Varmit target

[bulldurham]

My son is wanting a varmit hunting rig he's found a ruger in a 22-250 not sure if it's a American or 77 . I am a Remington guy .don't know much on ruger what should I look for on either and what prices are good for used rifle thanks

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I wouldn't buy a used 22-250 unless I knew the owner and owned a borescope.

 

[22vartarg]

Agree…. The barrel and the condition there of is very critical. Overall, Ruger makes a good varmint rifle.

 

[SSL]

My son is wanting a varmit hunting rig he's found a ruger in a 22-250 not sure if it's a American or 77 . I am a Remington guy .don't know much on ruger what should I look for on either and what prices are good for used rifle thanks

Both of the above are absolutely correct. If you don't have one, borrow a borescope and examine it closely. Do not depend on the seller to assure you the bore is "perfect". I turned down a used .223 at a gunshop with a fried bore. If you don't know what to look for, take someone along that does. .22-250s are great rifles, but can be miserably hard on bores. Used ones are a real crap-shoot.

 

[bulldurham]

Gotcha suppose to look at it tomorrow suppose to be a built rifle don't know all the details didn't want him to buy a lemon i know you guys here would help . Thanks

 

[TAJ45]

This may be only marginally helpful:
If you can, take a split case to check on freebore. If it is a 12-14 twist and it seats lonnngg, then a good indicator of either wear or a reamer w too much freebore used for the slower twist rates.
However, as has been stated, bore scope is best.

 

[bulldurham]

I am trying to find him a older rem 700 but haven't found one yet . His buddy told him about the ruger just playing the field to see what is good to go thanks for all the help I know you guys here are best thanks

 

[boltfluter]

Personally I would keep looking until you find a nice Remington. Much better platform to start with, especially if it ends up needing work. Just my 2 cents.

Paul

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Also keep in mind many smiths will gladly work on a M700, but are not really happy about working on a Ruger. One very well known smith here flatly says on his website that he will NOT work on Ruger rifles.

The Remington will most likely be more accurate anyway from past experience. When Precision Shooting Magazine was still published, they featured a 'winners list' with equipment listed from the BR and Varmint matches. Never saw a Ruger in any of the winner's lists.

 

[justinp61]

Don't overlook Savages, I have two, one is a factory rifle, 26" heavy barrel, 1-12" twist. I've killed groundhogs out to 470 yards with a Sierra 55gr gameking. The second I built on a LH mdl11 action and used a 24" 1-12" twist Shilen Select SS barrel. It's my pack around rifle, about 9.5# ready to hunt. It shoots great too with the Sierra 55 gr's.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

On a used 22-250, the price would have to be low enough to cover a new barrel install, to even be considered.

Frank

 

[snert]

If he is just looking for a huntin gun, and the barrel looks ok, and the price is low, it might be ok. Everyone is different. (I once had a very purty little Rooger 77/22 hornet. Damn thing shot groups that hit a pie plate. NO MATTER WHAT I DID. I sold it. Years later guy who bought it called me on a different matter and then said, "remember that 22 Hornet you sold me"/ (uhoh I think) He then says "That's the best most accurate gun I ever had, shoots great, I love it". I guess all his other guns are skeet guns.

All that to say I also once shot a 22 mag varmint 77. It was a gem and I am pissed to this day I never prevailed on the guy to sell it to me.

But I have also never had a 700, 788, that did not shoot well enough to be interesting ( as Col, T Whelan so aptly described an accurate rifle)

 

[searcher]

I love the Remington 700 platform - but I also have a Ruger Varmint (older tang safety from the 80's) in .243. I have shot incredibly small groups with it using converted, but really dialed in .308 brass. I'd not hesitate to get the Ruger as most will shoot really good if one is willing to do a lot of load workup. The only downside issues I can think of is that they won't hang a Jewell trigger last I checked - so I used a Timney. Perhaps the newer ones are adjustable? That - and I once was going to have it re-barreled and the gunsmith I use refused to work on it as the cast receiver broke when he was doing one for another customer. Maybe the newer ones are not cast? Those are two things to consider for what they are worth. If the rifle has a synthetic stock and is stainless - can be very difficult to tell level of usage from viewing the exterior of the rifle. I have a stainless .45 ACP that has 25,000+ rounds on it and it looks new. In the absence of my bore scope, I'd pay particular attention to wear on the bluing on the bolt knob (if blued), the face of the bolt (for telltale primer leak pits indicating poor or hot handloading practices), scratches on the crown of the barrel (poor cleaning practices), and apparent wear on bolt surfaces. Some of those rifles only see a few hundred rounds before they are sold and treated well.

 

[fa38]

With the Savage if the current barrel is trash its easy to put on a new barrel yourself.

 

[wbm]

With the Savage if the current barrel is trash its easy to put on a new barrel yourself.

Sure is. Got a new take-off barrel from a Savage FV in 22-250 . Cut it from 26" to 22". With H380 and 55gr Noslers it shoots in the 3's consistently.
For varmints fast, accurate, deadly is what it is all about...so 22-250 is a great choice.

FWIW...just could not bring myself to put the "all day long if i do my part" part.

 

[Pyscodog]

My suggestion would be a Savage. Barrels are everywhere and you can do the work yourself. I recently bought a Stevens 200 in 22-250. Came with a scope (cheap) and a sling for $275. First trip to the range with some ammo I through together and it shot well under an inch, but it wouldn't eject the case. It extracted fine just wouldn't eject. I ordered a few parts and changed out ejector and extractor and springs and now it works fine. Cost me about $25. I guess my point is Savages are so easy to work on you don't need the cost of a smith to do the work and parts are easy to get and usually pretty cheap. And most of them shoot pretty good to.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

New shooters around me are doing pretty darn good with Tika and Howa rifles. I have been die-hard Savage for years and recently built a couple of Rem 700's and like them real well. Now Ruger,... I would not piss on them if they caught fire in front of me. Done me wrong years ago and I won't never let it go!

 

[trader steve]

Pass on the rugers Remington 700

 

[284winner]

Personally I would keep looking until you find a nice Remington. Much better platform to start with, especially if it ends up needing work. Just my 2 cents.

Paul

Sound advice for sure. They are hard to find right now with a few showing up on forums. Just need the right one.

 

[ChesterS]

I had a Ruger Target/Varmint in 22-250. It shot really well with H380 and 55g ballistic tips. I got rid of it before much barrel damage was done, maybe 400 rounds. Funny thing it didn't shoot nearly as well clean. It took about 10 rounds to settle in.