Author Topic: If you had to pick ONE rifle as your ultimate predator/varmint gun.... (Read 4475 times)

kyelkhunter3006 · « **on:** October 22, 2008, 10:10:12 AM »

If you had to pick one rifle to be your ultimate predator/varmint rifle, what would it be? Caliber, action type, heavy or lightweight, etc... Let's say for $1000 or less... with or without a scope..... and what kind of scope???

Cement Man · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2008, 01:25:18 PM »

First off, I really don't know much about predator hunting yet. I recently retired and have some opportunities to go after some yotes, and have decided I want to see what its all about. Never had much against coyotes, but one tried to eat my miniature schnauzer, so my attitude has changed!
I started out last year by buying a cheap Savage .223 bolt "package gun". I gave the scope away, had my 'smith chop the barrel to 19" and he trued the action. I put a medium grade 3X9 on it and it shoots great. My objective was to make a great shooter on the cheap, a gun I wouldn't mind camo-painting, knocking about, etc. The Savage fit my needs perfectly.
In the meantime, one of my buddies had a Rock River AR Varmint in .223 that shoots phenomenally well. He also had been hankering for my Ruger #1 International and a Swiss K-31, so we traded. I just installed a Sightron 3X9X42 with illuminated reticle on it, but haven't done anything else with it yet.
I really can't say that either will be my "ultimate", but I think I have chosen well. The Savage is really light, handy, and accurate. The Rock River is handy and accurate, but it is significantly heavier. Certainly follow-up shots will be quicker with it. I think the Sightron illuminated reticle will be a plus in dim light. I do like the .223 cartridge - usually preferring "standard" cartridges to the hotter numbers like the .22-250. I have always liked bolt actions, but never had an AR. The AR's are so versatile and accurate now that I wanted to try one out.

rbergum95 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2008, 01:45:20 PM »

as i tend to go for getting good value for my dollar-

savage model 10 preadator hunter
.243 winchester
konus 6-24x40 scope

varmintman · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2008, 02:26:10 PM »

If i could only have one it would be my ruger#1b in 6mm rem with a 4-16 tasco scope and bi-pod.

Cap'n Jon · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2008, 04:36:57 PM »

I had a .22-250 but gave it to a buddy in the Dakota's...Right now I use my trusty .270 w/ various reloads to choose from.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2008, 05:01:59 PM »

L461 Sako action, 24" Shilen match grade barrel, 1-9 twist. For a scope I'd like to have a decent 3-9x with target turrets. Put the barreled action back into an L461 standard wood stock, use the Sako trigger but add a Flaig trigger shoe. Cal 223 Rem

The way things are going I may get that rifle before I ever call my first coyote! For now I have a 700ADL in the junk plastic stock that I did a lot of work to and it has a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x scope. 243 Win that shoots 75gr Hornady HP's and V-Max well under an inch.

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2008, 05:04:57 PM »

You ask for a lot picking just one when you lump predators and varmints together as the best for each of those worlds would be a totally different rifle.

Lumped together for duel purpose I'd opt for a 17DT built on a Remington XP-100 action, medium contour barrel in a laminated sporter stock, either a Leupold or Nikon 4.5-14X40 side focus scope.

sscoyote · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2008, 09:30:53 PM »

I'll take what i already have and use most often--my XP-100 17 Fireball, Shilen barrel. I'd put the Pride/Fowler 3-9x 22 Long Rifle Rapid Reticle on top, and send the 25 V-Max and 30 grainers to 300 yds. on coyotes, and as far as i can hit the other vermin.

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:53:19 AM »

I don't think I'm capable of limiting myself to one of anything just not the way I operate. I also don't think you should try to combine the categories of varmints and predators and depending on the variety of varmints you go after and how you do it just one varmint rifle might be overly limiting.

I'd need as a minimum a heavy barrel rifle with high powered scope chambered to something on the order of .223, .22-250 and a lighter walk around rifle which could be chambered for either of those same or something like a .17 Fireball or .17 Remington also.

If really pushed hard for two I'd probably take my M700 SPS .22-250 and my Model Seven Predator in .17 Fireball. I suppose I could do most all the predator and varmint hunting chores with those iffen I really had to but why in the world ould I wanna limit myself?

