It kinda depends on how you will be using it, I was leaning towards a heavy barrel 22-250 with a 20X variable scope, but if you have to carry it around, the bull barrel guns get HEAVY. Also you need to spend some really big money on a scope if you are going high magnification or it just won't be clear enough. I ended up with a Weatherby Vanguard .223 standard barrel with a Leupold VXI 4-12X scope, and the gun was $400 bucks and the scope and Leupold mounts were about $300. The factory test target had a 3 shot 3/4" group, and I could equal that with Remington 50 round value pack ammo. It was heavy enough to be steady but also fine for walking around and looking for "targets of opportunity" like coyotes, skunks, crows, armadillos, etc.
varmint rifle favs
- Thread starter RichardF
- Start date
I have 2 22-250's, both are Remington VS heavy barrels. One has been shot enough it has now been re-barreled with a stainless Douglas (in 22-250) with a 1 in 9 twist. I have a 6.5 to 20 Nikon Monarch with fine crosshair and dot on one and a Luepold 6-18 on the other The Luepold has a custom elevation turret made up for the particular load I use, so I can dial in the distance right off my range finder and not worry about hold over. I have been making the trek to So Dakota for over ten years now and enjoy making the shots out to about 500 yards. I did have a Savage Heavy barrel in .243 for a few years with the intention of using the heavier caliber for longer range shots. Unfortunately my 73 year old eye's are keeping me down to about 500 yards so I sold the Savage. I will tell you that I was impressed by both the trigger and the accuracy of the Savage. You will probably want the "lighter" trigger. I had the standard that goes down to 1.5 lbs. With the 22-250 be sure to try Nosler bullets, and Varget powder with Fed 210M primers.
klausinak
US Veteran
OP-
If you're not hunting for fur, there is nothing wrong with your caliber choice; .22-250 is just too fast not to blow really big holes in pelts. As to make/configuration of the rifle, that's dependent on how you hunt. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking, don't get the bull barrel. My varmint hunting is for fur, and involves a lot of walking; I run an old 700 ADL in .222. As far as the make of rifle goes, everything you've mentioned is good, it'll come down to which one has the bells & whistles you desire, coupled with a price you can live with.
Just my .02
-Klaus
If you're not hunting for fur, there is nothing wrong with your caliber choice; .22-250 is just too fast not to blow really big holes in pelts. As to make/configuration of the rifle, that's dependent on how you hunt. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking, don't get the bull barrel. My varmint hunting is for fur, and involves a lot of walking; I run an old 700 ADL in .222. As far as the make of rifle goes, everything you've mentioned is good, it'll come down to which one has the bells & whistles you desire, coupled with a price you can live with.
Just my .02
-Klaus
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I have a Ruger 77 in .220 Swift that is very accurate. I only have a 300 yd rifle range available to me, and it groups pretty well. I imagine the spread is shooter-induced.
Unfortunately, I don't get into many ground-battles with varmints, so the 20x scope is kinda wasted.
Having tried the accu-trigger on my Savage Scout, I'd be tempted to try the Savage varmint rifle for a long range shot. That trigger is tremendous.
Unfortunately, I don't get into many ground-battles with varmints, so the 20x scope is kinda wasted.
Having tried the accu-trigger on my Savage Scout, I'd be tempted to try the Savage varmint rifle for a long range shot. That trigger is tremendous.
I have 3 CZ 527s ........ IMHO they are the best bang for the buck on the market.....mini mauser action sized nicely for .223 size cartridges.... good to "GREAT" wood.
I have a FS/mannlicher with a 1-4x20 Leupold scope for "walking in Penn's Woods" (10-150yds)
and an 3-9x40 scoped American Model for shooting across the fields...LOL...... available in 1:9 and 1:12 twists.
The third was just too good a used deal to pass up.
CZ has some great understudies in rimfires...... models 452/53/55 from .22lr,.22mag and .17HMR... on micro-mauser actions.
