Varmint/target caliber opinions, new vs classic
- Thread starter sabbfan
- Start date
- Status
Armorer 101
Member
It is always best to ask rather han guess when looking at pictures.
What is the top gun in the third group picture? Nice work, looks like a Jurris custom or a custom Dakota.
What is the top gun in the third group picture? Nice work, looks like a Jurris custom or a custom Dakota.
redneck2
Member
^^^^^^This
Obviously exceptionally accurate. Reasonable barrel life. Can shoot to 1,000 yards in stock form.
I’ve had multiple.22-250’s. They’re extremely loud, heat the barrel very quickly. Short barrel life. But, my second one was really, really accurate
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,756
Fiocchi .223 with the Hornady VMAX polymer tip. I simply have neither the patience nor inclination to look any further. Takes out everything, up to, and including wild boar and coyote. You just have to see the damage these VMAXes do, for yourself.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
As far as a varmint/target cartridge the 223 /5.56 is probably the most reasonable priced option. Watch the barrel twist. Most varmint rifles will have slow twist barrels best suited for light bullets. Look for a fast twist 1-7 or 1-8 to take advantage of the heavier high BC bullets.
I have seen more 6mm creedmoor ammo on shelves than anyother cartridge in the past months. Ammo availability may be a deciding factor in your new rifle. Th 6mm creedmoor will give you more versatility than a 223 but has more recoil and shorter barrel life.
My favorite target rifle was a Savage model 12BVSS in 300 wsm. With your Iowa location you may have the opportunity to really reach out for targets. The new 30 cals may be your best option to ring steel at 1000+ yards.
I have killed most of my varmints (coyotes and such) while hunting deer with archery or magnum rifles... just a thought!
I have seen more 6mm creedmoor ammo on shelves than anyother cartridge in the past months. Ammo availability may be a deciding factor in your new rifle. Th 6mm creedmoor will give you more versatility than a 223 but has more recoil and shorter barrel life.
My favorite target rifle was a Savage model 12BVSS in 300 wsm. With your Iowa location you may have the opportunity to really reach out for targets. The new 30 cals may be your best option to ring steel at 1000+ yards.
I have killed most of my varmints (coyotes and such) while hunting deer with archery or magnum rifles... just a thought!
OP
OP
sabbfan
Member
Looking on AmmoSeek and seeing all of the 6mm Creed was one of the factors that was making me look at that one, plus it looks like a versatile round.
Nature Boy
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
- Messages
- 8,254
I wish the forum had a way for me to spam the 'Like' button
MachIVshooter
Member
I love my .220 Swift, but I handload, and prarie dogs at fairly extreme ranges are a whole different ballgame from predators.
I use a .17 Rem on pasture poodles because it makes a pin prick entrance hole and doesn't exit, preserves the hide well. But again, handloader's cartridge.
Since you don't handload, .223 makes the most sense. .22-250 would also be an option, pretty good factory ammo selection there.
I use a .17 Rem on pasture poodles because it makes a pin prick entrance hole and doesn't exit, preserves the hide well. But again, handloader's cartridge.
Since you don't handload, .223 makes the most sense. .22-250 would also be an option, pretty good factory ammo selection there.
OP
OP
sabbfan
Member
I actually do hand load, just haven’t made the jump to bottle neck rounds yet. Currently load 38/357, 9mm, 40S&W, 44 mag. I have the dies for my 30-06 and plan on starting loading for it as soon as the current component shortage gets a little better.
cdb1
Member
This would be my choice hands down.
memtb
Member
A well established classic.....preferably a military or retired military cartridge! If it’s larger varmints, I can convert 30-06 (retired military) to 270 Win.......our preferred longer range varmint cartridge! 
memtb
memtb
OP
OP
sabbfan
Member
I’d like to learn more about this, how’s a modernized one differ than the original, is it all in the twist rate?
Whether it's a factory rifle or not changes my opinion.
My stepping stones are 22lr, 5.56, 22-250, 240 Wby.
The 5.56 gets me 300 yards easily even in Oklahoma wind. After that I like either the 22-250 with a 53 VMAX or the 240 Wby if it's really windy.
If you target shoot the last 2. You better like slow fire or multiple guns.
MacAR
Member
^^ THIS!
I bought my first deuce last November, an old Springfield 840, and I absolutely love it. Bar-none, hands down one of the most accurate little rifle/cartridge combos I've ever used. Quiet, with zero recoil, and quite literally a laser beam as others have said. I started handloading because of the Triple Deuce. Best part is, it's such a cheap and easy cartridge to load; .224 bullets are fairly easy to find. I like 50 grainers myself, but you might try some lighter weight ones. The .222 doesn't like bullets much over 50grs; 55 is about the max since most are 1:14 rifled.
