Varmit/Target Caliber/Rifle Choice
Looking to sharpen my rifle skills and want to purchase the best calibler and gun for the performance/value.
Will target practice 100-300 yards. Might also double for some ground hogging on my farm that has lots of open spaces.
I'm inclined to go on the lighter side like the 22-250 instead of some of the heavier rounds. But I'm open to suggestions.
Also, once the caliber choice is made, looking for actual rifle recommendations. Would like to keep price for base gun under $1,000 if possible (not counting scope).
Thanks!
Will target practice 100-300 yards. Might also double for some ground hogging on my farm that has lots of open spaces.
I'm inclined to go on the lighter side like the 22-250 instead of some of the heavier rounds. But I'm open to suggestions.
Also, once the caliber choice is made, looking for actual rifle recommendations. Would like to keep price for base gun under $1,000 if possible (not counting scope).
Thanks!
0
-
22-250, 220swift, 243, 6mm rem, 25-06.
that would be my suggestion of accurate varmint calibers.
as for the rifle,......700rem VSSF. Stainless fluted, heavy barrel, HS Precision stock, adjustable trigger, .....all you could ask for for under $1000.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
Go with Savage's new Accu-Trigger chambered in .223. At $550-$600 it is very accurate and would be a bit more accurate than the 22-250 and will do anything the 22-250 will within the 100-300 yard range you are looking at. The 223 is cheaper due to less powder burning and is a sweet little cartridge to really train your skills. This will afford you to buy a great gun and a GOOD scope for under a grand. 0 -
JustC pretty much sums up what I was thinking (especially on the rifle choice)...
For lighter power and cheaper plinking, the .223 is hard to beat. The 22-250 is a very popular varmit round, and in my opinion, nothing beats a .220 Swift, but they are expensive for just target shooting.
I will say this: Once you get to shooting, you'll get better and better. You'll want to keep backing up, and shooting further and further. If you get a 22-250 or larger, you'll be set for "future expansion" whereas the .223 will be a little light when you start shooting clear across the county.
The long-range bug bites and bites hard so plan accordingly!
My signature says it best:
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
6mm Remington perhaps? Takes the whistle outta the pig everytime[;)]
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN0 -
.458 winmag is great for turning groundhogs into goo. But a .22WMR works great on groundhogs but if you are going for distance I'd go with handloaded .223 Remington.
_______________________0 -
oh my..hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..ok 6mm remington if you would like to see a groundhog roll over backwards 3x after a 200 yard shot. helpful hint,
when the beanfield is about 6 inches high and you can only see the groundhogs ears, breakout the referee whistle and watch that ditchdigger stand up to accept a bullet.
by the way, welcome aboard.0 -
Im with the first response. Remington 700 vssf 22-250. Got one! It is awesome. It will shoot 1/4" groups right out of the box. 0 -
I'll agree with the savage, but I am a big fan of the New England Firearm handi-rifle. It retails for $180.00. That would leave enough money to buy whatever scope you want. True it is only a single-shot, but when you kill them with the first shot.... I have made quick follow up shots with mine on occasion (nobody's perfect); so I don't feel a bolt action is absolutely necessary. I cant see spending $1,000 dollars on a rifle when mine shoots under 1/2 inch groups out of the box (its a .223) I live in Hagerstown MD, what part of MD do you live in? 0 -
.223 is a great round for plinking, but just doesnt cut it for long shots. Unless of course you like rainbows. You get what you pay for. Read my previous reply to your post. 0 -
I agree with kingjoey 6mm works great. Do them hogs really whistle just before or afterwards[:D]
PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIRE POWER0 -
243..
Good for small varmits and some bigger ones too.0 -
I got a news flash for you. With the faster twists and the hpbt match bullets, the 223 actually holds up against gravity a bit BETTER than does the 22-250, when the latter uses plain based sp's. Also, if you get an AR, you have the option of competing in Service Rifle competition, and if you ever need a fighting rifle, you will have the best that there is, instead of an obsolete joke, like all the bolt actions are. 0 -
Tell us what you REALLY think snuff... I'd like to see your AR hold a group like the Remington VSSF in either 22-250 or the faster .220 Swift - IT WILL NOT DO IT (without serious modifications)! 0 -
snuff: i have a serious disagreement regarding the bolt action vrs semi auto . out of the box, a colt target match hbar is not even in the same league as a bolt action. you either have to customize or buy a bushy. 0 -
snuff: by the way, to correct your previous statement regarding the twist rate for an ar15:
1). a 1/12 rifling offers best accuracy with bullet wt. 45-55 gr.
2). a 1/9 twist remains optimum for bullet wt. 55-70 gr.
3). a 1/7 twist offers best accuracy for bullet wt. 68-80 gr.
information needs to be correct, researched b4 top of the head posts are made.0 -
Remington 700 V-series in .308 Winchester might be good too---26" heavy barrel, and .308's always been a very good target-shooting round. 0 -
I never said a WORD about a Colt. Nor did I say anything specific about twist rates or certain bullet wts. Nor did I make any claims about group sizes. What I SAID was that the better velocity retention of the higher BC's of SOME 223 bullets make them better able to resist gravity than some of the 22-250 bullets. .30 cal and heavier bullets are a big risk of overpenetration and richochets, not suited to varmint-taking, where most of the US population lives. 0 -
snuff: all you have to do to prove your gravity theory is switch bullet weight, size and you can make that statement for almost any caliber given reasonable distance. but, i wont argue the point any further. by the way, the word "some" is not in your original posting.
oh, i forgot to mention....welcome to the board!!!0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
18 comments