Author Topic: New year new gun more fun.....I hope (Read 1100 times)

farmerboyMT · « **on:** January 02, 2005, 01:45:13 PM »

Oh this is another one of those what dose everybody else suggest questions.

Anybody have any thoughts on a good heavy barrel varmint gun?
This is a really broad question so I'll narrow things down.
I own a CZ 527 in .223, which I love dearly, but after about 300 yards things get real iffy and cross winds play heck with the accuracy after 200 yards.
I like to shoot a lot. I target shoot two or three times a week if the weather will permit. In other words I like to reload for cheap. In the summer I shoot gophers (Robinson ground squirrels) and prarie dogs, but I've yet to shoot anything bigger and don't care to.
I'm not a bench rest shooter, my bipod works well for me, but I do like tight groups.
So I'd like thoughts and opinions, if there are any, on a different caliber and gun combo. I'm looking for another 200 yards on the .223 and something that won't be as prone to drift in the wind.
Would a 22-250 fill this need? Or do I need to be looking at something else.
Any thoughts, opinions, mystic visions or other would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bryan Danley

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2005, 05:12:37 PM »

FarmerboyMT

If youre shooting at 300 yards now, another 200 yards will be difficult unless youre willing to accept a lot of drop. A .257 Weatherby will push a 75g VMAX to 3800fps, but the bullet drop is still 21 at 500 yards. You could knock a couple inches off the drop by going to a .300 Weatherby pushing a 110g to 3900fps, but thats really not a varmint rig.

A heavy barrel .25-06 will do about what the .257 Weatherby will do with 75g VMAX bullets at 500 yards, and that would be my first choice.

A .22-250 is a good cartridge, but it shoots the same bullets as the .223. A 40g/4050fps .22-250 and a 75g/3700fps .25-06, both zeroed for a maximum 3" rise, will have about the same point of impact at 500 yards, but the 75g will drift appreciably less, around 23" instead of 29".

Catfish · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2005, 11:53:27 AM »

I`ve had a .17 Rem. for several yreas now and it reaches out quite abit farther than the .223. From what I`ve been seeing the .204 Ruger is alittle better than the .17 Rem. but I haven`t had time to play with mine enough to find out what it will really do yet.

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2005, 12:36:13 PM »

A Remington Varmint Synthetic in .22-250 and a 52 grain BTHP bullet is about as good as it gets for long range. The wind is gonna get you if you don't judge it right, no matter caliber what you shoot.

farmerboyMT · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2005, 12:37:40 PM »

Okay quick correction I would like another 100 yards, 200 was a typo I'll pay more attention in the future. But while I'm at it I was looking at the Nosler tables for a .243 Win. The 55gr and 70gr are moving at a pretty good clip. I noticed Savage chambers their 12FV and others in .243. Any opinions?

HogFan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2005, 03:05:51 PM »

farmboy,

I don't think any caliber will ever buck the winds in MT. The winds here are hell, I live in GF, which on average has the highest winds in the nation. I think the best thing to do is find a calm day, you know one with wind speeds under 15 knots, and give it a try then. Still will be a little movement, but not on a normal day with speeds of 20 knot gust to 45 knots. Heck I've even seen 112 knot winds in the area.

HogFan

Old Cane · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2005, 08:56:41 AM »

I've not shot that model savage but have had 3 other models. All shot great. And I mean great, like .5-.7" groups wiht a 30-06. I know a lot of guys get better groups but as it turns out I am a lousy shot. I now have a Ruger target model in 25-06. They are in about the same price range I think. It is doing great as well. Groups are .6 with Rem Core-locks. That says a lot if I get groups under an inch. The Howa models with the Boyd stocks are very cool but more money, around $550-600 on gunbroker. They are supposed to be 1/2 MOA guns too.

busguy61 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2005, 07:45:44 PM »

I have had great luck with the 6mm remington. This picks up where my .223 leaves off If you are looking for something that will get you out to 400 yds + with good speed and without burning tons of powder. This or a .243 would be good options. You should read "A varmint hunter's odyssey" by steve hanson. Tons of great info for most of your questions. There are many different calibers to fill that medium to long range rifle catagory, but being able to find readily available brass and a multitude of bullet weights, types, and brands is always nice. With common calibers like the 6mm rem and . 243 you have many options. Don't forget that optics are the key (aside from being able to shoot) when making long distance shots. I like leupold. My 6mm has a 8.5-20x vari-x III. Any prarie dogs up yet?

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2005, 09:13:07 PM »

Nice tight groups...shooting long range...don't want to get beat up in the process...you don't want to shoot benchrest...and you don't want to shoot anything bigger now...but...1 caliber comes to mind for those benchrest shooters shooting really really long yardages...6.5-284.. and it would work for larger game rather nicely as well if you so choose to use it for it....granted it's not your everyday caliber and you'll have to have a rifle built up...but...a Remington or Weatherby action...pretty good barrel...and a good...to great stock won't set you back too much further than buying a over-the-counter rifle..and you'll have a awsome rifle afterwards...just a thought...

Mac

buffalobob · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2005, 04:25:00 PM »

Assuming you are shooting a 52 gr bullet with a BC of about 0.22 @ 3400 fps you can improve your wind drift by about 20 % by going to a 68 gr match bullet w BC of 0.34 @ 2900fps.

By changing to a 220 swift and using the 68 gr @ about 3400fps you can get another 15% reduction in wind drift for a total reduction of about 35%. This is about the best you can do with regular bullets in 22 cal.

If you move up to a really fast 24 like the 240 Wby or a 6mm-06 w/ a 0.4 BC bullet you can cut the wind drift to less than half of the 223 w 52 gr bullet.

A 25-06 w a 75 gr bullet will behave in the wind about like the 220 Swift with the 68 gr bullet. If you go to a heavy match bullet in the 25-06 once again you cut the wind drift to less than half of the 223. By going to a super fast 25 like the 257 Wby you can get a couple of hundred fps more velocity and even less winddrift than the 25-06.

Before you go out and buy a new gun or rebarrel, I would try some high BC bullets .