Low Recoil Varmint Rifle

[Legionnaire]

Another vote for the .223. There are more exotic cartridges, but a good .223 is the cat's meow. Factory ammo is available everywhere, and comparatively inexpensive. Match grade ammo is also available, and a reloader has even more options. Shot this group just yesterday ... Federal 69gr Gold Medal Match.

 

[6.5swede]

223 would be my vote secondary to ammo availability/options. A Tikka T3 with 8 twist is very versatile (or any fast twist 223). I also love the 204 and 222. I was close to buying another 223 recently until this 222 Sako L461 Vixen made me a deal I couldn't refuse. It shoots 40gr NBT's very well (amongst several other bullets) and is more than adequate for Yotes out to 250yds or so. The L461 action is a real gem in 222 or 223.

 

[roc1]

Any of the 22 centerfires are great. I have one of each 222 223 22-250 220 Swift all are excellent. I had a 204 good guns but would not do any thing the 22 centerfires would not do and they do it better since the larger bullets work great on deer as well. The 22-250 or Swift.
Roc 1

 

[Texan Scott]

What kind of varmints?

I notice everyone has a preference for 'their' varmints, but the OP hasn't said what kind of vermin he intends to shoot. big difference between .22LR-class vermin and .243-class vermin, i'd imagine... then again, a good single-shot driving .38 wadcutter or .410 birdshot... squirrels? coyotes? feral dogs, chihuahua mix to bull terrier (my area has lots of both, especially chihuahuas... they breed like mice, and seem to live off small amounts of ANYTHING).

 

[MrDig]

I own one of these
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=46&section=products
It shoots well and has features that normally make other rifles cost much more.
As for Recoil it is really light and I am happy as a pig in slop with the gun.

 

[sansone]

.243win if you want a multi-purpose gun..
otherwise .223 or maybe..
.22-250 (for long shots)

 

[Maverick223]

Personally I use a 6mmRem. and I have grown to like it a lot, but for a 300yd. varmint rifle I see no reason to go with anything beyond a .223Rem. It will be much more affordable to shoot, quieter, be slower to heat up (if that's a consideration), and have all the performance necessary to get the job done.

 

[Dthunter]

Try a TC contender in 6TCU.
Very cheap for brass,accurate, small powder appetite and high BC .243/6mm bullet. Good in the wind and VERY low recoil.
It works great on deer also!