Walkabout Varmint Rifle

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Picher

Picher

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IMG_4597.JPG My Rem 700 Stainless, 21" barreled .223 "Light Varmint" rifle. Easy to carry, fun to shoot! Has a blued replacement firing pin assembly, because the stainless one dragged, causing poor ignition and these were on-sale. "Sweet" replacement trigger is a Canjar. Bought the rifle (used), from LL Bean's Freeport store. The Remington "Repair Center" failed to find/repair the ignition problem.

Now it's great and has been "rewarded" with this Bushnell 3-12X scope (on sale). It's a bit big, but okay for now. It has a military rangefinder reticle that's a bit too fine at lower powers. Anyway, it's a nice rifle to carry on "walkabouts" or coyote "surveys" in the fields/roads down back. It's a half-minute or better rifle now.

She weighs 8.4 lbs. with scope shown. (Also, Picher-bedded, like all my rifles.)



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South Prairie Jim said:
I need to find something like that, what caliber would you suggest for wolves?
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The .223 would work if shots are under 200 yards and without grass or twigs, but not ideal.

The 6 mm Rem or .243 Win are fabulous rounds for heavier varmints and other animals including deer, or in windy situations that aren't great for .223 rounds.
 
I shot my best every coyote with that rifle in the same caliber. I believe it is a Remington 700 LVSF (Light Varmint Synthetic Fluted). We were hunting up really high, about 10,000 feet and a spring snow storm came in. We called him in during the snowstorm and I had to wait until the next day to find him. I'm 6'2" 230, to give you some perspective. I had that coyote mounted.

The unfortunately the rifle developed some headspace problems that Remington could never seem to work out. I worked with them to get a 700 LTR in .223 as a replacement. Both are great walking varmint rifles, but the LVSF has magic. I wish I still had that rifle! Congrats on a great find and enjoy that rifle.

Mattyote.jpg
 
Picher said:
My Rem 700 Stainless, 21" barreled .223 varmint rifle. Easy to carry, fun to shoot! Has a blued replacement firing pin assembly, because the stainless one dragged, causing poor ignition and these were on-sale. "Sweet" replacement trigger is a Canjar. Bought the rifle (used), from LL Bean's Freeport store and it had ignition problems due to the stainless firing pin, so carries a new, blued firing pin assembly. The Remington "Repair Center" failed to find/repair the problem.)

Now it's great and has been "rewarded" with this Bushnell 3-12X scope (on sale). It's a bit big, but okay for now. It has a military rangefinder reticle that's a bit too fine at lower powers. Anyway, it's a nice rifle to carry on "walkabouts" or coyote "surveys" in the fields/roads down back. It's a half-minute or better rifle now.

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I have the same rifle but chambered in 17 Remington. Nice size and weight for a walk-a-bout varminter.

I had to free float the barrel and replace the trigger to get reasonable accuracy, 3/4 moa or better if I do my part. But, with the slender barrel, it heats up quickly and accuracy suffers after 3 or 4 shots. Let the barrel cool and the accuracy returns.
 
Here are a couple of mine. We have a farm here in KY and adjoin another with over 350 acres to hunt, ride & explore with my grand-daughters. The two rifles here are light enough for us when a .22 just isn't fun enough!

The first is a Winchester Model 65 in .25-20, built in 1936, it'll hold its groups to an inch or a little more at 50 yds with the tang peep and supplied front sight. I hand load for it, both jacketed and cast bullets. Brass has been increasingly hard to find over the years, but I've had no trouble re-forming .32-20 Starline brass to .25-20.

The 2nd is a much prized Sako L461 Mannlicher in .222 Magnum. With Sierra Match Kings, it'll do 1/2 MOA at 200 yds. Light and easy to tote, it's everybody's favorite when we're out scouting for woodchucks. This gun is likewise tough to feed as .222 Magnum is virtually unobtainable at this writing. I've found that .204 Ruger brass is easily reformed to .222 Magnum and even the fire-forming groups are less than MOA at 100 yds. Best Regards. Rod

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IMG-0060.jpg
 
My light varmint rifle on an outing to retrieve one of my deer stands, and hoping to ambush a coyote traveling between woodlands.
H&R handi-rifle in .204 with a Tasco pronghorn 3x9. 20201220_152751.jpg

My new medium varminter is another H&R handi-rifle but this one is .223. Thumbhole stock, nikon 3x9.

