Attention Varmit Hunters!!!

[justinp20012500]

I am in the market for a new varmint rifle.



I currently have



224. Express (240 whby necked to a 22 cal. )



17 HMR (most fun gun I have ever shot)



I am looking to ad a 204 ruger, a 22-250, or a 220 swift to the collection.



I will be using it primarily for coyotes and foxes.



What caliber and what action??



I am partial to the good ole model 700 Remington action



I have seen the new XR-100 action. Has anyone had any experience with that one?







Justin

 

[gonehuntingagain]

Any of the calibers you listed will work well on coyotes and foxes. Everything I have read states that the 204 is "fur friendly" - no huge holes in the hide (if you sell them). The only problem I see with the 204 is the cost of the round. Loaded ammo is expensive, and finding brass for loading seems to be hit or miss due to demand.

Remington 700 actions are good, as well as Savage w/ the accutrigger. I have no experience with the XR-100 actions, but they do sound cool.

 

[scootergmc]

The . 204 is going to be my next rifle. I don't think loaded ammo isn't that expensive, comparatively. Good quality rounds sell for $15+/- per box.



I think I have my heart set on a Savage 12FV. For the price you really get a good deal. And I think the Accutrigger is pretty cool.

 

[KBennett]

Go Remington!

The action on the Remington 700 was designed by benchrest shooters and you can tell. The triggers are fully adjustable and the actions are tight but smooth.

I have a Rem 700 in . 223 and 6mm Rem, and a XP-100 in . 223. The 17's are pretty sweet. I have a Sako in 17-222 (necked down 222 Rem) and I have shot my buddies Ruger 10/22M with a custom 17HMR barrel.



I am also looking at the Ruger 204 and I think it is going to really start taking off but my next purchase will be an M1A.

That XR-100 looks like a nice rifle. I had a XP-100 in 221 Fireball that I sold to a guy that was going to build a rifle on it. I guess somebody at Remington finally took note of the concept.

 

[SRadke]

. 204's are and will continue to be a little spendy but if you've already got a . 224 express you understand that. My suggestion would be Swift, but that's very similar to the express you already have so go with the . 204. I intend to buy one this summer. I'll probably buy a Ruger in the varminter action. If they chamber in it look at the Sako's, very happy with the two I have but they're a little spendy.



-Scott



PS, I totally agree about the . 17 HMR

 

[PSU-CE]

Just saw the XR-100. Good idea from Remington but I just don't like the stock. I agree with scootergmc, the Savages are nice rifles for the price. The best shooting varminter I've owned was a Savage. I haven't looked into the . 204 much, but I would think the . 22s may be better suited for coyotes if your keeping the hides.

 

[JKinney]

Get an old mauser action buy a barrel order a stock blank get a brownells catalog and start building. Glass in the action, float the barrel.



Might be the best rifle youve ever had.

 

[justinp20012500]

Get an old mauser action buy a barrel order a stock blank get a brownells catalog and start building. Glass in the action, float the barrel.



Might be the best rifle youve ever had.

Been there and done that.



That 224. is a pain to load. But it is fun, nothing left of stuff when that thing hits it!!!



I am looking for something economical to shoot, like that 17 hmr.



What is the average barrel life of a well maintained 220 swift???





Justin

 

[Forrest]

224. Express (240 whby necked to a 22 cal. ) :--) :--)



jeeeeez Justin ... talk about foof!!! :-laf





Everyone was buying 30-06's for Mule deer & I bought a whby vanguard 25-06. Used the 90 grain hollow point boat tail & dropped em'. Really foof'ed the Jack Rabbits too!





Not in the same league, but we're looking @ the NAA-17LLR-HG



http://www.naaminis.com/news12.html







Forrest

 

[KBennett]

The 17-222 is pretty economical. I use between 12-14 grains of powder.

220 Swift and 22-250 are speedsters but they do burn a lot of powder.

The 204 uses about the same as a . 223 but the velocity is much faster.

