Author Topic: What kind of varmint rifles do you have? (Read 29889 times)

Ray · « **on:** April 05, 2007, 04:24:24 PM »

I'm thinking about getting a new one this summer.

bearbait · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2007, 04:39:56 PM »

243 and 223 plus archery!

jackelope · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2007, 04:52:59 PM »

Remington 600 in .222rem. kind of a wierd rifle, but i like it and it's a tack driver.
also want to customize my 10/22, and i have a mini 14 i've been looking at upgrading. clarks has some neat stuff for that rig.

Ray · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2007, 05:36:36 PM »

do you have one of those high tech mini 14s like this one?

brush hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2007, 07:04:59 PM »

Sweet

jackelope · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2007, 07:42:56 AM »

this one's in the works...this is the clarks custom one with the barrel stabilizer, trigger job, a/m stock. the only other thing mine will have is a scope.

pacyew · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2007, 07:45:53 PM »

That's a beauty, there Jac! Looks like nothing but fun!

My current favorite is a .22 Hornet Cooper Classic w/ 4x12 Leupold. It's just very easy to shoot.

PolarBear · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2007, 10:48:58 PM »

The one that I use to kill almost all of my varmints is the good OLD .250 Savage. That goofy lever action is still a tack driver!

Ray · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2007, 09:04:53 PM »

Anyone have much experience with the Remington VS SF II ? Looking for a .223 to plunk around with that has some accuracy.

bobcat · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2007, 09:07:14 PM »

I dont, but take a look at CZ. They are amazingly accurate, and the price is right too. My dad has one in 22 LR and one in 204 Ruger.

Ray · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2007, 09:12:44 PM »

I'll take that as good advice since I have heard it from 2 sources now

bearmanric · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2007, 10:19:04 PM »

for varmint's i have a Remington Light varmint 22-250 that's my cougar calling gun. then i have a Kimber 84m 204 killer gun. not fur friendly. thinking of getting a 243 for cougar calling this summer. my bear calling gun is a Tikka T3 300 wsm with a Leopold 3x9x50.. Rick

billythekidrock · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2007, 06:22:58 AM »

Rick.. you still have that 45-70? Did you ever kill anything with it?

WAcoyotehunter · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2007, 07:10:32 AM »

T/C Encore in .204 when i want to save furs. Rem 700 in 22-250 for other calling. I've never called in a lion, but for calling bears (never called one of them either) i carry a 7.65X53 Arg mauser.

boneaddict · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2007, 10:40:35 AM »

25-06. I just love that caliber.

kirkl · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2007, 09:02:52 AM »

ive got a Howa 223, great gun for the price.

Craig · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2007, 10:46:25 AM »

I have a .243 that I have been using. I put a .223 AR-15 Varmint rifle together. Going to try it out next month in Montana. I hope the prairie dogs are out.

finnman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2007, 02:10:34 PM »

Howa varminter .223 with a Pentax Lightseeker 4x16 44mm scope, 9 1/2 lbs.
CZ American.223 with 2x7 Bushnell 3200

Boneaddict, I 2nd the 25.06, I had a Browning a-Bolt that I sold to a buddy- MISTAKE, I want it back now!

Guy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 15, 2007, 09:41:42 PM »

Recently picked up this little .204 Ruger/CZ American. Topped it with a 4.5-14x Leupold and am working up handloads for it. Hope to make it my primary rockchuck & coyote rifle. Reasonably light, accurate and just kind of fun. Neat little tiny mauser action. I like the maple stock too. Took this shot of it up in Swakane Canyon a couple of weeks ago.

Regards, Guy

bobcat · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2007, 09:53:40 PM »

Guy, my dad has that exact same rifle. I sighted it in for him when he first got it, and I shot two 5-shot groups at 100 yards that you could cover with a dime. You really can't beat the CZ's for accuracy. He's also got one in 22LR that is just as accurate.

Ray · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2007, 02:54:59 PM »

I went with a CZ 527 in .223 and a Leupold VX-II 4.5 x 12 x 40 AO. It just arrived today.

actionshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:05:15 PM »

My favorite is a AR15, Olympic Ultramatch, shoots better than most bolt guns I have owned.

