Best rifle and scope combination?

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Goneshoot'n

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Getting ready to buy the first varmint rifle in the collection... I've decided on a 204 ruger, pretty firm on that. I was hoping to get some opinions on the best rifle and scope combination on a budget of $1000? I'll be shooting mostly coyotes or anything smaller at 300 yards or less.
 
Lots of rifles and scope that would fit the bill for your budget amount. I am sure you'll get lots of answers. I went with a CZ527 Varmint with a Vortex 6-20 Scope. You really have a lot of options for this.
 
Lots of rifles and scope that would fit the bill for your budget amount. I am sure you'll get lots of answers. I went with a CZ527 Varmint with a Vortex 6-20 Scope. You really have a lot of options for this.
You're right, the options are pretty endless. I guess mostly what I am trying to feel out is, is would it be better to buy a cheap rifle with a nice scope, the other way around, or somewhere in between? And where would that in between be?
 
Most $250 hunting scopes compete rather favorably against higher end offerings during fair weather conditions. If your varminting takes you into early or late hours then paying for better glass is worth the expense.

Any rifle you choose should comfortably accommodate the way you intend to use it. If an inexpensive one works and shoots as well as you require then why not?
 
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Most $250 hunting scopes compete rather favorably against higher end offerings during fair weather conditions. If your varminting takes you into early or late hours the paying for better glass is worth the expense.
Actually, if you are doing something like Prarie doggin’ where you look thru the scope for hours every day the better glass really pays

Anyway I have exactly the rig I think you are wanting to duplicate. It’s a .204 CZ 527 with a 4-14x40 VX-3. Light, ultra accuate with my hand loads (.4’s).

Has the single set trigger which breaks at maybe 4-6 ounces set. Scope is incredibly clear

I’d get a cheaper rifle rather than sacrifice on scope quality. I’ve had cheap scopes. Won’t do that again

Guys can tell you their mid line vortex or Nikon is just as good as the VX-3. They’re wrong

I probably have right at 1k in mine
 
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Vortex Viper and Savage, no, wait. Ruger and Leopold. No. No, aww dang hold on...

Savage and Leupold?


:)

It's the Indian, not the bow. Good arrows help though. You'll enjoy the hunting with any nice rifle and scope combination. Not so much with a cheap set though.
 
If you are shooting varmints then you want a rifle with a varmint weight barrel. Shooting at prairie dogs will heat up a pencil barrel way too fast and you'll find yourself sitting around waiting for it to cool..... I have a Remington SPS 204 Varmint that has proven to be a very accurate rifle.....and it was inexpensive to boot. I replaced the flimsy stock but it shot just fine with the tupperware one that it came with....Another good choice would be the Savage 12FV that Cabela's offers for something like $400. I don't have experience with that particular Savage but I have had (and still do have) a few Savage varmint rifles.....A model 10 FV that I built into a 6XC and a model 12 BVSS that is now a 223 AI.....The 2 rifle choices mentioned leave a lot of room for good glass....which is a must when you are looking through a scope all day.
 
Don't skimp on the scope. There are some decently accurate budget rifles available but the most accurate rifle won't show it's potential with a cheap scope that doesn't allow you to see the target with sufficient clarity. A quality scope will last for years but cheap scopes will be more likely to break at the most inopportune time. Spend at least $350 - $450 on decent glass. I have a Ruger American standard rifle in .223 that I used last year prairie dog shooting and it was surprisingly accurate for a budget rifle. I believe I got it new for $380 or so.
 
There are lots of choice on the lower end. I just bought a TC Compass and its shoot nice. Putting money into a nice scope is nice because if you like the scope you can always ditch the rifle for something better.
+1 I have to agree with dh1633pm on putting your money in the scope. Guns can change.

BTW, do you know Leupold makes a good scope? ;)
 
Getting ready to buy the first varmint rifle in the collection... I've decided on a 204 ruger, pretty firm on that. I was hoping to get some opinions on the best rifle and scope combination on a budget of $1000? I'll be shooting mostly coyotes or anything smaller at 300 yards or less.

Remington 700 tactical in 223 & Leupold is my set up for critters, I don't know if it comes in your caliber.
CZ 527 in 22 hornet is also another of my set ups, also in Leupold color. But you can't go wrong in the 204 caliber.
Like some others said, don't go cheap on the scope like I did for years, now they are just junk.
Then there is always the big dollars spent on expensive scopes is only paying for mfg advertising
in some cases.
So be ware what you want lest you get it!
 
The best rifle for each person is different. Depending on build. I suggest trying to shoulder each possibly.
For me Nikon or Vortex are great.
 
Here is an option for anyone interested in the .204 Ruger: The rifle shown here is a short action Remington 700 which I sent to Douglas Barrel Co for fitting with a medium weight .20 caliber stainless barrel. Tim Gardner is owner of the company and, with his late father, were long time promotors of the .20 caliber and were making .20 barrels long before arrival of .204 Ruger. ( This rifle is a .20 T&J wildcat.) The point is that noone makes a better .20 caliber barrel than Douglas and they are tops for fitting and chambering .20's. Meaning they offer a wide range of options for putting together a truly accurate rifle in.204 Ruger chambering at a reasonable price. Scope is now dicontinued Weaver 6-20, which is ideal power range for prairie dog rifle. DSC_0224.JPG
 
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Savage MOD 12 in 223 that way you can get ammo any place. That MOD 12 is one VERY good gun most will shoot a 1/2MOA so you can not go wrong with a group like that. GOOD LUCK
 
Buy the best rifle you can afford and if you have to, put a cheap scope on it until you can afford something better. I hunted varmints with a 2.5X Weaver on my customized Savage 110, .30-06 deer rifle in the late 50s and shot chucks out to nearly 500 yards, averaging 230 yards the year I kept records. According to an old test, there's little difference in actual aiming accuracy between a 2.5x and a 20x scope, but a big difference between iron sights and a scope of ANY power.
 
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