I am looking for a good centerfire rifle for target and varmints. any suggestions?

Question

I have a henry survival rifle in .22 lr, but it lacks the punch I want and it is less than accurate. I am looking for either a bolt or semi automatic rifle.

Answer 1

I would say to go with a .243 or .270. A lot more power than a .22, but not overkill like a .30-06

Answer 2

I'm not going to mention calibers, because everyone has their own idea of the "perfect" caliber. And you've already gotten some good info on that. 22-250, 222 Remington, .223 Remington, etc., all all good varmint rounds.

But I will throw out some rifles that'd meet your needs. The first one I'd mention would be a Savage with the accu-trigger. They're very decently priced and the trigger is adjustable from the factory. Figure around 500 to 600 dollars for a well-equipped rifle. Also, I know you mentioned bolt or semi-auto, but if you're really wanting to do it cheap, an H&R or New England Firearms falling block break open can be set up for varminting fairly cheaply, like less than 300 dollars. Of course, the AR-15 series can be configured in just about any form with the "smaller" centerfires. And Browning's A-Bolts are great for varminters, although they can get pricey.

Answer 3

That depends largely on where you will be using the rifle and on what. I'm not sure if you mean just varmints or predators as well. Coyotes need a different cartridge to kill consistently and humanely than gophers, and varmint hunting near the East Coast is a lot different than Montana, say, where distances are a lot longer so a different cartridge is needed. The website I've linked to should answer some of your questions more specifically. Rimfire rifles in .22 can be accurate, but bolt-action rifles are usually more accurate than semi-autos. You may want to consider a bolt-action .22 WMR or .17 HMR with a good scope; the scope should cost about as much as the rifle. Centerfire .22s are good for varmints but you'll be paying a lot more for cartridges if you're also target shooting a lot.

Answer 4

We are fortunate these days that we have such and astounding variety of high quality varmint rifles. You didn't elaborate on your needs so let me make a couple of suggestions.

First unless you are think you are going to do a lot of shooting at varmints at ranges beyond 300 yards, I would purchase .223. The reason is that ammo is simply less expensive than any other centerfire you are likely to come across, yet it is highly accurate and carries decent punch for varmint sized game.

If you are going to have prolonged shooting sessions from a sedimentary position then you should consider a heavy barreled model. If you are like many of us on a budget then I wouldn't hesitate to get a Savage with a heavy barrel and their Accu-trigger. These are moderately priced and have a great reputation for accuracy.

There are also some very good models from Remington and I have a Winchester Stealth. Mine is in .22-250 but I live in South Dakota where shots are long, prairie dogs are plentiful and the wind is usually blowing.

At the high end of the spectrum look to H&S Percision for one of thier semi-custom tack driving rifles.

On a final note, the .223 coupled with a heavy barrelled rifle and good optics will normally allow you to see you hits which is another good reason to pick that combination.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I use the 223 and 25-06 but there are a lot of good ones out their.
I thought you might like to see for your self the cause and effect.
Links attached

But note not for the weak at heart

Watch the videos to see the affects of a true varmint rifle.

1= Sample Humor Segment
2= Gutless in Montana
3= Maximum Carnage
4= Gone in 60 Seconds
5= Maximum Carnage 2

http://www.dogbegone.com/video.htm



http://www.dogbegone.com/faq.htm

Insert from DBG frequently ask questions

Q: What the @#$% did you shoot those varmints with?
A: Well, this varies. We use the following calibers in our 2 current titles: .17 HMR, .204 Ruger, .223, .22-250, .243 Ackley Improved, 7mm Rem. Mag, and .50 BMG.

The majority of kills in “PDBG!” come from the .223 and .22-250.

In “DBG&B!”, it’s mostly the .243 AI and .22-250 on Rock chucks and Ground Squirrels, and the .204 Ruger and .22-250 on Prairie Dogs. More important than caliber though, is the bullet design. Almost all of the varmints in both videos are hit with highly frangible bullets, such as the Hornady V-Max, or Sierra BlitzKing. This is what really causes the extreme reactions you see

Answer 6

Go with the 223 in a bolt its not the most glamorous but it will get the job done for varmints it has a range of about 550 yards+
and it will be considerably cheaper that an accurate semi.
BUT WHATEVER GUN YOU GET IN 223 IF YOU GET A GUN IN 223 GET IT WITH A 1 IN 9 TWIST AND MAKE SURE THE BARREL IS STAMPED 5.56

why you ask?

1 in 9 is the optimum twist rate for a 223/5.56mm
ie. more accuracy with different bullets or loads for longer distances

You want the barrel stamped 5.56mm because it will allow you to shoot military surplus (less expensive) otherwise you may go over the pressure limits for your gun and it may go BOOM

To condense

5.56mm can shoot 223

223 can't shoot 5.56

Ask a gunsmith he can explain better but these are just some guidelines

Answer 7

I have a Ruger Model 77 (bolt action) in .223 with a stainless steel barrel and synthetic stock with a 6-18x40 scope on it that I plan to keep for the rest of my life. It does 1/2 inch groups at 150 yards with my 60 grain reloads. I've had the rifle since 1992 and the longer I have it the more I like it.

Answer 8

You opened up a can of worms asking that question around here. .223 are good shooters, and ammo is inexpensive, 22-250, .204 Ruger, .220 Swift, are all good choices. Ten different people in this forum will give you 10 different answers. Half the fun is in the choosing, and guaranteed, when you do choose, part of you will wish you had gone with something else. This is how gun collections start. Have fun, and good luck

Answer 9

for shooting varmits any number of weapons could be a good choice here are just a few, .223 , .222 , 22-250 , 243, and as far a the rifle goes savage makes one of the best for the money it has and adjustable accu trigger, any one one of these calibers will make a coyote wish he had slept in.

Answer 10

Remington's 40 or 700 action with a heavy barrel (they make/have made a multitude of variants) in anything from the old "triple deuce" to the hot 22-250 would be just the ticket. And if you're in a particularly windy area, you might even consider going to one of the 6mm rounds, like 6mmBR, 243Win or 6mm Rem. These days your choices are many, and few will disappoint.