Obligatory rifle pic:
Only one thing, you didn't mention exactly what "varmints" you'd be after. Anything bigger than a pasture poodle, past about 250 yards, is pretty much out of the question. I mostly shoot crows with mine, and looking forward to groundhogs this spring. On our small 'yotes, it'd probably do just fine. Part of me also wants to load some 55's and try deer hunting with it this fall, but I can't quite talk myself into it.
Anyhow, good luck in your search for a varmint-ing rifle; the Triple Deuce is a classic and should serve you well should you decide to go that route.
Mac
OP
OP
sabbfan
Member
I actually just poked around on gunbroker looking at 222’s, apparently now is a bad time to be looking for bargains even on older bolt rifles in a caliber that has become obscure! I used to borrow a friend of my dad’s rifle in 222 back when I was getting interested in coyote hunting. I was around 13 at the time so it would have been 30 years ago. I never shot one back then with it but thought it’d be nice to give the cartridge another go around.^^ THIS!
I bought my first deuce last November, an old Springfield 840, and I absolutely love it. Bar-none, hands down one of the most accurate little rifle/cartridge combos I've ever used. Quiet, with zero recoil, and quite literally a laser beam as others have said. I started handloading because of the Triple Deuce. Best part is, it's such a cheap and easy cartridge to load; .224 bullets are fairly easy to find. I like 50 grainers myself, but you might try some lighter weight ones. The .222 doesn't like bullets much over 50grs; 55 is about the max since most are 1:14 rifled.
Obligatory rifle pic:
Only one thing, you didn't mention exactly what "varmints" you'd be after. Anything bigger than a pasture poodle, past about 250 yards, is pretty much out of the question. I mostly shoot crows with mine, and looking forward to groundhogs this spring. On our small 'yotes, it'd probably do just fine. Part of me also wants to load some 55's and try deer hunting with it this fall, but I can't quite talk myself into it.
Anyhow, good luck in your search for a varmint-ing rifle; the Triple Deuce is a classic and should serve you well should you decide to go that route.
Mac
lightman
Member
There is nothing wrong with choosing an old classic. Or in choosing something new and popular. Its a wide open market and the sky is the limit! I have a fast twist Krieger barreled Remington in 243 that can hold its own against any of the new 6mm's in a similar rifle or action. Except for maybe the 6mm BR. And some of those new hot shots may not be here in a few years.
BigBlue 94
Member
Are you sure the 204 was developed for an AR? I have one of the first guns chambered for 204, a Ruger M77 with varmint barrel and wide flat forend. Its a heck of a laser rifle!
For pesky varmints, especially yotes or long range PDs, a fast 22 or 243 is generally best around here.
22-250, 220 swift, 243, 6mm etc.
222 and 223 are fine except the longest of ranges. Get out in the windy high plains and those slower 22s can drift a good bit.
22 savage HP if you want to be real odd.
eyeshot
Member
I would add my vote to the 22-250. An awesome round. I liked the mention of the .17. Another magical cartridge. If you can find the rifle to go with it. (talking wood stocks on both for the classic aspect)
A lot of good suggestions.
A lot of good suggestions.
Bottom Gun
Member
Some of the newer controlled expansion bullets have allowed the .223 to be much more versatile.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Yes - the original / official SAAMI spec had a 1:14" twist rate specified.
The legacy spec works great with 40gr-50gr varmint bullets (with a low SD for caliber) but not so great if you want to use more modern 55gr-75gr bullets (with SD's more suitable for larger varmints and other thin-skinned critters). There is no magic to putting a fast-twist barrel on a standard 22-250 - you just do a standard rebarrel onto the 22-250 you have, only with a barrel made with a twist rate that's faster than the original SAAMI spec.
Aletheia
Member
I too think that for pure coyote rifle the .243 is ideal. Pound for pound a coyote is a very tough animal.
Jim Watson
Member
Frequent internet reference to 14 or even 12 twist .22s only being suitable for 50 grain and lighter bullets would be news to Mike Walker. Original .222 factory load was 50 gr but usually shot at targets with 52-53 gr bullets. Factory .222 Magnum, .223, and .22-250 were 55 gr. My .22-250 Ruger was accurate with 60 gr JSP (but not the longer 60 gr JHP.)
- Status
Similar threads
