Want a new varmint rifle!

J

JRodko

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Regina, SK
Hey guys,

I'm looking into getting a new rifle for the spring, this will be used almost entirely on gophers and coyotes. With of course some paper punching for practice.

Firstly, I'm trying to decide between the .17 rem and .204 ruger (leaning towards .204)
EDIT: I may also consider .223 for abundance of cheap ammo should I get lazy reloading. Can you see the impact through guns of this calibre? What about .22-250?

My main reason behind this is I want a fast, flat shooting cartridge that I can watch the impact through the scope. Max range probably no more than 500 yds. I have other rifles should I want to go farther.

Second, I'm trying to chose between maybe a Howa Axiom Varminter or a CZ 527 varmint-target kevlar stock. I really like the set trigger in the CZ's so that's what catches my eye.

Does anyone have good experience with these two guns and or calibres? Also, where can I find them in Canada? I see prophetriver has some 527's but not the one I like. Special order?

Cheers,

Justin
 
The decision was easy for me. For gophers first and coyotes second, I chose the 223. The reason is that I could use the little vmax or noslers in 40 grainers, and if a yote showed up. Load up a 55 grainer.

The 22-250 is a lot more powder and punch for little gophers. The 223 has a bit of a limited range for yotes, my goto for yotes is my 243.

So as a compromise, I think you would be best served with the 223.

What I did was:

17 hmr for gophers exclusively at closer ranges.
223 for sniping gophers and shorter range coyotes
243 exclusively for coyotes.
 
Gophers blow up real good with 22-250 or 223 hollow point. :D However if you're in a thick patch of 'em it gets real expensive and noisy. Both are great on coyotes with the 22-250 having the edge of course. I recently purchased a Rem 700 in .243 for deer but am finding it really has the upper hand for longer range coyotes.
My .17 HMR HB with a BSA Sweet 17 scope is perfect for gophers! Relatively cheap and quiet to shoot. 100-150 yard shots are common. I have killed 2 coyotes with it but only because they were close and it was all I had with me...or easest to grab.
If you're looking for one gun that's really good for both, maybe the .204 or 17 fireball? I don't have either but maybe someone else could chime in
 
I already have a .243 exclusively for yotes, I use 58gr v-max loaded up to almost 4000 fps and it absolutely crushes them in their tracks. I'm looking for something smaller for the gophers! It gets expensive and like I said I want to see the bullet impact!
 
If you want to watch the whole show..... 204 is the way to go. 4000 fps, no recoil and dead right there out past 200 yrds with a good scope. Actually, the first few times you shoot gophers, you don't get too many.... you are too busy laughing your a*@ off
 
17 fireball is no longer manufactured. It is a great calibre though. The .204 is great but has a limited range with coyotes. The 22-250 is a great coyote and gopher gun but is noisy in a gopher colony as compared to .204. The .223 is deadly for both critters buts isnt as flat shooting as the other 3 calibres. 17 fireball and .204 are both flat shooting and can see your shot.
 
The .204Ruger is one of mine favourite caliber for gophers & coyotes, using Sierra 39gr B.K and 27.5gr Varget, just under 3525ft/s, you can pop gophers all day out to 200 to 300yards, depended on the wind, and for coyotes?...300 to 400yards is cool, anything passed that mark?...the 39gr bullet will be just kinda unstable if is windy out. here is my Remmy VSSFII in .204Ruger.
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The trigger is set to 1.5 LB

Cheers, I hope this help and happy hunting...and don't forget to pick a gun org and JOIN to protect your rights for owning your firearm.
 
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For gophers up to coyotes the new Winchester 17 Super Mag rim fire, 20gr, 3000 fps, and Savage has the B.Mag rifle to shoot the ammo available soon.
 
I do enjoy shooting gophers with my 204, a 22-250 is also a blast. I wore out several barrels back in the 70`s and 80`s with that caliber, and plan on getting another as soon as SWMBO forgets my last couple of purchases.
 
.223 is the most versatile of your choices and can do whatever you are looking for from downloaded squibs on bunnies to uploaded heavies on deer (although I would recommend other options if available)... make sure the twist is 1:9 and south.
 
Another vote for 223. Can watch hits easy in the scope not that the gopher stays in the scope after a hit. Hard to see them when they are 10 feet in the air and parts of them are going in a few different directions. Fun none the less. For gophers I now shoot with both eyes open so I can watch the action.
 
The days of .223 being cheap arent gonna be around much longer. Look whats happening down south .22 cal bullets are non existent as is brass, dies ect.. What happens down there will choke all the supply up here.
 
In a light barrel sporter you wont see bullet impact from a .223...I have a 204,223 and 22-250. The 204 and 22-250 I have are heavy barrels.My first choice would be a .223,then 204,then 22-250. All in a heavy barrel version of course..My heavy .204 stays right on target after firing and you definately see bullet impact. The heavy 22-250 you lose the sight line in recoil..
 
icehunter121 said:
In a light barrel sporter you wont see bullet impact from a .223...I have a 204,223 and 22-250. The 204 and 22-250 I have are heavy barrels.My first choice would be a .223,then 204,then 22-250. All in a heavy barrel version of course..My heavy .204 stays right on target after firing and you definately see bullet impact. The heavy 22-250 you lose the sight line in recoil..
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Depends on the weight of the rifle and the load being shot. My axis(223) weighs in at 9.5 lbs unloaded and off a bipod can see hits no problem with full power reloads. When I had a smaller scope wich made it lighter it wasn't that easy to see hits at all.
 
hometownhero said:
Depends on the weight of the rifle and the load being shot. My axis(223) weighs in at 9.5 lbs unloaded and off a bipod can see hits no problem with full power reloads. When I had a smaller scope wich made it lighter it wasn't that easy to see hits at all.
Click to expand...

Thats what I just said....in a light barrel sporter...mine in .223 is a stevens 200,thin wispy barrel in a boyds thumbhole stock topped with a 3x9x40 scope.It only weighs about 6.5 to 7 pounds loaded. I cant watch impact cause I lose sight in recoil.A .223 on a heavy barrel and you can watch the squeak explode in front of you.
 
icehunter121 said:
Thats what I just said....in a light barrel sporter...mine in .223 is a stevens 200,thin wispy barrel in a boyds thumbhole stock topped with a 3x9x40 scope.It only weighs about 6.5 to 7 pounds loaded. I cant watch impact cause I lose sight in recoil.A .223 on a heavy barrel and you can watch the squeak explode in front of you.
Click to expand...

Like I also said beep ends on how heavy it is. The axis as a sporter barrel as well.
 
.220 swift ....223.....22-250 you cant go wrong with any..............my personal choice is the swift....4100fps........but look at your twist rate ....and range .....pick a bullet go to the range and play/practise at different ranges so you know were you are at 200......300...350...and 400 meters/yards away with bullet drop........if money is an issue go with .223 cheap and fun to play with
 
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