4000 FPS is no problem Oo.

 

[CFast]

22-250's are fun. Loaded them so hot one time they left a blue streak when the sun was behind you. I've dropped A LOT of dogs with the 22-250.

I don't have any experince with the others.

 

[scootergmc]

Don't be fooled thinking the . 17 HMR is economical. At anywhere from $7-$10 per 50 rounds, that isn't cheap for a rimfire. And I believe only 2 companies are making ammo, CCI and Hornaday. Remington and Federal have . 17 HMR rounds but I believe they are made by either CCI or Hornaday. I could have it confused. Last week, I bought 10 boxes of CCI TNT 17 grain 17 HMR @ 6. 99 per box. And that's a killer deal. If you find it less than $7, snatch it up. Of course, I just think the ammo companies are gouging the consumers [oil companies] based on its popularity/demand. But hey, there's also the Mach 2, which is even cheaper $5+/-. But what's fun is setting up a little stand and picking off squirrels under 150 yds. w/ the rimfires and then switching to a . 20-. 22 centerfire for the +150 yd. shots. That's why I want the . 204. The Savage is a lot of gun for the $$.

 

[Hammer]

Justin...

With You already having one wildcat to your aresnal and it being necked down to . 22 caliber whay then add a second one?. True,the . 22-250 is one of the pioneers in varmint hunting and they are very reasonable to reload but they lack distance in my book. I own one and it only gets used in York and Lancaster counties where I live at due to the light weights of the bulets I reload for it. Its one advantage over the rest of the heavier varmint loads is ability to use the lighter loads for shooting where areas have more population. Other than that I do not use it when I go north or west for chucks or dogs. I have a pair of calibers I like much better for long range varmints and they are my 6. 71 Phantom(its a . 264 Win Mag done by Lazzeroni) and a 6mm Ackley Improved(which I had built locally). I do realize the Lazzeroni is a tad heavy or more than what you want,but do not overlook the . 264 Win Mags as they are one of the best double duty calibers out there.



Now other options to consider would be these and I shoot both of them at times also,the . 243 Winchester and the nearly forgotten . 25-06. The . 243 will kill almost anything you want to shoot. I have taken all kinds of game with this gun and it is a pleasure to shoot. Varmint loads are fast and accurate and with a nice selection of 85-100 grain heavy loads most any game you lay in the cross hairs will drop. The . 25-06 is a gun you will find if you ever get you hands on one is one gun you'll not want to do without. Its as flat shooting as most any of the newer wildcats and very reasonable to reload.



The . 220 Swift,although a very fast cartridge,is one I own and do not care for. The caliber is very hard on barrels and is well known for shooting out a barrel anywhere from 400-800 rounds thru it. Its not nearly as accurate beyond 300 yards and on those high heat,heavy humidity days,is well known for air bursts of the bullets due to its high velocities. I am a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 collector and if it wouldn't be for rarity of this caliber in one of these guns,I wouldn't own one. Needless to say,if this gun is needed to shoot then the . 22-250 or the . 243 goes out instead.



Hope these present more options for you to consider. I do realize its your choice to make,but,with owning one . 22 caliber as you say above,I'd be looking for something a tad bigger which will give you more range and better options... ... ... ... . Andy

 

[RonA]

People like to play with small calibers. . 20 tactical does pretty much anything a . 22-250 or swift does with less powder and recoil. But you are correct on the better reach of the larger calibers. Bigger bullets handle conditions better. Just build for the distance you are going to be shooting. The best 500 to 600 yard coyote and rock chuck cartridge I ever used was a . 338 Lapua necked down to . 30 and blown out slightly. 180 Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3500 are bad news for coyotes and rock chucks.

 

[justinp20012500]

Justin...

