Thinking of purchasing a varmint rifle.
- Thread starter flynnskihobbin
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BigN
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I just bought one last week from Bromley's Gun Shop over the net. $499 but there is also a $75 Remington rebate on top of that so you're looking at around $425 for the gun. Sounds like a lot of money for the scope...
flynnskihobbin
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so you purchased a 700 sps varmint? is the stock really that big of a deal?
unwise11
Member
If you are going the .223 route I would advise the tactical model, it has a faster twist and will allow you to use bullets up to 70 grains and 75 if you are lucky.
Not to mention is has a Hogue stock and is the same price.
Not to mention is has a Hogue stock and is the same price.
Red Cent
Member
Food for thought.
Remington rifle barrels (and many others) have freebore. They do this so you can shoot little and big bullets.
If you want to wring out the accuracy of a rifle, have an action barreled for a known favorite load and seat the bullet accordingly.
Having said that, the purchase by the OP is a very decent buy. However; we need pics and a follow up report.
Remington rifle barrels (and many others) have freebore. They do this so you can shoot little and big bullets.
If you want to wring out the accuracy of a rifle, have an action barreled for a known favorite load and seat the bullet accordingly.
Having said that, the purchase by the OP is a very decent buy. However; we need pics and a follow up report.
Awsomepossum
Member
your in the same boat as me,look at tikkas there great
Fullboar1
Member
Awsomepossum above knows a great rifle.
flynnskihobbin make sure you have a look at the Tikka Varmint or Super Varmint. Unlike the Remington they already have a bedded action and floated barrel. The Tikka is not picky what ammo you put through it and comes with an accuracy guarantee to shoot 3 shot sub MOA groups with "ANY" factory ammo (but believe me they shoot much better then that especially in the Varmint profile with Handloads or Match Grade ammo). The Tikka also has one of the bet triggers on any factory rifle (so theres no need to go to an after market job). In my opinion all these things (bedded action, floated barrel and trigger) will save you money over the Remington and not being picky with ammo will probably save you time and frustration as well.
I think if you want to take varmints out to 500 yards you would be better off with a 22-250 or 243 as the 223's max range is 350 yards (and thats pushing it). As far as scopes go I would get a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 they cost around $900 but for the money IMHO you cant get anything that compares (IMO Leupold's best scopes that cost twice as much don't even compare) and it will be something you can leave your grandkids in your will. Next best would be the Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 for around $700 or a standard Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 for around $375 or 6.5-20x50 for around $450.
Good Luck with it all
flynnskihobbin make sure you have a look at the Tikka Varmint or Super Varmint. Unlike the Remington they already have a bedded action and floated barrel. The Tikka is not picky what ammo you put through it and comes with an accuracy guarantee to shoot 3 shot sub MOA groups with "ANY" factory ammo (but believe me they shoot much better then that especially in the Varmint profile with Handloads or Match Grade ammo). The Tikka also has one of the bet triggers on any factory rifle (so theres no need to go to an after market job). In my opinion all these things (bedded action, floated barrel and trigger) will save you money over the Remington and not being picky with ammo will probably save you time and frustration as well.
I think if you want to take varmints out to 500 yards you would be better off with a 22-250 or 243 as the 223's max range is 350 yards (and thats pushing it). As far as scopes go I would get a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 they cost around $900 but for the money IMHO you cant get anything that compares (IMO Leupold's best scopes that cost twice as much don't even compare) and it will be something you can leave your grandkids in your will. Next best would be the Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 for around $700 or a standard Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 for around $375 or 6.5-20x50 for around $450.
Good Luck with it all
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jpwilly
Member
Savage 10 in .260 with good 6-24x AO scope would work wonders on those yotes or I'd pick a .243 if you want a common caliber.
Here's mine in 308...Got it shooting good this weekend too - loaded just off the lands.
Prior to the Vortex scope it had the Centerpoint from wally world that worked okay but optics left some on the table Clarity wise...
Here's mine in 308...Got it shooting good this weekend too - loaded just off the lands.
Prior to the Vortex scope it had the Centerpoint from wally world that worked okay but optics left some on the table Clarity wise...
TexasPatriot.308
Member
skipbo..a 788 in .22-250 ...wish I had the spare cash, would suck that up in a hearbeat...you should have no problem selling it for a good price..
Most of the scopes that are cheap crap aren't made in Japan, Japan is pretty much like the US now, it costs too much to make it there. They are made in China or the Philipines, or Malaysia. So I don't know if you associate Japan with cheap, but just being made in Japan certainly doesn't mean it is cheap. The best lenses outside of Germany are made in Japan. I am pretty sure there are no high quality lense producers in the US.
