Looking for a good varmint rifle

[K3]

My hunting buddy has a Mini-14 that has been heavily modified and shoots sub MOA with his handloads. Bobcats, coyotes, foxes, ringtails, etc. drop like flies when in the crosshairs of this baby. Problem is, the guy that mods the minis like this died a couple of years ago. Had a heart attack when his buddy had a shotgun blow up in is face. That's another story though.

I'd like semi-auto if possible because there are times when we're calling in dogs at night, and they come in one after another. Those nights are a blast. Bolt action is not out of the question, but I prefer semi-auto.

Accuracy is key, and I'd like to keep the modifications to a minimum if possible. I have an Armalite M15A4 that I could mod if necessary, but like I said, I don't want to do that if I can avoid it.

Most of our shots are between 50 - 100 yards at night with a red spotlight on the critters. The longest we've taken a dog was 125 yards at night.

Caliber? Well, obviously we use .223, but I'm open to others. I'll be handloading whatever I'm shooting.

Any advice, thoughts, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brian Williams]

You already have an AR, get a new varmint upper and a good trigger.

Then later you can get a dedicated lower for it.

 

[K3]

Hmm, that sounds like it has promise. Any suggestions brandwise?

 

[erict]

I'll 2nd a varmint AR upper!

I'd snag a 20-24" AR upper. I bought mine from J&T Distributors for $415. It's a 24" SS fluted Shaw bbl and it's flat top for whatever optics you want to use.

If you consider the bolt action route, I also have a Savage 10fp Tac. in .223 and I'd highly recommend it as well. Either of the mentioned rifles will put 5 rounds within the size of a quarter at 100 yds.

 

[K3]

I'm definitely going to research the new upper.

Now, are their any other good semi-autos out there? I know that a bolt action .223 will work very well - especially the RIGHT bolt action .223, and I always keep that as an option.

I've heard good things about various .22-250 rifles and I also have played around with some .17 cal job. Can't remember the exact details on it though.

I'm mostly a deer & elk guy, but I enjoy varmint hunting quite a bit. I shot a bobcat at 260 yards last weekend with my .300, but there's a hole that needs a little TLC before tanning.

 

[Glockfan.45]

Hell at 50-100 yards you dont need to do anything to an AR. I hunt yotes with my box stock 10/22, and Bushmaster M4gery with great results. No mods to either rifle just red dot scopes. BTW with the M4 I just use bulk FMJ range ammo, no fancy high dollar hollow points for me. In the 10/22 I use CCI Stingers. My dad for lack of a smaller gun at the moment uses a Remington 710 in .270win, it drops coyotes like a stone, and damn near blows possums in half. If you want real fun yote hunting try doing it with a shotgun sometime .

 

[quatin]

Ever thought about an AK? There's a .223 saiga.

 

[K3]

The thing is, I want to be able to put the round in a specific area so as not to tear up too much of the hide.
$$$

I agree that for a dog, a stock AR would be fine, but for a little grey fox I need a tack driver. I'm so used to the accuracy of my friend's mini that I guess I'm a bit spoiled. On a benchrest with handloads, you can dang near hit the same hole three times at 50 yards. At 100 yards, hitting a dime repeatedly is no problem.

My current AR is not accurate enough for varmint hunting.

 

[rangerruck]

I second the saiga, 16 inch bbl. also get a used marlin 99m2 in 22 mag, very light and very handy.

 

[Glockfan.45]

Ok I got ya. I just kill the things because they are a pain in the rear and I hate them so pin point accuracy isnt a concern for me. If you want a tack driver bolt action is the way to go. I have a Tika T3 that will put rifles costing 2x as much to shame.

 

[Chilean]

CZ-550 Varmint

 

[atblis]

Ha

My hunting buddy has a Mini-14 that has been heavily modified and shoots sub MOA with his handloads.

What'd he do, melt it down and make an AR out of it?

You're not going to beat an AR for semi auto varmint accuracy.

Your current Rifle sounds fine. Get the trigger decent and put some good glass on it.

 

[K3]

It's had about 2K worth of upgrades and TLC. The guy that modded these rigs was a wizard with them. Trust me when I say it's very accurate.

I know that stock minis aren't all that accurate.

Edit: I don't want to spend a bunch of $$ to mod a gun to get that kind of accuracy. Some people prefer minis, and this guy catered to a niche market. Of the 6 guys I hunt with, I'm the only one that doesn't have one. A new upper and trigger for my AR does sound pretty good though.

 

[K3]

If my bonus is big enough this year, I may get an upper for my AR and get a nice bolt-action. After all, one can't limit oneself.

