Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Walk Around Varmint Rifle

Im looking for something lightweight in 223 for a walk around varmint rifle. Nothing fancy just something to roam around and shoot the occasional ground hog, crow, or coyote. Any suggestions?

I'd get a Tikka T3x Compact in .223. Stick a 3.5-10x40 Leupold on it. If you want to spend a few hundred more, throw it in a B&C stock to get rid of the short length of pull.

Howa mini action, CZ, Tikka, Ruger. Just about everyone makes a rifle that would fit your requirements. Your pocket book and personal taste will dictate your purchase. Hit the gunshops and see what feels the best to you.

I have a little fullstock Sako Vixen in 222, a Rem 600 in 6x45 and am building a little Rem 700 20"sporter weight carbine in 20 Practical with a lightweight stock.

If you aren't worried about shooting the eye out of a sparrow at 200yds, try finding a cheap old Savage with iron sights in .223. See a lot of them floating around gun and pawn shops.

I have an 840 in 222, it carried very well with iron sights, and I only paid $150 for it a couple years ago from a LGS. The 325/340/840 series get pretty clunky with a scope, though, because it is a side mount that sits way up high to clear the bolt handle.

Those old Savage/Stevens could shoot though.

I shot the first group and thought it might be a fluke so shot the second.


Moved back a ways.

I have a straight 10x Bushnell on my 840 now and it will do right around 1 MOA with 30gr Varmint Grenades. I can keep them around 2-2.5 with the sights from a bench. I think was an extremely late run throwtogether rifle. It has a 1:16 twist barrel; won't shoot anything over 45gr for beans. I'm still really happy with it for $150.

I had planned on just throwing a Williams peep and fine blade front sight on it, but Williams discontinued them, and the used ones I found were for ridiculous prices considering the value of the rifle.

Tikka Superlight in 8 twist is your Huckleberry....

E-Z choice, get a Tikka T3x 223. The Superlites with the fluted barrel are a few ounces lighter than the standard T3x Lite but not enough to matter. All of my Tikka rifles have been very accurate with a variety of loads, they have excellent triggers and super slick operating actions.

CZ527 American in .223.

They are fantastic rifles.

An early model 7 with the 18.5" barrel is quite handy

One of the Ruger Compacts would be very handy, if you can stand the stubby barrel.

I wouldn’t mind one of the Henry SSs in .223 either, though they're not especially light. They generally have nice wood, if that appeals to you. A bolt gun with similar wood costs much, much more.

I’ve had several but they all went away when I found a Kimber Montana. I have one in 204 Ruger, 223 and 22-250AI.

I like this one. Remington Model 7 223.

I don’t know of a handier one than a CZ 527 in 223 or 204.



And I will always hold CZ in high esteem for not only making lefties but for knowing now to make an action size-appropriate for for the 223 class of cartridges. There were a few others I know but too few.

How bout one in .221FB?

This ^^^^^^^

When I bought my first Kimber Montana as a walk around varmint rifle, the Ruger Ultralight in 204 and a Rem. Model 7 in17 Rem. went down the road. So now I have one in 17 Rem., 204, 223, and 243.

+1

That would be a sweet one. I use my LVSF 223 set in a ti takeoff for my walking varminter.

although it is only a 222Rem it is a nice walk-a-round rifle. Sako Vixen


While not real common it is handi. Bernardelli Combo 12ga/5.6x50R Mag