Author Topic: What is your favorite predator/varmint rifle? (Read 7798 times)

tcman · « **Reply #30 on:** July 11, 2005, 12:56:08 PM »

My original Varmint and predator hunting was with a 22-250. Then I sold my 22-250 and started using my 25-06, since it was about 5x as accurate as my old 22-250.

Since I started shooting a rifle again, I went back to the 22-250 in a different gun (Encore). Funny thing though, my 25-06 barrel (Encore) still shoots a better group so far than my 22-250...this time it is a lot closer tough....0.50" group for the 22-250 and a 0.44" group for the 25-06.

Recently my wife bought me a Mach 2 NEF rifle, which I will use for close-to-town prairie dogs...

skb2706 · « **Reply #31 on:** July 12, 2005, 08:21:05 AM »

First was a Savage 110E 22-250 I bought for next to nothing from some poor sole who was in need. The thing was rough as a cob, not well finished and poorly bedded. For the next several years it was our prairie dog rifle.......my son and I probably shot a couple thousand pds with it. Had a few others that come and went for whatever reason. Then we got a little more refined and bought into a couple TC carbines, one is .204 the other 6mm 30-30 and a couple of other barrels. These are now our favorites and get most of the pd work lately.

JD338 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 17, 2005, 05:50:49 AM »

My favorite varmint and predator rifle is a M700 VLS in 22-250 Rem.
I haven't killed anything past 300 yds yet, but one of these days.........
I use the Nosler 50 gr BT, works great on wood chucks and coyotes.

Regards,

JD338

poncaguy · « **Reply #33 on:** July 17, 2005, 06:40:11 AM »

My first, which I still own, is a Ruger 77 tang saftey 22-250, a very accurate rifle. Now have a Encore 204 which I really like. Also, have a bull barrel Rossi 223, super accurate, a Ultra Varmit Fluted 223, which is going to be my favorite I think (cheap ammo!), a stainlees bull barrel Handi 22-250 (which is going to compete very strongly for my most used), a Handi 17 HMR and a Savage 93 17HMR, and a Handi 22 Hornet Also have 243 Handi. I think I might like firearms........ :grin:

saltydog · « **Reply #34 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:58:25 AM »

This is an ever changing answer to the question - I purchased a new Ruger 22-250 this spring and it is becoming my favorite flavor this year after a decade of non-use of the caliber - previously was the Marlin 17 HMR last year for game smaller than Coyotes and a Rem 700 in 204 Ruger the year before that.

hotrunner · « **Reply #35 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:19:19 PM »

Lately, my favorite has been my CZ 527(American) in .221 Rem. Fireball. A great little "walking" rifle that will also shoot with full-blown varmint rigs (out to a resonable distance.) Depending on mood, also like my Remington .204 and .22-250.

nomosendero · « **Reply #36 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:37:47 PM »

RRA Varmit 223 1x8

mitchell · « **Reply #37 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:03:52 PM »

isnt this thread about 4 years old???

anyhoe ar-10 in 243 shooting 55gr Bt's at 4000 fps

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #38 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:08:28 PM »

This is an old thread - must be bored

Mitchell - I thought your favorite was a 300 Win Mag?

mitchell · « **Reply #39 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:18:28 PM »

no its not my favorite its just the best. and packin that big thing around yote huntin just aint fun

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #40 on:** July 11, 2009, 04:42:01 AM »

It reaches out there and touches them with some clout. It is a heavy one for sure. I was having problems shooting them thar PDs at 600 yards with a 40 grain bullet with 30+ mph winds. I think I only got 1 of them - but he did a bunch of flips when I hit him. that 3800 fps muzzle velocity is only about 1400 fps out that far.

jasonprox700 · « **Reply #41 on:** July 19, 2009, 04:14:29 PM »

This is a tuff one. My first varmint rifle may be my favorite. It is a Remington 700 VLS in .22-250 that my dad gave me for CHRISTmas almost 12 years ago. I know this rifle very well and how it shoots. The problem is the weight. So I purchased a Bushmaster Varminter in .223. I really like the ar platform, so I am in the process of building a M4 clone for a light weight carry gun. I am also building a .243 WSSM in an AR with a 20" barrel for a "light weight" (8 to 8.5 lbs) gun that will have better ballistics than the .223/5.56, but yet be light enough to carry all day.

