what's your favorite varmint rifle?
- Thread starter rugged303
- Start date
I prefer the 6mm Remington for really long range shooting, but I'm sure the 243 is close enough to negate any real difference. Never much liked the 243, though. Owned a couple but always drifted back to the 6mm Rem. I have a bunch of 22 centerfires, and out to 500, the Swift is tough to beat for most varmints. After that some of the bullets with better BCs start to show their stuff. The 25-06 is starting to get noisy enough and develops enough recoil to bother a guy on a day of shooting at gophers and such. Even the 6mms can start to wear on you if the shooting is hot and heavy. In those situations, and inside of 350 or so, the 222/223 is hard to beat. Here's a pic of my Ted Gaillard barrelled heavy 6mm. Regards, Eagleye.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
rugged303, sounds like you live south of the 49th and I will assume your varmint are the small furry kind ie PD or marmot. Since you say LR is not needed, then I will assume you mean inside 500yds.
If all the above is correct, the 223 with a 9 twist barrel is my recommendation. You can launch 40gr Vmax for some close to mid range splat. You can launch 75gr Amax or 77gr Nosler/Sierra to reach out past 600yds if the need arises. No issue if the varmint is from the dog family too.
Big bonus is the ease of getting ammo and brass. Plus it is quieter, low recoil and most importantly, long barrel life. I sense that rd count can get up there in most PD fields.
My next choice would be the slowly fading 222Rem. I just love this cartridge. The 17's, 19's, and 20's are all fun and work but limit the size of varmint at distance. The 204 is certainly getting lots of press but at the end of the day (or when the wind blows), it is a short to mid range cartridge only. The 22cal is simply more versatile.
I do alot of LR shooting where bullet performance is more important then seeing a few summers with the same barrel. I use some pretty big cases and they work wonderfully. Way overkill for anything inside 500yds. Thanks for the reference shortround. That 6.5-06 is awesome but a bit much in this instance.
If deer or other large game in on the menu, then sure go big. Just about every cal has varmint weights as well so pick your favorite cartridge and have at it.
A bit more info would be helpful.
Jerry
If all the above is correct, the 223 with a 9 twist barrel is my recommendation. You can launch 40gr Vmax for some close to mid range splat. You can launch 75gr Amax or 77gr Nosler/Sierra to reach out past 600yds if the need arises. No issue if the varmint is from the dog family too.
Big bonus is the ease of getting ammo and brass. Plus it is quieter, low recoil and most importantly, long barrel life. I sense that rd count can get up there in most PD fields.
My next choice would be the slowly fading 222Rem. I just love this cartridge. The 17's, 19's, and 20's are all fun and work but limit the size of varmint at distance. The 204 is certainly getting lots of press but at the end of the day (or when the wind blows), it is a short to mid range cartridge only. The 22cal is simply more versatile.
I do alot of LR shooting where bullet performance is more important then seeing a few summers with the same barrel. I use some pretty big cases and they work wonderfully. Way overkill for anything inside 500yds. Thanks for the reference shortround. That 6.5-06 is awesome but a bit much in this instance.
If deer or other large game in on the menu, then sure go big. Just about every cal has varmint weights as well so pick your favorite cartridge and have at it.
A bit more info would be helpful.
Jerry
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
C.I.L.900 (Anschutz 54 action) in deuce! 
Cat
Cat
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
The 257 Roberts, That would be my first choice, handloaded of course.
After that the 243 would be a very close second.
After that the 243 would be a very close second.
RevolverRodger
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in QC
.22mag... always worked for me
After doing lots of reading on the cartridge, I picked up a factory Remington 700 in 204 ruger. The factory Hornady 40gr. in that rifle are scarey accurate. Turning gophers into mist is easy and fun. I've whacked them out to 500 meters.
The 204 is great because its recoils is so low that you can watch the gophers explode at lower magnifications right through the scope.
204 ruger gets my vote. I can hardly wait to try the new 50 grains that are on the market at longer distances.
The 204 is great because its recoils is so low that you can watch the gophers explode at lower magnifications right through the scope.
204 ruger gets my vote. I can hardly wait to try the new 50 grains that are on the market at longer distances.
.330Dakota
CGN Regular
- Location
- Northeastern ON
17 HMR for close stuff 6.5x55 for everything else.
I am really surprised that only one person suggested 6mmRem. I remember an article in Rifleman magazine in the 70's (yes I do have lots of grey hair) discussing the performance of .243 versus 6mmRem.
The 6mm Rem was the favorite in that comparison and for me remains first choice.
I will say that I think when you start talking 400 yards plus, while the cartridge is important, the equipment you are shooting it from becomes much more critical.
The 6mm Rem was the favorite in that comparison and for me remains first choice.
I will say that I think when you start talking 400 yards plus, while the cartridge is important, the equipment you are shooting it from becomes much more critical.
Matrix said:
Matrix,
It's funny you mention that article, I was just reading it this afternoon (a bhuddy gave me about 20 issues from that era). I have just aquired a 6mm barrel blank on which to build a rifle and choosing 6mm Rem. From what I read the 6mm Rem is slightly faster that the 243 and longer neck to better seat heavier bullets.
6mm Rem. will be my choice, if I want bigger/faster harder hitting I have my 30 cal rifles to use.
Cheers
If you like the 6mm Rem (and I do), you'll love the 6mm Rem AI, a little more of everything. - dan
