Whats your CA Varmint set up? .223 or 22-250? Bolt or AR15?

[mikemaccham]

I would like to get into Varmint hunting, mostly in Socal, and maybe some in AZ or CO. I have been reading a lot about .223 and 22-250. I am kind of up in the air about the 2. I am also up in the air about a AR15 Varmint by RRA, or a Savage bolt action with acutrigger. I would mostly like to be hunting yotes, and more so groundhogs, prairie dogs, rabbits. I know the main differences: cheaper vs faster, flatter round. 22-250 heats up faster and wears barrels out faster but it does worse in the wind.
I'm just wondering what your .02 is. I already have a .223 AK, so having them on the same ammo would be cool. I don't reload but would like to eventually.
Is wind a big deal with 22-250? How fast do the barrels wear out?
How accurate are the Varmint AR's in 16" or 18" barrel?
What works for you? What distances do you shoot at most often?

[lewdogg21]

Custom Built .223 AR (built by me)
-20" HBAR DPMS flat top
-Timney Trigger
-Simmons White tail 6x24x50

If you already have a .223 gun go with another .223. Without reloading if you were to go squirrel hunting for a long weekend you would need a home equity loan for the 22-250.

I considered things like barrel wear and got worried then realized I would never burn this barrel out anyways b/c I don't just shoot varmints (hunt ducks, big game, etc.) and I'm not a range junkie.

[toby]

223 single shot...22-250 bolt...250 Ackley single shot If you shoot like a sane Man you will not wear out a 22-250. But?

[capitol]

If your gonna be shooting groundhogs, prairie dogs and rabbits your gonna want an AR15.

Unless your an ol man reloader and wanna shoot once every 5 minutes, then I guess a boring bolt gun will do.

Heck I would choose a Remy 1187 for the rabbits over the AR

Coyotes it's gonna depend. I use an Remy R25 243, thick brush 1187

[BisDak]

20inch DPMS upper
SS 16x42 scope with high rings
Cal OLL with stock parts kit
ACE butt

shoots great with Barnes TSX 69g BTHP.

[jm13690]

I just got done putting together a regular SHTF AR and now have been thinking about putting together a AR Varmit in 204. When it comes to buying lead free ammo in CA, 223 and 204 are the same price.

I personally like having guns in different calibers.

[Ahhnother8]

.220 Swift
6mm PPC
AR
.22 LR

[VytamenC Tactical]

Others may disagree; however, I have always considered "varmints" as coyotes and anything smaller. Squirrels, prairie dogs, fox, raccoons, rabbits, etc. A good .22 or .17 will do the job quite well, and you might have something left of your prey in the way of useable skins, or something for he pot on the stove. I sure do love rabbit for breakfast!

My completely rebuilt Ruger 10/22 "sniper" will make easy heat shots @ 100 + yards. Groups of 5 the size of a half dollar. Likewise, my Savage left hand bolt action .17 easily does the same, with even tighter groups of 5. These can and have taken some of these critters out to 200 yards, but not that often. Lots of fun, gets the job done with a bit of a challenge, and the ammo is very cheap.

Actually, the gun that I have taken the most varmints with during my life, is a gun that I still have and shoot from time to time that my grandfather gave to me almost 60 years ago. It had been his father's gun. A Winchester model 1890, exposed hammer. pump, octagon barrel, open sights & chambered in .22 long. There is a sense of accomplishment when you pick off a critter with a nice old gun like this.

Now a .223 will certainly work as a varmint gun, but it really isn't going to give you much other than the kill on something like a squirrel. Yeah, you can maybe reach out a little more distance, but not all that much. Most of my varmint hunting is generally plus or minus 100 yards.

i agree. i also have a .204 upper for my ar that does lots of damage to yotes.
with the /17 hmr you start shooting out over 200 yard and there is much wind your .17 gets blown around. however the 17 is still a nice round minus the wind

[Rule .308]

While I have a few varmint rifle set ups, the ones that actually go out and murder stuff with me are both .243 bolt guns. One is the basic Howa Ranchland set up, nice and light with a shorter barrel and the other is the basic Ruger heavy barrel with the laminate stock and pewter target finish. They both work well and have put plenty of cats, dogs, and foxes down.

[mikemaccham]

Who makes a Ar in 204? How accurate is it compared to a bolt 204? The videos on youtube of guys doing head shots all day long on prairie dogs looked pretty fun, could a AR do it at 200+ yards? I guess with practice any of the mentioned rounds could do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oZNnGRN5Ks&feature=related

oh man but this looks so fun.!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p2smWH8Erw

I have a Saiga 12 converted with a red dot for my shotgun. I have/might sell my ak in 223 to get a varmint AR. Planning on getting a 10/22 22lr for closer smaller stuff like squirrel:
what size scope goes on a 22lr?
How far can you get accurate shots (eg:kill a rabbit)with a short barrel AR?

[chris]

i like my ruger 22-250. it sprays ground squirells just fine. a nice red mist sometimes too.

[capitol]

ive shot several coyotes with a 204 and imho it's not enough

proof.. this guy runs about 25 yards after being shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FoQmJZ-K8g

took us several direct hits with 204's to put her out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9QIhe4NGTQ

i have many nasty pix of splash hits on coyotes with a 204. It just doesn't anchor em.

Here is a gut shot on a coyote from my 243. dead right there

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/cingmore/DSC00268.jpg

same rifle blew the rear leg clear off...look for the leg right below the barrel

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/cingmore/DSC00304.jpg

now for launching squirrels into orbit the 204 rules

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0C_54TFnw8

[RoyBatty]

I use a 308 R700 but accurate ranging is a must...also use a 18 inch Larue topped AR...but not as challenging as my 308..

[Trapper]

In SoCal I shoot a Remington 22-250 with a 52gr A-max, for central Ca squirrels I shoot a 1:8" twist RRA upper with a 60gr Sierra Varmint bullet. The AR gives me longer barrel life and is much easier to rebarrel than a bolt gun.

[Sky_DiveR]

I use a 308 R700 but accurate ranging is a must...also use a 18 inch Larue topped AR...but not as challenging as my 308..

Holy Moly! Hope you're not using that on ground squirrels. Even if ya reload, that'll put ya in the poorhouse.