SIGforum
I want a varmint rifle
December 01, 2017, 02:44 PM
newmexicanI want a varmint rifle
Something accurate, maybe in 22-250, heavy barrel, weight is not a factor. Something for wolf, coyote, fox etc. I'd like to go with a factory offering to keep it simple and I'd like to stay at ~ 1k WITH a scope but I could go up a few hundred for the right gun.
I was thinking a ruger American predator (had one before but my dad sort of took it). And spending the rest of the budget on a nice powerful scope.
What would you all get with that budget?
Thanks!!!
December 01, 2017, 02:58 PM
newmexicanMy friend has some sort of Remington 700 in 22-250 with a 26" fluted barrel, its nice but Id rather get something a bit less expensive and spend more $$$ On the scope for this rig.
December 01, 2017, 03:03 PM
dusty3030With Savage running $100 and $150 rebates right now, I'd look there to start.
December 01, 2017, 03:15 PM
GrumpyBikerHave you looked at 25-06 ?
I absolutely love this chambering.
Prairie dogs, deer , antelope, etc. so long as you stick with a 24"-26" barrels.
Lotsa choices in bullet weights makes it extremely versatile.
Just a thought.
Love my 25-06 Mauser 98 as an all rounder
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December 01, 2017, 03:48 PM
RileyLast week you could buy one for under $300 I think after rebates and sales.
I’d compare ammo costs, but unless you only want it for prairie dogs, rock chucks sized I’d maybe go with the something more. A little more oomph for longer range coyotes. If you are shooting lots of little things, the .204 Ruger is a good cartridge as well.
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Expectations are premeditated disappointments. December 01, 2017, 03:53 PM
P250UA5Not sure on cost, but knew a guy with a Ruger M77 Mark II Target in 22-250 that was a hoot to shoot.
Laminate stock & bull barrel made it heavy, but it had the recoil of a Red Rider.
The Enemy's gate is down. December 01, 2017, 04:34 PM
jjkroll32You can buy Howa Barreled actions for Less than $500 (stainless or blued)
Drop them into a stock of your choosing (bell and carlson is reasonably priced and typically of decent quality)
Might stretch your budget to put some quality glass on there, but it's hard to argue with the smoothness for the price of a Howa action.
My next vote would be a Tikka but the rifle alone would eat your budget.
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December 01, 2017, 04:48 PM
sourdough44If wolves in AK are one the list, I'd go no smaller than a 243. A midweight rifle with a 20-22" barrel would be my pick.
December 01, 2017, 05:54 PM
3/4Flapquote:
Originally posted by sourdough44:
If wolves in AK are one the list, I'd go no smaller than a 243. A midweight rifle with a 20-22" barrel would be my pick.
Our Wildlife Services guys shoot the .22-250 with zero problems. .223 is used around here very successfully as well.
**********************
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Read Quod Apostolici Muneris (1878) LEO XIII. This Pope warned us about the Socialists before most folks knew what a Socialist was...
December 01, 2017, 07:44 PM
Chris42The 22-250 is a very good varmint round. I have a heavy barrel Weatherby in that caliber and it is very accurate. My complaint is the cost of ammo. I don’t think I could find it for under a buck a round anymore. .223 is half that. The Weatherby is probably the last firearm I got (almost 30 years ago) that is not a military caliber.
If you want to reload for it, great. Otherwise it expensive shooting.
December 01, 2017, 09:17 PM
Sparkykquote:
Originally posted by jjkroll32:
You can buy Howa Barreled actions for Less than $500 (stainless or blued)
Drop them into a stock of your choosing (bell and carlson is reasonably priced and typically of decent quality)
Might stretch your budget to put some quality glass on there, but it's hard to argue with the smoothness for the price of a Howa action.
My next vote would be a Tikka but the rifle alone would eat your budget.
This ^^^. The Howa heavy barreled action is a good choice and they are accurate. For a stock I would also look at Boyd's as well. They have a very nice stock with an adjustable cheek riser and LOP for $189. I handled a Howa HB barrel action in this Boyd's stock. And was very impressed by it. Enough so that I will very likely do the same combination in a 6.5 Creedmoor myself.
December 01, 2017, 09:32 PM
3/4FlapHowa's are phenomenal actions.
**********************
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Read Quod Apostolici Muneris (1878) LEO XIII. This Pope warned us about the Socialists before most folks knew what a Socialist was...
December 01, 2017, 10:44 PM
djpaintlesHere's one you want.....
https://www.eurooptic.com/sako...-22-250-jrs1g14.aspxBut out of the price range you mentioned.
Knowing that you are fond of Kimber's you should look at the Pro Varmint too:
https://www.eurooptic.com/kimb...250-rem-3000639.aspxThe Tikka is more in your Price range:
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRTX...37--barrel-MPN-.aspxThe Ruger M77 MARK II is about the same price as the Tikka. I've had a couple of these in 308 and I LOVED the 2 stage trigger. I would have a lot more Rugers if you could get the same trigger on their hunting rifles. But I love 2 stage triggers a lot of people hate them. Both my of my 308'''s were VERY accurate. These Rugers were in the same league as my Sako''s etc.
Last but not least there's always the Sako A7 if you want a halfway between an 85 and a Tikka.
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRMV...250-Rem-244--bb.aspx.
I have a Kimber Pro Varmint 22-250, the right bullets it shoots, great sub 1/2 moa 5 shots but with some bullets it shot lousy with the same load. Biggest difference I've ever seen with just a bullet change.
