Best varmint rifle made.....

[bozo699]

BigedP51 would have done that I just call it how I see it, best of luck to you
Wayne.

 

[sbranden]

Wayne, it will get re-tested with either 4- or 5-shot groups - no worries. I think both 36.4 and 36.5 were good, I just liked 36.4 a little better because it lined up with the 36.0 of Varget with a 55 BK that I had also tested that same day. So 50's with Reloader 15 approaching 3800, and 55's with Varget at 3600 or so, same point of impact - easy for field testing both bullets without having to mess with my scope. (Longer term, after it gets hot out again, I hope to take the Reloader 15 / 50's up to something just over 3,900 fps. Alliant says RL15 can go to 38.1 with a 50. We'll see...

Whenever I'm just starting out with something - new bullet, new powder, I don't always do 5 shot groups. Don't need it to A) pressure test, and B) get some feel for what my POI's are doing. Before anything is declared 'the winner' though, it will get more testing. Although with supplies being limited as much as they are now, I may not take quite as much time as I have in the past. Get something that is 1/2" and go. My guns are all for hunting, not trying to ring out that last 1/4" on paper, although I do enjoy the process!


Stephen

 

[Webster]

I looked at the Savage website the only 6MM BR I see offered is the Model LRPV Left Port ($1395.00). That's getting too expensive for me to get a factory rifle of unknown accuracy. I took my 1972 Rem 700 Varmint model and had it upgraded. I still have a 40 YO Unertl 15X Ultra Varmint scope on it. I put a Jewell trigger on it last summer. It shot good without the Jewell trigger. I'll match this rifle against just about any factory rifle. I have several 3 shot groups around 0.189". .350 to .400" is typical. I cannot hold the rifle motionless on the sandbags. I have about 1/8" wobble. The factory stock has no tracking ability. I have to reset the rear sandbag after every shot and I still average around 0.350" groups.

$285.00 Kreiger 6MM BR barrel 14 twist 0.065" free bore.
$125.00 chamber & fitting barrel
$ 35.00 drill and tap the barrel for a scope
$250.00 glass bedding
-------------------------
Total $685.00

 

[Webster]

I should add I don't use wind flags. It's a GH gun.

 

[LHSmith]

The only time I test a rifles true accuracy w/o wind flags is when it's an elephant gun.

 

[BigDMT]

I am a BIG fan of the 222 rem - nobody has to sell me on that cal, I wish to goodness they would bring it back!

CZ, Tikka, and some other high-end manufacturers still chamber in 222. That Sako does look amazing!!

The 22-250 is another classic though, and reloads wonderfully -- just like the tripple deuce. The other month I decided - I'm going to try Sierra Blitzkings this year in my 250. Bought a box of 55's, (already had some 50BK on hand from loading them in the 222), did my research, came up with what I wanted to try 'Day 1' / round 1 with both bullets, built 'em, and finally just yesterday I got to shoot them. Here's the 50's target from my first outing:

Now I don't know about you, but with supplies stretched these days and money getting tight - I think I'm going to load up more 36.4 of Reloader 15 using CCI BR-2's and just go hunt! These things will have no problem taking a bite out of our new crop of ground-hogs out to 300 yards starting in just another couple of weeks. Can't wait!

I can't really read what your target says but I think I would proff test that load before I loaded a couple thousand rounds and head to a prairie dog town, the 36.4 would kill crows out to 300 yards but the other loads wouldn't and it appears your good group of 36.4 only has three holes why didn't you do a five shot group with it? just saying.
Wayne.

I totally agree Wayne. A gopher or prairie dog rifle needs to be tested with at least a 5 shot group, rapid fire.

Once I got down to the wire on good loads to choose from in my 20 VT I tested 10 shot rapid fire groups. Shot them as fast as I could load them and get back on target to keep the heat building on the barrel. The load my 20 VT uses now will put 10 shots in a group smaller than the size of a dime from a bipod.

When the gophers are running thick, you can easily shoot 20-50+ rounds in a row at one area before having to move down the road. So if you want to make a lot of good kills on tiny targets at extended ranges, your gun has to prove that it will stay on target with barrel heating.

That one 3 shot group with 36.4gr shows promise and is a good candidate for further testing with 5 to 10 shot groups, but the other groups won't cut the muster IMO :-\

Like Wayne was implying, you don't want to load hundreds or thousands of rounds based on a 3 shot group, then find out in the "heat of battle" on a dogtown that it throws fliers after 3 rounds.

 

[Tommie]

Mine is.

 

[bozo699]

Mine is.

This is the best answer yet by far and the only truthful one, +1 Tommie
Wayne.

