What rifles you guys running for varmint hunting?

[xsn10s]

Varmint rifles have been my passion for the last thirty five years. I usually have several rifles ready to go. Approaching 60, I've found that lugging those 12-14 pounders around the hills gets tiring. LOL
Been working with my newest acquisition, an 8 twist Tikka 22-250 lately, it's a little different shooting it accurately compared to the heavy rifles. I haven't got the heavier bullets that I wanted to try figured out yet but the varmint weight bullets are shooting good.

View attachment 437253View attachment 437255

Can't argue with the results. Nice work!

 

[Idaho Lefty]

@ Gary in MD,..
A GREAT "Combo" ^^^ and, reasonably Priced !
You've "Got" the Right Bullet for, great,.. PBR SPEED and,.. Varmint ( Predator ),.. "Killing effect" !
Gotta LOVE those, Tikka's and, the ole',.. .22-250 !

 

[VinceMule]

Gary, how's the throat in that tikka?

 

[8x68s]

220 Swift, 6BR, 223

I love seeing 220 Swift mentioned. I'm thinking a 6mm Swift would be my next project if custom dies become available again. Otherwise my list in order of preference is 6ARC, 6XC, 6 creedmoor and 240 Weatherby. Still waiting on the 6 Creed due to our new (in the courts) constipated state laws for firearms approval. Last I checked I was #25,204 in the cue...

 

[Gary in MD]

Gary, how's the throat in that tikka?

I haven't actually measured it. If I remember right, I found the rifling and backed off about 20 thousands. It does seem that the throat is a little long, but there is plenty of room in the magazine so no problem. I guess being an 8 twist, it's throated long for the heavies. I'm experimenting with the 75 grain Hornadys and Bergers now.
Gary

 

[69precision]

Sometimes my 223 AR. Mostly a savage lrpv in 204ruger. With a gun that's like 13lbs scoped, very easy to see hits through the scope.

 

[VinceMule]

Gary, If you can find any, a 63g Sierra will pole ax anything you shoot with it and be very accurate. I am preaching to the choir I know. 64g Winchesters were also very accurate, deer and hog killers.

 

[Buck1970]

6.5 CM ar10 savage
220 swift bolt gun ruger 77
223 rock river with thermal at night
And don't forget the 12ga with buckshot.
We 3 man team a lot and often some run in close real quick. The shotgun is a must.
Two hunts This weekend and next.

 

[Wallie]

We have settled on a 223AI and 6XC. We have used various other calibers, 17 hornet, 204 ruger, 223 REM, 220 swift, on up to 300WM for a shot or two.
Our 223AI's run a 53g vmax at 3500fps and top out at 3650-3700fps when the bullets self destruct. 28" 8 twist 6 groove barrels. This is with longer freebore, setup for AICS pattern magazines. Starline brass is absolutely fabulous for this, I've built or rebarreled 8 or 10 barrels, and have yet to get one that doesn't easily shoot under a quarter minute.

 

[ARlife4me]

338lm for all varmints!! Mostly 556 or any AR-15 cartridges as long as it's more than 2700fps.

 

[DoneNOut]

View attachment 437504
We have settled on a 223AI and 6XC. We have used various other calibers, 17 hornet, 204 ruger, 223 REM, 220 swift, on up to 300WM for a shot or two.
Our 223AI's run a 53g vmax at 3500fps and top out at 3650-3700fps when the bullets self destruct. 28" 8 twist 6 groove barrels. This is with longer freebore, setup for AICS pattern magazines. Starline brass is absolutely fabulous for this, I've built or rebarreled 8 or 10 barrels, and have yet to get one that doesn't easily shoot under a quarter minute.

Very impressive! What barrels and contours are you running?

 

[Wallie]

Very impressive! What barrels and contours are you running?

Mostly Benchmark button rifled Sendero for the .224 6 groove 8 twist, a couple Bartliens in the 6mm. I have a DTA SRS so that takes a proprietary contour, love that thing with a 30" 6mm barrel!
We go slay prairie dogs for vacation, so our stuff is set up for volume/economy… a thousand rounds of 223AI in a week of shooting! We get about 3000 rounds of accurate barrel life out of the 223AI, a year or two ago I started coating all our projectiles and bores with HbN, so we will see if I get an extra season out of them or not!

 

[DoneNOut]

Mostly Benchmark button rifled Sendero for the .224 6 groove 8 twist, a couple Bartliens in the 6mm. I have a DTA SRS so that takes a proprietary contour, love that thing with a 30" 6mm barrel!
We go slay prairie dogs for vacation, so our stuff is set up for volume/economy… a thousand rounds of 223AI in a week of shooting! We get about 3000 rounds of accurate barrel life out of the 223AI, a year or two ago I started coating all our projectiles and bores with HbN, so we will see if I get an extra season out of them or not!

Well, that is good to hear on the Benchmark Sendero! I looked at your pic and liked the contours. I have a Benchmark Sendero blank in 7mm coming in a few days. 7mm-08 AI I'm planning.

 

[VinceMule]

6.5 CM ar10 savage
220 swift bolt gun ruger 77
223 rock river with thermal at night
And don't forget the 12ga with buckshot.
We 3 man team a lot and often some run in close real quick. The shotgun is a must.
Two hunts This weekend and next.

Best wishes to you!