bullets don’t expand well on small animals, often punching straight through without delivering the shock needed for quick kills. On paper it sounds devastating, but in practice it’s clumsy against critters that demand speed and fragmentation.
Trajectory is another issue. The round arcs heavily, even at moderate distances. Trying to connect on a groundhog at 200 yards becomes more about lobbing shells than making precise shots. You’ll burn expensive ammo and still see varmints run off, which defeats the purpose. The .45-70 has its place in bear country or heavy timber, but in open varmint fields, it misses the mark. If you want clean, consistent drops, this old workhorse will leave you frustrated after only a few attempts.
.35 Remington
The .35 Remington has earned its place as a brush cartridge for deer and black bear, but it’s poorly suited for varmints. With its moderate velocity and heavy bullets, it simply doesn’t deliver the explosive energy small animals require for instant drops. Instead, you’re more likely to see them take the hit and scramble off before expiring.
Accuracy at longer distances is another weak spot. The .35 Remington loses steam fast, and past 150 yards, bullet drop becomes a problem. When you’re trying to shoot prairie dogs or coyotes in open country, that lack of reach shows. While it carries authority on mid-sized game at close ranges, it’s the wrong tool for varmint hunters. If you’ve ever carried one into a field expecting dramatic results, you know the letdown when your target soaks up the shot and keeps moving.
.300 Blackout
The .300 Blackout has gained popularity for its versatility in AR platforms, but it’s not much of a varmint cartridge. With subsonic loads, velocity is too low to create the shock needed for small targets. Even with supersonic rounds, the bullet design is often focused on self-defense or deer-sized game, not tiny critters. That results in pass-throughs or unpredictable performance on impact.
Trajectory is another hurdle. The Blackout simply doesn’t shoot flat compared to classic varmint rounds like .223 or .22-250. By the time you stretch it past 150 yards, your groups widen, and connecting on smaller animals becomes unreliable. While it works for close-range hogs or deer, it’s a frustrating choice for varmints. Many hunters who try it for coyotes quickly realize they’d have been better off with a lighter, faster caliber designed for the job.
.444 Marlin
The .444 Marlin is a powerhouse in the deer woods, but when you bring it into varmint country, it’s a poor match. Its heavy bullets, designed for larger game, simply don’t expand on small targets the way they should. Instead of anchoring varmints on the spot, the round tends to punch through without delivering that necessary energy dump.
On top of that, the trajectory is steep, making accurate shots at longer ranges difficult. Varmint hunting often calls for precision across open fields, and the .444 doesn’t have the speed or flatness to keep up. Hunters who’ve tried it for coyotes or groundhogs usually walk away disappointed, realizing that bigger doesn’t always mean better. While it’s more than capable on deer and hogs, it’s the wrong choice if your goal is quick, humane varmint control.
.450 Bushmaster
The .450 Bushmaster is marketed as a big-game hammer for straight-wall hunting states, but it falls short when used on varmints. The cartridge carries massive energy, but it’s paired with bullets meant for deer and hogs, not small animals. The result is often a pass-through without much shock, leaving varmints to run or burrow after the shot.
Its limited range also hurts. Past 200 yards, bullet drop becomes extreme, which makes connecting on smaller, fast-moving critters nearly impossible. When you’re chasing coyotes across open ground, those limitations make the caliber frustrating to use. While it delivers the punch needed for whitetails at closer ranges, it simply isn’t built for varmint work. Hunters who try it for that purpose usually realize quickly they’ve chosen the wrong tool for the job.
.30 Carbine
The .30 Carbine cartridge has plenty of history, but it doesn’t bring much to the table for varmint hunting. Its ballistics fall somewhere between pistol and rifle, which leaves it underwhelming in both power and trajectory. At close range it may knock down a rabbit or groundhog, but past 100 yards accuracy and energy fall off fast.
Bullet design is another weakness. Most .30 Carbine ammo is full metal jacket or soft point intended for target shooting or general plinking, not varmint performance. Without proper expansion, you’ll often see hits that fail to anchor small animals effectively. While the round is fun in an M1 Carbine at the range, it’s far from ideal in the field. Many hunters who give it a try on varmints end up shelving it after the first outing.
.32 Winchester Special
The .32 Winchester Special has been around for over a century and performs decently on deer at short ranges, but it’s no friend to varmint hunters. With heavier bullets moving at moderate speeds, it lacks both the trajectory and shock effect that make varmint calibers shine. Hitting smaller targets beyond 150 yards becomes guesswork as bullet drop takes over.
Terminal performance is equally disappointing. Those larger bullets don’t open up fast enough on critters the size of coyotes or smaller. Instead, they pass through, leaving you with long tracking jobs or lost animals. For anyone expecting the .32 Special to pull double duty, the results are underwhelming. While it’s a nostalgic cartridge for deer in the woods, it’s one you’ll regret carrying on a varmint hunt.
.350 Legend
The .350 Legend was designed as a straight-wall option for states with deer hunting restrictions, but it’s often oversold as more versatile than it really is. For varmints, it misses the mark. The heavier bullets don’t fragment or expand well on small animals, leading to poor terminal performance. Instead of anchoring them, you’ll watch them run off after being hit.
The round also struggles with trajectory compared to lighter, faster cartridges. At ranges where coyotes are commonly taken, you’ll notice significant bullet drop and wider groups. While it’s serviceable for deer in its intended role, the .350 Legend is a frustrating choice for varmint hunters. If you thought it could handle everything from whitetails to groundhogs, one trip afield will convince you otherwise.
.303 British
The .303 British has a long military and hunting history, but it’s not effective for varmints. With moderate velocities and heavy bullets, it lacks the explosive impact smaller targets demand. Expansion is minimal, leading to pass-throughs that don’t put varmints down quickly. At longer distances, trajectory issues compound the problem.
Hunters who’ve tried surplus .303 rifles for coyotes often find the accuracy inconsistent, especially with bulk ammunition. That makes it unreliable when precision is needed most. While the cartridge has proven itself on big game, it’s poorly suited for small, fast-moving animals. If you carry one into the varmint fields, you’ll quickly regret it as your targets keep escaping despite solid hits.
.38-55 Winchester
The .38-55 Winchester has enjoyed a revival among some traditional hunters, but it doesn’t make sense for varmints. Its slow-moving bullets were designed for deer and black bear at short distances, not small targets at long range. Accuracy beyond 100 yards is often lacking, and the trajectory makes precise shots nearly impossible on small critters.
The round’s performance on impact is also unimpressive against varmints. With limited expansion and heavy construction, bullets don’t dump energy effectively into small animals. Instead, they punch holes and let them run. While it’s an interesting cartridge with history, it’s out of place in varmint hunting. Hunters who bring it into the field usually go back to faster, flatter calibers after seeing the results.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
