Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
12-11-2008, 04:57 PM
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Delaware OH USA
Posts: 534
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
I would look for a Savage Model 12 in 223 Rem. I would put a 6 - 24 x 50 30mm duplex reticle scope on it. Savage is one of the few makes which offers 1:7 twist in a few models.
The problem with 22-250 is it is generally designed to shoot 40 - 50gr bullets at hyper velocities which don't hold up because the bullet looses velocity due to it's poor ballistic coef. It also would be a borderline throat eater at those extreme velocities.
The problem with 22-250 is it is generally designed to shoot 40 - 50gr bullets at hyper velocities which don't hold up because the bullet looses velocity due to it's poor ballistic coef. It also would be a borderline throat eater at those extreme velocities.
12-11-2008, 06:52 PM
#12
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 253
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
Savage has a Model 110 FP law enforcement series 24" barrel like 8.5lbs but its real balanced and doesnt feel like theres a weight tied to the end of the barrel.
The 110FP comes in 300mag and 25-06 the 10FP comes in 223 and 308
I got my 110 FP in 300 mag for $655 and that includes tax and shipping
The 110FP comes in 300mag and 25-06 the 10FP comes in 223 and 308
I got my 110 FP in 300 mag for $655 and that includes tax and shipping
12-11-2008, 08:32 PM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: WY
Posts: 2,056
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
HEAD0001's points are good. I pick from a couple different ARs, a CZ550 Varmint in .22-250, and a CZ527 Varmint in .223.
ARs can be fun to hunt prairie dogs with, but I generally prefer the .22-250. It's so heavy though that if I'm going to do any kind of walking (like, coyote hunting), the ARs or 527 fit the bill much better. The 527 is built on a "micro" Mauser action, very strong, very reliable. I also like the set trigger. In spite of the heavy barrel, it's nearly equal to what you'd expect from a standard-weight deer rifle. A bit unusual looking in that its single stack, five-round magazine is readily visible (not flush).
Glass is a big consideration. You can get by with 4x, but you'll probably feel better with something more powerful. I'm using Burris FFIIs in 6.5-20 and 4.5-14. I prefer the 6.5-20 simply because it has the Ballistic Mil-Dot (and I'm used to estimating range with a Mil-Dot reticle). With the 6.5-20 on the CZ550, I probably have somewhere in the neighborhood of $950 invested. The CZ527 with the 4.5-14 comes in right around $800.
I'm loading .223s with 60 grain Hornady SPs, and the .22-250 with 50 grain Hornady V-Maxes. Though both my Colt and Rock River ARs like the heavier bullets, I loaded a batch of .223s with the lighterV-Maxes for the CZ527just to see how they shoot. Have towait until the prairie dogs un-hibernate to find out.
ARs can be fun to hunt prairie dogs with, but I generally prefer the .22-250. It's so heavy though that if I'm going to do any kind of walking (like, coyote hunting), the ARs or 527 fit the bill much better. The 527 is built on a "micro" Mauser action, very strong, very reliable. I also like the set trigger. In spite of the heavy barrel, it's nearly equal to what you'd expect from a standard-weight deer rifle. A bit unusual looking in that its single stack, five-round magazine is readily visible (not flush).
Glass is a big consideration. You can get by with 4x, but you'll probably feel better with something more powerful. I'm using Burris FFIIs in 6.5-20 and 4.5-14. I prefer the 6.5-20 simply because it has the Ballistic Mil-Dot (and I'm used to estimating range with a Mil-Dot reticle). With the 6.5-20 on the CZ550, I probably have somewhere in the neighborhood of $950 invested. The CZ527 with the 4.5-14 comes in right around $800.
I'm loading .223s with 60 grain Hornady SPs, and the .22-250 with 50 grain Hornady V-Maxes. Though both my Colt and Rock River ARs like the heavier bullets, I loaded a batch of .223s with the lighterV-Maxes for the CZ527just to see how they shoot. Have towait until the prairie dogs un-hibernate to find out.
12-13-2008, 01:59 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
ORIGINAL: bigbucks98
Depends on the varmint but my two favorites are the 204 ruger and a 223 AI. I shoot 52gr. Berger V-max for the blow ups and A-max but thats cuz i hunt fur.
Depends on the varmint but my two favorites are the 204 ruger and a 223 AI. I shoot 52gr. Berger V-max for the blow ups and A-max but thats cuz i hunt fur.
Mike
12-13-2008, 09:11 PM
#17
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 493
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
I'm not that big into varmints but I want to be, just can't find the time.
I have two rifles I bought as light deer rifles and varmint guns, one is the Savage 12vbss and the other is the model 25 classic, and though I don't own a Cooper I doubt my Savage's would take a back seat to one.
The model 12 weighs about 13 lbs with a Weaver V24 scope and the model 25 will probably weigh about 8 1/4 lb with a Simmons 4x12, so one walking and one sitting.
Both have 1-9" barrels and will handle the Speer 70 gr simi spitzer which is likely the best .224 whitetail bullet ever designed, although this year I'm going to try the Sierra 65 gr Gameking which is supposed to be designed around whitetail deer size game
I have two rifles I bought as light deer rifles and varmint guns, one is the Savage 12vbss and the other is the model 25 classic, and though I don't own a Cooper I doubt my Savage's would take a back seat to one.
The model 12 weighs about 13 lbs with a Weaver V24 scope and the model 25 will probably weigh about 8 1/4 lb with a Simmons 4x12, so one walking and one sitting.
Both have 1-9" barrels and will handle the Speer 70 gr simi spitzer which is likely the best .224 whitetail bullet ever designed, although this year I'm going to try the Sierra 65 gr Gameking which is supposed to be designed around whitetail deer size game
12-13-2008, 10:42 PM
#18
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location:
Posts: 365
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
All the varmint calibers i have are...17 rem, 221 fireball, 218 bee, 223 AI, 204 ruger, 220 swift, 22-250 AI, and 22 hornet. I hunt for fur so thats why i like to use the smaller calibers. The 220 swift and the 22-250 AI are mostly used when im long range smaller varmint hunting like prairie dogs, groundhogs and such...so basically to blow all holy hell outta stuff.
12-27-2008, 02:17 PM
#19
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas
Posts: 119
RE: Best Varmint Rifle and Caliber?
everyone that suggested the savage line of rifles knows that they are the best bang for the buck. i have a 12 in 22-250 and topped it off with lupee bases and rings with a tasco 6-24x42 with mil-dot and target knobs. on a good day with my nosler bt reloads at around 3600fps i can put 3 in the same hole, but usually i do more like 3 into a dime.
