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Post by broper on Apr 19, 2012 9:42:52 GMT -7
newb,
you really need a centerfire if you are going to get serious about varmint hunting. Do some resarch on different caliber/cartridges. Pick one you like, shoot it lots, get familiar with it and findout which load works best in your gun. Maybe get into handloading eventually, you can come up with a lot of different loads and have a wide variety of bullets and weights to work with. It's a lot of fun working up loads and finding which load works best in your particular rifle. There are lots of good varmint and coyote cartridges and guns out there. Everybody has their own favorite. In my opinion the .22/.250 is about the best all around varmint cartridge, can be used for everything from whistle pigs to coyotes and in a pinch can be used for antelope and deer. Mainly, just pick one that appeals to you, work with it, get fammiliar with it. You'll do good. Come and join our club, it's a good way to learn about varmint hunting and gain some experience.
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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on Apr 19, 2012 11:34:19 GMT -7
The Remington 597 in 22LR is a good choice for "whistlepiggin" 22LR ammo is fairly inexpensive, and you can find it anywhere, anytime, if you have the occasion of running out of ammo on a hunt or shoot somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
A good reliable gun and a good scope of 3x9x40 or better would be a great shooting iron.
But like broper said, a good varmint gun in a center fire would be a good idea. A rifle chambered in 223, 22-250, 243 Win, would be calibers that I would go with.
The 223 Rem. would be a good choice for someone that does not reload, because ammo can be bought on sale for a good price, especially if you are shooting alot, unless you know someone that does reload, and they can help you out with it, then any one of the above calibers would be great.
I would look into one of the Savage rifles, Model 10 Predator, or Model 11 or 12 - with the accutrigger. With a Bushnell 4x18x40 scope. Perfect varmint rifle for administering lead varmint medicine.
Gary
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Post by Eric on Apr 19, 2012 20:39:40 GMT -7
Good to hear the information on the .204 and the 22-250. Im new to both calibers but plan on getting them out there for coyotes this year. Ive been using the new Nosler Varmaggedon bullets because they are cheap and so far show good accuracy, 55 gr for 22-250 and 32gr for the .204. Ive been getting great accuracy with the 22-250 but havent had enough trigger time behind the .204 to report anything. Sadly Ive under utilized the 22-250 by only shooting whistle pigs with it so far.
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Post by broper on Apr 20, 2012 6:56:30 GMT -7
I haven't killed anything bigger than whistle pigs with my .204 yet. Hope to cure that before to long though.
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Post by maverick on May 2, 2012 9:54:59 GMT -7
I love my 22-250 but for saving the pelts I was thinking of a way to try and build a 20-250 hoping for no exit. Still have speed, and down range accuracy and killing power with a 20 cal. What do you guys think?
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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on May 2, 2012 10:27:27 GMT -7
hey maverick,
Good to see you here!
My hunting partner and I save the pelts also. I shot a 22-250 Remington 700V. I have recently changed bullets in my reloads.
I have gone to the Sierra 52 gr Match HP Boattail, or the 53 gr Match HP Flatbase. Both shoot really well from my gun, and my hunting partners gun (700 Rem)
Last year I and my huting partner shot over a dozen coyotes, only one exit hole. I have shot coyotes at ranges from 40 yard to 312 yards, no exits. You really should try them before investing in another gun/cartridge.
I am putting them out there at about 3600-3650 fps. using H380 powder or IMR4064.
The 20 cal bullet is fine, but even with the 22-250, I have a good drift issue if the wind in blowing - can't imagine how that would be intensified with the 20 cal bullet.
Good Hunting,
Gary
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Post by dogslayer on May 15, 2012 19:03:58 GMT -7
I normally use a savage 204 or a 22-250. Alot of people under estimate the 204, I use the 204 about 80% of the time for varmint.
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Post by Eric on May 15, 2012 21:32:18 GMT -7
Hey Dogslayer, are you using factory ammo or reloads for your Savage 204? Im still working on load development for my Savage 204 (model 12 FCV) so Im curious as to what others are using.
BRoper pointed me to the 40 gr v-max which seem to be shooting better than the 32 gr bullets.
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