Whats the best caliber of rifle for varmits? - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

CHW2021 · 11-27-2012, 10:18 AM

Couldn't agree with the above more.

If you are happy with a certain rifle and shoot it well just find an appropriate load for the size varmit. I am fond of .30 cal in almost any use.

CampingJosh · 11-27-2012, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugerUser

Cool, looks to be part chow and lab?

We think husky and lab. No dark coloring whatsoever on her tongue, and she's very active. She spends much of each evening "patrolling" our 70 acres at a sprint. Also, one pup in her litter had a blue eye.
But we got her in a parking lot, so we can't ever be certain.

As for the real purpose of this thread, I use. 223 for varmints. AR with an EOTech sight and a mounted flashlight. I really want to move to night vision at some point, but that's well down the road.

11-28-2012, 06:38 AM

100% of the ground Hogs I have interviewed would prefer to be shoot with a 223 over any other cartridge. They didn't say much as they all had softball sized holes in their body with guts hanging out.

I have 3 varmint rifles.

1. Remington 700 VLS in 223 kills out to 450 yards with 50gr V-Max bullets. Never lost one yet with that set up.

2. RRA Predator Pursuit Rifle in 223/556 killes out to 425 with this using 60gr V-Max bullets. The 425 yard shot was slightly down hill and it looked like that chuck jumped on a granade to save his buddies.

3. 25-06 M-98 custom. I have killed a ground squirrel at 475 yards with that one 1 shot no sighters. That gun is amazing. Lets just say once we made it to that kill it looked like someone sent it through a meat grinder 2 or 3 times.

For what the OP is asking a 223 bolt or AR will do him fine. Ammo is cheap even good quality varmint ammo. 22-250 220 Swift 25-06 is just burning more powder to do the same job....

agedhunter · 11-29-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpttango30

100% of the ground Hogs I have interviewed would prefer to be shoot with a 223 over any other cartridge. They didn't say much as they all had softball sized holes in their body with guts hanging out.

savage170 · 11-29-2012, 04:33 PM

I grew up using a old 340 savage chambered for 222 Rem for that role and I have always been partial to the 222 Rem since but where I was raised very seldom the shot would be more then 150 yds

RugerUser · 12-02-2012, 09:25 PM

I have a chance at a remington model 788 chambered in .243. This should work good huh?

11-27-2012, 10:18 AM	#26
CHW2021 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 468	Re: Whats the best caliber of rifle for varmits? Couldn't agree with the above more. If you are happy with a certain rifle and shoot it well just find an appropriate load for the size varmit. I am fond of .30 cal in almost any use.

11-28-2012, 06:38 AM	#28
cpttango30 Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Re: Whats the best caliber of rifle for varmits? 100% of the ground Hogs I have interviewed would prefer to be shoot with a 223 over any other cartridge. They didn't say much as they all had softball sized holes in their body with guts hanging out. I have 3 varmint rifles. 1. Remington 700 VLS in 223 kills out to 450 yards with 50gr V-Max bullets. Never lost one yet with that set up. 2. RRA Predator Pursuit Rifle in 223/556 killes out to 425 with this using 60gr V-Max bullets. The 425 yard shot was slightly down hill and it looked like that chuck jumped on a granade to save his buddies. 3. 25-06 M-98 custom. I have killed a ground squirrel at 475 yards with that one 1 shot no sighters. That gun is amazing. Lets just say once we made it to that kill it looked like someone sent it through a meat grinder 2 or 3 times. For what the OP is asking a 223 bolt or AR will do him fine. Ammo is cheap even good quality varmint ammo. 22-250 220 Swift 25-06 is just burning more powder to do the same job....

11-29-2012, 04:33 PM	#30
savage170 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: FL Posts: 387	Re: Whats the best caliber of rifle for varmits? I grew up using a old 340 savage chambered for 222 Rem for that role and I have always been partial to the 222 Rem since but where I was raised very seldom the shot would be more then 150 yds

12-02-2012, 09:25 PM	#31
RugerUser Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 40	Re: Whats the best caliber of rifle for varmits? I have a chance at a remington model 788 chambered in .243. This should work good huh?