RE: im looking for a varmint rifle
Whats your definition of long range? The 223 is about a 300-350 yard gun tops. A 22-250 will get you out there to the almost 500 mark, a 243 will go 600-650 in the right hands. Remington makes an SPS Varmint that would be a good gun to start with, then you can stick $1200 into a scope/rings/bases/bipod. Savage also makes a few real slick long range rifles you should check out. I had a Tikka T3 Varmint in 223 that I was not impressed with, that I traded for a Savage.