TexasPatriot.308.............
what do 788's in 22-250 usually go for? mine is in very good condition, only shot 200rds, front site is missing, and the stock needs a little refinishing......the scope on it is some cheap walmart scope that needs to be changed.
the 788's have kind of a "cult" following dont they?
what do 788's in 22-250 usually go for? mine is in very good condition, only shot 200rds, front site is missing, and the stock needs a little refinishing......the scope on it is some cheap walmart scope that needs to be changed.
the 788's have kind of a "cult" following dont they?
Fullboar1
Member
Yes Made in Japan assembled in the USA. Theres no such thing as a cheap Japanese scope. Most of your higher end scopes that arn't made in Japan (like made in the USA ect) are made with Japanese lenses because they are really good. I think you will find that most of the cheap "junk" scopes you are talking about are made in China and the Philippines. If most of the cheap scope on the market were made in Japan I dont think we would see all these "I purchased a crap scope" threads. Give me a nice German or Japanese scope anyday.splithoof said:
I'd also echo going to a .243 for those longer shots on coyotes at 300 yards or more. An all-around varmint scope is a 4.5-14x Mueller. I just got one and feel it's perfect for all the varmint hunting I do. Much more power and it becomes a bench-only rifle.
Years ago, I used to love the 6mm Rem, but found the rifle too heavy to lug around the 'chuck fields. Now I have a .243 Win and it's fantastic. It is also very good on deer.
Group tightness doesn't mean as much for long range hunting as reduced wind deflection. Wind is more difficult to judge than distance/trajectory. A rifle that groups 1 MOA can kill a lot of varmints out to 400 yards, provided the bullet's wind deflection is relatively low. The 85-90 grain 6mm boattails are great in the wind. Better .243s can shoot 1/2" groups, but can hit long-range varmints way better than a .223.
Recoil with the .243 Win is mild, but barrels heat up faster than the .223 Rem. That's not a problem for most hunters.
Years ago, I used to love the 6mm Rem, but found the rifle too heavy to lug around the 'chuck fields. Now I have a .243 Win and it's fantastic. It is also very good on deer.
Group tightness doesn't mean as much for long range hunting as reduced wind deflection. Wind is more difficult to judge than distance/trajectory. A rifle that groups 1 MOA can kill a lot of varmints out to 400 yards, provided the bullet's wind deflection is relatively low. The 85-90 grain 6mm boattails are great in the wind. Better .243s can shoot 1/2" groups, but can hit long-range varmints way better than a .223.
Recoil with the .243 Win is mild, but barrels heat up faster than the .223 Rem. That's not a problem for most hunters.
JD Morris makes a good point: the tactical 700 will have a Hogue stock (which is better than the standard plastic one) and the 1:9 barrel twist rate will allow you to shoot heavier bullets that buck the wind better. The downside of the Tactical model is that you may lose a bit of velocity by dropping down to the 20" barrel.
Personally, I am looking really hard at the CZ 527 Varmint. It has a 24" 1:9 barrel.
For scopes, no way would I go with the Bushnell Banner. I would start the scope search by looking at Vortex Diamondbacks and Nikon Buckmasters.
Personally, I am looking really hard at the CZ 527 Varmint. It has a 24" 1:9 barrel.
For scopes, no way would I go with the Bushnell Banner. I would start the scope search by looking at Vortex Diamondbacks and Nikon Buckmasters.
flynnskihobbin
Member
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well I placed my order.
LH Remington 700 SPS Varmint .243...(The tactical looked nice but the lack of being right handed was the deal breaker...I've shot a right handed bolt before and was not thrilled working the bolt that way.)
Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 side focus with BDC reticle.
Harris 6-9" non rotating bipod.
Plan on trying Federal's Power Shok 80 gr. loaded with Speer Hot-Cor SPs...read somewhere that it's a decent Deer/Coyote round.
LH Remington 700 SPS Varmint .243...(The tactical looked nice but the lack of being right handed was the deal breaker...I've shot a right handed bolt before and was not thrilled working the bolt that way.)
Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 side focus with BDC reticle.
Harris 6-9" non rotating bipod.
Plan on trying Federal's Power Shok 80 gr. loaded with Speer Hot-Cor SPs...read somewhere that it's a decent Deer/Coyote round.
BigN
Member
Flynn - the stock on the 700 sps feels great. All my guns here have synthetic stocks on them. I just like the looks and feel of them better than wood. The only wooden stock I have is on a trap shotgun. You'll love the gun...
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