Kurt L · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:28:41 AM »

I just had to laugh about a month ago someone had a post somthing like this
and someone said they used a 338 win mag for them pesky varmints

heck with a varmint
gun like that ya just might have the power to shoot a whitetail deer,it may be a little under powered but should work.

anyway I would pick my 700 243 with the meuller 8.5x25 scope I have on it.

Swampman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:37:55 AM »

Remington 700 SPS in .223 witha Bushnell 3200 Elite in 4-12X40.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2008, 03:00:40 AM »

Quote from: Ladobe on October 22, 2008, 05:04:57 PM

You ask for a lot picking just one when you lump predators and varmints together as the best for each of those worlds would be a totally different rifle.

Quote from: Graybeard on October 23, 2008, 01:53:19 AM

I don't think I'm capable of limiting myself to one of anything just not the way I operate. I also don't think you should try to combine the categories of varmints and predators and depending on the variety of varmints you go after and how you do it just one varmint rifle might be overly limiting.

Ditto & Ditto!
I suppose that my RugerM77 in .22-250 with the 12x Leoupold would fill the bill though.

Ladobe · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2008, 04:20:55 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on October 23, 2008, 01:53:19 AM

...but why in the world would I wanna limit myself?

EXACTLY GB, LOL. How I ended up with about 60 firearms before I finally stopped buying a couple of years ago. Like you I have a bunch still new in the box I never got around to and never will. Seems like I faintly remember being one of those fabled "one-gun" people a long time ago, but it only shot rolls of caps.

Quote from: glanceblamm on October 23, 2008, 03:00:40 AM

I suppose that my RugerM77 in .22-250 with the 12x Leoupold would fill the bill though.

Fine for varmints, but 12X is a lot of scope for predator calling pard. Even though the yards can be counted in the hundreds for many shots here in the wide open west, up close and personal to in-your-face shots are plenty common if you can work a call well. Pretty hard to see anything but fur in any scope when they run across your legs or bounce off your chest.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2008, 04:46:21 AM »

Quote

Pretty hard to see anything but fur in any scope when they run across your legs or bounce off your chest.

Exactly!
It sure is fun to see the look of deadly intent turn into wide eyed suprise when this happens!. I try not to get buried too deep in that brush though unless I am carrying the 12 w/#4 buck...
That rifle is much more fun though.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2008, 06:31:01 AM »

I found a M700 SPS in the used rack of the gun store. A cop builds up different guns shoots them and then sells them back about every three months. It's great. He builds up a rifle, uses good Weaver scopes, puts it on paper and dumps maybe 100 rounds through it and then sells it two or three months later.
My varmint rifle is a Remington M700 SPS in the kevlar stock and wears a Weaver 6-24X42 scope with a 6" sunshade.
It is in 223 Remington.
The only down side to the rifle is the action size. It is based on a 308 and getting the shorter 223 rounds to line up in the action is a little bit of a pain.
I also have a M700V in 308 that wears a 3-9X50 scopre and loading it is a breaze.
I was on my way to put down the same $1,000 on a CZ 527 Varmint in the Kevlar stock and was planning on sticking the same scope on it as the Remington wears. The 527 CZ's are great shooters and have a single set trigger as well as a removable box mag, making loading and un loading easy. As a single varmint/ preditor rifle I like the heavy barreled gun for long range shots. The heavy barrel make me more stable off of a bench, backpack, or bipod.
Although I am looking at a CZ 527 American with a 3-9X38 Weaver scope on it as a walk around rifle.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2008, 11:12:25 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on October 23, 2008, 01:53:19 AM

I don't think I'm capable of limiting myself to one of anything just not the way I operate. I also don't think you should try to combine the categories of varmints and predators and depending on the variety of varmints you go after and how you do it just one varmint rifle might be overly limiting.

I'd need as a minimum a heavy barrel rifle with high powered scope chambered to something on the order of .223, .22-250 and a lighter walk around rifle which could be chambered for either of those same or something like a .17 Fireball or .17 Remington also.

