Advice for new LRP/varmint/coyote rifle

J

JRodko

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Regina, SK
Hello fellow CGNers,

I hope this isn't an exact re-post but I couldn't find the info I needed.

As the title suggests I'm in the market for a reasonable priced (like to keep it under $1000) rifle that I can use for target practise (up to 1000 yds give or take), varmints at long distance, as well as coyotes within a few hundred yards. I have not made up my mind about calibre but i really like the .204 ruger and am curious about the .17 calibres!

I'm looking for speed (duh), great accuracy, as well as good effect on ground squirrels and be able to bring down a coyote. I defintely want to be able to see my target when I hit it so low recoil is obviously a priority with my calibre choice. What rifles/calibres do you guys think I should go with? I like the CZ varmint/target with the kevlar stock and I also like some of the savages. I already own a .243 but I'm looking at going a little bit lighter and faster:evil:

Cheers
 
the .17 and the 204 are very poor choices for anything even close to 1000 yrds . You should maybe look at a .223 with a fast twist like a 1 in 7 or 8 so you can use the 80 or 90 grain bullets to shoot out to a 1000 yrds
 
.223 or 22-250 are better choices. 22-250 has more case volume and generally more velocity depending on the load, but .223 is more common and is cheaper to shoot. Either one can go out to 1000 yards with decent glass and a reasonably skilled shooter, but they don't fare nearly as well in the wind as a heavier caliber like a .308. There are a ton of great choices as far as brand/model.
 
Go with a .223 with a fast twist and shoot heavy bullets 75-90 bullets for long range targets. And lighter bullets for varmints/coyotes. An 80 gr bullet out of a .223 will keep up or be slightly better than a .308 shooting 155 gr bullets out to 1000 yards.
You could go with a .22-.250 but most factory rifle have too slow of a twist to take advantage of the heavy bullets, and barrel life is about 1/4 that of a .223.
 
A quick look at ballistics charts running the .204 55 grain bullet at 3500 fps tells me its still supersonic when it gets there. It'll get bounced around a heck of alot more then even a 155.5 grain berger launched at 3000 fps but theres only .2 mins more windage a steady 10mph wind.
 
I picked up a Savage model 12 LRPV in 204 ruger about 2 years ago. It was on sale for $900 on Cabelas.

Its been a great rifle. Its a very good shooter and I think its my favorite caliber.

I'm shooting a 39gr Sierra Blitz King at 3800 FPS.

I've shot it to 900 yards and the groups are really starting to fall apart at that point. It was a 16" 5 shot group. Inside 400 or so yards is where it really shines.
 
I was after the same thing, I edned up with;

Remington 700 SPS Tac .223
20" 1 in 9 barrel so it can still throw 80gr to 1000
I have a 20moa rail but i used tally rings
A nikon M223 scope on it.

between the gun, rings and scope, i think i have 1,100 or maybe 1,200 into it. Ive only gotten it on paper so far at 50, but am going to take it out to 100 and more today. I love the gun, it's got a six round bdl, great for yote's. and if its anything like my .308 remmy at 300, its accrute.
 
I went through this same thing not long ago....ended up with a .223 Model 700 tactical. The 1-9 twist allows me to run 70 grn VLDs for target shooting out to 700+, and I shoot 53 grn Vmax for gophers/yotes. I upgraded my 700 with a Jewel trigger and HS stock, and I couldn't be happier.
 
JRodko said:
Thanks for all the advice! What is I drop my shooting distance down to about 500?
Click to expand...

You are going to get a lot of different answers to these kinds of questions because there is really no "right" answer. I mean, with the right conditions it is possible to hit a 500yd target with a .22.

Just like a .22, you could hit at 500 yards with a .17 but it isn't practical. Personally, I would put max varmint range at 200-250 for a .17 and that would have to be a well placed shot to cleanly kill a coyote at that range. Your typical .17HMR projectile is only 17-20 grain so the wind will have a major effect on it as well.

The .204 is a fine round and is actually a bit faster than a .223 for an equivalent weight and would only drop about 30" at 500 yards. The big difference is that the .204 is generally 32-45 grain while the .223 run from 40-90 grain. This is one part of what makes a .223 better for 500 yard+ than a .204. The .223 is also far more common and there is a larger selection of ammunition and rifles.


For sub 500 yard varmint/target shooting the .204, .223, 22-250, or .220 will all work well. However, if I were to personally choose just one rifle for this scenario it would be a .223 due to its widespread availability, versatility, and selection.
 
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