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Another Long range varmint discussion

Skookum

I have one of those Cabela's specials, a Savage model 10 chambered in .204 Ruger that I have since put in a chasis system that accepts AICs pattern magazines. The rifle is probably the most accurate factory rifle i have even seen or shot, and it saddens me to say that after roughly 2000 rounds and 3 years of varmint shooting I am noticing a steep decline in accuracy. It went from making tiny, .1"-.2" groups to breaking the 1" mark and I believe it is time for a new barrel.

While I enjoyed the 20 cal life, I am the proud owner of an AR that shows great promise in accuracy and will fill that void for inside 400 yards as long as the government doesn't force me to have an unfortunate boating accident.

I am looking in the realm of a faster .223 cal or possibly a 6mm chambering that isn't quite the barrel scorcher as the .22-250 but something still very capable out to 800+ yards. I like the idea of the 22 Nosler in a bolt gun to run heavier bullets but am wondering what everyone else is running for their long range, ground dwelling rodent rifles.
 
Personally I would ditch anything in the AR15 mag or .224 form factor for 800+yards. I would start at an 6mm ackley, but for me these types of ranges are an exception, so I’m perfectly fine with a sub 800 round barrel life. I don’t take hundreds of varmint shots a year at these extended ranges so it works for me.
 
Honestly if your looking at 800 yards for varmints and not predators then a fast twist 223 would be cool. 223ai maybe. Push the 80’s around 2800-3100 range depending on barrel and keep barrel life super long.

for better ballistics and specifically in the wind then a 22-250 or 22 creed would be the ticket. But barrels are an issue.

Stepping into the 6’s then 243, 6mm creed if you want a speed but for pure raw accuracy the 6br or br deviants (brx, bra, dasher, even gt maybe) would do real well!

personally, I wouldn’t give up on the 20 though. I love the 20 cals. I have owned 3 different 20’s and about to chamber a 4th and all of them have been absolutely fantastic. .1’s-.2’a on the great barrels and .3’s-.4’s on the worst barrel lol which was still great. Have taken them to 500 without issues. Popped a crow at just a hair over 460 with the 20 tac. Trying to get a longer kill with it this year
 
Skookum -

Howdy !

In classic varmint calibres, I like to use 450ft lb as the threshold for minimum energy delivered @ distance when shooting groundhogs. The chosen cartridge / gun combo should be able to deliver this level of energy for all shots taken @ whatever distance.

For me, after trying many factory and customs, the .22-250 was just not gettin' it; when shooting "Soybeanus Digestus" in Eastern Allen County, IN. I wildcatted to .35 Remington necked-down to .224" cal,; and was much happier. I initially had the rifle built w/ a 1.375" straight tube 24" SS Hart 1-14 to help balance the rifle. I shot Hornady 55SX, but the combo was a tad short of the energy goal for an example 500yd shot.
The 24' Hart worked great for me, however....26" would have been a better choice for barrel length, especially if coupled w/ a tapered barrel profile.

When I finally had to re-barrel, I went w/ .22-35 chambering again.... this time w/ a 28" SS K & P 1-8.
I chose w/ 28", because I thought that was the longest barrel length that would allow the rifle to fit in an "Airglide ". I shot Hornady 75"A"-Max exclusively, over 40.5gr AA3100 and FED LR Match which gave 3,420fps for my accuracy/field load. Turns out the combo was just a tad short of my energy goal for an example 1,000yd shot. I also discovered I could have gone w/ a 29"; and still fit the case. We learn.
But, that 28" did work well for me; for all shots I took on groundhogs.

When I began to have trouble seeing .224' cal holes on paper @ 300yd w/ a 2X boosted T-36; I switched over to 6mm. I designed my own " DEEP 6 " wildcat, that has 51.2gr H2O case capacity. It was easy to reach 450 fl lb, even for an imagined 1,000yd shot; when shooting things like Berger and Sierra 95VLDs.
My DEEP 6 load work these days, involves range testing 95T-Mk over charges of RL-23, RL-25; and RL-26.


With regards,
357Mag
 
I put a bolt gun 22Nosler together. 6.8 AIC mag and your ready.
Go with a long barrel I think it will pay you back.
I have not shot mine enough to comment, but I am pleased thus far.
Another caliber, I would look at a 6 Dasher if your going to swap bolt heads on that Savage action.
 
I have a Savage 12 with Accustock etc etc.. Drove tacks til it din't. At 20 yards bullets started disintegrating bullets. Wouldn't even make it to the target. Those that did were sideways.
. Rebarrele with a take off from someplace I found on the internet and back to bug holes.
 
Last edited:
Skookum said:
I have one of those Cabela's specials, a Savage model 10 chambered in .204 Ruger that I have since put in a chasis system that accepts AICs pattern magazines. The rifle is probably the most accurate factory rifle i have even seen or shot, and it saddens me to say that after roughly 2000 rounds and 3 years of varmint shooting I am noticing a steep decline in accuracy. It went from making tiny, .1"-.2" groups to breaking the 1" mark and I believe it is time for a new barrel.

