brokeasajoke
Silver $$ Contributor
Though Im not a dicks fan, a 700 remington varmint can be had for $450ish on sale with crappy scope 223, 22-250, and 308 iirc.
Accurate, Long Range Rifle on a Budget... Groundhogs?
- Thread starter mrsmucker
- Start date
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Ruger American. Not sure you have seen these but they are getting great reviews. Not a real Ruger fan, but I have been looking at these for while now.. Looks like a good bargain.
http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Ruger_American_Predator_22_250_22_Threaded_Barrel_p/gun-6945.htm
http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Ruger_American_Predator_22_250_22_Threaded_Barrel_p/gun-6945.htm
I was at Walmart today, scored one box of 22's, (the local limit), and there was a Rem 700 ADL or BDL, in 223 with unknown scope for $380, had the black tupperware stock that did not feel too bad, seem to shoulder ok, did not have the bull barrel, internal magazine, no floorplate so you would have to work the bolt to empty the mag. Weight was ok for walking around and stalking the critters if you had the mind. Just something to consider. The lack of a bull/varmint barrel is not a big deal IMO if you know you won't be firing numerous rounds of in quick succession.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I like to see chucks do helicopters, acrobatics, and flip flops when hit. So, I prefer(factory rifle choice) a 243 with a 80g Sierra Blitz BT (3400 fps) or a 70g Sierra Blitz king at 3600.
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
I have to agree with this as well. While I personally would not want one because of how they look, if you do like how they look, or don't care, this is your best bang for the buck, and better accuracy than most choices.
Danny
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
In a Remington 700 Varmint, they are both very accurate and destructive. Question, what part of the country are you in. Eastern Chucks are often standing up, while the western chucks rarely stand up.
both of the bullets I mentioned are great to 500 yards and we shot a few further, Idaho. How far up in the air, and sideways they launch, is usually a function of bullet placement. My favorite shot is where they are facing you directly or have their butt to you.
I'm up in New England - I also prefer them standing, looking right at me. Will the 80 Blitz come apart in flight like it's .224 cousins?
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
80g Blitz never come apart. I have shot them in a 244 AI at 3800 fps, 14T Shilen with Win 760. Also, this is a world class coyote bullet, loudest PLOP I have ever heard with any round on coyotes.
I would be shooting them in a 244, 10T, 28" bbl... whaddya think??
Bit late to chime in, but in my experience most new rifles are quite accurate. Better than an old mil surplus rifle. I have heard good things about remington, Ruger, savage, and personal experience with Howa and Tikka have been fantastic. In all honesty 1 MOA is quite common these days, and is plenty accurate enough for pigs. I'd go .308 because its got plenty of punch and you can get cheaper mil surplus ammo (I just like it too, personal preference). I have a 22-250, which is a little cheaper and much flatter to shoot over shorter distances (300 yards or less say) and I'm very happy with that. If you're going for 200 yards or less I'd go a .223. Less recoil for fast follow up shots, and its better on the wallet too.
My main advice though is to spend whatever time and money you can practising, and for this I would really recommend a .22. I have pumped probably 10,000 rounds down my .22 and thats where you learn to shoot. Doesn't matter how much your new accurate rifle costs, you need to learn how to use it. I'd rather be a shooter with a 2MOA gun who can shoot a 2MOA group, than a shooter with a 1/4" lazer that can't hit a barn door. (And Please don't take this as an insult to your shooting ability, I don't know how much practice you've had and from your question I took it that its probably not huge amounts!)
My main advice though is to spend whatever time and money you can practising, and for this I would really recommend a .22. I have pumped probably 10,000 rounds down my .22 and thats where you learn to shoot. Doesn't matter how much your new accurate rifle costs, you need to learn how to use it. I'd rather be a shooter with a 2MOA gun who can shoot a 2MOA group, than a shooter with a 1/4" lazer that can't hit a barn door. (And Please don't take this as an insult to your shooting ability, I don't know how much practice you've had and from your question I took it that its probably not huge amounts!)
Two years ago i bought a Rem 700 ADL varmint wt. barrel in 22-250. It cost $500 on sale. Should be accurate enough? Never shot it as a 22-250. I tossed the Rem barrel and put a Kreiger 6BR barrel on it.
Many of us need to pay more attension. I asked the website manager if he would delet every post more than 3 YO. to clean up the website. He said no.
^^^I think Webster had a great idea about deleting old posts. For what it's worth the OP started this thread on January 4th 2016 and was last seen on January 21st 2016 so he only lasted a whopping 3 weeks total on this site.
I have several varmint rifles of various brands and I've been hunting groundhogs for over 50 years.
For under 275 yards the 223 Rem cartridge will work very well. For longer distances the 22 250 is about as ideal as it gets at the cost of significantly reduced barrel life and ammo costs. The 223 Rem would be a good place to start in my opinion for your applications.
As some one else mentioned, the Weatherby Vanguard is a good option. I have one in 223 Rem. The trigger is good, the extraction design is excellent, the 24" barrel length and 7 1/2 lb weight gives the rifle good stability and the factory stock is good with a good fit. It also has a three position safety. I believe the action is a Howa which are excellent action. Mine is in the sub 1 moa accuracy range with tailored reloads - i.e. not a tack driver but good enough. The 9" twist handles the 55 grain bullets well. The price is in the range you mentioned. A nice rifle for the money.