I have a FS/mannlicher with a 1-4x20 Leupold scope for "walking in Penn's Woods" (10-150yds)
and an 3-9x40 scoped American Model for shooting across the fields...LOL...... available in 1:9 and 1:12 twists.
The third was just too good a used deal to pass up.
CZ has some great understudies in rimfires...... models 452/53/55 from .22lr,.22mag and .17HMR... on micro-mauser actions.
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I have never been much of a varmint shooter but my BIL has a Remington .25/06 that seems to be perfect for the lite stuff like squirrels or rabbits and for the larger "varmints" too like coyotes and pigs. I've hunted with it myself a few times and have never needed more than one shot for anything. Never had to chase anything either.
I'm kinda surprised that no one has mentioned that caliber.
I'm kinda surprised that no one has mentioned that caliber.
.25/06, eh? Must be BIG varmints down there in TX. 
You mention the subject of calibers no one else has mentioned. I will throw out the .221 Fireball before the topic goes away. I have both an original Fireball and a little CZ American model in that caliber. The original "handgun" in that caliber is a bit useless to me. I am just not that good with it, but I have to admit some fondness of the CZ. It's a nice little rifle, handy for carrying while walking, and good looking to me, too. However, I feel certain I would use it more if it had been chambered in .222 instead.
You mention the subject of calibers no one else has mentioned. I will throw out the .221 Fireball before the topic goes away. I have both an original Fireball and a little CZ American model in that caliber. The original "handgun" in that caliber is a bit useless to me. I am just not that good with it, but I have to admit some fondness of the CZ. It's a nice little rifle, handy for carrying while walking, and good looking to me, too. However, I feel certain I would use it more if it had been chambered in .222 instead.
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22-250 is the correct answer. H380 under a 52gr SMK out of my 700VSF makes pretty pink clouds
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Varmints - like groundhogs or prarie dogs, once you own a 20 Vartarg in a Cooper model 21 you will either sell or leave all others at home... Predators - like coyotes and such - the 20VT will serve you well or just go to the Cooper model 22 and pick a medium case caliber
Ivan the Butcher
Member
For the Varmints in the barn yard out to 200 yards a rifle in 22 Hornet is hard to beat. Except I have a Ruger No.1 in 218 Bee. loaded with poly tipped 50 grain V-max over a traditional load of IMR or H 4227. The low noise of the to small rounds makes them great in built up areas closer to town without getting the housewives too upset. (Setting off a shoulder cannon 25 yards from a bedroom window on Saturday morning, ends up with calls to law enforcement. Just because you didn't do anything wrong doesn't stop complaints).
A older savage 340 won't set you back too much, One thing that is commonly spoken against them is the scope line of sight is 3/4" left of the bore line. Zero at dead-on elevation and 3/4" left at 150 yards. My pre 1961 Hornet groups 40 grain poly boat tails in about 5/8" at that distance. I have a 4-12 x 40mm B&L scope from the 80's on it. When I'm stalking problems under 40 pounds and closer than 200 yards, This is my gun with 1-4 shot mag I always cure the problem be it rodent, canine, feline or porcine (small pig)!
If you come across a rifle in 22 BR (usually 1:14 twist) they do anything a 22-250 will do with about 3/4 the amount of powder and a reduced recoil. I never used it beyond 500 yards but I would trust it to 700 or so. I have friends with 1:8 twist 6 BR rifles and the are using 105 grain bullets, I'm using 50 Ballistic Silver Tip bullets on the same "targets" at the same range. Their targets are hit, mine are vaporized! 22-250 can do this too, with the right weight bullet. Ivan
A older savage 340 won't set you back too much, One thing that is commonly spoken against them is the scope line of sight is 3/4" left of the bore line. Zero at dead-on elevation and 3/4" left at 150 yards. My pre 1961 Hornet groups 40 grain poly boat tails in about 5/8" at that distance. I have a 4-12 x 40mm B&L scope from the 80's on it. When I'm stalking problems under 40 pounds and closer than 200 yards, This is my gun with 1-4 shot mag I always cure the problem be it rodent, canine, feline or porcine (small pig)!
