Make a Varmint package, < $1000

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Slumper

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I'm looking for a rifle that could handle varmints/targets (primary duty) very well, but could also be used for deer (so it can't weight a ton). Something in .308. Assume you have thousand to spend on a scope and a rifle, what would you go with? I've looked at Tikka Varmint rifles, anyone have experience with them?
Thanks, Slumper
 
Why .308 for varmints? Something like a .243, 6mm, .257, .25-06 etc (there are lots of them) would be fine for deer and more useful for varmints. As to the rifle. I have a number of Savage and CZ rifles. All are very accurate and go for a lot less than you have budgeted. My comment would be to get as high a quality optics as you can find/afford. Too many people get a great rifle and then put a $49.95 scope on it and wonder why it won't shoot MOA.
 
<$1000 may be a bit unreasonable for what you're trying to do.

but, if that were my budget, I'd probably spend $500 on the glass, and $300 on a beat-up, shot-out old Rem 700 at a yard sale or something, and then $200 having it rebarreled.

if at all possible, I'd spend $200 on the rifle and $300 getting it rebarreled.
 
remington 700 vls - $600.
cabela's alaskan guide 6.5-20 - $330.
warne rings and bases - $50.

that leaves enough for a box of 168 hornady a-max's.

as for a dual purpose rifle... not a real good idea. it can be done, but generally it winds up being too much of a compromise, meaning it won't perform well in either role, though it is adequate in both.

the closest you'll find would be something like a remington sendero in 25-06.
 
sorry to double post, what's the accuracy of the .25-06 compared to a .308? Compared to like .243 or .22-250?
 
Well, hopefully I have a good start to a varmint package as of today, but it's not something you can just go find yourself, unfortunately, so this won't help you...but anyway, today at the gun show I picked up for $280 a customized/'sporterized' (you might say) Mauser 98k action fitted to a brand new "take-off" 26" bbl from a Remington Sendero in 243 Win, with several customizations, including smooth/drill/tap for front and rear scope mounts (included), a Boyd's trigger, and a new push forward/back safety (the Mauser safety is gone). Supposedly the action is trued and fine-tuned/fitted to the barrel - we'll see. Now we need scope and rings.
 
cabela's scopes: the alaskan guide and outfitter series scopes are good scopes. you'd be better off buying leupold over the outfitter series, but the alaskan guide is a good value for the money. great warranty, too: no questions asked. bring in the old, and walk out w/ the new the same day. they aren't leupold, but they don't have the leupold price, either.

inherent accuracy: shooting factory loads in factory guns, you will never be able to tell a difference. you couldn't even make yourself believe there was a difference no matter how bad you wanted to. if you are handloading for factory guns, again, you'll never tell a difference. the 25-06 is more fun to load for, the 308 more predictable.
 
wow that's suprising, that there would be no difference between those catridges in acccuracy with factory loads.
 
Savage Model 12FVXP. I just got one which has a 4-14X40 AO Simmons scope on it and I got the whole package for $479. I will be using mine for varmit (ie coyote, etc) and plinking/target shooting. A great value in my opinion. PLUS, I'm shooting 1/2" groups @ 100yds
:D
 
Any time I see "budget", I think "Savage"... period.

You can't get a better trigger for free, accuracy is unbelievable for the price, and they are just good, albeit unrefined tools for a job, regardless of caliber.

That said, I PERSONALLY do not feel that the 10FP with 20" barrel is "too heavy" for deer hunting, although some may disagree. It ain't light, but it's actually a little lighter than an M1A Scout.

If you don't need 1/2" groups, then the Savage 11F is as light as I'd want one to be, at around 6.5lbs, and still keeps groups under 2" with good loads.

With your given budget, you could purchase a BRAND NEW Savage rifle, and have between $450 (10FP) and $550(11F) left over for glass!
 
I'll definatly look at savage. The local shop has a stainless Tikka varmint gun in .308 .223 or .22-250 for $660, anyone know about this rifle (it's under seven pounds which is cool)? I've heard good things about Tikka. Thanks for everyone's advice so far!
 
my brother just purchased a tika in .270 and man is that action nice...i thought my winchester model 70 was nice but his bolt moves with almost no effort...my only concern with a light rifle is it seems there is greater recoil due to the fact there is less between it and your sholder.
 
Tikka T3 Varmint

Nikon Monarch UCC scope

That would be my choice
 
CZ 550 Varmint Laminate w/ Burris Signature 6-24x or maybe a Fullfield II in 6.5-20x50.
Click to expand...


+1 Strongbad :)

http://home.austin.rr.com/mikesguns/CZ550.jpg
I reacently picked a CZ up and have been thrilled with it. Just this past weekend I found a 22-250 load that works well. I was pushing under .5 inches easly.

Anyway, they make the same gun I got in .243 witch would be perfect for what you are looking for. Plus once you go set trigger you never go back.

If not the CZ than the Savages 12 series is nice, along with a Rem700 VLS. They will all shoot extremly well. Don't bother with a .308 for varmints. .243 and 22-250 are much better choices. Heck a 6.5x55 or 7mm-08 might fit the bil for ya.
 
Savage 12 series varmint. If your main used is varmint/target, and deer just every once in a while, I'd go with a .243 over a .308. Not as punishing (not that .308 is "punishing", but still), and I think .308 is overkill on varmints, but you could get it in .308 also. Top it off with a nice Leopold of your liking, and you're done. You might even have enough left over to pick up some reloading equipment which, to me, may be more important if you're after super accuracy than the name on the gun.
 
I've got a Rem. 700 VLS in .243 w/ a B&L 4-16x50. This little setup put be about $1200 back, but shoots sub-MOA w/ FACTORY ammunition. Got myself a Harris bipod and lots of ammunition and I was set.

Last year I took a turkey on our friend's farm at a measured 493 yards (in front of about 6 ol' fogeys as witnesses). One shot, one dinner. :)

Anyways, good choice in calibers. You'll be happy with a .243
 
.243 is sounding very nice...I'll look into it more, and will investigate the Rem 700 VLS. Thanks
 
Why .308 for varmints?
Click to expand...
I have a 24" Savage 10FP in .308 that I use for varmint hunting because it is the rifle in which I want to maintain proficiency.

BTW, it is scoped with an IOR-Valdada 2.5-10x42 with illuminated reticle.



Rick
 
308 for varmints for better ballistics, including wind drift... to me, shooting varmints is all about long range precision... so, on prairie dog towns, i very rarely use anything smaller than a 25-06, and spend most of my time switching out between a 308, 300 win mag, 300 wsm, and a 7 rem mag (w/ just a dash of 338 thrown in now and then). ie, i set up on a dog town, and shoot 'em wherever they are, however far they are. none of this nonsense about running all over a town, or driving, looking for simpleton shots... anyway, that's why i use a 308 for varmints.
 
Remington or Savage in either .243 or .308, or even .25-06 or .257 Roberts, or 6mm Remington.

You could get the Savage and then just have extra barrels on hand. Start with a 20" HB .308 and then get a .243 barrel with a muzzlebreak for long range varmint duty. I'm leaning that way myself but my Sav .308 is currently too accurate to mess with . :eek:


dakotasin, what .308 bullet do you use on those pdogs? I've got some corbon 125gr hollowpoints that I'm itchin to try on a varmint. Some folks seem to have good success from 110gr bullets but you have to handload those I think. Thanks.
 
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