Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints I need something in a .22

I've decided that I need to get rifle in a .22 caliber. Trouble is, I don't have any experience with anything chambered in this caliber. In all likelihood, it would not be used for anything large. Most likely targets would be coyotes. I'm looking to buy something that is usable in a factory configuration, until I can upgrade the stock and trigger. I've looked at the 700's in the V SF, but the 22-250 and 220 swifts are 14" twists and I think that would eliminate using anything bullets over 55 grains. That may not be an issue, but like I said, I've no experience with .22's. I'm trying to keep the purchase price under $750 for the rifle. Thanks,
JL

Typical range you'll be shooting?

223 Montucky...............

Ranges would likely be 400 and less.

I'm not up to speed on what a Montucky entails.

Montana rifle Co, IIRC

I agree on the 223. Probably a 9 or 10 twist would give you your best balance of varmint rounds.

Might even want an AI, if you reload.


I'm pushing a 12 twist 222 and 400 is close to my outer limit.

Hard to beat 223 for all around 22cf use. Good on 'yots and all else out to at least 300, and much farther for smallish rodentia. LOTS of good ammo inexpensive to buy and easy to find. Does not heat up the barrel as quickly as a 22-250 or Swift would, and most are severly accurate. Add in low recoil and noise and you have a winner. Quite a few out there now with faster twist barrel, but for MOST uses, nothing wrong with the 50-55gr bullets we have been tossing for several decades now.

I've shot 'em all and nothing hangs with the 75's blend of BC/Precision/terminal affects.

Nuttin'......................

I have a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in 223rem. Has a 26" heavy 1 an 12 twist. I use 25.5grs. of Hodgdon Benchmark powder with a Nosler 50gr. bt. and CCI 400 primer. Very accurate. Gun is stock except trigger adjusted down to 2Ibs trigger pull.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-varmint.aspx

The V SF also has a .223 listed in the 12" twist. The Montana rifles are quite a bit higher than I was looking to spend. Are there any other rifles with factory gear in a 10" twist or am I just wishing. I'm on my second build of the year and really don't need another project at the moment. Thanks again.
JL

IIRC - the Savage and some Tikka's in 223 have an 8 twist. To me the looks and feel of the Savage are hard to get past but they do shoot - so it is a case of "pretty is as pretty does".

But with that being said - I have had 3 Tikka sporters in 223, one with the 12 twist and 2 with the 8 twist, they all shot excellently (always flirting around 1/2 inch) but the 12 twist consistently shot a little tighter. I will qualify the statement some by saying that the 12 twist was in a wood stock, the two 8 twists were in the factory synthetic stock and I never ran anything heavier than 50 gr bullets in any of them. I certainly would expect them to shoot as well, if not better, with a little heavier bullet.

The Tikka's are hard to beat for the dollar value, they have a good, easily adjusted trigger and everyone I have owned has shot well right out of the box with no problems whatever. Around here new ones can be had for around $550 sometimes a little less - you may want to take a look at one of them.

drover

I know remingtons has some 9"twist too in 223rem.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-tactical.aspx
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-vtr.aspx
http://www.remington.com/products/f...0/model-700-xcr-tactical-long-range.aspx

http://www.remington.com/products/f...ical/model-700-xcr-compact-tactical.aspx

Look also at Remington Model 7 Predator in .223...1 in 9 twist...

Thanks for the help. I will take a look at those tonight. The internet filter at work doesn't like gun manufacturers.

Heres mine...punched out to AI..

Jlboykin: The Remington Arms Corporation is having a $100.00 cash back (rebate) promotion right now.
So a Remington heavy barrel in 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington or 220 Swift might just be the ticket.
The last several Remingtons I have purchased have been very accurate and had a pleasing (average+) quality of fit and finish to them.
I am currently shooting and Hunting with 13 Varminters (total)in calibers 22-250 Remington and 220 Swift - most of which are Remington Rifles by the way.
I have NEVER fired, nor found the need to fire any projectiles heavier than 55 grains in any of them.
The latest 22-250 Remington I purchased is a plain Jane Remington Model 700 SPS-V. I put a big Leupold variable on it and headed to the Rifle range.
It quickly settled on 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and H 380 powder as a dandy loading.
I had done a trigger job and nothing else to this Rifle.
If I recall correctly that Rifle was purchased in mid July of 2,010 and is now just waiting its turn to go Coyote Hunting.
Again its a plain Jane Rifle but the trigger is great and the stock fits me quite well indeed (I am a rather large person though).
Best of luck with whichever you decide to try - but do not sell the wide variety of 55 grain 22 caliber projectiles short - they get done everything I need done in the Varminting world.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Remington is indeed offering rebates, I bought a 700 just before Thanksgiving. The rebates are good till 12/31.

I'm a fan of the 50 to 55 gr bullets in varmint rifles. The 75 gr bullets do have a high bc but I want a bullet that disintegrates if I miss. The areas I hunt are somewhat populated and I can't tolerate a ricochet. If any of you can more power to you.

I must agree that the .223 is the cheapest route to go, lots of brass around and even factory ammo is half the price of say a 22-250 cal ammo. We have three of those .223's, one is a Ruger Mini-14, so I wanted something different.

If you want that extra bit of power and velocity, then take a hard look at the Savage model 12 with Accu-Trigger and Accu-Stock. Mine cost me $570.oo dollars, with heavy barrel in black. I'll let you know who it shoots once I get the scope on it and break it in at the range.

Thanks everyone for all the great info. I didn't know about the $100 rebate, that certainly helps out. I will probably pull the trigger next week, so I will check back in and let you know what I get.

Dummy,

Increased twist rate also aids frangibility.

You poor clueless gals dazzle me,with your blatant stupidity..............

You must not have very many friends with your poor additude and name calling.