Describe your ideal carry around varmint rifle.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DaMan:
R&H, when you talk about "farm pests", I think of a rifle that you have close at hand at all times while doing your work.

There are many excellent specialized, and very accurate, varmint rifles out there. But, these are made for those who are doing just that..... varmint hunting! If you have the time as a farmer to go out on "varmint safaris", get one of those rifles.

If you want an inexpensive rifle that will take abuse and you don't need to "baby", something like a NEF Handi-Rifle in .223 Rem (or another caliber) might meet your needs. Remember, you can add a shotgun barrel to this gun for about $40. Very versatile! And it's actually very accurate!

This is what I'd recommend to the farmer wanting to control varmints.

Regards! DaMan



[This message has been edited by DaMan (edited September 15, 2000).][/quote]

well actually i wish to add something to my post, and this made me think of it.
for the type of gun he mentions winchester model 94 in 30.30 is my grab and go, shoot it whne i see it not hunt it down gun.
 
The 22-250 hits like a lightning bolt out to about 250 yards. Anthing further needs a heavier bullet to keep its killing power. Have you thought about a 25-06 in 100 grain?
 
If you're serious about the 300- and 400-yard distances, a .22-250 or the Swift would work. Unless you're pretty good at doping crosswinds, the .243 with an 85-grain bullet would maybe be a bit better.

I'd bet that the majority of your shots will be inside of 300 yards, though, so I'd probably go with the hot .22s. At the moment, I'm using a Ruger Mk II in .223--but I generally think of it as max-300 yards...Clean hit, clean kill and all that.

FWIW, Art
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by R&H:
If you could go out and buy a new varmint rifle to be used for farm pests skunks,
racoons, foxes, and coyotes what would you buy. Or if you allready have a rifle for
this purpose descibe it. Ranges are from 10 to 350-400 yards.

I was thinking of .233 or a .243 in a sporter style rifle, but I also like the idea of a
22-250 in a varmint rifle.

Let me know what you would choose, rifle brand and cartrige. [/quote]

Hmmmmmm... It tain't a `sporter' or `varmint' rifle but it's what I've been using for years now. A Daewoo DR-200. (Got mine shortly after Kimber started importing them 'cause I liked the idea of the `solid connection to the bolt with the "op rod' rather than the gas impingement' of the AR-15 / M16 clones. *And* I was looking for something that could ride in a pickup, tractor, or swather' and not have to be `babied'.) With the `ghost ring?' iron sights, 52 gr hollow point .223 rnds, and a 30 rnd mag it'll do a `job' on just about anything I want it to out to around 200yds - 250yds. Even the occasional `pasture poodle' out to 150yds. The `beauty' of this thing is that it'll "Take a lickin' and keep on tickin'" along with being able to snap off that quick `follow up' shot whenever you need it. Sure it's one of those `evil assault rifles' but don't tell that to all the coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and `pasture poodles' I've shot! They're too dead to care. {BSE GRIN!}

The really big problem with getting one now is that they are very hard to find at a `reasonable' price. The best price I was recently able to find was $750 - $775 wo/ taxes. But! Knowing what I now know about mine I would probably get one anyway since mine has done `yeoman' service here around the farm.



------------------
Doleo ergo sum,
-HALFPINT-
 
I must be a fossel as I use a 25-35 94 win with a gold bead and peep for a haul around the ranch pop gun. Kind of hard to knock the sites out of line and a fantastic off hand shooter. If I go looking for pests behind the place I use a 77/22 Hornet or my old GI M-16 semi conversion with a 6x24. Have been thinking I should get a 77 or 700 in 22-250 just for the fun of it. :) :)
 
what about the M1 Carbine i have use it for a long time for a Varmint Rifle.

------------------
US NAVY SEALs HOOYAH!!!!!!!!
 
I can't believe that no one in this thread did not mention the 220 Swift. My first one was a custom made on a mauser action and a Douglas semi bull barrel that I found in a hardware store on consignment. Thirty years later, it still shoots under a an inch at a hundred. When Remington classic came out in the 220 swift, I bought one. I knew the 700 action would shoot this little "speed ball" with great accuracy. I was not disappointed. I put an after-market trigger on it and 6X24 Tasco with a mil. dot cross hair. The best group so far is 13/100 at 100yds with a 52gr hollow point. It has a sporter barrel and is a carry all day rifle. It is great on crows and ground hogs. I think for long range shooting on days that the wind is cooperating, there is nothing finer to shoot. On windy days, I use a six millimeter Remington in a Ruger Number One. If it is too windy for that, I take the rest of the day off.

I am reading more and more articles on shooting deer and antelope with 22-250s and 220 swifts. I know these caliber's are capable of killing these with the proper bullets, but there are better rounds for this kind of hunting.

I guess the old .222 is dead and gone. Other than a swift, my next choice is the .222. It does not take as much powder to do what the 22-250 and the 220 Swift will do inside 200yds. I wonder how many of you fellows are still shooting the little "varminter"? Mike
 
Hmm mine would have to be A Malin Guide gun in 45/70 *Grin*

Seriously thoiugh I would have to say a Ruger in .223 or 22-250. They feel better to me than the remingtons. Their Triggers suck but after market dropin triggers are easy to get.
 
I would use the nef 223 handi rifle.I have one and it is light with a tapered barrel.It is VERY accurate and it is good to leave in your truck because if it gets stolen you are not out of a lot of money.But for foxes and other predators I would just use traps.
 
Hmmm, walk-around, work-around pest control rifle?
If you don't shoot at prairie dogs, why not a home-made Scout rifle, sans the forward-mounted scope, built around a Ishapore in .308,a mkIV in .303, or a M96 in 6.5x55? Perfect bang-around truck gun, el cheapo design, overkill on 'coons, but would nail a coyote at 150-200 yds without a sweat! If you prefer a serious precision rifle, pull out the big bucks, but if that gun is to be on the "all work and no play" side of the spectrum, the Homy Scout is the thing... with quality optics.
 
I have several "beater" truck guns, and they fill different needs.
I keep an 870 12 gauge in there all of the time, and then add a rifle or two depending on the terrain. All ride in a Big Sky roof rack above my head inside the cab.

.303 Enfield #4mkII
Slabsided AR15 .223 oldy but goody
6.5X55mm Swede M38
Springfield 1903 30-06 Sporter

All have iron sights.
The 1903 is my favorite. Kills everything.
 
I also vote for the NEF Handi-Rifle. I've got 4 of them. Started with a .223, then got a .22-250 for real long range stuff, picked up a .45-70 to shoot those pesky rhino's that wander into my backyard and then couldn't resist the .22 sportster. NEF is spending all the money on very nice, match grade barrels. The stocks are made to take a beating and they're pretty light on both the pocketbook and the guy carrying them through the field. Sure they're a single-shot, but you can pop this thing open and put in another round in the same amount of time it takes to operate most bolt guns. And, I too have a couple of extra shotgun barrels for when they might be the ticket instead of a rifle. Very versatile, very inexpensive, and a bunch of fun. (my .02)

spike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top