Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Off the shelf rifle

Looking for suggestions for an of the shelf rifle. I will be shooting paper and gopher as well as the odd coyote. Thinking something in a 22-250.

Get a .223 for gophers, eh? Otherwise you'll smoke the barrel. And if you can, the Savages with the accustock and accutrigger seem to be excellent out of the box. Both those I've done (I have Savages of prior vintage and they worked out fantastic) merely needed to be broke in and then started drilling holes.
In fact, the 223 has never even been out of the stock -- and it shoots half-inch on a bad day.

CZ Varmint Kevlar in 223 (or 204).

Close thread.

I would go with Field, a CZ.. Savages maybe fine, but I cannot stand their looks.. But that doesn't make them bad, just ugly..
I would also go with a wood stock, but this again is personal preference.. For what you describe, the .223 would be perfect.. I have had a long time love affair with the big cased .22's, but for punching paper, gophers, and an occasional coyote, the .223 is the way to go..

Ya know WCH,,,,, 99% of the time I'd agree with you about wood stocks (that's all I own) but for some reason I like the CZ Varmint with the Kevlar stock better. I actually bought a wood stocked Varminter but I prefer my buddy's Kevlar.
For a sporter I'll take the wood stocked American every time hands down but the OP indicated that the main duty would be paper and Gofers so the heavier barrel's not a bad idea IMO.
Either way the CZ with it's set trigger and reputation for accuracy's hard to beat for the price. Next choice would be a Sako or Kimber but they're near twice the price.

Savage
CZ
Tikka
Ruger
Sako
Montanna
Really depends on the $$ you want to spend.

I'd also vote for the .223 rem. Ruger Hawkeye to be exact...

Savage in .204 Ruger or CZ 527 if you can swing it...

It DOES depend on what you want to spend. I like the Coopers and have a Varmint Extreme in 223 and 25WSSM and just ordered one in 220 Swift. I have a Rem 700 22-250 that will litterly punch one ragged hole at 100 yards, the only modification was a trigger job.

Tikka T3 SL

Another good choice. ^^^^^
Just wish they had a little better trigger but that's easily remedied and anything's better than that stupid Accu Trigger (IMO).

I would purchase a new Howa in .223. The new Howa's are twisted 1-9".



Travis

I have a Remington 700 in .22-250 beautiful wood stock, accurate as all get out. just my .02 cents

Any Remington 700 varmint.

223....all depends on what you want to spend.

I would look at the Rem 700 series. The action has been around for decades and the triggers are easy to adjust.

The actual model and caliber depends.....................on how you want to use the rifle and how far will most of your shots be?

You could go from a "walk around" hunting rifle with a 22-24" normal weight barrel to a varmint/target rifle with a 26" bull barrel. Weight vs. expected use is the formula.

If you are going to be hunting a lot at extended yardages and may want to use the rifle for some types of big game hunting a 22-250 fits the agenda just fine. If it's most a plinker and some hunting involved but not at extreme distances a .223 is great.

I've got varmint rigs set up in .223, 22-250, and .243 depending on the application is the one I select. I love the 22-250, use the .243 for super long hunting shots, and find myself grabbing a .223 a lot more than I planned. I also have used my AR-15 for some hunting applications with reloads and it has been swell

Ammo/reloading will always be more plentiful and cheaper with the .223.

Pick the way you will use the rifle the most and the caliber that best fits your needs. Have fun in the process.

At one time I thought I would try coyote hunting and bought a Weatherby ultra light in 22-250. That as an extremely accurate and light rifle. I called it Mikey from the kid I the old cereal commercials because any load I used was accurate. Sadly I traded it off towards a re 64 M70 std 243.

Come on ------------------- this is a little blunt isn't it!

By the way, I tend to agree. Though I do allow for a little leeway on stock to meet preference of purchaser.

This has been one of the most "fun" rifles i've owned. BDL 17rem

rosco just tossed up one of the greatest factory rifles ever produced.

A true gem.



Travis