Machias · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2007, 02:17:42 PM »

I have a New England Arms single shot .223, weighs next to nothing. But I shoot most of my yotes with a 00 buck from a 3 inch mag shotshell.

bearbait · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2007, 07:12:17 AM »

Machias, I just got the same rifle with a bull barrel, (but I mostly hunt with archery gear). Have you worked up any favorite loads for it yet?

WAcoyotehunter · « **Reply #24 on:** April 28, 2007, 11:40:38 AM »

Remington 700 in 22-250 topped with buris 3X9 and a T/C encore in .204 topped with pentax 4x12. Both are wonderful coyote killers, but the heavy barrel on the t/c makes it a bit much to cart around the country. Total tally for the season was 26 coyotes and two missed bobcats...is there such a thing as "cat fever"

?

Ray · « **Reply #25 on:** April 28, 2007, 04:20:17 PM »

Quote

26 coyotes

holy smokes

Machias · « **Reply #26 on:** May 02, 2007, 02:29:17 PM »

Sorry bearbait, I just noticed you ask me a question. No I just shoot factory loads. However I do not buy the cheapest brand. I seem to have really good accuracy with the Winchester brands.

littletoes · « **Reply #27 on:** June 02, 2007, 12:47:42 PM »

Winchester White Box ammo shoots very good in my rifle too.
My gun likes the 52grn Sierra HPBT Matchking with 39grns of H335 best though, under 1/4" groups at 100 yards.

Remington 700, .223 LH
Luppy 6.5-20X40 AO EFR
HS Precision Stock
Warne Tactical Rings/Base

Slenk · « **Reply #28 on:** June 02, 2007, 03:48:51 PM »

Just bought a Stevens in 7mm-08 and have a 22-250 barrel on the way for a switch barrel setup.
Also have a Savage in .270 for the larger stuff .

MADMAX · « **Reply #29 on:** June 02, 2007, 05:23:32 PM »

Colt Ar-15 sporter & original colt scope

Krusty · « **Reply #30 on:** June 02, 2007, 05:33:55 PM »

I'm not going to say what kind of rifle I have.
When I posted in the deer hunting thread, I was told I need to replace it "with a good rifle".

I didn't come here (just) for the abuse.

LOL

A piece of advice, for anyone who wants it... never tell a guy his wife is ugly, his kids are stupid, or his firearm is a POS.
It's just plain rude.

Krusty

Krusty · « **Reply #31 on:** June 02, 2007, 07:02:14 PM »

P.S.

Here's a target I shot with my "no good" rifle;

Three shots, @ 50 yards, open (iron) battle sights, with a load my rifle likes...

Krusty

Ray · « **Reply #32 on:** June 02, 2007, 07:52:15 PM »

I'm still checking out ammo on my new varmint killer CZ 527 in .223 with a Leupold 4x12x40 AO.

We loaded up some Hornady V-max 40 grain .224 with Hodgdon Lil Gun in Remington Brass.

I can get under 1.5 inch groups regularly at 100 yards and sometimes on top of each other or intersecting holes. When I move out to 200 yards the best I can get is 1.5 inch groups but usually 2-2.5 inches. I need to work on my shooting

I'd blame it on something besides myself but I don't believe in that yet. Hehe.

I saw some fellows on another forum that were getting way better shot groups than I was with a similar model. I was wondering if those people shoot with fancy rifle shooting rests or are they just plopping their rifle on some bags and going for it (which is what I do).

One of my partners has a Cooper in .22 Hornet. That thing is like a shiny, fancy, accurate toy. I wish it was mine....

Krusty · « **Reply #33 on:** June 03, 2007, 12:34:29 AM »

Ray,

Do you know what the twist rate is on your .223?
And do you know how heavy your trigger is set?

Another load to try is the 50 gr V-max, driven by Varget (I can't remember how much off the top of my head).
Also try the Remington bulk .224" SPs, I dunno anybody who's gun doesn't like them.

You'll find that the AO scope is awesome for static shooting, non-moving targets at constant distances, but in hunting situations you end up rarely having clear focus of "everything" all at once.
Even for diggers, you'll have to make adjustments a lot.

I have one that's been retired to the bench/target .22lr.

Krusty

Ray · « **Reply #34 on:** June 03, 2007, 12:52:59 AM »

1:12 Twist

Not sure about the trigger. Whatever the factory gave me. I am used to heavy triggers and I feel really good with the way it is now. I don't plan on tuning it much or at all as it seems to have caused some strange side effects for other people when they have done so on this rifle. Or so I have read anyway..

