How would you build a long range varmint rifle?

[BAM-BAM]

I'm in Pa. so we're talking Penn's Woods and small fields. Ya longer shots are possible but not common. Sometimes not safe due to lack of backstop.

I've relied on CZ 527 Americans,and a FS/mannlicher in .223/5,56 these come with 'single set triggers"

Ruger 77 International in .243 with light 80 gr [?] bullets for varmints.

Leupold scopes.

 

[Bill Bates]

In the budget mentioned above a rifle not mentioned but sure would fit the bill is the Bergara B-14 HMR. They have good reputation for accuracy and durability.

Also, the Howa 1500s (same rifle as the Weatherby Vanguard) tend to be good shooters. The Tikka rifles also are a good choice.

As a photographer I'm a bit of an optic snob. If I'm going to work at distance I want a scope that is bright but also really resolves images well.

I would look long and hard at the scopes Zeiss, Meopta, Swarovski and Nightforce on the higher end. Then Leupold as the next small step down. Meopta scopes are the best bang for the buck but they are hard to find.

I'm not a huge Vortex scope fan. Their stuff is okay but only okay. overall when it comes to scopes if you stick the European brands you won't go far wrong.

 

[Yendor357]

$1500. Now we have a baseline from which to work.

Snipers Hide, the forum. Go to the for sale section. Those guys are always chasing the next greatest thing; and they're willing to throw the baby out with the bath water in the process. Some of those PRC guys spend money like it's nothing.

I think there's a Savage based 22-250 on there now for $1250. Prices are always negotiable.

If I were to start from scratch, I'd do a Remington 700 based short action. Krieger barrel with enough twist for a heavy for caliber projectile. Have a riflesmith spin up the barrel for you. From there you can do everything. The 700 action is the Chevy Small Block of the rifle world. Everyone makes stuff for it.

 

[Shotguncoach]

When you start shopping for a scope, I would highly recommend taking a look at a new-ish company name Tract Optics. I have several of their scopes and they amazing for the price point.

Another advantage of Savage rifles is that they can be built into anything you want with very little effort...much like an AR-15. The one on the right started out as a plain model 14 in .243 and ended up with a Criterion .308 barrel, and MDT chassis, and an AICS detachable magazine conversion in less than an hour. The stainless model 12 .223 is on the left.

 

[steelslaver]

Also not mentioned is that the rifle is only part of the equation. Yes, there is the scope. But, even the a great rifle with a great scope will not be great at long range without good ammo that matches what the rifle likes. My Ruger 77 with a 1 in 8 twist premium grade barrel, Canjar set trigger and 18 power scope is extremely accurate with MOST 90-100gr boattails. but if you stick in 75 gr or less bullets it might not even hit the paper and even key hole. Most of those light bullets simply can't handle that twist at their higher velocities and some of them even key hole badly.

 

[WR Moore]

Lotta good points above. I've got the training, machinery and tools to build a rifle and I did build a .223 on a 700 action. Still cost me more than buying one already made by a major manufacturer. Even before I replaced the stock.

Now then, you don't mention what "varmints" you want to shoot but mention .243 & .270. Some more specifics would help. This is also going to affect what scope you need/want. Want and need aren't necessarily the same.

About glass: avoid adjustable objectives, if the objective is bumped or pressured, it can change the point of impact. Leupold has proved that a fixed focus objective has less than 1/2 in parallax effect at 500 yards. If you just gotta have an adjustable, go for one with a side turret adjustment. BTW, you use this by taking it to the max and dialing back until you get what you want.

Buy name brand optics of good quality from a company that supports their customers and stands behind their products. Better to cry once when you stroke the check than cry multiple times after product failures. Bear Basin has very good prices on optics. There might be other sources.

 

[mm93]

Honestly I wouldn't build a long range varmint rifle myself. It's still cheaper to buy one already built, or new than to spend what a very accurate varmint rifle will cost to build.
I've had my current varmint rifle for about 17 years and back when I bought it I found them on sale for $800 new and I snatched it up quickly. Mine is a Remington 700VSF with HS Precision stock that was standard back then. It's chambered in my favorite varmint cartridge the .22-250, and shoots under 1MOA easily.

 

[LVSteve]

Also not mentioned is that the rifle is only part of the equation. Yes, there is the scope. But, even the a great rifle with a great scope will not be great at long range without good ammo that matches what the rifle likes. My Ruger 77 with a 1 in 8 twist premium grade barrel, Canjar set trigger and 18 power scope is extremely accurate with MOST 90-100gr boattails. but if you stick in 75 gr or less bullets it might not even hit the paper and even key hole. Most of those light bullets simply can't handle that twist at their higher velocities and some of them even key hole badly.

I've been down the "what ammo does my rifle like" rabbit hole. I was trying to zero the scope on a Howa 1500 using 7.62x51 surplus and it shot patterns. Winchester 150 gr SP shot much smaller groups. The kicker is that the same NATO surplus groups very well from a Chilean 1912 in 7.62. Twist rate, rifling depth, land-to-groove ratio can all have drastic effects on accuracy if they mismatch what the bullet jacket wants.

