Whats the best varmint gun for $200?

I'm looking for a good varmint gun. I already have a ruger 10/22 but i am looking for a different caliber. I will mostly be shoot ground squirrels but i might want to shoot some coyotes.

for 200 probably a handi rifle in .223 or .308

For something new, Handi Rifle is looking like your best bet, as paintball suggested. May get lucky and find a 223 or 243 bolt action in the used racks. Another $75 would get you a Savage Axis/Edge in 223.

I'm with everyone else on this. A Handi is a nice gun for what you would want it for.
But you could always get a Mosin Nagant, but there would be nothing left of whatever you shot. :rolleyes:

Mine was a Handi Rifle w/.223 bull barrel. I paid $150 when I got it ~ it's around $200 now. The trigger could be lighter, but not hard at all. You could drive tacks with it.

Note: The Handi rifle is made by New England Firearms (NEF) They bought the old H & R name and factory. You must get the SB-2 receiver for interchangeable barrels and can get many rifle barrels for it, including shotgun barrels. While I had it, I always wanted to get a .308, or maybe .270 extra barrel but never got around to it.

I just snagged a Rem. 597 22 mag, for $300 with a 4x simmons on it. Heavy barrel, laminated stock. It's been great with a little work: free float the barrel, tune the guide rods, light polish on the action, ghetto bed the action with some tapes.

Rossi makes some dandy little single shots, too, for cheap. The GLASS will drive that up if you get decent glass and I wouldn't buy cheap glass, been there, done that. $200 will buy acceptable glass. More you spend the better, but then I could say that about the rifle, too. :D $200 won't buy the quarter MOA stuff.

You won't get much for $200

+1 on the handi rifle.

murf

Single shot H&R. Oh do go with the 25-06 and the heavy barrel.
This can be one long-range critter killer..
I've used mine for a couple of cow elk.

Sorry for the lame pic...

Buy a Handi Rifle in .243. Then you have a good varminter and deer gun.

Pit4brains- I can't believe you killed an elk with a 25 cal; don't you know you need a 338 Lapua or at least a 300 Win Mag for that?

....hmmm, my gramps always used a 250 Savage for his, never lost one either.

Marlin xt 22 mag awesome gun. Accurate
awesome rifle got mine new lil over 180

Pit4brains- I can't believe you killed an elk with a 25 cal; don't you know you need a 338 Lapua or at least a 300 Win Mag for that?

Wrong thread for that discussion. I was just merely pointing out that the handi can be usefull for a large variety of game.

If you can't find a used rifle in a larger caliber the 983 marlin is good shooter. It's easy to mount a large scope on the 983 marlin and the 22 wmr is a capable round. The 983 Marlin is a gun most people never sell. It always is useful...

For something new, Handi Rifle is looking like your best bet, as paintball suggested. May get lucky and find a 223 or 243 bolt action in the used racks. Another $75 would get you a Savage Axis/Edge in 223.
That is a good way to go nice gun for the money! Axis

I got a Rossi a couple months ago, i fired five shots the the firing pin broke, still waiting to get the gun back

I got a Rossi a couple months ago, i fired five shots the the firing pin broke, still waiting to get the gun back _

It didn't take Taurus long to make an impact on Rossi...:D

Axis...

I'd like to know who has new Handi Rifles for $200.Savage Axis for just a little more money.

Savage MkII in 17hm2 if you don't reload.

It hammers squirrels out to 150-200 yards, and the ammo is relatively cheap.

I'd like to know who has new Handi Rifles for $200.
Out the door for $200?, you can get a decent pellet rifle. However, in the $200 ballpark, you can go here..
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_262/products_id/61737/H%26R+72688+Handi+Grip+Break+Open+25-06+Remington+26%22+Black+Sy

and here
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MfgContent.aspx?mfgId=135&catId=1618&fmp=Y

For $200, you'll probably do better cruising the Used-Rack in the local stores, and keep an open mind as to make, model and specific caliber. When you see it you'll know.

Unfortunately, if you have that mindset, you'll start to accrue quite a few rifles!

Revised post:

I got mine special order at Wal-Mart 15 years ago. Seems like the price was $159 or $169 then.

Just Googled and average price is now $259. IMHO, this is still a good price for a solid single shot rifle. But, a good scope for it will run another $100 - $200. There are no sights on the bull barrel models.

You might find a stevens-200.

they have sales for them $225 - 300 in package deals with a scope.

223, 243, 270, 30.06, 300, and I think 308.

A extremly FUGLY bolt action rifle :barf:, I know I have 3 :p.

Krylon camo paint with clear coat and leaf/ivy transfers make them pretty presentable --- very accurate.

You could put a wanted ad on your local craigslist. You'd be surprised how many guns you get offered to you at $100 or less. :cool:

I 2nd the 25-06 Handi Rifle

A few years ago the answer would have been a handi rifle.

But nowadays I routinely see stevens200,xs7,American,edges retailing for less than handi's. Rifles that I'm my EXPERIENCE will all shoot circles around even the best handi

I've couggt new 200's on sale and was out the door for under $250 for 7mm08

IMO I'd be very surprised if the handi line isn't discontinued in the next two years

Folks are yapping about the Marlin .22 mags. I traded a guy out of a Remington 597 magnum with a Bushnell Trophy 3x9 on it. To my surprise, though, the suggested list was north of 300 bucks. The .22LR version is around 150. Go figure. Anyway, I don't know what the actual Walmart price of the gun would be, but it's a tack driver, 1.5 MOA at 100 yards with CCI maximag. Cool gun, but I don't do much hunting of vermin appropriate for it. I like it, though, and hold on to it. I don't sell accurate rifles. :D

If I needed more for a varmint, I do have a 1/2 MOA old Remington 722 in .257 Roberts. You could always look for used at gun shows, just take a bore light with you. Some center fire varminters get shot enough to burn out bores.

last outing to the lgs, i noticed that handirifles aren't two hundred dollars any more. two sixty or eight is more like it. still a good deal, though.

murf

Single shot H&R. Oh do go with the 25-06 and the heavy barrel.
This can be one long-range critter killer..
I've used mine for a couple of cow elk.

Sorry for the lame pic...
Aye-Gawd man! What kinda world do you live in that Elk are Varmints?!?:D

I'd start low with a used .22 mag if 200 bucks is limiting you. Also, .223 bolt guns seem to be falling outa vogue and the prices are going down a bit, so there's that.

HANDI-RIFLE! .22 hornet, .204 Ruger, .223, .243 Win, .22-250, .25-06...,
add me to the list recommending this option. Mine is in .223 for inexpensive shooting of surplus ammunition. Last Sunday a lady had one at the range shooting where I was shooting, and hers was in .22 hornet. Very accurate and not super loud. An accurate, durable platform for under $200.

LD