At the end of the day, I think my .22-250 still trumps all. Somthing about the "pretty" laminate stock and the sentimental value it holds keeps it my go to gun!

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #42 on:** July 20, 2009, 03:31:12 AM »

My favorite varmit rifle!!! Depends on the varmits.

For gophers, I would pick my 513T Remington .22. For prairie dogs, most have been shot this year with the Browning .22 Hornet, the .222 has taken more prairie dogs for me than any other caliber. Lately, I have used the custom barreled .223 more for dogs. Also I have an old 700 in .22-250 that has probably killed more varmits than any rifle but my .222. The .22-250 is on its 3rd barrel. For woodchucks, my three favorites are .22 Hornet, .222, and the .22-250. But have shot them with everything from the .22lr to .300 Win. Don't get to hunt chucks much any more.
For coytes, the .22-250, .22-250 AI and .220 Swift are favorites for called dogs or shots where bullet blow up is important. For general coyote shooting, my favorites are my 25-06 with 100 grain bullets, and my windy day coyote rifle a semi target barreled .300 win. For me it is difficult to pick a favorite. I love 'em all.
The Hornet is a fun gun to keep in the pickup for informal close varmit shots.
For serious prairie dog shooting I would go with my .223 and a .22-250 for long shots.
For coyotes, I usually have a big .22 in the truck and either the .25-06 or .300.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #43 on:** July 20, 2009, 07:44:56 AM »

I carried my T\C Contender in .223. It killed everything I aimed at....as long as I did my part. When I didn't do my part, the critter learned a lesson.

This year I bolted on a 17 Fireball Shilen to a Stevens action. The Fireball is a cut down 223 (Yeah, 222) and necked down case. I'm shooting a 25 grain Berger match bullet. This bullet makes one very small entry hole and then just explodes inside....leaving no exit hole. The critter just drops. Chronographed at 3700fps this 25grain bullet screams across these Pennsylvania fields and slams into targets.

If I miss, the bullet will explode on a rock, or in the mud. Ricochet's thus far, have been none. The report is less than the .223......still the crack of a rifle, but not the loud crack of the .223. Easy to reload too.

So far, I have no dislikes.

Dave

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #44 on:** July 20, 2009, 08:05:01 AM »

I have high hopes for my WBY Vanguard compact in .308. It likes 110 grn HP's, and I like the hinged floorplate vs. the fixed mag on my Savage 116 in 22-250. I guess we'll see.
Sorry, should add for coyotes only.

mitchell · « **Reply #45 on:** July 20, 2009, 01:15:25 PM »

very true it does depends on the varmit for iraqis i like the 25mm chain gun on the bradley

Dinny · « **Reply #46 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:14:02 AM »

Although I have yet to draw any blood with it, I favor my Weatherby Super Predator Master .243 Win. I have a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x50 w/ ill reticle mounted atop in Nightforce aluminum rings. It is a consistent 5/8 MOA rifle with factory 58gr Hornady V-Max. Maybe my reloads will better that, but I really don't need them to. The only thing I would change about my set-up is the color. The black painted/coated barrel really sticks out, especially in the snow.

Thanks, Dinny

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #47 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:19:44 AM »

Quote from: mitchell on July 20, 2009, 01:15:25 PM

very true it does depends on the varmit for iraqis i like the 25mm chain gun on the bradley

Complete pass-throughs I'd assume...

Dinny · « **Reply #48 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:46:49 AM »

[quote/]Complete pass-throughs I'd assume[/quote]

From what I have seen....YES! They pass through the cars, trucks, thin-walled homes, and people with spectacular consistency. Never left me much to work with.

Thanks, Dinny

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #49 on:** July 21, 2009, 07:46:23 AM »

Quote from: dinny on July 21, 2009, 06:46:49 AM

[quote/]Complete pass-throughs I'd assume

From what I have seen....YES! They pass through the cars, trucks, thin-walled homes, and people with spectacular consistency. Never left me much to work with.

Thanks, Dinny
[/quote]
No, Thanks to you and others on here for your service.
I bet that Weatherby puts a hurting on them, nice rig.