If really pushed hard for two I'd probably take my M700 SPS .22-250 and my Model Seven Predator in .17 Fireball. I suppose I could do most all the predator and varmint hunting chores with those iffen I really had to but why in the world ould I wanna limit myself?

I never said that I wanted to limit myself to one gun......

. BUT, with the economy, rising costs for fuel (even though gas is down right now) and everything else, 2 kids that are doing just about everything in extra activities in school that they can, and just plain not having a whole lot of time to use multiple guns, sticking with one or or at the most two guns for varmints/predators is what I'm going to do.

I'm leaning real hard toward the .243, it would be mostly predators, with a potshot at varmints occasionally, as I could use it for deer and other medium game too, if I wanted to (I mostly use blackpowder for deer season now, or my 7400 in 30-06). Ammo is easy to find, guns are available and accurate, it's easy to shoot for everyone too.

Taking another tack, with all of the AR's available right now and how people rave about them, I'm also looking at the 6.8SPC in a DPMS. Everyone I've talked to who has an AR in 6.8SPC loves it. I'm kind of impartial on AR's, I can take them or leave them. If CZ would put the 6.8 in the 527, that's what I'd end up with, most likely. I think that round is probably the perfect combination of accuracy, power, and low recoil for most the hunting I'd do with it. I could always get a .223 upper for it as well, in the future.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:30:17 PM »

CZ has a poll on their website asking what you want to see the next caliber in the 527 to be and 6.8 and 6.5 grindel were on the list.
hit www.cz-usa.com and vote.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2008, 08:08:53 AM »

I just went there, and the 6.8 isn't on it. The Grendel is, and the 6mmx45 (not a bad option either if they get factory ammo for it), but no 6.8SPC.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2008, 08:49:17 AM »

Sorry,
I went there too and realized I was wrong.
I voted for the 6X45 and thought I remembered the 6.8.
Next time I'll hit the website before I type what I think I remember was there.

McDuck

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2008, 09:00:54 AM »

I think that the 6x45 would be a great little round to have in the gun. I don't have enough time to shoot, let alone reload ammo. If they can get Hornady on the band wagon with some ammo, I'd probably consider getting one.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2008, 09:04:15 AM »

Just currious.
Have you thought about 308 win.
Surplus ammo makes great plinking rounds and varmint rounds.
There are loadingds from 125 grain reduced recoil up to 180 grain elk and moose rated rounds. Heck Rem used to and may still load a 55 grain soft point in a sabot that douplicated 22-250.
It is in every gun shop and usually in more than one or two bullet weights or designs.
I really like my 308 M700 V and it works great on small targets to deer and I bring it as a second rifle on most Elk hunts. I got the 223 cause I wanted the higher power scope for smaller targets and I already own an AR 15 that can share ammo.
But as a do all, be all rifle you can not beat it. I know everyone has an opinion and others will argue with me about the merits of 243, 260, 22-250, 270, 25-06 and the old stand by 30-06 as to why they would be the best all around one gun that can go from varmints to deer in a single bound and they have merits. i just like the complete versility of the 308 and it comes in so many different rifle configuation from tiny compact to the heavy long fluted barreled varmint rigs by most rifle companies.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2008, 11:10:07 AM »

I really LOVE the .308. That's the first round I thought about, honestly. I can shoot it all day long, I don't care what people say, I can tell a real difference from the recoil of the .308 compared to the 30-06, given identical guns. When I posed the question, I was thinking of something lighter in recoil for my kids and maybe my wife and anyone else that's not shot a whole lot.

.308's that I've loved:

Savage 10FP, 26"
Savage 10FP 20"
Savage 16FCSAK --old model with semi-heavy fluted barrel and on/off muzzle brake, detachable mag
Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special
H&R Ultra 22"
Remington 700 ADL
Mauser sporter 22"

.308's that I've HATED:

Remington 700 LTR--biggest over-priced piece of crap I've ever laid hands on, bar none. It was probably just the particular gun I got, everyone turns out a lemon sometime. Loved how it handled though.

For a do-it-all gun, I'd be hard pressed to pick a better round, I know. Slap it in a good synthetic stock, medium heavy barrel, something about .700" at the muzzle, cut it to 22"......sigh......I guess I know what I need to do.....