 

[Valmet]

I wouldn't build one, plenty of adequate rigs out there that outshoot me sitting in a gun rack. If I was going to spend money on a quality varmint rig I'd opt for a Savage 12 LRPV in either .223 or .22-250 with a quality optic

 

[steelslaver]

If your going 300-500 yards consider this

A 22-250 55gr starting out at 3650 is down to 2500 at 300 with a 5" drop from 200 yd zero and 1850 at 500 and drops 34" from a 200yd zero

A 6mm Remington starts an 87 gr bullet at 3400fps but it is 2460 at 300yds with 6.5" drop from 200yd zero and 1950 at 500 yds and drops 36"

The 22-2500 is a slight drop winner till 500yds then the 6mm will walk away from the 22-250

BUT

Lets talk wind drift. With a 10mph breeze at 300 yds the 22-250 drifts 10.5" and the 6mm drifts 6''. At 500 yds the 22-250 will drift 33" and the 6mm 19". Even thought the 22-250 has less flight time the 6mm's better ballistic coefficient wins in wind drift. The 6.5 Creedmoor is slower than either, but because it has the best ballistic coefficient of the 3 it drifts 5.5" at 300 and 16" at 500

I have had the pleasure of shooting prairie dogs on dead calm days and known the frustration of days when there was some wind. Even with a steady wind changing your shot angle will make what should be a hit into a miss. The smaller the caliber the greater the effect

 

[Narragansett]

The more I read all this information, I think I should upgrade my scope, maybe drop in a timney trigger, and shoot what I have.

Any comment on the older 6-18x Redfield scopes? I think I have a 4-12 too

 

[Alk8944]

How would you put together a budget varmint rifle?

Are you serious Pete? Build?? Just buy a Rem 700 in .22-250. This fits "budget" about as well as you will find. If you can settle for 300 yards then .223 will do it. Older off-the-rack Model 700s generally will shoot as well as many "custom" rifles that aren't even close to budget friendly.

 

[diyj98]

The more I read all this information, I think I should upgrade my scope, maybe drop in a timney trigger, and shoot what I have.

Any comment on the older 6-18x Redfield scopes? I think I have a 4-12 too

If you're 22-250 shows acceptable accuracy, I'd probably just stick an acceptable scope on it and do just that. Personally, while not a target trigger, you can normally work a M77 trigger to a decent varmint hunting trigger. I'd avoid the expense of adding an aftermarket trigger. Once the 22-250 stops meeting your accuracy expectations, you can then start you're hunt for a new rifle.

You can certainly load lighter bullets the 270 you mentioned, but a standard 270 twist might not stabilize the lighter bullets too well.

Those older Redfields will certainly still do the job. You'll get better optics on quality newer scopes, but scope brands are often like rifle brands. "The brand I use is the best". I'm a big fan of Leupolds and their warranty. I've also had excellent luck with Bushnell Elites. There's a lot of good options. I've never had to use the Leupold warranty, but have Vortex, Bushnell, and Burris and all three stood behind their products.

 

[steelslaver]

I have a couple of Redfields, one of them a 6x18, another a 4x12, while they may not have the clarity of more expensive scopes they hold a zero just fine. I am killing varmints with it not taking pictures of them

 

[DWalt]

Remember, that for accuracy the components of the complete system must work to maximum capacity, firearm, ammo, optic, and the nut behind the butt. There are several, reasonably priced modern rifles out there that shoot very well with the right ammo. Some of the basic Savage rifles have shown remarkable consistency. Google the rifle reviews in the NRA publications.

I suggest you look at what Savage has.

 

[Ματθιας]

Do varmint guns have to be bolt guns?

I have an AR15A4 20in 223wylde 1:8 HBAR that will pop p-dogs out to 400+ yards. I think it'll pop p-dogs further out if I had better glass. I'm just running a 10x42 SuperSniper scope. It seems to like plain old m855.

I have less than a $1000 in it. The scope was $250 used and the upper was, I think $400, I bought from a friend. Everything else was picked up at gunshows and online.

Works for me.

 

[steelslaver]

While semis can turn in decent accuracy, when the bench rest and extreme range shooters go to semi autos for accuracy so will I

 

[biku324]

If I wanted a reliable 500 yard rifle for prairie dogs, my choice would a good used Remington 700 or older Ruger M77 in 270 or 280, acquire a composite stock, bed it in, then ensure a good trigger and glass. Both cartridges have the needed reach with 90-120 grain bullets. Recoil isn't that bad, and most rifles in these calibers, even older ones, haven't been shot much.

I used a '79 Ruger M77 in 270 on 'dogs (and deer and elk) for a decade, connecting reliably on dogs from a rest on my pickup cab at 350-450 yards when I did my part. The glass wasn't really up to the distance - it was a Leupold 2x-7x. More magnification was all the rifle needed for 500 yard reliability. I've had a couple of Remington 700s in 280 and 270 that were as good, but I finally sold out when 'dog shooting wasn't as available and stayed with 35 Whelen for big game.