If you come across a rifle in 22 BR (usually 1:14 twist) they do anything a 22-250 will do with about 3/4 the amount of powder and a reduced recoil. I never used it beyond 500 yards but I would trust it to 700 or so. I have friends with 1:8 twist 6 BR rifles and the are using 105 grain bullets, I'm using 50 Ballistic Silver Tip bullets on the same "targets" at the same range. Their targets are hit, mine are vaporized! 22-250 can do this too, with the right weight bullet. Ivan
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Many years ago I had a Remington 700ADL in .243 Winchester that was deadly on groundhogs to over 400 yards and took a nice young 8-point buck for me. Worked just fine for anything in between. Had a stock trigger and a 3X9 variable scope--don't recall the brand.
The older 700's were awfully good.
Would be a bit much for prairie dogs in .243.
The older 700's were awfully good.
Would be a bit much for prairie dogs in .243.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I'm old school when we mention varmit rifle the only thing I can think of is the 4,000fps 22-250?
I built a 29" barreled German 7mm mauser for more power.
My son have me for father's day a savage 17HMR. Rifle.
I built a 29" barreled German 7mm mauser for more power.
My son have me for father's day a savage 17HMR. Rifle.
Ruger M77 220 Swift on PA groundhogs...
You can't really go wrong with a 22-250. A couple platforms that haven't been mentioned that I like are the older Sakos and the Browning 1885. Mine are 1/2 MOA rifles with the right load. The Remington 700 VSF is great too. That said, the varmint rifle I seem to pick up the most these days is a CZ 527 in 222 Rem. Light, very accurate to 300 (with no wind) and seems to kill as well as my 22-250s with a lot less noise and blast. The single set trigger is very effective and helps with accuracy. I've used it on coyotes, prairie dogs, and even pigs. I think if I could have only one "varmint" rifle it would be that little CZ in 222 Rem.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Fishinfool
Member
My two favorites are a Remington model 700 varmint special, with the laminated stock, in 22-250. Half inch, or less gun all day long with the right ammo, but it is a heavy rifle if you are walking around with it much.
Second is a CZ in .204 Ruger. Very well made, heavy barrel, but still much lighter than the Remington, set trigger, and also a half inch gun. It has become my favorite rifle for walking the fields for woodchucks, and is my go to gun for coyote hunting at night. At close ranges, those tiny slugs hit a yote, go in an inch or two, and blow up, leaving no messy exit hole. Prime winter pelts are worth saving.
That said, there was little my 22-250 could do that I couldn't do with a .223 with the right load, at less cost and increased barrel life.
I am not a Savage guy, though I know guys with them are happy with the accuracy. Rugers have gotten better, accuracy wise, since they started making barrels in house. Model 700's are always good, as long as Remington doesn't drop the ball on QC. I think very highly of CZ's. I have three total, and all are shooters.
Larry
Second is a CZ in .204 Ruger. Very well made, heavy barrel, but still much lighter than the Remington, set trigger, and also a half inch gun. It has become my favorite rifle for walking the fields for woodchucks, and is my go to gun for coyote hunting at night. At close ranges, those tiny slugs hit a yote, go in an inch or two, and blow up, leaving no messy exit hole. Prime winter pelts are worth saving.
That said, there was little my 22-250 could do that I couldn't do with a .223 with the right load, at less cost and increased barrel life.
I am not a Savage guy, though I know guys with them are happy with the accuracy. Rugers have gotten better, accuracy wise, since they started making barrels in house. Model 700's are always good, as long as Remington doesn't drop the ball on QC. I think very highly of CZ's. I have three total, and all are shooters.
Larry
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