20201122_152213.jpg I always thought my .204 to be a bit light for coyotes with its tiny 32grain pill. When i saw this .223 on the wall at my lgs, I knew I wanted to try it out. I already have a reserve of ammo on hand.
I have to admit that I have yet to fire it and check the zero.
 
A walk about varmint rifle? From the name/description it should be small and light (for walking about convenience) and of sufficient but not punishing power.

So I would suggest a fairly short barreled bolt rifle with a skinny 'stalking' stock. I should think a short throw bolt action (the receiver itself) to avoid as much weight and size as possible. Probably a .223 Remington/5.56mmNATO chambering, as that seems to be a rather popular and common (during sane periods) round. I like .22 Hornet, but that may be just a little shy of desired. Nor is it as popular.

I would prefer a wood stock, as I am a bit of a snob. However, a polywhatever stock would likely be less expensive and lighter than nice wood. I see it as optional. Make it rather light, as the cartridge under consideration has less than 'fierce' recoil.

Probably something like this already exists or would be easy to adapt by a manufacturer. The CZ 527 could be a good starting place, or something similar. (Does Ruger make a bolt action .223 Rem?)

I think anything larger in caliber or power would be superfluous.
 
Archie said:
A walk about varmint rifle? From the name/description it should be small and light (for walking about convenience) and of sufficient but not punishing power.

So I would suggest a fairly short barreled bolt rifle with a skinny 'stalking' stock. I should think a short throw bolt action (the receiver itself) to avoid as much weight and size as possible. Probably a .223 Remington/5.56mmNATO chambering, as that seems to be a rather popular and common (during sane periods) round. I like .22 Hornet, but that may be just a little shy of desired. Nor is it as popular.

I would prefer a wood stock, as I am a bit of a snob. However, a polywhatever stock would likely be less expensive and lighter than nice wood. I see it as optional. Make it rather light, as the cartridge under consideration has less than 'fierce' recoil.

Probably something like this already exists or would be easy to adapt by a manufacturer. The CZ 527 could be a good starting place, or something similar. (Does Ruger make a bolt action .223 Rem?)

I think anything larger in caliber or power would be superfluous.
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You mean like the Savage 25 Walking Varmint?? Yeah, that does exist. Savage Arms
 
Picher said:
The .223 would work if shots are under 200 yards and without grass or twigs, but not ideal.

The 6 mm Rem or .243 Win are fabulous rounds for heavier varmints and other animals including deer, or in windy situations that aren't great for .223 rounds.
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And in between would be the 6mmBR or 7mmBR in a light rifle
 
Here's mine, also doubles as my "big game practice rifle". rem M7 SS in .223, HS Precsion Stock, Timney trigger, Leupold VX3I 3.5-10x40 with CDS in Talley LW mounts. Sub MOA with Varget and 55 BTs, a little over 7lbs all up. It spends quite a bit of time in the UTV rack while I'm out doing chores. Positively one of my favorite rifles to just head out back and ring steel with. During a practice session:

lplnIF2h.jpg

jzurbvsh.jpg
 
Picher said:
View attachment 971368 My Rem 700 Stainless, 21" barreled .223 "Light Varmint" rifle. Easy to carry, fun to shoot! Has a blued replacement firing pin assembly, because the stainless one dragged, causing poor ignition and these were on-sale. "Sweet" replacement trigger is a Canjar. Bought the rifle (used), from LL Bean's Freeport store. The Remington "Repair Center" failed to find/repair the ignition problem.

Now it's great and has been "rewarded" with this Bushnell 3-12X scope (on sale). It's a bit big, but okay for now. It has a military rangefinder reticle that's a bit too fine at lower powers. Anyway, it's a nice rifle to carry on "walkabouts" or coyote "surveys" in the fields/roads down back. It's a half-minute or better rifle now.



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That's a snappy looking rifle. Nice setup! Easy on the shoulders.
 
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