If you can swing it the Sako 85 is the luxury choice, I have one in a larger caliber and it's sweetness indeed. At the less expensive end don't shortchange the Ruger. I would definitely prefer one over a Savage or Remington having had all of them.
Good luck with your choice, I look forward to hearing what you end up with. :-)
Remember, this is all supposed to be for fun...................
December 02, 2017, 02:11 PM
newmexicanHello and thanks for all the advice.
This went just as my wife predicted it would: I started with a reasonable budget....then I started really looking into things and it's looking like I'll spend more money than I planned which is ok with me (the wife will get over it). I'm looking a tikkas, kimber and a few others now.
The how's action would be a fun project to build up, I'll look into that. I'm not set firm on what round, but I'm thinking a 22-250 or a 223, heck, most of the locals here where I live hunt moose with mini-14s.
As for an AR platform, I don't know. I'm sort of over my AR thing but I suppose if I came across one of those discontinued ruger varmint models I could get back into it.
December 02, 2017, 02:13 PM
newmexicanquote:
Originally posted by djpaintles:
Here's one you want.....
https://www.eurooptic.com/sako...-22-250-jrs1g14.aspxBut out of the price range you mentioned.
Knowing that you are fond of Kimber's you should look at the Pro Varmint too:
https://www.eurooptic.com/kimb...250-rem-3000639.aspxThe Tikka is more in your Price range:
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRTX...37--barrel-MPN-.aspxThe Ruger M77 MARK II is about the same price as the Tikka. I've had a couple of these in 308 and I LOVED the 2 stage trigger. I would have a lot more Rugers if you could get the same trigger on their hunting rifles. But I love 2 stage triggers a lot of people hate them. Both my of my 308'''s were VERY accurate. These Rugers were in the same league as my Sako''s etc.
Last but not least there's always the Sako A7 if you want a halfway between an 85 and a Tikka.
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRMV...250-Rem-244--bb.aspx.
I have a Kimber Pro Varmint 22-250, the right bullets it shoots, great sub 1/2 moa 5 shots but with some bullets it shot lousy with the same load. Biggest difference I've ever seen with just a bullet change.
If you can swing it the Sako 85 is the luxury choice, I have one in a larger caliber and it's sweetness indeed. At the less expensive end don't shortchange the Ruger. I would definitely prefer one over a Savage or Remington having had all of them.
Good luck with your choice, I look forward to hearing what you end up with. :-)
Kimbers offerings do look pretty sweet. I bet that SVT in 223 is a dream to shoot, or the open country but those just come in 6.5cm. Nothing against 6.5cm but I don't think I need it for this rifle.
December 02, 2017, 02:28 PM
OrthogonalI have to agree that 6.5 centimeters is probably larger than one would need or want!!!
6.5cm / 2.54 (cm per inch) = 2.559 inches
This naming convention needs a better suffix for Creedmoor!
December 02, 2017, 04:21 PM
3/4Flapquote:
Originally posted by djpaintles:
Here's one you want.....
https://www.eurooptic.com/sako...-22-250-jrs1g14.aspxBut out of the price range you mentioned.
Knowing that you are fond of Kimber's you should look at the Pro Varmint too:
https://www.eurooptic.com/kimb...250-rem-3000639.aspxThe Tikka is more in your Price range:
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRTX...37--barrel-MPN-.aspxThe Ruger M77 MARK II is about the same price as the Tikka. I've had a couple of these in 308 and I LOVED the 2 stage trigger. I would have a lot more Rugers if you could get the same trigger on their hunting rifles. But I love 2 stage triggers a lot of people hate them. Both my of my 308'''s were VERY accurate. These Rugers were in the same league as my Sako''s etc.
Last but not least there's always the Sako A7 if you want a halfway between an 85 and a Tikka.
https://www.eurooptic.com/JRMV...250-Rem-244--bb.aspx.
I have a Kimber Pro Varmint 22-250, the right bullets it shoots, great sub 1/2 moa 5 shots but with some bullets it shot lousy with the same load. Biggest difference I've ever seen with just a bullet change.
If you can swing it the Sako 85 is the luxury choice, I have one in a larger caliber and it's sweetness indeed. At the less expensive end don't shortchange the Ruger. I would definitely prefer one over a Savage or Remington having had all of them.
Good luck with your choice, I look forward to hearing what you end up with. :-)
"I would have a lot more Rugers if you could get the same trigger on their hunting rifles."
Here!! HERE!!
The 2-stage is a GREAT trigger!
I have a Ruger Predator in .223 I've used for my ground squirrel control in my plantation and it is a fantastic rifle.
**********************
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Read Quod Apostolici Muneris (1878) LEO XIII. This Pope warned us about the Socialists before most folks knew what a Socialist was...
December 02, 2017, 08:10 PM
djpaintlesI haven't had one yet but would like to own a Cooper someday. They look like super nice rifle's if you can find one at a decent price..........
Remember, this is all supposed to be for fun...................
December 02, 2017, 08:19 PM
newmexicanquote:
Originally posted by djpaintles:
I haven't had one yet but would like to own a Cooper someday. They look like super nice rifle's if you can find one at a decent price..........
One of my hunting buddies has a cooper back country, its quite a nice gun.
December 02, 2017, 09:22 PM
jaybirdaccountantI agree with your choice of 22-250. I feel it's truly king of the varmint rounds. You certainly don't need anything bigger than 22 caliber. I might go with a 223 in a light rifle, but 22-250 for sure in a heavy rifle.
I'm not a Ruger American fan or really a fan of most of the budget rifles. The Tikka T3 and Weatherby Vanguard 2 are both accurate rifles without breaking the bank.
