New Guy Needs Advice: First Varmint Rifle

[AnDrewK]

First entry for me so if this question too basic let me know....
I want to get into prairie dog management but my current rifles are a bit too heavy for repeated shooting. My smith suggested a Rem VS SF II in 22-250 followed by accurizing/trigger job and muzzelbrake as an economical way to get in the door with a fine shooter. Unfortunately, Remington has discontinued that model. Any suggestions? I would consider other calibers/makers. Budget is $2K before glass. I practice my shooting weekly out to 200M (limit of our range) so I am an OK shot at that distance.

 

[Charles]

cooper 221 Fireball,will not need anything but scope and rings.shoots 1/2 inch at 200 yds.factory loads or reloads.

 

[Charles]

i shot PD's in SD this year out to 350yds very destructive load.

 

[5spd]

I like this part, buy a Remmy and have it worked on to shoot.
Buy a Savage M10 or M12 and go shoot those p-dogs with NO work to make it shoot.

 

[bheadboy]

i find i have a number of friends who have Rem 700 "varmt style" heavy bbl, 223,22-250 and all shoot in the .300's with the following done,

be sure the bbl is free not touching,,
at most epoxy bed the action, recoil lug,
adjust trigger to 2.5 lbs
work up loads carefully using good glass, dont look for the highest velocity, look for the sweet spot
used 6.5x20 lup on web are fine for pd out to 500+


get the rifle, do the things above and shoot, if you get it under .5 fair under .4 forget it unless just want to as these calibers are best suited below 5-600 and a .300 shooter is all you need

Bob

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I'm another guy who will vote for a Savage Model 10 or 12. Most of the 12's will be heavier...so perhaps the 10. And you will save a BUNCH of money. It will come with the accutrigger, so no need to spend money there. And Savage has a reputation of shooting really well out of the box.

Or maybe even their model 25 'walking varminter'...but the biggest they make it is 223.

 

[itchyTF]

I want to get into prairie dog management but my current rifles are a bit too heavy for repeated shooting.

Heavy as in weight or too much for the shoulder? If you're shooting off a bench, heavy (weight) is not a bad thing.

 

[bowfisher]

A 22-250 will get too hot in no time. Start with a 223 or even better a 20 Practical. Itchy is right, a heavy gun is preferred off the bench. If you can't see the impact, why even pull the trigger??

 

[Webster]

You shouldn't need a muzzle brake. These are all light recoil calibers. Consider some ear plugs for hearing protection while hunting. A .222 might be the most accurate caliber out of the box.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Get a middle weight rifle that has a good trigger..Savage was the most durable rifle I used..Still did not like trigger...Removed some trigger parts to get it down to 1#...Dont worry too much about the rifle...If you dog it very much (2000rounds yr)you will need replacement parts soon...Maybe new gun..Start with 223...Cheap brass, bullets, will shoot any reasonable powder..Best 50 grain bullet SBK..Best cost wise Hornady old style soft point..Both good for high % hits 300+yds..I went 4 years in a row..Killed 7,861...The premier dog round is the 204 Ruger...Need clear glass..Varable no more than 6.5x20..Need some hash mark reticle for windage and elevation estimation..Pretty good 10X Binos light weight, big front lense..Get bipod with swivel..Good for leveling rifle on side hill shots..Sight in at 200 yds..Easier to hold under at 50 yds than hold over at 200..Good luck..LT

 

[remy3424]

A 223 and a 50 gr. Vmax does as much damage as my 243 with 58 gr. Vmax bullet. If I was pressed to pick one caliber it would be a tough pick between the 223 and 204. The smaller 20 and 22 calibers use so much less powder, I am weaning myself from the 6mm and 25 calibers for 300 yards and in which has been 90 percent of my shooting. Ya...I don't like missing, clean out the close ones first. Like most say, the Savage model 12 is a good tool for the job, or a bull barreled 700 or Sako n 223 or 204...If you really want to spend the money, the Cooper will not disappoint from what their owners say....Someday I will find a deal on one. Also get a minimum of 18 power variable glass.

 

[AnDrewK]

Many thanks to everyone for the great advice. I've never owned a Savage, but I like the idea of a shooter out of the box. Might save some dollars too.

By "heavy" I was thinking of caliber (270,308,7mm,340wby). I shoot the first three frequently, the 340 only when prepping for a hunt.
My gunsmith said the .223 is a 2-300 yd gun, 22-250 is 3-400 yd gun and the .204 for much further. I pretty much turn him loose to do whatever to accurize my rifles (glass bedding, recut crown etc). He likes rem triggers...easy to improve. He suggested the brake to both make it easier to spot bullet impact and to make it friendly for my daughters to shoot at the range. Sounds like the Savage 223 could do this out of the box.

