varmint guns

[spearedum]

All of my guns are mil surps of the uasial supsects, and are all <.30cal; I would like a small bore rifle above .22rimfire.

Thanx Dante'

[stripperclip]

I have aways liked the .223 as the next thing up from a .22 rimfire and you know the .243 is not a .22 right

[spearedum]

I want to poll to find out about small bore rifles biger than .22 rimfire. The .25-06 is the larges bore that I was intrested in polling.

I have friends living in the desert, and I'd like to start varmint hunting in the Anza- Barrego desert. There are coyotes, hairs, varmints, bobcats, and some cougers and mt.goat and rams.

Or, there are other favorite cals. in this range that I'd like to hear about in this poll.

thanx Dante'

[BOLOMK1]

I'm sure you meant .220Swift and I so voted!

[spearedum]

what's a couple of .001ths between friends!

Buryl says"...put a little elbow grease behing the bolt."

[dromia]

Well I like the .22" Hornet for 100-175 yrds shooting and is a real challenge to reload for.

The 22/250 is a classic with character like the Hornet and longer reach.

The swift is just down right sexy, classic, has character and good reach.

The .223" is very effective and boring.

The .243" is too much gun for most small game varmint shooting but a good small to medium deer cartridge, roe to red hind.

All are plenty accurate within their ballistic parameters for varmints or vermin as I'd call them.

For short range work in built up areas never underestimate the use of an FAC rated air rifle 20+ ft/lbs, in .20" .22" or .25", I've found .177" just too light for quarry.

[spearedum]

Is the .223 boring because it can be bought with cash, and you don't need to make your own super-douper combo? I am NOT putting down the skilled craftsmen who develope their own handloads... quite the contrary, at this given time that skill is way beyond my abilities.

If I could go to WaleyWorld and buy .223 ammo... that would be a + in it's favor.

Thanx Dante'

[dromia]

Hi Dante,

this really depends on the what you want to shoot and at what distance?

Factory ammo is cheap and in .223" milsurp is especialy cheap and is OK for feral cats at up to 75yrds, wildcats or foxes even on the hill at 200yrds plus really need handloads to get accuracy and a clean kill, the beauty about handloads is that you have the choice of bullet.

If you can follow basic instructions then handloading is not beyond your abilities it is just beyond your experience at present.

If you could say what you wanted to shoot in quarry terms and likely distances then it will be easier to make recommendations for you to make a decision on.

If .22" rimfire will do the job then stick with that.

[mozark]

gets my vote. They tend to be throated on the short side, so finding the lands with lighter bullets isn't a problem, and they'll throw a 120 grain bullet out there close to 3000 FPS, if that's what you like.

MM

[BOLOMK1]

I've stayed with the Swift since I got it in Grad School about 25yrs ago.I have reduced my loads abit to about .22-250 velocity just because pushing the envelope was hard on cases and why shorten barrel life?

We have a plethora of truly excellent .223 loads available and I rarely reload for it anymore as I get Black Hills Ammo at a good price.I did load a special hvy bullet load for my Son's first deer 6 years ago;one shot one deer.But I would never recommend it as a deer rifle.

Last but not least I have an old 1894 Marlin my Dad

had rebarrelled in the late 1940's to .218Bee.Believe it or not it is a tack driver with the receiver sight he mounted on it and is a joy to shoot.It was my first centerfire prairie dog gun.

I ramble,adieu!