 

[BigDMT]

Mine is.

lol! dang I thought mine was, guess I'll have to settle for second best ;D

 

[Tommie]

Happy to help and glad to get the issue settled once and for all.
Cheers!

 

[wapiti25]

A Cooper in 222 or 223 would be hard to beat besides they look nice.

 

[tuck2]

I dont know because I dont follow what the current bench rest varmint class shooters are using at the 100, 200, and 300 yard national matches . At one time, years ago the 222 Rem was a common winner. Then the PPC cases rounds started winning matches. But most rifles are made by custom gunsmiths with the finest barrel they can find. I was given my first rifle in 1949 and since then have looked for the perfict prairie dog rifle. I have Anschultz, Browning ,Cooper, Howa, Kimber, Parker Hale , Remington, Sako, Weatherby and Winchester brand big game and varmint rifles some of which are sporter and varmint weight . I dont have any custom rifle or rifles that shoot wildcat cartridges. The varmint cartridges I have tryed are 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 RF, 22 WMR, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, and 220 Swift. So whats best ,I dont know but when the prairie dogs pups first come and there are a lot of pups within 75 yards the Anschultz 1710, Ruger 10-22 T are handy. For shooting out to 125 yards the Cooper 57 M LVT 17 HM2 and Kimber 82 22 WMR are used. The 17 HMR Cooper is used for shots out to a max of 180 Yds but most shots are within 150 Yds. I use the center fire rifles for longer shots. I ll be trying a CZ 17 Hornady Hornet and that new Winchester 17 Mag RF when ever I can find one..

 

[mikeinct]

I'd say you are on the right track Remington savage winchester....In 22-250...I take it groundhogs/coyotes will be his targets up in michigan ? Prairie dogs you might need the lighter cartridges because of heat build up..I favor the 20 cals for that type of fast & furious shooting...Tell your boy to shop hard to find a well cared for USED varmint rifle...Keep the saved money to put into the best scope & trigger he can afford..My last off the shelf buy was a Winchester Stealth in 22-250 nice enough, but the Timney trigger I put in needed tweakin by a real gunsmith..That adds to cost & time...Kids won't wait...My reminton varmint was just an OK performer...It is now a 6MMBR ha ha...Forty somethin years ago My first 22-250 was a Ruger 77 Good barrel Crappy trigger..I struggled with it for years...If he can luck into a used Savage varmint in 22-250 or 243 Win. With or w/o the accutrigger..I'd buy that one ..Know this the trigger upgrade is 150 bucks you can do it yourself rifle basic brand...So watch the options you get & price you pay...He is going to want a nice bi-pod & bag as well..So plan this deal out & show him the cost to play..I have gotten some great deals here on cast off stocks & barrels for savage rifles..Welcome aboard...mike in Ct

 

[ShowMeShooter]

I've been happy with the .223 for a few years, I've had it in a Ruger, Tikka, and now a Savage.
It's hard to beat this round for ease of loading and availability (until recently anyway)

 

[Longfeather]

I'd say you are on the right track Remington savage winchester....In 22-250...I take it groundhogs/coyotes will be his targets up in michigan ? Prairie dogs you might need the lighter cartridges because of heat build up..I favor the 20 cals for that type of fast & furious shooting...Tell your boy to shop hard to find a well cared for USED varmint rifle...Keep the saved money to put into the best scope & trigger he can afford..My last off the shelf buy was a Winchester Stealth in 22-250 nice enough, but the Timney trigger I put in needed tweakin by a real gunsmith..That adds to cost & time...Kids won't wait...My reminton varmint was just an OK performer...It is now a 6MMBR ha ha...Forty somethin years ago My first 22-250 was a Ruger 77 Good barrel Crappy trigger..I struggled with it for years...If he can luck into a used Savage varmint in 22-250 or 243 Win. With or w/o the accutrigger..I'd buy that one ..Know this the trigger upgrade is 150 bucks you can do it yourself rifle basic brand...So watch the options you get & price you pay...He is going to want a nice bi-pod & bag as well..So plan this deal out & show him the cost to play..I have gotten some great deals here on cast off stocks & barrels for savage rifles..Welcome aboard...mike in Ct

Good Info Mike! Thank you for you're input......Longfeather

 

[Longfeather]

I dont know because I dont follow what the current bench rest varmint class shooters are using at the 100, 200, and 300 yard national matches . At one time, years ago the 222 Rem was a common winner.