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #22 on:** October 24, 2008, 11:38:03 AM »

How bout one of the M700 SPS tactical rifles. in 308. Already had the heavy tube but cut to 20" and the synthetic stock.
with the Remington Low recoil 125 grain soft points for the kids and the wife. Recoil is supose to be that of a 243.
With my big 308V even the surplus 147 grain bullets are no big kickers and my friends 13 year lod like to shoot it when he runs out of 223 for the AR. Can't pry the AR out of that kids hands till there are no more rounds for it.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 24, 2008, 12:19:09 PM »

There's that one, the VTR, and there is a special edition Savage called the BGH that's stainless, 22" fluted barrel that's heavier than normal, yet not a bull barrel, synthetic stock with the detachable mag. I don't much like the synthetic stocks that Savage uses, but I do like the Accu-trigger and the tang safety. Dealer can get it for me for $550. There's also a dealer in WA that's selling S&W I-Bolts in 25-06 (probably other calibers too) with the camo stock for $299 with a $50 rebate. That's a deal to think about, I like the 25-06 quite a bit too, not as much as the .308, but for the price.....

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2008, 01:39:54 PM »

For the price.... That extra $300 is a lot of ammo, 3/4's of the scope (Depending on your tase in glass).
25-06 is not a bad round. Not a lot of choices in bullet weight or design but capable of doing exactly what you want it to do.
Of course if you were looking at the 6.8 cost of ammo and bullet choice in loaded rounds is not that big of a deal to you.

The

is the sign for being a smart ass right? Sorry family friendly... Changing words to Intellegent Donkey.
Do they make the Ibolt in 308? Can he / they do the same deal on a 308, if they make it? I'll head to S&W .com next.
Too many options for me with new guns. That's why I shop in the used gun racks. Most are just used and not abused at 90% new with a free scope price.

Gary paugh · « **Reply #25 on:** October 24, 2008, 02:15:37 PM »

I've got an AR15 in 6.8spc with a jewell trigger and a 1.5X6X42 nikon that has been my go to gun for the last 3 years it shoots most loads under 1" @ 100yrds and knocks the snott out of coyotes.
I just picked up a remington R25 in .243 with a timmins trigger and a nikon 3X12X42 scope that could also be on the one gun list.

kyelkhunter3006 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 25, 2008, 04:42:46 AM »

As far as I know, the I-Bolt is in 25-06, .270, and 30-06. Yeah, the extra $300 would put a decent scope on it with a good set of rings, plus pay for some ammo too. I'm such a natural tight-a$$ with money that I can never make a decision on stuff anymore.

I was bad enough when I was single, now that I'm married with kids, I'm even worse. Heck, $500+ would also buy a hell of a lot of powder and bullets for my Omega too..... see what I mean? $:-\$

Gary, you are not doing anything to help me out here, talking about how good that gun shoots and the great glass you've got on it!!

alleyyooper · « **Reply #27 on:** December 21, 2008, 09:59:24 AM »

I have a tang safety Rugar 77 with a medium weight barrel in 220 Swift. Can't off the top of my head think of what would be called a varmit or predator that this rig won't handle. Mine has a Simmons 6x18 50 on it.

I like ther Ithaca 37 for close in work with #4 buck,

Al

sturgeonhunter · « **Reply #28 on:** December 22, 2008, 11:16:30 AM »

I usually call coyotes with a partner one of us will carry a 22-250 and the other will carry a combo gun. Both of us have a 223 and 12gauge combo gun. these a great for close shots. My friend has a scope on his I use open sights and limit my shots to 100 yards or much closer. If I had to pick one gun it would be the combo gun for calling coyotes. IF that was all I was going to use it for!! Great calling set up

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 22, 2008, 12:07:19 PM »

i am the weird crazy kid it looks like on here

but i used to used my H&R Field master 22LR bolt action for coyotes on down with a 6-24 scope on it. Now i would used a H&R single shot in .223 or a 20GA shotgun or Ruger Mini-14 or a 30/30 lever gun. I would choose the one that i could find first. i wold probably buy the 30/30 and used 30-30 WIN 160 LEVERevolution ammo.