With You already having one wildcat to your aresnal and it being necked down to . 22 caliber whay then add a second one?. True,the . 22-250 is one of the pioneers in varmint hunting and they are very reasonable to reload but they lack distance in my book. Other than that I do not use it when I go north or west for chucks or dogs. I have a pair of calibers I like much better for long range varmints and they are my 6. 71 Phantom(its a . 264 Win Mag done by Lazzeroni) and a 6mm Ackley Improved(which I had built locally). I do realize the Lazzeroni is a tad heavy or more than what you want,but do not overlook the . 264 Win Mags as they are one of the best double duty calibers out there.



Now other options to consider would be these and I shoot both of them at times also,the . 243 Winchester and the nearly forgotten . 25-06. The . 243 will kill almost anything you want to shoot. I have taken all kinds of game with this gun and it is a pleasure to shoot. Varmint loads are fast and accurate and with a nice selection of 85-100 grain heavy loads most any game you lay in the cross hairs will drop. The . 25-06 is a gun you will find if you ever get you hands on one is one gun you'll not want to do without. Its as flat shooting as most any of the newer wildcats and very reasonable to reload.



The . 220 Swift,although a very fast cartridge,is one I own and do not care for. The caliber is very hard on barrels and is well known for shooting out a barrel anywhere from 400-800 rounds thru it. Its not nearly as accurate beyond 300 yards and on those high heat,heavy humidity days,is well known for air bursts of the bullets due to its high velocities. I am a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 collector and if it wouldn't be for rarity of this caliber in one of these guns,I wouldn't own one. Needless to say,if this gun is needed to shoot then the . 22-250 or the . 243 goes out instead.

A guy in our hunting group had pre 64 25-06. He took a nice four point muley.



How do you like that 257 whby??? That is one fast mother!!!



I agree on not adding another . 22 cal to the collection, but the 224 has limited supply on brass and after 3 rounds the barrel is glowing. (figuratively speaking) It just not a gun that I can shoot round after round.



Have you looked into the 6mm - 284? I have a 6mm in the ADL action that I rarely use. I am thinking about wildcat'ting that one.



Well, I have some 125 grain ballistic tips loaded in 20 rounds for my 300 RUM. May be I will take that out this weekend and shoot some dogs. :-laf



Thats kind of like taking a RPG to a turkey shoot.

22-250's are fun. Loaded them so hot one time they left a blue streak when the sun was behind you. I've dropped A LOT of dogs with the 22-250.

You are leaving vapor trails. That takes one super hot load to do that. If you do that to a balistic tip bullet the polamer tip actually melts off.

 

[RonA]

Forrest.

I didn't know you were a shooter. If you ever want to try another caliber, let me know what you want and I'll rebarrel it for you. If you'll supply the Barrel, I'll fit and chamber it for you to say thanks for the plate info.

Ron

 

[SRadke]

75 grain V-Max's in my 25-06 make a great flat shooting rock chuck/coyote cartridge. You better not plan on saving the hides though :-laf



-Scott

 

[justinp20012500]

75 grain V-Max's in my 25-06 make a great flat shooting rock chuck/coyote cartridge. You better not plan on saving the hides though :-laf



-Scott

No kidding!!



The guy this year was using silver tips in his 25-06 and it destroyed the dear.



I have a buddy that is building a 257 whby w/octagon barrel and a montana action. It is one sweet looking rifle.



Does anyone know where a guy could get a set of engraved scope rings??



How about floor plate engraving??

 

[SRadke]

The guy this year was using silver tips in his 25-06 and it destroyed the dear.

No, no, when deer season rolls around the 100 gr. Partitions come out of the cabinet They shoot pretty flat too



-Scott

 

[justinp20012500]

No, no, when deer season rolls around the 100 gr. Partitions come out of the cabinet They shoot pretty flat too



-Scott

You like Nosler Partitions.



I think they are a little too hard to shoot deer with. They seem to just pluck holes instead of doing damage.



I really like the bonded bullets. I am using the swift in my RUM, and am soon going to try the new accubonds from nosler.



I shot two cows last year and two bulls. The swift performed flawlessly. Great controlled expansion and devastation to the animal. No second shoots were used.