best Varmint gun?Ammo?

[Turkey Blaster]

I am going to get started in varminting. specifically the coyote-fox sized game. what type of gun do you recommend? I already have a .270. is it good for varminting?thanks ahead.

[driftrider]

Your .270 will kill the crap out of a coyote at any range you can hit it...but the pelt damage might be a problem. If you don't care about the pelts, then I'd say if you got it, use it.

Otherwise, if you planned on saving and selling the pelts I'd suggest something lighter. The .223Rem, 22-250Rem (my preference) and the .220 Swift are all good coyote rounds. If you plan on taking lots of long range shots, and/or it's very windy where you hunt, then maybe a .243 Win or a 6mm Rem. would be a better choice. They both fire heavier longer bullets that will buck wind better and won't lose as much steam as the little .224cal bullets will out past 300 yards. All of the aforementioned cartridges also have the added benefit of being accurate and mild recoiling rounds, and are the most commonly chambered cartridges for most heavy barreled varmint style rifles.

I like my Ruger M77VT MkII 22-250 a lot. If I do my part it will ALWAYS shoot sub-MOA groups, and it's trajectory is laser flat out to 250 yards (less than +- 1.5" from line of sight). Plus I can shoot it all day without becoming sore or developing a flinch because the recoil is minimal.

Mike

[Turkey Blaster]

all right, if the .270 will work, what bullet would you recommend? i don't want to use my expensive partitions on varmints. I also want to start reloading so what would a good load be? thanks ahead.

[driftrider]

Because the .270 Win. is larger than the calibers commonly used for varmints and predators (the "normal" caliber range being .17cal to about 6.5mm) there isn't going to be a huge selection of varmint/predator specific bullets for it. Doing a quick search of Winchester, Remington and Federal's websites I found that the only one of the big three to offer a factory varmint load for the .270 is Federal. Winchester doesn't list one at all, but I'm skeptical about the completeness of their ammo listings because the ammo I usually shoot in my 22-250 isn't on there either. Remington only breaks doen their premium ammo into specific cartridge listings, and they do not show a varmint round either, but they may still make a non-premium varmint load that isn't listed.

Federal lists one specific varmint/predator load for the .270. It's one of their premium rifle loads, loaded with 130gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. Federal claims this load to shoot 3060fps at the muzzle, and I'm sure it'd roll a coyote a$$ over tea kettle at any range you hit him at.

You COULD use any of the faster expanding (lighter) deer bullets, too. But there's still a good change the bullet wouldn't have time to expand much in a coyote, and you'd also have the increased risk of ricochets.

If you planned on handloading then your bullet choices are a lot better. Hornady offers their V-Max bullet in a 110gr version. Speer offers three different varmint bullets in .270 including their TNT HP. Sierra offers the 90gr Varminter. There are probably more offerings from other bullet makers, but you can research them on your own.

Mike

[Turkey Blaster]

Thanks driftrider. I have now decided that I am going to get a varmint gun. I am stuck between a .22-250rem and a .17rem. i am going to make a thread comparing them.

[mainehunt]

Winchester has their line of CXP ammo. Try the Winchester CXP1's. They are specifically for varmints.