Best varmint type ar-15

Status
Not open for further replies.

jackslayer

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
141
I've always wanted a Bushmaster Varminter. Whenever I go to a gun store that was always the gun I try to find in the used guns and occasionally get to fondle the beauty.

Now I realize that I know very little about the various makers and options available. So as this group has vastly more experience and knowledge than I have, the question I have is what is the best AR-15 type varmint rifle and what makes it better than the competition. Thanks:)
 
The rest of the AR has impact but the main thing for good results aside from
some good internals is the barrel.
Pickup a barrel that you need for the bullet you want.
Once you have this then I would build it to be the best
at what they are needed for.
I have great success with both Shilen and Lothar walter barrels but
I have to say the RRA with the national match barrel makes a great
varmint and other roles too if needed be.
What type of critters you need to dispatch or could be anything?
An AR-15 can be also a great white tail system (where allowed).

I could not ask for more to a varmint rifle out of the box...
http://www.snipercentral.com/rra.htm

Also spend a bit more in a good glass. Look into Nikon Monarch and Vortex
that give top of the line results w/o breaking the bank.
 
Last edited:
I went with the Stag model VI varminter and have been very pleased with this rifle. I have found it to be super accurate and easy to make rapid followup shots.
stagvarminter.gif
 
A dozen years back, I had a Bushie Match Target. 1/2 MOA all day long. But, 9.5 pounds with the Tasco World Class 6x24x40 on it. Ehh, what the heck. $200 profit was profit. :)

I have a Colt lower with a CG-whatzit flat-top upper. One of those four-letter outfits. 20" lightweight barrel, slow twist. Shoots one MOA with a K4 on top. Not real heavy. Good truck gun for coyotes.
 
AR-15 with match barrels can be more accurate than many bolt gungs and at the same time you also have some bolt guns that are more accurate than the best AR out there.
If you pickup a system with a good track-record and quality parts, specially the barrel and internals (receivers and external brands do not matter that much) then you can get superb accuracy. I am talking at least and even below 1/2MOA.
The biggest issues with the the .224 bullets is the wind for long shots so for that purpose what you need is a decent rate of twist (1:8 for example) so you can use some of the best bullets like a 75gr or 77gr hornadys or Bergers that buck the wind better and can sustain that AR reliability. 1/2 MOA is roughly 2.5 inches at 500 yards something that has been done before many times.
I am working in several projects but right now I am enjoying this 6x45 upper that is starting to break in nicely and producing 1/4 of MOA in some groups....
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564287&page=5
Whatever you choose it is hard to go wrong with any AR with a good quality internals.

Also there is no need to go and buy a LesBaer (beautiful systems, nothing wrong with it of course) but you can get extremely good performance with other armorers w/o braking the bank. Building you own is a lot of fun for those that have the time and want to consider the challenge.
 
I have the Varminter. Two stage trigger and I do like it. Yes the longer the heavier but also the smoother with less recoil. Bi-pod and the weight goes up even more. The Bushy due to it's match chamber does not like steel case ammo but mine is used for open range hunting where anticipated shots are taken at 250 to 350 yards with good ammo. My scope rifle combo is very accurate.
 
I've had my RRA 20" Varminter for several years.It has always been a super reliable rifle,and very accurate.It will shoot MOA or better with all of my handloads.
The RRA is just as accurate as my Savage 12.Both rifles like most of the same loads,with the only change being I can stretch out the OAL on the Savage another .050 longer for it to match the blind magazine or even longer to the lands as a single shot.
Both rifles love to shoot 75gr Hornady Match & AMax bullets.They regularly shoot them in the .2-.3 range,and if the planets and everything else is in alignment I have shot in the .16-.18 range a couple times.

001-17.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top