Help me pick a rifle

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LeducAb

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Leduc Alberta
So this is what I have

Mini 30 semi 7.62x39
1895SBL lever 45-70
7600 pump .30-06
Ruger Guide Gun bolt 416
Ruger SR-22 semi 22LR

I want a great varmint gun and I'm not too concerned about cost per shot.

I have been reading about the varmint grenade bullets and I'm kinda settling on either a 204 or a 223 or a 243 or a 6mm.

I'd like a 10 shot magazine but that may be a pipe dream even with a bolt action If it has to be a five shot capacity mag I'd prefer a semi auto but if there was a great deal of quality difference I'd rather have a great bolt than an average semi.

I'd like to punch targets or varmints at up to 500 yards, but being realistic it's mostly going to be under 100 yards.

I'd like to stay at under $1500 for the rifle without optics, but I don't want to exceed $1500 with any mods I'd need to do.

So here is the challenge. Knowing reloading the varmint grenade bullet is my biggest priority, knowing I'd like to be able to say I can hit that 500 yard prairie dog, open to any action, I'd like a 2.5# maximum trigger pull and my budget is $1500....

What would you buy and how would you do it?

I don't want to see people arguing why someone's idea is bad. I'd like to see why your build idea makes sense to you.

$1500 and go
 
If I had to use the varmint grenade to shoot varmints/target at 500 yards, I likely wouldn't bother at all. That being said, given that most of your shots are going to be under 100 yards, and the fact that you even mention 10 shot capacity, I would go 223rem. I would simply purchase a Tikka T-3 Varmint in 223rem, bed it into a B&C M40 stock, and mount a Nikon Monarch 3 5-20x44. I actually have exactly that rifle. Using the 69gr TMK, which is a much,much, much better choice for 500 yard shooting, it is an honest sub 1/2moa rifle.

20151128_130242.jpg
 
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kamlooky said:
.257 Wby Mag.
Line them furs up and ker-pow.............:sniper:....................G:







:cool:
Click to expand...

And fit it with a ten round mag and empty the mag as fast as possible. The barrel might last a few hundred rounds.:p

But since the OP badly wants to use Varmint Grenades, it isn't an option.
 
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I would also go with a Tikka Varmint. Mine is a .223 and can easily reach out to 900 yards with 82 gr. Bergers or 80 gr SMK's. Rifle has 10 round mag and shoots bug holes with the factory stock. I would not shoot varmint grenades, there are much better bullets out there for the .223

 
Varmints only? I'd probably go .223 or .22-250, in a heavy-barreled Tikka T3 or Weatherby Vanguard. In fact, if the shooting doesn't present any high-volume opportunities like a field loaded with ground squirrels or something similar, I don't see the need for the heavy barrel.

Lots of great explosive bullet choices around, so don't get too obsessive about Varmint Grenades...other choices will work just as well at 100 yards, and way better at 500.

As far as what you "need" to do to the gun: you need to put on a good scope and start making noise. I don't mean to offend, but your question seems to imply a certain unfamiliarity with shooting, at least this type of shooting. You don't need to "build" anything. Bolting on a different stock or screwing a rail on top is by no stretch of the imagination "building", despite the constant misuse of that term. If you eventually feel that your gun will be more useful to you with a different stock, a muzzle brake, a replacement trigger, an adjustable cheekpiece or whatever else, fill your boots...but don't deceive yourself into believing that you "need" to do anything to the brand new gun. After you use it for awhile, you will have a better idea of what you want to do to it.
 
Certainly not fixated on the VG's. As I mentioned the vast majority of shots would be under 100 and I'd be willing to try any bullet that I could generically use for all ranges 👍🏻

I can drop down to a 110-125'ish in my .30-06 if I want to. I can do 100-150 yards easily with my well built 22.

I could just plink anything under 200 from existing guns.

I am COMPLETELY out of my knowledge on "creating/building" this type on an animal.

The more I think, the more I lean towards the 243 or 22-250. I think there is a lot of overlap with the 243 as to what I have is my only issue.

Building meaning if someone came up with the idea of a savage axis with this barrel, this trigger and this stock and this bolt even I'd be open to creating something from near scratch.

A stainless fluted 700 with upgrades as I discover them might be the safest bet.

I just need to figure out caliber.

22-250 seems to fill the void I presently have.

And guys? Every word of advice I am appreciating
 
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