Varmint Rifle
- Thread starter PGKris
- Start date
WAAAAY too light for 400m, that's for sure.
You hear how 'flat' the 17 is, and it's true, it's amazingly flat by rimfire standards. But, once you start looking at centerfires, it really starts to dim. Even the lowly 7.62x39 is much flatter, as is the 30-30 170 grain flat point! A warm 357 magnum load with a lightweight bullet out of a rifle is flatter!
You hear how 'flat' the 17 is, and it's true, it's amazingly flat by rimfire standards. But, once you start looking at centerfires, it really starts to dim. Even the lowly 7.62x39 is much flatter, as is the 30-30 170 grain flat point! A warm 357 magnum load with a lightweight bullet out of a rifle is flatter!
You *might* be able to pick up an older .220 Swift that would match these requirements. The only problem is that you'll be lucky to pick one up for under $700. 3500-4000 fps depending on if you use a 60 grain or a 40 grain. But it'll sure as hell reach out and touch your varmint. 400 metres is well within it's useable range.
Short of the cost of the rifle the 17 hmr is not all that much cheaper than a 223, to run. I don't know what the cheap 223 ammo is down too but hmr is anywhere from 12$-15$ for 50. And though it would work with good placement and some luck it just does not have the steam. My 22 k-hornet has the better part of twice the hitting power at 150 yards than the hmr has at the muzzle and it is now powerhouse
I have a stevens 200 in 22-250. I put a bushnell banner 6-18X 50mm on for a grand total of just under $550.00 all in.
It will shoot half to three quarte inch groups at 100 consistantly with 40gr vmax loads. It doesn't seem to like anything over 55grs. I've been told that the twist is too slow for the heavier bullets.
I'm still trying to best hornady's varmint express factory loads of 40gr moly coated vmax's. I had my best ever three shot group of just a hair over 1/4'' with these rounds. Expensive loads but well worth it. The cheap stuff from winchester and remington aren't near as accurate.
If I had to do it all over I'd still buy the Steven's. It has about 500 rounds down the pipe so far and not one issue. The cheap scope has held up as well.
It would be a toss up between the 223 or the 22-250. I'd even throw out the 243 as another option as around here ammo plentiful. Personally I'm more than satisfied with the power of the 22-250.
It will shoot half to three quarte inch groups at 100 consistantly with 40gr vmax loads. It doesn't seem to like anything over 55grs. I've been told that the twist is too slow for the heavier bullets.
I'm still trying to best hornady's varmint express factory loads of 40gr moly coated vmax's. I had my best ever three shot group of just a hair over 1/4'' with these rounds. Expensive loads but well worth it. The cheap stuff from winchester and remington aren't near as accurate.
If I had to do it all over I'd still buy the Steven's. It has about 500 rounds down the pipe so far and not one issue. The cheap scope has held up as well.
It would be a toss up between the 223 or the 22-250. I'd even throw out the 243 as another option as around here ammo plentiful. Personally I'm more than satisfied with the power of the 22-250.
Keep in mind that there was some deals in there. I paid $370 for the rifle and then $170 for the scope. The mounts and rings were thrown in. You may find the price will go up a bit with all the little things that you need.
And you should go with a 223 to keep the cheap theme afloat. - dan
You want to look at a .223 if you want a long range number. Only because your not a handloader. .223 bulk or surplus ammo is as cheap as your going to get. Not a big deal if you just shoot coyotes, but if you ever settle down over a gopher shoot, you'll burn up alot of ammo. Plus the rifles are fairly mild mannered, and lower recoil/noise over say a 22-250. Yes, after a day shooting, you'll notice the recoil of the larger varmint cartridges. If you want more of a dual purpose rifle, I'd vote for a .243. Your budget will then allow you to look at the Mosberg atr, and the Stevens 200. But the #1 thing I will recommend to you...Buy a reloading setup. $150 is a damn good start with a good Lee kit. It'll pay for itself, and you'll really get to capitalize on any rifle you own. You can then pick any cartridge you want. Save up and buy a good scope too. One I really liked on my Model 70 Varmint was Bushnell's 6-18 Banner. It held up fine, the power was great at long range, and you could see well into legal light, and then some. Good luck with your choice.