 

[steelslaver]

If you go to a long action that will handle things like the 270, think about the 25-06. It seems to have fell out of favor, but it is a flat shooting, fairly low recoil round. It shoot flatter than the current golden child, the 6.5 Creedmoor

It can launch a 117 gr bullet at 3100fps that is still going 2000fps at 500yds with 35" of drop from 200 yds and has 16" of wind drift at 10mph.

The Creedmoor has 44" of drop and the same wind drift.

My step dad, the guy who really educated me on guns and reloading always wanted to build a 6.5-06 and launch those long high ballistic coefficient bullets at high speeds. It doesn't launch the same weight bullets as quite as fast as the 270 will, but a 6.5 bullet will have a better BC than the same weight 270. There are lots of 6.5 bullets from 123gr up to 150 gr with BCs from .500 to .700. Not so for the 270 as it is kind of a stand alone cartridge viewed as a hunting round, not a target or varmint round

 

[DR505]

For a solid 500 yard rifle, I'd go to something more than the 223/5.56. Most likely a larger caliber.

25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, just to name two.
When I need a new barrel on the old No.1V/223, 1:12,
I'll most likely up the caliber. Always wanted a 25-06, but the 6.5s are interesting.

I agree with you 100%. I was gifted a Rem 700 long action (was a .270) that someone had rusted the barrel by hanging a wet washcloth on it (no kidding). Had it re-barreled to .25-06 and accurized, added a 6x-14x Leupold scope, and it stacks bullets in the same hole at 100 yds. I have taken prairie dogs out to 400 yds (403 with range finder). Great rifle.

 

[cmansguns]

where is the 500 yard shot??

Sheesh Pete, There isn't anywhere in Rhode Island that even has 500 yards of open space, and Savannah can't be much better, so are you planning a "prairie dog safari" somewhere out west?

Back in May I found a replacement for one of my "youth" guns that was a varmint killer anywhere from 75 to 200 yards when I was a teenager with decent eyes. My real youth gun was a Savage 340 (1962) with iron sights in 22 Hornet, and the replacement I found last May is a Savage 340E (1974) also in 22 Hornet, but with a Tasco 3 to 9 x32. I know cheap scope but the early Jap glass was decent enough quality and it still performs decent for me.

VERY "low budget" rigs but do get the job done, still a lot of fun and the range use has reduced size (200 yard) targets placed at 100 yards so we can shoot and zero and compete with our M1 Garands.

sounds to me like you already have not only 1, but 2 rigs already to go for varmints or paper whichever you are chasing while down south...

 

[Narragansett]

Sheesh Pete, There isn't anywhere in Rhode Island that even has 500 yards of open space, and Savannah can't be much better, so are you planning a "prairie dog safari" somewhere out west?

Back in May I found a replacement for one of my "youth" guns that was a varmint killer anywhere from 75 to 200 yards when I was a teenager with decent eyes. My real youth gun was a Savage 340 (1962) with iron sights in 22 Hornet, and the replacement I found last May is a Savage 340E (1974) also in 22 Hornet, but with a Tasco 3 to 9 x32. I know cheap scope but the early Jap glass was decent enough quality and it still performs decent for me.

VERY "low budget" rigs but do get the job done, still a lot of fun and the range use has reduced size (200 yard) targets placed at 100 yards so we can shoot and zero and compete with our M1 Garands.

sounds to me like you already have not only 1, but 2 rigs already to go for varmints or paper whichever you are chasing while down south...

Charlie, I was thinking about a trip Northwest to try prairie dogs. Also, the club I am getting into soon has a 500 yard range. What I have is good, but from time to time, I get the bug

 

[Alton]

The more I read all this information, I think I should upgrade my scope, maybe drop in a timney trigger, and shoot what I have.

Any comment on the older 6-18x Redfield scopes? I think I have a 4-12 too

I had a 6x18 Redfield, POC back around 1980. If I sighted it in on one power it would shoot different if I changed powers. I do not have that issue with Leupolds.

 

[Ματθιας]

The problem with p-dog shooting is that it can get expensive really quick, especially if you're shooting anything other than 5.56/.223 and it's a big p-dog town!

 

[WR Moore]

The more I read all this information, I think I should upgrade my scope, maybe drop in a timney trigger, and shoot what I have.

Any comment on the older 6-18x Redfield scopes? I think I have a 4-12 too

I bought a Timney back in the last century and haven't been thrilled with it (not a Remington). One of these days I'll reinstall the factory trigger. If Shilen has solved their parts sourcing issue, they're worth a look. I dropped Shilen for Trigger Tech 2 stage triggers. You can frequently find their products on sale.

 

[Farmer17]

Start with the scope first, seeing tiny critters way out there is difficult and very tiring on your eye. One scope I actually love for long range is an older Leupold VX II 6-18X with 50 mm, adjustable objective lense and the AO lense is very important at longer ranges and helps with mirage and proper parallax focus.

 

[DWalt]

270 Winchester strikes as a bit much bit of a varmint cartridge, but I've been guilty of varmint hunting with a 308 so I guess I can't throw stones.

The .270 with light bullets is a very capable varmint rifle. Way back when, I used a sporterized M98 Mauser with light 8mm bullets for groundhog. It worked fine. Sorry I sold that rifle.