Build me a Vintage Varmint Rifle

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Loyalist84

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So, aside from an over .40 stopping rifle, I only have one rifle missing from my battery, and that's a varmint gun.

I've chosen the .25-06 caliber because it fits the caliber gap nicely between my .22LR and my .280 Ackley, is a cartridge that was developed before 1930 (a mid-point between my .280 AI and my next earliest cartridge, the 9.3x62), and I can get speeds over 3500 fps with varmint bullets.

With that in mind, I'm looking to develop a rifle for hunting coyotes, mostly driven with dogs but occasionally called, that would not be out of place in the field at latest, in 1938, optics excepted for the sake of pragmatism. This is a gun that would be carried or held more often that shot, and shot just as often in a sitting position with a bipod/shootings sticks at 350 yards as offhand at a running songdog at 40.

Wood and blued steel are a must, but what action/barrel combinations am I looking at to build an ideal classic-looking coyote buster? Welcome to any and all suggestions or critiques from the membership, looking to keep the budget for the rifle (no glass or rings/bases) around the $1500 mark. Lemme know what ya'll think.
 
Mauser 93 or 96 in .257 Roberts, styled as a light stalker with shorter barrel and iron sights including cocking piece peep, either on the British style or the earlier 1920-40 American custom sporter like Griffin and Howe. Given that Europeans regularly chamber the 96 in 30/06 and .270, and I've owned a custom 93 in .280 Ross, I am inclined to think the more svelte lines of the 96 would complement a lighter, 'pointier' rifle, which could still be used for deer.

If intent on the 25/06 then maybe a Springfield 1903 but in my opinion it would look more eastern whitetail than driven coyote.
 
You might have a look at item ZZ1553 in the used rifles section of w ww.accuracyplus.biz website. Winchester High wall in .25 Krag Improved, made up by Griffin & Howe. There is a classic varmint rifle.
 
I would look into a 243 or 22-250 as the 25-06 is a bit on the large side for coyotes imo
Look Sako L579, Remington 700, Ruger 77 in either a sporter barrel or heavy.
There was a peach of a Rem 700 BDL HB in 6mm Rem on the EE a while back.
Or above on the site tiriaq quoted, a nice Sako A2 deluxe in 243.
Both fit your budget give or take.

This is my vintage model 700 adl in 22-250.
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tiriaq said:
You might have a look at item ZZ1553 in the used rifles section of w ww.accuracyplus.biz website. Winchester High wall in .25 Krag Improved, made up by Griffin & Howe. There is a classic varmint rifle.
Click to expand...

Something like this is what I would think of as a vintage varmint rifle.
 
Winchester M70 Westerner in .243 Win.

A .243 does a better job filling the gap between rimfire and a .280... the .25/06 is closer to the .280 side... and your varminter will be nicer in a short action. Find a vintage Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8 or Vari-X II 3-9X40 to mount up top... Just a thought.
 
I sold my 223 Tikka Varmint in favor of a Tikka rebarreled #6 Benchmark in 6 Dasher.

This chambering is extremely versatile, lots of 6mm bullets to choose from, from mice to moose.
 
For what you're looking for I think a Sako L579 Forester in 243 might be just the ticket. I had one of those years ago and it was a real tack driver, mine had a Redfield peep sight on it.
25-06 is a great caliber but it's more than any coyote needs, in my opinion, and they're quite a bit scarcer than 243s. It's pretty close to your 280 Ackley anyway.
Another great option would be a pre-64 Model 70 in 220 Swift, a classic varmint rig for sure.
In the 25-06, Ruger put out some nice Model 77s with a heavy barrel on them, they can be a very accurate rifle too.
 
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Bolt action and vintage varmint to me screams .220 Swift. I'd like mine in a Ruger No.1 though, please, topped with a fixed 6x gloss Leupold. Although if I had to I'd survive with more modern glass.
 
These to me are vintage varmint rifles but maybe i am old fashion

Martini in 6/ 303 improved

IMG_9719.jpg

And then 2 of the 3 hi wall , top one is in 22/303 and the bottom one is in 218 imp bee

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25/35 lever for driven dogs
A 250 savage would be just as period correct but the 2506 is a great caliber. Close shots it is not fur friendly. I use a stevens 200 in 2506 with a 22" barrel. It works great and i still get some impressive velocities
 
WR1894 said:
These to me are vintage varmint rifles but maybe i am old fashion

Martini in 6/ 303 improved

View attachment 178345

And then 2 of the 3 hi wall , top one is in 22/303 and the bottom one is in 218 imp bee

View attachment 178349
Click to expand...

Those are gorgeous rifles and a Martini would be an action I'd love to build on, but all of my other centrefire rifles are Mauser '98s or my token Long Lee and I'd be cautious of getting 3600+ fps like I'd prefer to out of that particular design.

MattW said:
For what you're looking for I think a Sako L579 Forester in 243 might be just the ticket. I had one of those years ago and it was a real tack driver, mine had a Redfield peep sight on it.
25-06 is a great caliber but it's more than any coyote needs, in my opinion, and they're quite a bit scarcer than 243s. It's pretty close to your 280 Ackley anyway.
Another great option would be a pre-64 Model 70 in 220 Swift, a classic varmint rig for sure.
In the 25-06, Ruger put out some nice Model 77s with a heavy barrel on them, they can be a very accurate rifle too.
Click to expand...

I agree there is some overlap, but I'd only use 75-87 grain bullets in the .25-06 strictly for varmints, as opposed to 165 grainers for my .280 for moose & such at longer ranges than my 7.65 (my .308/deer-sized game rifle) can really obtain with iron sights.

Buckmastr said:
I would look into a 243 or 22-250 as the 25-06 is a bit on the large side for coyotes imo
Look Sako L579, Remington 700, Ruger 77 in either a sporter barrel or heavy.
There was a peach of a Rem 700 BDL HB in 6mm Rem on the EE a while back.
Or above on the site tiriaq quoted, a nice Sako A2 deluxe in 243.
Both fit your budget give or take.
Click to expand...

I've had good luck using my Dad's .222 Rem 700, but I wont buy a Remington rifle and none of those particular actions meet my pre-WWII cut-off date

tiriaq said:
You might have a look at item ZZ1553 in the used rifles section of w ww.accuracyplus.biz website. Winchester High wall in .25 Krag Improved, made up by Griffin & Howe. There is a classic varmint rifle.
Click to expand...

That is a gorgeous rifle, and the .25 Krag AI is definitely a cartridge I'd consider, but at 5k it's a bit rich for my college kid budget of putting away a few bucks a week for a year. Plus I'm trying to stay away from John M. Browning designs, just a personal preference.
 
I thought the OP had already settled on a cartridge...I guess folks have strong opinions about that choice.

Anyway...put me in the High Wall camp for the "vintage" varmint.
 
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