I like the AO scope. It's always nice to see the critters' lips curl back after getting hit. It seems to be just fine for shooting at very small targets. There's always infinity which is what all the other scopes without AO are probably set at anyway... I have a couple of other scopes which are not AO models... Although it was not the critical selling point for me I managed to get it for the same price as one without this feature.

I'll consider trying out some new loads in a few months. I believe I have another setup which is only slightly different next time around with Alliant Reloader 10. Thanks for your suggestions.

Krusty · « **Reply #35 on:** June 03, 2007, 12:10:31 PM »

Ray,

A 1:12 twist is in the middle of the road, not as fast as 1:9 or as slow as 1:14.

Your rifle will probably shoot mid-weight .224 bullets best.
Leave the 30-40's for the smaller faster twist chamberings, and the 60-70's for the larger slow twist chamberings.

The mid-weights are well contructed when compared to the lighter, and should have significantly less "splash" problems on mid-sized game.

The bulk bullets I mentioned before are very tough, maybe a little too solid for diggers, but again one I highly recommend for predator calling or plinking.

I'm suprised to hear that about the CZ trigger? I would expect it to be one of the more "servicable" triggers you can get on a production firearm.
DJ's Pawn and Loan, in Bothell, has a good smith working there. He does most all of our trigger work, and we've been very happy with his work.

Krusty

Ray · « **Reply #36 on:** June 03, 2007, 01:40:24 PM »

I have also shot some remington ammo out of it and it is no more or less accurate than the hornady loads we put in there. Those were 55 grain bullets. I believe 40 grain is just fine for shooting sage rats and squirrels.

As far as the trigger is... the way I feel about it is that it is working just fine. If it isn't broken don't fix it is my policy on that one. I'm sure it can be tuned just fine. It's unclear what other people were doing to theirs..

There is a fellow who is a friend of a friend which has the same exact rifle as I do. I think I will go share some notes with him on reloading tips as well.

Krusty · « **Reply #37 on:** June 03, 2007, 03:14:58 PM »

Ray,

The 40 grainers should do awesome for that size game, but unless you spin them faster, they will not be as stable or buck the wind as well.

The only reason I mentioned the trigger is, I thought it might help reduce the size of your groups (bedding the action is the other thing I'd advise).

Nowadays triggers come from the factory with "lawyerized" settings, and a slight reduction in weight (not to the point of being touchy) will take you to the point rifles used to come off the shelf with.

I recently tried a trigger on a new rifle, and it broke one of my biggest rules on triggers... "you should not be able to lift a rifle by the trigger."
At a little over 7 pounds, it was a detriment to proper shooting, encouraging "jerking" on the trigger (and requiring a hard enough jerk to upset point of aim and your grip).
Many off the rack rifles fail the pick-up test.

Krusty

littletoes · « **Reply #38 on:** June 04, 2007, 05:53:41 PM »

Krusty, I think you might have gotten it backwards, you need faster twists for longer heavier bullets, not smaller bullets. You see, the heavier/longer bullets need the faster twist to stabilize, and smaller bullets, used with faster twists have the probability to come apart, usualy inside 50 yards. Most light weight varmint bullets have very thin jackets, and can't take the faster twist.

AO (Adjustable Objectives) can be "adjusted" either frontwards or backwards, but if you have the Side adjustment, you need to always adjust from Infinity to the target. This ensures proper paralax. Just something to know....

Krusty · « **Reply #39 on:** June 04, 2007, 07:03:13 PM »

Littletoes,

Yeah, I did get it backwards.

Geeze, egg on my face' eh?

You're right a longer heavier bullet (or even a longer lighter, in the case of a solid copper bullet) needs to spin faster.
Because of it's shape, like comparing a top to a pencil, the longer bullet has to spin faster to stabilize.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Backwards or frontwards, though, I am gonna stick to my advice that Ray should stay in the mid-weight catagory with his choice of projectiles.

Krusty

littletoes · « **Reply #40 on:** June 05, 2007, 07:03:34 PM »

Well, no prob, maybe you can help keep the egg off of my face. I seem to apply it heavily at times!

Mid weight bullets won't wear out the firearm like the heavies anyway!

Always look at the good side I say!

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Author Topic: What kind of varmint rifles do you have? (Read 29889 times)

Slenk

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