While I enjoyed the 20 cal life, I am the proud owner of an AR that shows great promise in accuracy and will fill that void for inside 400 yards as long as the government doesn't force me to have an unfortunate boating accident.

I am looking in the realm of a faster .223 cal or possibly a 6mm chambering that isn't quite the barrel scorcher as the .22-250 but something still very capable out to 800+ yards. I like the idea of the 22 Nosler in a bolt gun to run heavier bullets but am wondering what everyone else is running for their long range, ground dwelling rodent rifles.
Click to expand...

22 BR Norma/ Lapua
 
TheOtherZilla said:
I have a Savage 12 with Accustock etc etc.. Drove tacks til it din't. At 20 yards bullets started disintegrating bullets. Wouldn't even make it to the target. Those that did were sideways.
. Rebarrele with a take off from someplace I found on the internet and back to bug holes.
Click to expand...
Question, does Savage still make the Model 12 LRPV rifle?
 
Last time I went to South Dakota for pasture poodles took a fast twist .223 bolt gun (actually my F-Class rifle) with 80's and 90's, a 6 Dasher, and 22-250. Didn't really shoot the 22-250 much as I was after the beyond 600 dogs. .223 did very well out to around 900, I wanted a PD past 1000 so went to the 6 Dasher. It's hard to jump around on dogs past a 1000 yd. slight changes in wind maybe a little inaccuracy in laser rangefinder. Decided I'd zero in on a mound that was being used frequently that was 1035 yds. Got 2 in a row off that mound, at that distance they just fall over, no flying pieces or explosive hits.
 
Skookum said:
I have one of those Cabela's specials, a Savage model 10 chambered in .204 Ruger that I have since put in a chasis system that accepts AICs pattern magazines. The rifle is probably the most accurate factory rifle i have even seen or shot, and it saddens me to say that after roughly 2000 rounds and 3 years of varmint shooting I am noticing a steep decline in accuracy. It went from making tiny, .1"-.2" groups to breaking the 1" mark and I believe it is time for a new barrel.

While I enjoyed the 20 cal life, I am the proud owner of an AR that shows great promise in accuracy and will fill that void for inside 400 yards as long as the government doesn't force me to have an unfortunate boating accident.

I am looking in the realm of a faster .223 cal or possibly a 6mm chambering that isn't quite the barrel scorcher as the .22-250 but something still very capable out to 800+ yards. I like the idea of the 22 Nosler in a bolt gun to run heavier bullets but am wondering what everyone else is running for their long range, ground dwelling rodent rifles.
Click to expand...
Would Check throat w/ Borecam,for Carbon/copper ring, 2000 rounds is Not High for 204 ruger,Got 4,000 out of a M-12 & a M10,have Replacemnt barrels w/ almost 3,000 on each,still going
 
Find the articles by and about Richard Franklin and 6mm AI. Very good information. Also look at the information about the 6mm Long Range, a modified 243 case. Lots of good 6mm bullets for long range.
 
varget204 said:
Would Check throat w/ Borecam,for Carbon/copper ring, 2000 rounds is Not High for 204 ruger,Got 4,000 out of a M-12 & a M10,have Replacemnt barrels w/ almost 3,000 on each,still going
Click to expand...
I agree. And sometimes throat erosion messes with your load to the point you need to tweak your load by adding a bit of powder, longer bullet, etc. I have a .20 Practical (same expected approx. barrel wear) with over three times that many rounds. My first tube doesn't shoot 1/4" MOA anymore, but still does just over 1/3" +/-. Sometimes, just changing to a new lot of powder can change your velocity 30-40 FPS or more, easy. I am also building a .22 Nosler (Bat VR action) bolt gun since I like it so much in my A/R. I will be using it more for the 400 to 800ish yard shots. For your intended 800+, I'd go up to 6 MM, like 6BR. The .243 with faster twist and heavy barrel would be good, but you will have to allow for far less shooting and more time waiting for barrel to cool - and far less barrel life. I don't know what you are shooting in your .204 Ruger, but I'd try the 40-V-Max or 39 Blitz King if not already shooting them. Try them with Accurate LT-32 if you have any. Could breath some "new" life in your rig. It is very possible that your old load just had a very narrow accuracy node.
 
6br or 6 dasher, but there is always a compromise between the best bullet for distance vs the best bullet for " red mist" the 88 bergers is very accurate at distance but does not pop them like a strawberry Jell-O balloon. 75-87 V-Max not as accurate as the 88 berger but give you a more orgasmic experience.
 
Jtate said:
6br or 6 dasher, but there is always a compromise between the best bullet for distance vs the best bullet for " red mist" the 88 bergers is very accurate at distance but does not pop them like a strawberry Jell-O balloon. 75-87 V-Max not as accurate as the 88 berger but give you a more orgasmic experience.
Click to expand...
Very true. But I don’t know of any bullet that’s going to expand (let alone explode) at 800+ yards.
 
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