Seeking advice for an affordable Varmit Rifle

[Duckhammer]

Hi Folks,

I am interested in getting myself more into varmit hunting. Coyote, fox, ground squirrels etc.... I would like to purchase for myself a good bolt action type of rifle and was wanting feedback on good calibers, rifle choices etc....This rifle will only be for small game & plinking, so any input or advice is much appreciated.

[coachcw]

.260 covers a lot of spectrums inless you just wanna go .223 for ammo. sps varm.

[Bill W]

If you got a .22-250 you probably wouldn't want anything more (unless you turn into a gun nut).   Most of the .22 centerfires have close to the same decibel report so smaller ones wouldn't make much of a difference for more rural areas.   The .223 does have bulk ammo available in favorable times.

If you don't reload buy a caliber that has factory ammo readily available and not some obscure cartridge.  I've got two wildcats and the only way I get ammo for them is to form the cases and handload the ammo.

[X-Force]

204, 223, 243 in savage 10 predator max 1.
 2 of my brothers have the gun in 6.5 and they are both extremely accurate.

there are a million options but it comes down to budget, country you hunt, and the game you are after. good luck.

[wildweeds]

I've got 2 savage 10 predator hunter max 1's, a .204 and a .223.I actually got the .223 from Huntboy on this site,they are both VERY VERY accurate shooters.Used ones are out there.Fact is there is a 22-250 Remington 700 with a 2x10 scope in the  weapons classifieds right now at a package price of 650 if I remember right,has the varmint barrell and IMHO is a SCREAMING deal!

[Jim the Plumber]

Savage Stevens in 223 Remington. Then save your $$ and buy as much optics as your budget allows.

[seth30]

Savage Stevens in 223 Remington. Then save your $$ and buy as much optics as your budget allows.

  I own one myself and love it

[buckfvr]

Sounds like you need two guns.........if you're talking about ground squirrels as I know them, .22 mag is what most of us ( guys I shootem with ) use here.  Coyotes in any kind of wind and open ground, Id start with .243, and .260 would also be an option......( my next ).  Longer the barrel ( within reason ), the better.   

[Duckhammer]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, it is very much appreciated! I have definately been leaning towards the .223 (Especially since ammo is so regularly available and I dont currently reload.)

[Heredoggydoggy]

Good choice! 

[GEARHEAD]

anything bolt in .243, just a simple bushnell trophy, type scope will do, should be easy to find a good used rifle for cheap. you can use it for deer too or a spare, with the 100 gr bullets and for Yotes use the Hornady 58 gr Superformance, they are screaming fast and flat and accurate, like 3700fps.

[Bofire]

  Tikka T3 lite bolt gun, stainless, 22-250 or 243.
Carl

[Duckhammer]

So here is the thing gearhead, I have a Ruger m77 .243 that is my #1 tackdriver without question. It killed the cow in my profile pic with a single 100 grain bullet through the neck at 66 yards. I dont want to change anything up about that set-up for varmits. So I thought why not, daddy needs a new gun, if I could find the same m77 in .223 I would definately buy it!

[wildweeds]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,135723.0.html

So here is the thing gearhead, I have a Ruger m77 .243 that is my #1 tackdriver without question. It killed the cow in my profile pic with a single 100 grain bullet through the neck at 66 yards. I dont want to change anything up about that set-up for varmits. So I thought why not, daddy needs a new gun, if I could find the same m77 in .223 I would definately buy it!

[Jim the Plumber]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,135723.0.html
Little rich for my blood, but it's a 77 in .223.

[demontang]

Im using the 223 for most of my varmit hunting. I do have a 243 I take from time to time and it works the same as the 223.

[jyerxa]

The 223 is really versatile today like the 22 was when I was youngster. I like to plink and just shoot for the heck of it. Just to see if I can nail that taget.

I would suggest get the firearm of you dreams. what ever it may be. Sometimes the wallet comes into play. So do you like to plink with a 50 cal? Get a Barret! 

You like the bolt action. Nice precision shooting. Your heart is in the right spot! Cool. 

I'm old. I can't see any more.  So I like to send the ammo down the range and have a good laugh. 

Get a 22 dot something on your favorite platform. You will not be disapointed. 

[GEARHEAD]

I here ya duck, Daddy can always use a new pair of rifles....

[huntnphool]

.204

[hunting4sanity]

I've got a Savage Weather Warrior (model 16) in .223 that is much more accurate than I am, it shoots 1/2 moa groups with Hornady 55gr V-Max factory ammo.  I love the gun, my son has the same gun in .204 with great results.  Lots of good choices out there.  I've also been looking at a .22-250, any of those three calibers should be great varmint/plinker rounds.

[bowhunterforever]

.204

[carpsniperg2]

Tikka T3 lite bolt gun, stainless, 22-250 or 243.
Carl

  My vote as well.

[Jekemi]

My two cents worth: If you reload might I suggest shooting the .270 Winchester (.277). I load Sierra 90 grain HP bullets and 58 grains of IMR 4350. This results is 3600 FPS. This will drop a coyote dead in its tracks. The recoil is fairly low and the trajectory is super-flat.  The bullets are  low cost, $26 per hundred. I shoot a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2. The Weatherby is a straight shooter often reviewed as the best gun value. Sub MOA is not out of the question, right out of the box.
The advantage of the 270 is that it seems like everybody has one. It's popularity is slightly lower than the .30-06 with less recoil. Granted it's not as cool as the .223 AR platform but 270 brass is easier to come by and you can buy a new Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 for around $500. At any rate, it's what I use.

[WoodlandShooter]

Handi Rifle in 223!!!

[Jingles]

As mentioned previously there is a smoking deal on a Rem Model 700 in 22-250 listed that if I didn't already have a tack driving 22-250 I'd be all over like white on rice

[MtnMuley]

I'd personally go with the .204.  223/22-250's will do bad things on small varmints.  The .204 with a 32 gr bullet, usually is a lot more hide friendly choice, yet the 40 gr bullet is very lethal on larger varmints such as coyotes. At long ranges too, I might add.

[Curly]

.204

 

[pianoman9701]

What's wrong with a plain old .22 LR? I had  JC Higgins that shot tiny groups at 100+ yds. It's cheap to buy and shoot. 

[Curly]

The problem with 22LR is the range you'd be limited to for coyotes. 

[Duckhammer]

Jingles, couldn't find the link. You have it?