TOMBECK
Member
The 218 Mashburn Bee (near the 222 Rem range), the 219 Zipper (in the 223 range), and the great 222 Rem are three worth looking at. Single shot, leaver action (Marlin and Winchester) and bolt guns.
Looking to add another varmint cartridge, but what?
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beatledog7
Member
Mossberg MVP.
Bolt-action chambered in 5.56 that uses your AR-15 mags and can be had in a variety of barrel and stock configurations.
Bolt-action chambered in 5.56 that uses your AR-15 mags and can be had in a variety of barrel and stock configurations.
jakk280rem
Member
Ruger also chambers their Hawkeye in 222 on occasion.
redmule
Member
One of my favorite rifles is an older Remington 700 ADL 222 with a Redfield fixed 10X scope. Just a fun shooting useful rifle. But I always wanted a high velocity 17 of some kind.
Red mule
Red mule
witchhunter
Member
I am in the same boat, I need to rebarrel my .17 Remington and I have narrowed it down to a .222 Rem or a .222 Remington magnum. I just can't decide. I have a .221 and a Hornet in contender pistol, .218 Bee, .223, .22/250 and .220 Swift AI and .243, all in bolts. I want another little gun, but I want one that won't burn up a barrel either. I will eventually get another .
17, I love my .221 contender too.
17, I love my .221 contender too.
Kernel
Member
6x45 and 6mm TCU are fun little cartridges. .223 brass necked up to 6mm. Easy as heck to make.
bannockburn
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If I were looking for another varmint caliber I would probably go with the .22-250 as others have already suggested.
redneck2
Member
If your Hornet won't shoot decent groups, I'd guess it is a Ruger. I had the same thing. Mine went away so I could move up to a CZ in Hornet and get the accuracy I want.
You've got the whole range covered in the .22 caliber market. I'd get the CZ or even step up to a Cooper, etc. and get real accuracy. Only real upgrade I can see if you want to stay with .22 cal
You've got the whole range covered in the .22 caliber market. I'd get the CZ or even step up to a Cooper, etc. and get real accuracy. Only real upgrade I can see if you want to stay with .22 cal
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Kerf
Member
Regarding the .22 Hornet…
A couple of things you can do to make them shoot more better and have more fun:
Run a reamer in there and have it turned into a K-Hornet. That improves accuracy and velocity. That’s the best thing you can do for that cartridge. I’ve been through a bunch of Hornets and IMHO, the K route vastly improves that cartridge. Sort of, brings it into the modern era.
Secondly, the problem with the Hornet accuracy-wise is the rim; some are thick and some are thin. Since they’re head spacing on the rim, you want to separate your cases by rim thickness and you’ll find they shoot a lot better that way. Similar to gauging .22 rim fire ammo.
Third, use the old concentricity gauge on the bullet to find the high point and mark that with a felt tip marker on the base of case, then load them in the chamber with the same orientation. I’ve never tried bumping them into alignment on the Hornady gauge, so I don’t know how well that works.
Lastly, once you have the K-Hornet thing going, try neck turning the high spots, not the entire neck, just the high spots. Neck size only after getting your brass all set up and you’ll be good to go.
Looking over the .22 calibers you have, you really could use a .222 Rem, and a 22-250. Two different bolt faces are required. Or, you could break out of the box and go with a .17-222 Mag. Or, I’ll let you in on a big secret; the .244 Rem with the 1-12 twist in a sporter weight barrel makes a great varmint round. The 1-12 twist allows much higher velocities over what’s published in reloading manuals. Pssst! Don’t tell anyone I told ya’ that.
kerf
A couple of things you can do to make them shoot more better and have more fun:
Run a reamer in there and have it turned into a K-Hornet. That improves accuracy and velocity. That’s the best thing you can do for that cartridge. I’ve been through a bunch of Hornets and IMHO, the K route vastly improves that cartridge. Sort of, brings it into the modern era.
Secondly, the problem with the Hornet accuracy-wise is the rim; some are thick and some are thin. Since they’re head spacing on the rim, you want to separate your cases by rim thickness and you’ll find they shoot a lot better that way. Similar to gauging .22 rim fire ammo.
Third, use the old concentricity gauge on the bullet to find the high point and mark that with a felt tip marker on the base of case, then load them in the chamber with the same orientation. I’ve never tried bumping them into alignment on the Hornady gauge, so I don’t know how well that works.
Lastly, once you have the K-Hornet thing going, try neck turning the high spots, not the entire neck, just the high spots. Neck size only after getting your brass all set up and you’ll be good to go.
