Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles One Choice?

If you had only 1 choice for a Varmint Gun, caliber and model, what would it be?

Mine: .222 Rem in a good ole 700 Classic.

Prettiest gun around, time tested accurate caliber.

That would be my second choice for western varmits..my old 700 in 22-250 would be my first choice..now on its third barrel..my old 700 .222 is on its second barrel..for my country, the 222 just doesnt have enough range..but it is a winner..

Yep,22-250 full tilt when needed or loaded down to 222 or 223 for most shooting

My current gun is a 223. If I could do it again I would be satisfied with a 204 Ruger most likely a CZ Varmint.

17Hunter: I have a matched pair of Remington 700 Classics in caliber 222 Remington and I am so happy with them I would buy another if one came along!
Both of mine shoot better than they should.
BUT... if I were to have just one "Varmint Gun" (HEAVEN FORBID!) for "all around Varminting" it would undoubtedly be in the unsurpassed (for all around Varminting!) 204 Ruger caliber!
And as for make and model I would go with the splendid Remington XR-100 (single shot, heavy 26" barrel, thumbhole stock, with short stiff action).
I would also choose a new Leupold 4.5x14x40mm scope or a used Weaver V-16 (4 to 16 power variable) and Berger 35 grain MEF (Varmint) bullets for my "one choice" Varmint Gun.
This rig will handle (and handle them VERY well!) any Varminting situation from predator Hunting to night calling to Colony Varminting and to being a walking Varminter.
In fact I do have a pair of these Remington XR-100's in 204 Ruger and they both shoot quite well indeed.
One does have a Weaver V-16 on it and the other has a Leupold 8.5x25x40mm.
As much as I admire the 222 Remington (and I own a bunch of them!) the 204 Ruger so far outperforms the "Deuce" that I must go with the "new kid" on the block - the 204 Ruger caliber.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The 204 is a barn burner for sure. Still trying to get one. Would like to get the M7 in CDL or the 700 VLS.

Just got some dies for my 22-250, any recommendations on loads. Was thinking IMR 3031 and 55 grn VMax, mainly because I have a little extra of each.

I would probably go with a Savage in 22-250 or 204 for varmint use. That way I could change the barrel myself instead of paying a smith to do it.
Varminters tend to get used a lot, both in the field and at the range. Not having to go to the smith for up to several months for a barrel change is a plus.
That said I've only got one Savage out of the four .224 centerfires I own.

My go to varminter is a .223 LVSF set in a Ti take-off. Just a good all purpose varminter. But the thought of only varmint rifle is frightful. What to do with the Swifts, .221 FB, and the .243 Win.

Nelson

17Hunter: The Remington 700 VLS in 204 Ruger was the second 204 Rifle I purchased (August of 2,004) and it has served me extremely well since then.
I have a Nikon 6.5x20 on it and it is one of the few Rifles I have owned that has shot factory ammo (Hornady 40 gr. V-Max's) as well as my best handloads!
I went to my 2,012 Remington catalog and they still make the Model 7 CDL but no longer offer it in 204 Ruger caliber.
I did an online search and there are some for sale on the used and after-market - one was listed as new unfired at $670.00.
Remington is now having a $40.00 rebate on their SPS-V Models and they can be obtained in 204 Ruger caliber as well as the 700 VLS configuration (but no rebate on the VLS model at this time).
I sure hope you can get your hands on a 204 in a model that suits you - it IS an amazing cartridge.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

What kind of varmints and to what ranges on a consistent basis?

Dober

That my friend is for you to decide. Varmints for me are anything smaller than a coyote that doesn't go well with fried potatoes and beans with bacon!

K-reason I ask is if you're looking for a dedicated pd rifle or a here and there rig. If it's a hear and there rig then it opens this up to rounds a fair bit bigger.

If it's a dedicated 500-800 rounds a day then I'd be going with one of the 20's or the 222 or 223.

That's why I ask, just trying to help out.

Dober

A good bolt gun in 223 or 223 AI would be pretty hard to beat for all around varmint use. Reasonably cheap bulk ammo is available for volume shooting. Brass and bullets are cheap for the handloader. Wonderful choice of bullet weights can do about anything varmint related.

I can get most anything done with a .17 Rem.


Travis

Hate to tell ya boys but I already have it! .220 Swift! I also have a .222 that I'ed never part with sweetest shootin .224 ever...later

That'd be two choices...

And you could get everything done with a .204...

including shedding a bad case of the gay....



Just sayin....

222

The only thing gayer than a 17 Rem is a 223; even Mr. Furley is appaled...


Now a 17-222 Mag will get you on album covers...

.223AI is vastly superior to the .222 mag anything...