Again I appreciate your generous advice. Thanks

 

[itchyTF]

A brake may be friendly for the shooter but not for his/her neighbors on the next bench!

 

[alf]

First entry for me so if this question too basic let me know....
I want to get into prairie dog management but my current rifles are a bit too heavy for repeated shooting. My smith suggested a Rem VS SF II in 22-250 followed by accurizing/trigger job and muzzelbrake as an economical way to get in the door with a fine shooter. Unfortunately, Remington has discontinued that model. Any suggestions? I would consider other calibers/makers. Budget is $2K before glass. I practice my shooting weekly out to 200M (limit of our range) so I am an OK shot at that distance.

For 2 grand you could build a custom......

Or, do what I do.

Go to Cabela's and buy a SPS stainless 700 Varmint in 223, sell/toss the stock and bed it in a McMillan. Next, either shoot that barrel out, and/or replace it with a Kreiger, Rock, etc. Skip the brake. Jewell trigger if you're feeling flush. No offense to the Sav guys, but 2K budget and Savage don't belong in the same sentence. ;D Hell, you can buy a custom action, and almost stay under 2G's, depending on your pick.

I call BS on a 223 being a 2-300 yard cartridge. I regularly shoot to 500+ with mine. Most of mine are 12 twists shooting 40 BT's at 3850, but one is set up to play at distance, an 8 twist shooting 75 A-Max, and I've killed out to 850 with it.

You cannot beat a 223 for an all around PD pounder. Cheap to load for, components galore, great barrel life, and easy on the shoulder for 500 round days.

 

[drover]

I call BS on a 223 being a 2-300 yard cartridge. I regularly shoot to 500+ with mine.
You cannot beat a 223 for an all around PD pounder. Cheap to load for, components galore, great barrel life, and easy on the shoulder for 500 round days.

I am in agreement with this post, either buy a Remington Varminter in 223 or a Cooper Varminter in 223. The Remington will need the trigger tweaked or replaced, the Cooper trigger should be fine out of the box. One consideration that may have an effect on your decision is that Coopers come with a 1/2" guarantee, all you have to do is put on a scope and go shoot. If you decide to go with a Cooper I recommend First Stop Guns, Rapid City SD - they are a large Cooper dealer and usually have a good inventory of new and used items and are great to deal with, also take a look at gunsamerica.com for them.

drover

 

[Terry]

If I could only have one, it would be a Savage in .204.

 

[bheadboy]

i am concerned your smith's limits on the calibers you stated.

if he is really giving you those numbers he must never have been pd shooting or have some other problem .
the 223 will easily go 400+ the 22-250 will exceed 500 with the proper bullets/load.

they do not need a muzzle break and for starters you do not need to spend a lot on "fixin" a Savage or Rem 700

Bob

 

[5spd]

My gunsmith said the .223 is a 2-300 yd gun, 22-250 is 3-400 yd gun and the .204 for much further. I pretty much turn him loose to do whatever to accurize my rifles (glass bedding, recut crown etc). He likes rem triggers...easy to improve.

BS on the ranges he told you. Ive run all my .223s to 800 yards to many times to count on p-dogs.
22-250 will pop at 600 yards all day long if needed.
Brakes not needed at all on any .22 caliber gun, all they do is make it overly to loud.
.223 will run more shot strings before getting to hot VS the 22-250, which gets hotter faster.

 

[AnDrewK]

Thanks for the information. I have nothing but respect for the gunsmith I use so its possible I misunderstood. He was actually talking me out of one of his custom rifles when he suggested the rem. I can tell from these posts I have alot to consider and learn. What I really want to do is take some longer shots and get more focused on accuracy. Plus eradicating a few PDs looks like a helluva good way to accomplish both.
I have Ruger Model 77/MkII in 243 but it has never been been very accurate. Gunsmith says actions are good but Ruger barrels not so much. Would a new barrel (Lilja), bedded McMillan stock and scope (recommendations?) get me started?

 

[drover]

That would get you started but you will be into for quite a few dollars.

Considering that buying the Lilja and having it chambered and fitted will be somewhere around $650, the McMillan will be around $450 and figure another $100 or so for the bedding job you are into it well over $1000 plus your action.

Buy a Rem Varminter or Sporter, whichever you prefer, in 223. They are usually available for around $600 unless you catch them on sale for less. Sell your Ruger that doesn't shoot well for $400 or so and you are into a new Rem pretty inexpensively. Not only that it will give you an opportunity to decide if the 223 will work for you, if you decide not you can recapture most of your money back out of the Rem and have the custom rile built, and you will have a lot better idea of what you want in a rifle at that time. IMO you gunsmith was giving you good advice on buying the Rem.

drover