New to the Varmints Den

[Bart]

Hi all, I am new to this forum. I have been shooting mostly pistols and shotguns but would really like to do some varmint hunting. I would appreciate your recommendations on a high quality accurate varmint rifle in 22-250. Thanks.

[Bruce Eakins]

High quality......and accurate......my $.02 worth....get yourself a Rem 700 short action (my preference) send it to Mike Bryant (my preference) or a "known" gunsmith for building accurate rifles. Have him get you a Lilja (my preference) barrel (varmint weight). Have him do all the tricks to it (true the action, trigger job, bed, float, etc.). Don't forget the stock, H-S Precision or McMillan (my preferences). And another thing.....forget the 22-250....get a 22-243 or a 22-250 AI or a 22 Dasher or something you have to reload for. Make sure it has an 8 twist barrel, so you can shoot them coyotes out to 500-600 yards. Don't forget to send a signed blank check. And don't forget to save back about 1,000 or so for the scope you'll need.

AND....if you stay around here don't forget that I was the first one to warn you....Welcome to the board....

Oh yeah......there will be about 15-20 different answers to your question on here in a day or two....:D :D

[Rhys]

Welcome to the board. Where are you located? As far as the rifle there are a lot of different answers. One of the fastest ways to narrow it down is ask yourself what is your price range. There are usable rifles, accurate rifles, and spooky accurate rifles. It's just that the price goes up exponentialy from one to the next.

[Bart]

Thanks RHYS, I am in So Cal. I really do not have a set price range. I would like a long range straight shooter (who doesn't?). I am left handed but have shot right handed weapons most of my life. What do you think of the Savage Model 12 Long Range Precision Varminter? It weighs a ton (12 lbs.) but seem to be a fine starting point.

[Oleman]

Bart you might want to look at one of these. I have one right handed that I rebarrel and made into a TAC 20. It's a shooter. About 6.5 pounds.

http://www.savagearms.com/16flss.htm

[Gabriel]

Bart, I am laughing right now, because your question usually gets a Ford Chevy type thread going. There is Fuzz for example that does not even like to type the word Ruger, let along shoot one,and some like function over all else.

The Savage has a big following. They are easy to rebarrel on your own, and shot very good for the money. Remington is like the Chevy small block, there are a ton of aftermarket parts for them. My opinion, get an AR15. They also are a do it yourself gun. The sky is the limit for after market parts, and lots of different calibers. I did own a 22-250, Ruger VT. I sold it and got an AR 15. Liked the speed of the 22-250, but have more fun with the 223. The 55 gr Vmax in the 22-250 were running 3875 fps and the 223 40 gr vmax about 3600. That being said if I was going to buy a bolt action The Savage you mentioned would be my first choice.

Gabriel

[Jim in Mich]

If you just want to buy a rifle, put a good scope on it and shoot it Savage is the hands down winner. remintons is a crap shoot anymore to get an accurate one. I would recomend a VLP or if weight is not an issue a LRPV. You will find the Savage's are cheaper than the Remmy's too.

[JRinKY]

The LRPV would be too heavy for most folks to hunt with, but it will probably shoot less than an inch group at 200 yds. The VLP (Varmint Lo Profile) would be my choice for an all around rifle without spending a wad of money for needless pinpoint benchrest accuracy.
You Said Coyote. So You are looking a 6 inch DRT Kill zone...so that's minute of angle at 600 yards. My choice of Standard Calibers would be a 22-250 due to the extended range over the .223, but you will probably handload anyway.
That being said, my Light carry around Coyote Hunting rifle is a plain old Wal Mart Savage M 10 in .243 (painted camo) cost 350 dollars and shoots less than a minute of angle right out of the box. Its photo has appeared in these pages several times with a dead Coyote for proof. Good Luck buddy.

[Roger (IL)]

Bart, only accurate rifles are high quality or maybe any accurate rifle is high quality. If you want a very accurate rifle for a smaller amount of mone buy a Savage if you want an expensive accurate rifle buy a Cooper. If you want a real expensive rifle have one built from scratch..............Roger

[udiablo]

And it's great to hear all of the different opinions.

Dollar for dollar, out of the box, the Savage seems to be the best bargain out there.

But, I tend to agree with Bruce and because of my personal preferences most of my rifles have Rem 700 actions. I don't currently have a Savage because I don't like the looks of that plumber nut, but the ones I've had were good shooters right out of the box. Now that they've improved the triggers, the Savage seems hard to beat for a box-stock HB rifle.

As for the brass-belchers, I use them for "close-in" stuff ('cause I'm NOT a shotgun fan). If you want to reload, trying to keep up with your brass on the range (or anywhere else) can become an aerobic exercise. They can be tuned to shoot real well, there's plenty of .223 brass and components available to feed them.

Lots said, but it really depends on your preferences.

If you want to do some serious long-range stuff, I concur with Bruce, and "be all you can be".

[Doug Roberts]

SO CAL? Doesn't that mean no AR15 for you? Well............. Savage anyway. The lineup includes several options as to weight which is directly related to what you intend to do with it. There are several LRPV owners around here, myself among 'em, and I don't want to tote mine any farther than from my truck to the shooting table.

Chevy..... Ford..... Toyota..... Savage..... Remington..... CZ. Whatever trips your trigger.