strictly varmit hunting...?

Question

i am in the market for a varmint gun. i have heard about the .308 reaching accurately out to 400 yards. but for just a strictly varmints? .22/250? .222? .243. i would be shooting coyotes and ground hogs, and maybe a fox or two. what scope should i use? i like Bushnell, but what else? not many shots over 200 yards, but i might have to shoot farther. lots of details would be very good.

Answer 1

Of the calibers you listed the 22-250 or 243 would be my pick for shots out to 400 yards, if choosing the 22-250 you will want a rifling twist of 1-12 at the slowest. That way you can shoot 60 and 65 grain bullets that can hold there accuracy and energy to 500-600 yards. But don't over look the 223, they are more than enough to drop a coyote at 400 yards. With a lot less noise/blast, and recoil. Also they are much cheaper and easier to find quantity's of ammo. Look for one with a twist rate of 1-9 to 1-12. I would not use a 308 unless you intend on using it for large game too. It really is a little much for any thing but coyote. I have a 223 that I carry just about every time I go in the field and have taken crow at 150 yards and coyote at just over 300 with all with a 60 grain hornady V-max traveling at a little more than 3000 FPS. I have a 22-250 that I use very little simply because its a lot heavier, louder and does not group as well as my 223. That is not to say the 223 is more accurate then the 22-250 but that is the case with mine. I also have a 308 but use that for puching holes in paper and deer hunting.

As far a s optics go you will want a adjustable power scope. I use a 4-14 power and a 6-18 power. the 18 power is perfered for shots beyond 300 yards. Bushnell is a good brand but burris and nikon are better and in the same class as leupold for less money. All three of these are more clear, with better contrast and light gathering ablities than bushell. I Have a personel preference for the Burris Fullfield 2 scope 4.5-14x 42mm with a adjustable objective and ballistic plex reticle. The scope comes with instructions on how to use the hold over marks on the reticle for different calibers and bullet styles at longer than the zeroed range the main cross hair is set for. I have found these to be a great advantage to just holding high. As always care should be taken by shooting at these ranges to verify that your load is shooting true. I have made a small card that I have taped to the stock of the gun that tells me at what range each crosshair is set for.

I roload my ammo and also make ammo for a couple of friends who go out to Montana every year for prairie dog and coyote hunting. They only use 223's due to the amount of ammo they burn through in a day's time, and have taken out prairie dogs at ranges out to 350 yards using a 55 grain hornady SP bullet. They have told me that the load is quite explosive on the prairie dogs with instent kills and drops coyotes with one shot kills as well.

Hope this helps and happy hunting.

Answer 2

Yeah, the .308 is a pretty accurate rifle, but overkill for most varmints.

If you figure you will not be shooting much over 200 yards, you might as well stick with the .223. Lots of ammo available for reasonable prices. All kinds of different rifles made for the caliber as well. I would recommend either a bull barreled single shot or a heavy barreled bolt action. I have a heavy barrel, flat top AR-15 that I use for 200 yard shots. When I want to reach way out, I switch over to my new Savage single shot bolt gun in 22-250. Still playing with loads but so far my farthest shot with this new gun is 475 yards on a Prairie Dog.
The .222 you mention is a difficult bullet to find on the gun store shelf and not much variety in bullet weights.
The .243 is O.K., but I think the 22-250 is a better varmint round. Is a nice deer bullet though.
I like Bushnell scopes, too, and have one on the AR-15. I found it wanting for the long shots though. I put a Nikon on the 22-250.

Answer 3

Let me ask you this, witch will you be hunting more of, Fox & Coyotes or Ground-hogs. If your answer is Ground-hogs more then the other two then you could pick something like a 22-250 in a bolt action (no semi-autos) or a 223, now if on the other hand you claim you'll be hunting the larger varmints then go with a 243 in a bolt cation. In any case you want a long heavy barreled bolt action for the best accuracy and, to achieve this you'll need to spend some big bucks on a GOOD scope in the 4.5x14x50 class. Good quality optics are a must in order to make clean kill shots out to 200-500 yards.

Answer 4

Hey Adam, well, I will tell you to cancel out the .308 option right now, all they do is tear varmints to shreds. Definitely go with the .22/250 Rem. Groundhogs or Coyotes, this rifle will handle them with no problem. For the scope, I would tell you to get a Leupold, they are America's optics authority, and make the best scopes in the U.S period, but they are very expensive. Go with Bushnell, they can make pretty decent varmint long range scopes.

Answer 5

I own a Ruger M77 MK II Target grade rifle. It is caliber .25-06 Remington. It is topped off with a Leupold 6.5x20 VariX III scope with an adjustable objective lens. I have about $1100 in this set up. This is an excellent varmint round. I have taken many groundhogs with it, out to 400 yards easily. I regularly shoot one hole groupings at 100 yards with my hand loads. It shoots very flat, like the 22-250, but with more knockdown power. I think you would like it.

Answer 6

.222 is good to something well over 200 yards. .223 will reach a bit farther accurately and, as the other writer said, ammunition is cheap to get cases to reload. .243 will double on deer with heavier bullets. My personal choice would be the .22-250 as it is one of the most versatile of the .22 calibers. Plan to reload for maximum accuracy.

Leupold would be my likely scope choice, not cheap but kickin' optics, probably in a 4x12 variable.

Answer 7

as for The rifle i suggest a custom job built specifically for your needs as for the calibre i strongly recommend the 220 swift or 220 ackley they are far superior to anything i have seen mentioned and strictly for varmints and predators they cant be beeten by anything, with a good Leupold vary max III scope sitting rabbits at 400 yards are achievable and the 220 swift are less prone to wind drift than the .17rem or the .204 ruger

Answer 8

Yes - BUT - Be aware the Ruger Mini 14 is more of a closer range varmint gun..... I use both the Ruger Mini 14 and the Mini 30 for critters but refrain from making super long range shots..... Yes Ruger has gotten its act together in the last couple of years making the Mini 14 more accurate but if you think you want to take prairie dogs at 300 yards it ain't going to happen........ I do feel the Ruger Mini 14 is one of the finest carbines money can buy... Its decently accurate, uses inexpensive ammo, on a sling feels comfortable on your back, is very polite looking and an excellent choice to have if a social situation goes real sour...........

Answer 9

i predator hunt with a 223 bushmaster excellent rifle but if i was to pick another rifle to shoot coyotes with would be a ruger 204 from what i have read their really fast and accurate

Answer 10

I recommend the 22-250 equiped with a 20X target scope*.... I have a redfield Model 3200 on my Remington Varmiter*.... Great combination*...