Dinny · « **Reply #50 on:** July 21, 2009, 08:02:54 AM »

hunt-m-up,
That was my deployment gift from my first Iraq deployment. Since then I have had two more deployments, seeing action in both Iraq(now) and Afghanistan. My next deployment gift will be my first child, born 6 weeks before I return. With my wife being off work for the birth and a long while afterwards, there won't be much money for any other deployment gifts. I'll take the daughter instead, anyday.

Thanks, Dinny

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #51 on:** July 21, 2009, 08:33:48 AM »

Congratulations on the baby, lifechanging to say the least. If it came down to the kids or the guns I would be hunting with a sharp butcher knife.

eye shot · « **Reply #52 on:** July 21, 2009, 12:33:24 PM »

oso45-70
I got my .17 Rem BDL in 1971 or early 72 and it's still a tack driver! I love the vapor streak or contrail it leaves to the target.

mitchell · « **Reply #53 on:** July 21, 2009, 02:55:56 PM »

Quote from: hunt-m-up on July 21, 2009, 06:19:44 AM

Quote from: mitchell on July 20, 2009, 01:15:25 PM
very true it does depends on the varmit for iraqis i like the 25mm chain gun on the bradley
Complete pass-throughs I'd assume...

ya i would say that

hey dinny whats your MOS ?? you out of campbell

Ahab · « **Reply #54 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:10:13 AM »

Quote from: mjbgalt on July 10, 2005, 01:11:00 PM

gotta be my encore in .204. it can shoot way better than i can, and will put a whoopin on anything up to coyote size.

the 26" bull barrel keeps me from wavering too much, and so far anyone who picks it up has shot well with it. we shot bottle caps at 65 yards with it and i taught a new shooter to shoot with it. he had never shot a gun before in his life but on our way back to my house his eyes were still lit up and he was hooked. we shot powerade bottles with it and even though the bottles were empty they didnt budge when the 40 grain hornady zipped through at 3,900 fps.

what a blast :grin:

-Matt

That's mine too!

gube · « **Reply #55 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:44:42 PM »

My favorite varminters were a couple of savage 12's in 204. A VLP and a BTVSS. Main P-d guns but rather heavy for chasin yotes.
As of late I've aquired a couple of T3 lites. One in a 243 and my new favorite in a grey laminate ss 204. Awesome "tack drivers".

calling4life · « **Reply #56 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:42:31 PM »

"I want to die like my grandfather did, in his sleep, not screaming like the people in his car"

Dinny, this is perhaps the funniest thing I have ever read on a forum, top notch.

Ultra25-06 · « **Reply #57 on:** July 28, 2009, 02:27:35 PM »

My favorite without a doubt would be my CZ 527 .223 American, has taken more varmits and cyotes than i care to count. My favorite shot however was a 6 1/2 ft mtn lion at 75yds. My second favorite is my H&R ultra in 25-06.

HOG · « **Reply #58 on:** August 02, 2009, 11:40:52 AM »

Savage in .204. I put on a Choat stock and Basix trigger, Leupold 8.5x25x50. I added lead to the stock, overall weight 20lbs. Hand loads of Hornady 32g. Best shots were three for three at 460 yds on ground squirrels. gotta love it.
Steve

ratpatrol · « **Reply #59 on:** August 02, 2009, 12:58:48 PM »

Of all my guns 17rem,223 22-250,22-250ack,6br,and 243. I am really liking the 204 ruger more and more. I just put a Douglas barrel on a Rem 722 action and chambered it for a 204, I'ts a death ray, you see the hits on ground squires and see them go flying , more so than any other of my guns. Just shot a coyote running straight away, texes hart shot, that slowed him down,nexted shot,down for the count,one small spot of blood on his butt. I have worn out barrels in a ruger m77 22-250 and a rem 700 vss 22-250,using rem 50 and 55grers and 38gr of H380,Nexted favorite is a ruger mark 11 stainless varminter in 223,leupold 6.5x20 glass. rem 55gr bullets and 26gr surplus 846 powder,midway surplus brass.

Time will tell on the 204 ruger for barrel wear I hope meany thousand rounds.