A good Varmint rifle.

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762Russian

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My brother has recently burdened me with looking for a good varmint rifle for his acreage. My own specialty and taste runs to high-powered Military Surplus rifles, so I'm going to have to pose a question to those more knowledgeable than me.

His current request is for a lever-action 30/30 that is inexpensive to shoot and easy to maintain, or something similar. The key elements are a low price for the rifle itself and for the ammunition - Expected targets are to be your standard issue varmints you'd find in South Alberta.

Advice and directions to advertisements appreciated. I'm open to hearing about rifles that can offer similar ability without being exact to the request.


Cheers,
762.
 
A good standard issue varmint rifle for southern AB acreages would be a Stevens 200 in either .223 or 22-250.

Winchester 50 rd bulk white box ammunition in either caliber will do him fine. For a scope I would pick out a Bushnell Elite 3200, in 3-9, or 4-12.

Weaver #46 bases will work front and rear. For rings, Burris Zee's.

Sight it in at 2 inches high at a hundred.

Keep in rack, close to back door..........;)
 
remmington sps varminter also is .223. 50 or 55gr. I use the vmax just because...well....it makes a mess. But a non-reloader variant is readily available and will work just the same.
 
Carbine said:
A good standard issue varmint rifle for southern AB acreages would be a Stevens 200 in either .223 or 22-250.

Winchester 50 rd bulk white box ammunition in either caliber will do him fine. For a scope I would pick out a Bushnell Elite 3200, in 3-9, or 4-12.

Weaver #46 bases will work front and rear. For rings, Burris Zee's.

Sight it in at 2 inches high at a hundred.

Keep in rack, close to back door..........;)
Click to expand...

x2
exactly what i have, and what i do. (in .223)
 
.243 win is good for varmints too. A .22lr and a .243win........ good to go from gophers to deer. .243 is also available at most places where ammo is sold.
 
-30-30 is a terrible choice for varmints. They heat up very quickly and aren't very accurate. Scoping it is another issue.
-243 eats barrels and will lose significant accuracy after less than 1000 rounds
-223 is a much better choice and the Stevens is an acceptable rifle. Cheap, reasonably accurate.
- For cheap, easy to maintain and ultra long barrel life consider a 17 HMR. Ammo is the cheapest of the lot and they will provide lots of entertainment within 200 yards.

Personally, I use a 204 Ruger for varmints... a plain, unaltered Remington 700 SPS Varmint.
 
for a guy who doesn't reaload there is only one choice in a varmint rifle cartridge...the 223 Remington....check out the Stevens as some have suggested, but the price of the Stevens 200 has been climbing...check out a Weatherby Vanguard synthetic or a Remington 700 SPS....no need for the heavy barrel version...the 24" sporter barrel can be just as accurate and easier to carry around.....
get a mid price scope in a 3-9X or 4-12X, Leupold VX-1 or Elite 3200 and you're set...
 
Carbine said:
A good standard issue varmint rifle for southern AB acreages would be a Stevens 200 in either .223 or 22-250.

Winchester 50 rd bulk white box ammunition in either caliber will do him fine. For a scope I would pick out a Bushnell Elite 3200, in 3-9, or 4-12.

Weaver #46 bases will work front and rear. For rings, Burris Zee's.

Sight it in at 2 inches high at a hundred.

Keep in rack, close to back door..........;)
Click to expand...

well can't argue with that, I have a stevens in 22-250 with those mounts and 4-12 bushnell
 
My varmint rigs
204 VSSF
2008Oct06006.jpg

7615, highly reccomended for your application
2008Oct06003.jpg

CZ Kevlar
CZVarmit006.jpg

Cooper M22
IMG_2239.jpg
 
i would have to put a point to the stevens 200 in .223 but the problem is most places like CT or walmart do unt carry much ammo but a stevent in 22-250 would do the job as well i have a stevens in 223 and im hitting gophers at 400+ meters and the price is right a stevens in any cal is any were from $369 to $440 ad a scope and your looking at about $600 max and they shoot well right from the box

i also use my 223 at the range getting sub 2" groupes with factory 55GR FMJ what goes for $13 at wholesale
 
Either 22-250 or 223 in a Stevens would be a great choice.

22-250 will prematurely wear the barrel due to the velocity, but it shoots flatter and has more energy than the 223. The 223 has the advantage of heavier bullets available for better wind resistance though.
 
Im personally all about the 204 ruger also. Once you get enough brass and such it is cheap to use. I use mine for gophers to coyotes to foxes and such. I like it cause it is a nice rifle. I just ordered a new one in a rem 700 VLS in 204 ruger. Could not pass off the price and there is alot of stuff one can do to a rem 700.
 
What sort of varmints are found on south Alberta type farms?

If it's for groundhogs then .22LR or .17 is just fine and a lot cheaper to shoot. If it's far larger stuff then there's really only one caliber based on ammo price and that's a .223. It's by far cheaper than any other center fire rifle caliber to be found on a regular basis and can be had in bulk packs at considerable savings on top of that.

If it's a mix of ground hogs and bigger varmints then perhaps two rifles would be a better idea. A .22LR or .22Mag for 'hogs and the bigger .223 rifle for the stuff that goes after the livestock.
 
He is going to be having a bit of livestock and such, so I'm expecting him to be concerned with popping foxes and coyotes, and he's said maybe the occasional deer.

He has a .22 semi for gopher plinking, so that's not the worry.
 
xWhatever we are at now lol. for the stevens in .223. If he really is stuck on a lever, see if you can sell him on a used BL-22(only lever .22 I've shot, others may be a better deal) to scratch that itch.
 
Is there a Stevens 200 22-250 left hand being produced?
I'm unable to decipher all those symbols and abbreviations Savage uses on their website... Very confusing.
 
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