I also have a Tikka T3X Lite in 223 Rem and 243 Win. These are excellent rifles - superbly accurate - great triggers - excellent extraction system - stocks are stiff and stable. My only issue with them is they are light weight - excellent stalking guns but I prefer a little heavier rifle for stationary varmint hunting; especially for long range. Still you can't go wrong with a Tikka - the price may be about $100 over your mentioned price limit. I had trouble getting good groups with 50 and 55 grain bullets in the 8" twist in the 223 Rem unless I reduced the velocity which is kind of counter productive for varmint applications. The 60 Vmax however is very accurate in my rifle. They do make a varmint model with a 24" heavy barrel - a bit more expensive but would be worth it for long range applications.
I have three Brownings, one A bolt and two X bolts in 223 Rem and 243 Win. Extremely accurate, 1/2 to sub 1/2 moa accuracy with tailored reloads but poor triggers - over priced in my opinion but mine shoot light out once I got the triggers worked on by gun smith. The A bolt is the heavy varmint version - one of my most accurate rifles - the X bolts are the Hunter models (sporter weight barrels) with the wooded stocks - both of these are also in the 1/2 moa accuracy range. However these are well over your price range and quite frankly not worth it - especially with the poor triggers.
I have several "old" Remington's 700's and 7's - pre 90's. These were great rifles at one time but I wouldn't buy the new ones - the triggers are junk and I've seen a lot of problems at the range with the extraction system. If you get a deal on one you could replace the trigger with a Timmey. The extraction problems may be a isolated, I don't know, just saw a number of them at the range. The fix is Sako extraction system replacement which isn't cheap; about $250. The barrels seem to still be good - seen some nice groups at the range in the heavy barrel varmint versions.
I have one Weatherby Super varmint master, Mark V in 223 Rem. If ever there was the perfect out of the box factory long range varmint rifle it's this one. Unfortunately they don't make it any more. I paid $1,500 for mine in 2009. Sub 1/4 moa accuracy with tailored reloads. Taken hundreds of ground hog with it.
I don't own a Savage but I seen some amazing groups shot at the range with even their cheaper Axis models using factory ammo. You may want to check them out and talk to someone who has one. Well with in your budget. If you opt for one of these make sure you get one with the new trigger system.
For under 275 yards the 223 Rem cartridge will work very well. For longer distances the 22 250 is about as ideal as it gets at the cost of significantly reduced barrel life and ammo costs. The 223 Rem would be a good place to start in my opinion for your applications.
As some one else mentioned, the Weatherby Vanguard is a good option. I have one in 223 Rem. The trigger is good, the extraction design is excellent, the 24" barrel length and 7 1/2 lb weight gives the rifle good stability and the factory stock is good with a good fit. It also has a three position safety. I believe the action is a Howa which are excellent action. Mine is in the sub 1 moa accuracy range with tailored reloads - i.e. not a tack driver but good enough. The 9" twist handles the 55 grain bullets well. The price is in the range you mentioned. A nice rifle for the money.
I also have a Tikka T3X Lite in 223 Rem and 243 Win. These are excellent rifles - superbly accurate - great triggers - excellent extraction system - stocks are stiff and stable. My only issue with them is they are light weight - excellent stalking guns but I prefer a little heavier rifle for stationary varmint hunting; especially for long range. Still you can't go wrong with a Tikka - the price may be about $100 over your mentioned price limit. I had trouble getting good groups with 50 and 55 grain bullets in the 8" twist in the 223 Rem unless I reduced the velocity which is kind of counter productive for varmint applications. The 60 Vmax however is very accurate in my rifle. They do make a varmint model with a 24" heavy barrel - a bit more expensive but would be worth it for long range applications.
I have three Brownings, one A bolt and two X bolts in 223 Rem and 243 Win. Extremely accurate, 1/2 to sub 1/2 moa accuracy with tailored reloads but poor triggers - over priced in my opinion but mine shoot light out once I got the triggers worked on by gun smith. The A bolt is the heavy varmint version - one of my most accurate rifles - the X bolts are the Hunter models (sporter weight barrels) with the wooded stocks - both of these are also in the 1/2 moa accuracy range. However these are well over your price range and quite frankly not worth it - especially with the poor triggers.
I have several "old" Remington's 700's and 7's - pre 90's. These were great rifles at one time but I wouldn't buy the new ones - the triggers are junk and I've seen a lot of problems at the range with the extraction system. If you get a deal on one you could replace the trigger with a Timmey. The extraction problems may be a isolated, I don't know, just saw a number of them at the range. The fix is Sako extraction system replacement which isn't cheap; about $250. The barrels seem to still be good - seen some nice groups at the range in the heavy barrel varmint versions.
I have one Weatherby Super varmint master, Mark V in 223 Rem. If ever there was the perfect out of the box factory long range varmint rifle it's this one. Unfortunately they don't make it any more. I paid $1,500 for mine in 2009. Sub 1/4 moa accuracy with tailored reloads. Taken hundreds of ground hog with it.
I don't own a Savage but I seen some amazing groups shot at the range with even their cheaper Axis models using factory ammo. You may want to check them out and talk to someone who has one. Well with in your budget. If you opt for one of these make sure you get one with the new trigger system.
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