 

[atblis]

THat's

a whole lotta turd polishing.

Your AR will probably do that as it is now.

A4 is the removablye handle flat top deal, yes? If so, what do you have optics wise on it?

 

[erict]

Theses guys are correct about using your current AR.

I also have a 16" DSA flat top. Even with the front sight tower on it, there is no affect on the scope whatsoever. I have a cheap 3x9-40 Simmons scope on it and it will blow the top right off of a Coke bottle at 60 yards or so. I haven't shot this one any farther than 60 or so yards but I'm sure it would perform just fine at 100 too.

 

[Outlaws]

The thing is, I want to be able to put the round in a specific area so as not to tear up too much of the hide.
$$$

I agree that for a dog, a stock AR would be fine, but for a little grey fox I need a tack driver. I'm so used to the accuracy of my friend's mini that I guess I'm a bit spoiled. On a benchrest with handloads, you can dang near hit the same hole three times at 50 yards. At 100 yards, hitting a dime repeatedly is no problem.

My current AR is not accurate enough for varmint hunting.

If my bonus is big enough this year, I may get an upper for my AR and get a nice bolt-action. After all, one can't limit oneself.

Well, its a bolt action, and its only a single shot, by Cooper will do that. Its not cheap either, but its a nice bolt action.

I would say stick with the AR upper. I haven't used a varmint upper, but I can't see many other semi auto options being as accurate as I hear the varmint AR's are. I don't think Brownings BAR comes in .223, but that is a semi auto. As for accuracy on that, I don't know.

IMO there really are not a lot of options. Everything is a bolt action or an AR.

 

[K3]

a whole lotta turd polishing.

Your AR will probably do that as it is now.

A4 is the removablye handle flat top deal, yes? If so, what do you have optics wise on it?

My AR won't do that as-is. I'm lucky if it'll do 3" groups at 100 yards. I got a good deal on it. Maybe there's a reason for that....

Optics need an upgrade. It's a Swift 3X-9X. I need a scope that gathers light better since we do our predator hunting at night using a red spotlight. Plus, my own MKI eyeball doesn't do nighttime as well as it used to. I need a little help.

 

[K3]

I would say stick with the AR upper. I haven't used a varmint upper, but I can't see many other semi auto options being as accurate as I hear the varmint AR's are. I don't think Brownings BAR comes in .223, but that is a semi auto. As for accuracy on that, I don't know.

IMO there really are not a lot of options. Everything is a bolt action or an AR.

I believ that's the route I'm going. The upper that is. Now it's time to research and start comparing prices. If money permits, I'll get a BA in .223 too.

 

[Outlaws]

My AR won't do that as-is. I'm lucky if it'll do 3" groups at 100 yards. I got a good deal on it. Maybe there's a reason for that....

Optics need an upgrade. It's a Swift 3X-9X. I need a scope that gathers light better since we do our predator hunting at night using a red spotlight. Plus, my own MKI eyeball doesn't do nighttime as well as it used to. I need a little help.

If I may make nother suggestion.....

I don't know about Swift scopes at all. But I see them on the 3-9x on Froogle right now for anywhere from $89-$250. Given that your AR is only getting 3" at 100 yards, have you considered you might have a parallaxing problem with your scope? (thats where depending on where your eye looks through the scope, the cross hair changes its point of aim slightly. just a slight head movement can change it)

If you are serious about varmint hunting, I say get a GOOD peice of glass before spending more money on your rifle. That might cut your group in half, and when you get that Varmint Upper, keep you from wondering why it still only groups 3".

 

[K3]

If I may make nother suggestion.....

I don't know about Swift scopes at all. But I see them on the 3-9x on Froogle right now for anywhere from $89-$250. Given that your AR is only getting 3" at 100 yards, have you considered you might have a parallaxing problem with your scope? (thats where depending on where your eye looks through the scope, the cross hair changes its point of aim slightly. just a slight head movement can change it)

If you are serious about varmint hunting, I say get a GOOD peice of glass before spending more money on your rifle. That might cut your group in half, and when you get that Varmint Upper, keep you from wondering why it still only groups 3".

I think you may be on to something. I'm partial to Leupold scopes as that's what I have on my deer and elk popguns. I'm probably going to put a VXIII on my AR pretty soon. I was going to do it regardless of whether or not I changed the upper and the trigger.

Damn 3" groups....

When that gets me down, I switch to my .300 and fire a few rounds. Then I feel better and can leave the range in a good mood. Like I posted before, I hit a bobcat at 260 yards the other morning. But, it is just a tad too much gun for a little cat. Couldn't pass up the shot though - a 35# male with very nice spots on his undercarriage.