Looking over the .22 calibers you have, you really could use a .222 Rem, and a 22-250. Two different bolt faces are required. Or, you could break out of the box and go with a .17-222 Mag. Or, I’ll let you in on a big secret; the .244 Rem with the 1-12 twist in a sporter weight barrel makes a great varmint round. The 1-12 twist allows much higher velocities over what’s published in reloading manuals. Pssst! Don’t tell anyone I told ya’ that.
kerf
tactikel
Member
.204 Ruger- a bit of over lap with the hornet and bee, but with the .223 and swift you are covered up to a 6mm.
doc2rn
Member
I would just go with a Rem 700 SPS varmiter in .223 but thats me.
Brockak47
Member
I can't remember which caliber it is, but every time I go to Walmart it is ALWAYS in stock. It is either 22-250,243, or .222 but in this time with ammo hard to get you might want to think about that.
jim in Anchorage
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Why would anyone with a .220 swift want a 22-250?
osteodoc08
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I love my Kimber Varmint in 22-250. Beautiful and way more accurate than I am.
That being said, I'm still looking for the perfect 223 AR varmint rifle.....
Bolt or semi auto.....
That being said, I'm still looking for the perfect 223 AR varmint rifle.....
Bolt or semi auto.....
dubbleA
Member
jim in Anchorage said:
In my case I purchased a couple of 220 Swifts years ago but have since added three 22-250's to my stable too. The later has many more rifle choices to choose from. In my case it's that and had good deals come up.
What I cant figure out is that we also have folks recommending the 204 Ruger, 243 Win, 6mmTCU, 17 Fireball, 17 HMR etc.
I am thinking a lot of people are not reading and understanding the OP's question. It's called reading comprehension.
He clearly states his personal requirements below.
stuffisgood said:
redneck2
Member
I guess guys just want him to think of something different. Me personally, if I had a good shooting _____ caliber, I don't see a need for another. I can only shoot one at a time, so I try to get ones that are REAL accurate. If you want multiples, have at it.
I'd spend the money on a really good one. A really accurate one. And on a really, really good scope. And if I had more to spend, it would be on loading gear and components. And then a good spotting scope. And them a good portable bench. And then a really good bench rest set up to hold it steady.
I have friends that have a safe full of what I consider crap guns. They're all proud because they have fifty, sixty guns. I wouldn't trade five of any of theirs for my best one.
But hey, maybe that's just me. I understand what you mean about the replies. Some posts are immune to previous input.
I'd spend the money on a really good one. A really accurate one. And on a really, really good scope. And if I had more to spend, it would be on loading gear and components. And then a good spotting scope. And them a good portable bench. And then a really good bench rest set up to hold it steady.
I have friends that have a safe full of what I consider crap guns. They're all proud because they have fifty, sixty guns. I wouldn't trade five of any of theirs for my best one.
But hey, maybe that's just me. I understand what you mean about the replies. Some posts are immune to previous input.
husbandofaromanian
Member
22lr...!!!
stubbicatt
Member
The CZ is a beautiful and accurate rifle. If you wish to stay in the 22 caliber bore, the 22-250 is the obvious hole in your collection. If you wanted to do something different, just for grins, build you a 22-250 with a 7 twist and shoot the uber heavies with it. Nothing like a 1000 yard 22 rifle!
If you are willing to stray from the self imposed 22 caliber limitation, look at the 243. That is a very versatile cartridge, and components run from 55 grain to 115 grain bullets, with the extremely accurate benchrest offerings thrown in there. I don't think you would be unhappy with such a choice. I really enjoy the 243, just enough "snap" in the recoil to be entertaining, and very fast on target. --One of the contributors has suggested that the 22-250 is a 4200 fps cartridge, and while some may be doing so, it is my understanding that it can only be accomplished at dangerously high pressures. The 243 with 55 grain bullets does it without "stretching the barrel" so to speak.
If you are willing to stray from the self imposed 22 caliber limitation, look at the 243. That is a very versatile cartridge, and components run from 55 grain to 115 grain bullets, with the extremely accurate benchrest offerings thrown in there. I don't think you would be unhappy with such a choice. I really enjoy the 243, just enough "snap" in the recoil to be entertaining, and very fast on target. --One of the contributors has suggested that the 22-250 is a 4200 fps cartridge, and while some may be doing so, it is my understanding that it can only be accomplished at dangerously high pressures. The 243 with 55 grain bullets does it without "stretching the barrel" so to speak.
SwampWolf
Member
My thoughts exactly. Actually, my varmint rifle battery in terms of cartridge chambering is exactly the same as the op's, sans the Bee. In terms of adding to his existing inventory as a means of broadening the scope of varmint types and ranges to be hunted, even though he is looking to reload for the new rifle, I'd suggest a nice .22 Magum bolt-action on the "small" end. And, even though he professed a desire to keep the caliber in the .22 size, because his current .22 selection seems to cover the gamut for what most .22s are best at, on the "large" end, especially in windy conditions, I'd recommend something like a .25-06 or a .257 Weatherby Magnum.
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