Best Calibers for Hunting Belding’s Ground Squirrel: Comparisons & Picks
Practical caliber picks for tiny targets in open, often windy meadow country.
The best Belding’s ground squirrel hunting calibers solve a very specific problem: these squirrels are small, alert, and often shot in open country where wind, distance, and shooting position matter more than raw power. Belding’s ground squirrels are found in parts of the western United States and are strongly associated with open meadows, pastures, and similar habitat. That usually pushes hunters toward flat-shooting, low-recoil cartridges that help them stay precise from field rests. Rimfires shine when shots stay moderate and noise matters; centerfires take over when wind and distance become the main issue.
Where/When: Belding’s ground squirrels are most often encountered in open mountain meadows, pastures, irrigated hay ground, and other open areas with suitable burrow soil across parts of the West. Hunters commonly notice activity around burrow entrances, fresh digging, green feed, and short travel lanes between feed and cover. They are active during daylight, so movement is generally tied to visible feeding periods, and in many areas the best action runs from late winter into spring and early summer after emergence from hibernation. Young commonly appear above ground during spring, while adult activity often tapers as the season advances. Timing varies by elevation, weather, and local regulations, so always match your trip planning to the region you are hunting.
Caliber Comparisons
| Feature | .22 LR | .17 HMR | .22 WMR | .17 WSM | .223 Rem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recoil How much kick you can expect when firing. |
Very low | Very low | Low | Low | Low to moderate |
| Effective Range The distance at which the caliber remains accurate and lethal. |
Best inside 75 yards | Best to about 150 yards | Best to about 125 yards | Best to about 175 yards | Best beyond 150 yards with care |
| Bullet Weight Range The range of bullet weights typically available for the caliber. |
32-45 gr | 16-20 gr | 30-46 gr | 15-25 gr | 35-73 gr |
| Versatility How well the caliber or gauge performs for other game species besides your primary target. |
Great for practice and small game | Specialized varmint rimfire | Useful crossover rimfire | Niche long-range rimfire | Most versatile varmint option here |
| Ammo Availability How easy it is to find ammunition for the caliber. |
Excellent | Good | Good | Moderate | Excellent |
.22 LR
.22 LR is the value pick for close shots, lower noise, and high-volume days where you want to shoot a lot without centerfire cost. It works best when you can get near active burrows and keep distance limits honest. The downside is simple: wind drift and drop become a problem quickly on very small targets.
PROS
- Lowest ammo cost of the group
- Very mild report and recoil
- Good for careful close-range work
CONS
- Wind drift grows fast on small targets
- Limited practical range
- Needs strict discipline for humane hits
Interesting Fact: .22 LR is available in a wide variety of loads, which makes it easy to tailor a rifle to practice, pest control, or general small-game use.
Consider this Caliber If…
Choose .22 LR if most of your shots are close, you want minimal recoil, and budget matters. It is also a sensible option for newer shooters who will wait for clean, stationary shots and pass when wind or range starts to blur the shot.
.17 HMR
For many hunters, .17 HMR is the best all-around choice because it fixes the two biggest field problems at once: more reach than .22 LR and a flatter trajectory that makes holdovers simpler on tiny targets. It keeps rimfire recoil low, stays easy to spot through the scope, and fits the common 60- to 150-yard shot window very well.
PROS
- Flatter than .22 LR and .22 WMR
- Very low recoil for spotting impacts
- Designed with varmint use in mind
CONS
- Ammo costs more than .22 LR
- Still gives up ground in strong wind
- Less useful as a general plinking round
Interesting Fact: .17 HMR became popular with varmint hunters because it offers rimfire handling with notably flatter performance than traditional .22 LR.
Consider this Caliber If…
Pick .17 HMR if you want the easiest rimfire to shoot well across mixed meadow distances. It is the right answer for hunters who want low recoil, clean optics tracking, and better reach without jumping to a centerfire.
.22 WMR
.22 WMR is the practical middle ground for hunters who want more reach than .22 LR and a little more bullet weight than the .17s. It handles mixed shot distances well and can be a nice fit when one setup produces close burrow shots and the next asks for a longer poke across pasture or ditch edge.
PROS
- More reach than .22 LR
- Heavier bullet options than .17 HMR
- Useful rimfire compromise for mixed distances
CONS
- Not as flat as .17 HMR
- Ammo is pricier than .22 LR
- Still limited compared with .223 Rem in wind
Interesting Fact: .22 WMR remains a useful crossover rimfire because it offers more energy than .22 LR while staying lighter and quieter than centerfire choices.
Consider this Caliber If…
Go with .22 WMR if you prefer a rimfire with a bit more flexibility and do not mind paying more than .22 LR. It is a solid choice for hunters who want one rifle to cover close and moderate shots without stepping into centerfire blast.
.17 WSM
.17 WSM is the specialist option for hunters who want the most reach they can get from a rimfire. In broad, windy country, that extra speed can flatten holds and stretch the useful distance window beyond where standard rimfires feel comfortable. It is effective, but it only makes sense if you actually need that edge.
PROS
- Fastest rimfire option in this lineup
- Flatter than other common rimfires
- Light recoil helps with target tracking
CONS
- More limited ammo and rifle choices
- Usually costs more than other rimfires
- Overkill if most shots are fairly close
Interesting Fact: .17 WSM is often chosen by hunters who want to stretch rimfire performance as far as practical before moving into centerfire rifles.
Consider this Caliber If…
Choose .17 WSM if you hunt open ground, want rimfire handling, and regularly face shots that make .17 HMR feel borderline. It is best for experienced shooters who know their terrain rewards extra rimfire reach.
.223 Rem
When wind and distance are the real problem, .223 Rem is the most forgiving option here. It gives you the best reach, the widest load selection, and the strongest crossover value for general varmint use. The tradeoff is more blast, more backstop responsibility, and less reason to use it when a rimfire would already handle the shot well.
PROS
- Best long-range margin in this group
- Broadest overall load flexibility
- Strong crossover choice for other varmints
CONS
- Louder and blastier than rimfires
- Demands more backstop awareness
- Too much cartridge for easy close shots
Interesting Fact: .223 Rem is one of the most common varmint and predator calibers in North America, which helps with rifle, ammo, and optic compatibility.
Consider this Caliber If…
Pick .223 Rem if you are shooting wide-open country from a stable rest and want the most forgiveness in wind. Safe handling, solid backstops, and local rules matter even more with centerfire rifles, so use it only where the property and regulations make sense.
Final Thoughts on the Best Calibers for Hunting Belding’s Ground Squirrel
For most hunters, .17 HMR is the easiest place to start because it balances flat trajectory, light recoil, and practical rimfire range so well. .22 LR still makes sense for close, inexpensive shooting, .22 WMR offers a useful heavier-bullet compromise, .17 WSM is the long-reach rimfire specialist, and .223 Rem is the best tool when wind and distance dominate the day. Whatever you choose, match the cartridge to your real shot distance, your recoil and noise tolerance, and the type of land you are hunting. Keep muzzle control strict, confirm your zero, take only ethical shots with a steady rest, and remember that local laws can vary on seasons, access, minimum calibers where applicable, and lead or non-toxic ammunition requirements.