Varmint rifle

[advocatusdiaboli]

I now have my Tikka T3 .270 and had my first range test (it's way more accurate than I am—I have work to do). Practice makes perfect.

Next up I want to get a good all-around varmint rifle. I am thinking .204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 22-250, or .223. but leaning towards 22-250 as long as I reload.

And both the 223 and 22-250 will buck the wind a bit better I think.
I know .24/.25 calibers would handle wind even better but I want something I can shoot all day without fatigue and having to cool the barrel a lot.

It's hard to beat the cost of .223 though I'll be re-loading whatever I choose any way. Since I have a .270, doubling as a hunting round is not on my list. I plan on a 7mm-08 for a short action hunting rifle one day anyway.

[NorCalFocus]

22-250 if you want something with some speed and punch. 223 is great, but if you really want to shoot flat and fast, 22-250 is the way to go.

[just in joy]

I agree 22-250

I opt for 257weatherby mag for my varmint/deer getter only cost effective if you reload thought factory ammo can be had for 50 bucks per 20 rounds is the cheapest I have found it for in stores. and brass is roughly 35 per 20 rounds also. but I love mine 257 can shoot it all day without issues and it is a screamer. Only reason I got the 257 is washington state will not allow hunting under a 25 or 24 caliber. I forget which one.

[MG34]

I have been shooting my Remington 700 22-250 Varmint Special since 1975. Very accurate round. I got a 204 a few years ago its more accurate than the 22-250. Its a blast shooting squirrels any hit and there's red meat in the air.

[Fjold]

22.250 is my favorite varmint round but I don't like the original 1:14" twist of the original or the 1:12" twist that is also sold.

A few manufacturers are offering the 22.250 in a 1:9" twist which will let you shoot as the heavier bullets as far as you can see the little varmints.

[MongooseV8]

223 Ackley Improved. 40 grain nosler at almost 4k fps with small amounts of powder. Barrel will last 3 times longer than a 22-250 and be much cheaper to shoot.

I shoot 53 grain vmaxes in mine and can easily hit squirrels at 400 yards. Shoot it all day and wont heat up your barrel like most other calibers. Better wind deflection than the 204 and you can even shoot regular 223 loads through it. Brass lasts a looooong time too.

[russ69]

223 Ackley Improved. 40 grain nosler at almost 4k fps with small amounts of powder. Barrel will last 3 times longer than a 22-250 and be much cheaper to shoot...

Not a bad idea. The little 45 grain Blitzking is a great little bullet also. You could go 222 REM Mag or just leave it as a 223.

[thomashoward]

If you are shooting small varmints (range rats) then a 22-250 is not the one for all day, although an ideal cartridge for occasional long shots shots at coyotes.
I am a varmint shooter and recommend a bolt .204 over a bolt .223 although both are good. Both heat up but not as fast a a 22-250 and burn far less powder. Get one of each. When they get hot set it down and pick up another
For shots from 100-150 yds get a .17 HMR http://www.midwayusa.com/product/925...ProductFinding

[advocatusdiaboli]

223 Ackley Improved. 40 grain nosler at almost 4k fps with small amounts of powder. Barrel will last 3 times longer than a 22-250 and be much cheaper to shoot.

I shoot 53 grain vmaxes in mine and can easily hit squirrels at 400 yards. Shoot it all day and wont heat up your barrel like most other calibers. Better wind deflection than the 204 and you can even shoot regular 223 loads through it. Brass lasts a looooong time too.

I like that idea. It fits what ThomasHoward recommends since he says 223 and 204. The 223 AO will take regular 223 as well.

I have to admit, I just want a light load flat-shooting bolt gun for long range target shooting as much as to shoot varmints. I may yet still get a 22-350 later. I'll get a 17HMR one day too. I like my Magnum Research carbon-barrel 22LR and it is giving me about 1.5 MOA at 100 yards sometimes (on a perfect day with no wind and with luck) but it's already down 3 inches and it'll never make 150 reliably.

BTW, what would it cost to have a 223 re-chambered for 223AI. I shoot lefthand and I like my Tikka T3 Lite 270 stainless and they have a nice choice of T3 Varmint 223s in 8, 12, and 14 twist in 23 3/4" barrels. Of course I'll look at Winchester, Savage, Ruger, and Remington too. But I want to get a Varmint barrel and LH guns are not easy to find.

[dskit]

The conventional wisdom on the 204 is that it has the ballisics of the 22-250, with much less powder. I have not run the numbers closely myself, but it does not sound unreasonable.

I just got done building a 8 twist 204 and will be shooting the 55 grain Bergers. Still in load development.

[advocatusdiaboli]

The conventional wisdom on the 204 is that it has the ballisics of the 22-250, with much less powder. I have not run the numbers closely myself, but it does not sound unreasonable.

I just got done building a 8 twist 204 and will be shooting the 55 grain Bergers. Still in load development.

Yep, most likely will get a .204 or .223 and eventually turn the 223 into a 223 AI if it's not too pricey. what platform are you using? A heavy barrel? Length?

The .204 is light on powder so it doesn't needs so long a barrel to burn it off right?

[shooterbill]

For myself it all depends upon yardage. Under 400 yards - 223. Over 400 - 22/250. I have several 223's and a 22-250. You can shoot the 223 all day without much discomfort. I'm getting 3700 fps in my Remington 700 223 with 34gr hp's. Very flat shooting out to 350 yards.

[thomashoward]

Varmints don't know if you are at 3800fps or 4000. Barrel life will be longer if you take it easy.

[advocatusdiaboli]

Varmints don't know if you are at 3800fps or 4000. Barrel life will be longer if you take it easy.

Good advice. We humans tend to over analyze and focus on a few metrics to maximize when really, speaking as an engineer, we should seek and optimal solution with the right balance of investment of time and money with maximal results (measured in my case but maximizing the 'fun' factor).

[dskit]

Yep, most likely will get a .204 or .223 and eventually turn the 223 into a 223 AI if it's not too pricey. what platform are you using? A heavy barrel? Length?

The .204 is light on powder so it doesn't needs so long a barrel to burn it off right?

I'm using a Savage target action and a 28 medium palma barrel. Probably more barrel than needed, but, what the heck.

It's really a lighter bullet with a higher BC driven faster vs a barrel length issue.