Tuck,
The Remington .222 (triple deuce) has the unique characteristics of one holing rounds at 100 yards using points from 35 grainers to 60 grainers and everything in between. The cartridge doesn't care what powder you throw at it cause it likes them all. (I find it difficult to find the best load because they all give one hole groups). Loaded "Hot" or loaded "slow" makes no difference she'll put it in one hole at 100. Lets see....value? A pound of powder produces something north of 280 rounds. Accuracy? Did I tell you she shot the smallest five shot group ever registered in benchrest competition? Did I tell you the recoil from the .222 is so minute you get more recoil from a mosquito fart? Need speed? She'll push a 40 grainer to the point of burning barrels and give you 3000 fps pushing a 60 grainer. Yea she's a "one hole wonder" and a "wallet group groupie".......oh and did I tell you....she's my favorite cartridge?...........Longfeather

 

[bozo699]

I dont know because I dont follow what the current bench rest varmint class shooters are using at the 100, 200, and 300 yard national matches . At one time, years ago the 222 Rem was a common winner.

Tuck,
The Remington .222 (triple deuce) has the unique characteristics of one holing rounds at 100 yards using points from 35 grainers to 60 grainers and everything in between. The cartridge doesn't care what powder you throw at it cause it likes them all. (I find it difficult to find the best load because they all give one hole groups). Loaded "Hot" or loaded "slow" makes no difference she'll put it in one hole at 100. Lets see....value? A pound of powder produces something north of 280 rounds. Accuracy? Did I tell you she shot the smallest five shot group ever registered in benchrest competition? Did I tell you the recoil from the .222 is so minute you get more recoil from a mosquito fart? Need speed? She'll push a 40 grainer to the point of burning barrels and give you 3000 fps pushing a 60 grainer. Yea she's a "one hole wonder" and a "wallet group groupie".......oh and did I tell you....she's my favorite cartridge?...........Longfeather

OMG!!! Didn't I just read this on the most accurate cartridge in the whole wide world!!!! I think all other guns should be scrapped, only the .222 is worthy of owning or shooting, it's good for at least 1000 yards on anything from bugs to cape buffalo!
Wayne.

 

[BigDMT]

The Navy also fires 222 rounds over the heads of Marines when they are storming beaches during war. Quite effective at repelling the overwhelming quantity of trenched in bugs often found in humid climates :

 

[Tommie]

I dont know because I dont follow what the current bench rest varmint class shooters are using at the 100, 200, and 300 yard national matches . At one time, years ago the 222 Rem was a common winner.

Tuck,
The Remington .222 (triple deuce) has the unique characteristics of one holing rounds at 100 yards using points from 35 grainers to 60 grainers and everything in between. The cartridge doesn't care what powder you throw at it cause it likes them all. (I find it difficult to find the best load because they all give one hole groups). Loaded "Hot" or loaded "slow" makes no difference she'll put it in one hole at 100. Lets see....value? A pound of powder produces something north of 280 rounds. Accuracy? Did I tell you she shot the smallest five shot group ever registered in benchrest competition? Did I tell you the recoil from the .222 is so minute you get more recoil from a mosquito fart? Need speed? She'll push a 40 grainer to the point of burning barrels and give you 3000 fps pushing a 60 grainer. Yea she's a "one hole wonder" and a "wallet group groupie".......oh and did I tell you....she's my favorite cartridge?...........Longfeather

Any bullet, any powder, any velocity...one hole groups.

*sigh*

 

[bozo699]

I dont know because I dont follow what the current bench rest varmint class shooters are using at the 100, 200, and 300 yard national matches . At one time, years ago the 222 Rem was a common winner.

Tuck,
The Remington .222 (triple deuce) has the unique characteristics of one holing rounds at 100 yards using points from 35 grainers to 60 grainers and everything in between. The cartridge doesn't care what powder you throw at it cause it likes them all. (I find it difficult to find the best load because they all give one hole groups). Loaded "Hot" or loaded "slow" makes no difference she'll put it in one hole at 100. Lets see....value? A pound of powder produces something north of 280 rounds. Accuracy? Did I tell you she shot the smallest five shot group ever registered in benchrest competition? Did I tell you the recoil from the .222 is so minute you get more recoil from a mosquito fart? Need speed? She'll push a 40 grainer to the point of burning barrels and give you 3000 fps pushing a 60 grainer. Yea she's a "one hole wonder" and a "wallet group groupie".......oh and did I tell you....she's my favorite cartridge?...........Longfeather

Any bullet, any powder, any velocity...one hole groups.

*sigh*

Yep,...you don't even need a scope or sights on it, just pull the trigger, it will stack them all in one little .224 hole, every time all day long day in and day out, year in and year out, decade after decade, it cant miss even if you don't know how to shoot, it's so easy a cave man can do it! Bwahahahaha!!!!
Wayne.