loads of Great info , if your wife shoots a lot then get her something in the 22-250 range if not the 223 will do what needs doing, as will the 222 remington. in what rifle? its pretty much a toss-up, take her shopping for her rifle , let her get the feel of different stocks etc... tell her cost does matter in rifles as well as with clothing no pun intended, give her free rain but protect her from ignorant aggressive sales people, keep us informed on this out come!!!! Women are fantastic shoots , tell them THAT!!!!! guy''s .... regards too all jjmp
Best Varmit rifle/Caliber out there
- Thread starter bsick1
- Start date
cal sibley
Beginner
- Nov 17, 2005
- 78
- 0
If your wife is going to be using the rifle you might give some thought to its weight. My Remigton VLS, while a very good shooting varmint rifle weights about 12lbs. My custom .22-250 runs about 13lbs. Neither is very appropriate for a woman to lug around woodchuck fields unless you have a golf cart to tote it in. In recent years I'm starting to swing back the other way, towards portability. Best wishes.
Cal - Montreal
Cal - Montreal
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 0
Brithunter wrote: "I was just wondering why the ole .222 Remington is not suggested anymore?...."
When Eugene Stoner developed the AR15, which became the US M16, in the 1950s, he used the .222Magnum. The cartridge worked very well but the US Military dickered with it, wanting something more and the military 5.56mm/.223Rem was born. The .223Rem pretty much killed the .222Mag, because very near to being identical and the .223Rem was produced in much higher numbers, causing prices to drop and make it very attractive. I think that the .222Rem simply declined along with its' Magnum brother, in the face of competition from the .223Rem.
Like many older cartridges that are "discovered" by firearms journalists, I believe that the .222Rem is poised for a comeback!
When Eugene Stoner developed the AR15, which became the US M16, in the 1950s, he used the .222Magnum. The cartridge worked very well but the US Military dickered with it, wanting something more and the military 5.56mm/.223Rem was born. The .223Rem pretty much killed the .222Mag, because very near to being identical and the .223Rem was produced in much higher numbers, causing prices to drop and make it very attractive. I think that the .222Rem simply declined along with its' Magnum brother, in the face of competition from the .223Rem.
Like many older cartridges that are "discovered" by firearms journalists, I believe that the .222Rem is poised for a comeback!
remingtonman_25_06
Handloader
- Nov 17, 2005
- 2,805
- 399
ANything the 223 does, the 222 will do it with better accuracy and only lose 100fps. Why the military didn't adopt the 222 is beyond me. Mike Walker is a genious. It ruled the BR community for 20 years, I can see why. I have shot a couple .1 groups with it, 3 shots are 1 rounded bug hole. Several loads group under .25" at 100 yards. All this coming from a sporter weight rifle. I dont like 223 simply for the fact that everyone else likes it. I usualy like to be a little different :grin:
texas_shooter
Beginner
- Feb 22, 2006
- 10
- 0
If I could only have one "Varmint" caliber it would probably be the 22-250, but I really like the .223 Rem for Prairie Dogs
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 0
texas shooter wrote: "If I could only have one "Varmint" caliber ...."
While the .223Rem and 22-250 seem to still reign supreme for varminting. The .20cal seems to be making headway. I have not fired a .17cal centerfire, but I am suspect as to how that light bullet can buck wind in areas where prairie dogs are taken?
Unless the .222 cartridge sees a great resurgence of interest, it will languish in the back water, used by those who are dedicated to the .222 and reload too. I have noticed that when I get a used rifle in .222 to sell, it goes quickly.
While the .223Rem and 22-250 seem to still reign supreme for varminting. The .20cal seems to be making headway. I have not fired a .17cal centerfire, but I am suspect as to how that light bullet can buck wind in areas where prairie dogs are taken?
Unless the .222 cartridge sees a great resurgence of interest, it will languish in the back water, used by those who are dedicated to the .222 and reload too. I have noticed that when I get a used rifle in .222 to sell, it goes quickly.
Michael Courtney
Beginner
- Mar 2, 2006
- 15
- 0
I've got a Rem 700 Sendero in 25-06. I don't think any of the calibers you suggested comes close out beyond 500 yards.
Michael Courtney
Michael Courtney
CamoWildcat
Beginner
- Mar 20, 2006
- 118
- 0
Agreeing with several of the responders, 22-250 and the Swift are great choices. I would like to add the 243 WSSM to the list. I can push a 58 grain moly at 4000 fps using 46 grains of H4895 AND get sub MOA out of a 22" lightweight barrel. Not much recoil, either. For your KY hogs at a max of 300 yds, you could slow it down some while reducing recoil even more if you wanted.
hvy barrel
Beginner
- Mar 1, 2006
- 52
- 0
22-250 Remington VLS.
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 0
Michael wrote: "I've got a Rem 700 Sendero in 25-06. I don't think any of the calibers you suggested comes close out beyond 500 yards. "
You must go after really huge prairie dogs! I have been criticized for overkill on prairie dogs, when I have used a bull barreled .243Win!
Varmint Hunter Magazine offers a trophy patch for anyone taking a prairie dog a 500 yds., with witnesses. Wind will generally cause 500+ shots on prairie dogs to be very difficult to perform in any consistant manner. This in any prairie dog shooting that I have done, from Montana to Kansas. If wind is fairly constant, one can walk rounds in, providing the dog stays up and allows a few chances at nailing him.
Groundhog shooting on the east coast can be quite different on a really calm day. Still air and larger target really does slant the odds in favor of the shooter. No?
You must go after really huge prairie dogs! I have been criticized for overkill on prairie dogs, when I have used a bull barreled .243Win!
Varmint Hunter Magazine offers a trophy patch for anyone taking a prairie dog a 500 yds., with witnesses. Wind will generally cause 500+ shots on prairie dogs to be very difficult to perform in any consistant manner. This in any prairie dog shooting that I have done, from Montana to Kansas. If wind is fairly constant, one can walk rounds in, providing the dog stays up and allows a few chances at nailing him.
Groundhog shooting on the east coast can be quite different on a really calm day. Still air and larger target really does slant the odds in favor of the shooter. No?
bsick1":2tctfgqg said:
Might be considered nit picky but........
17 caliber is a 177" diameter bullet - cartidges are few
20 caliber is a .204" diameter bullet - the 204 Ruger is the only cartride I know of
22 caliber is a .224" diameter bullet - cartridges are many
24 caliber is a .243" diameter bullet - cartridges are many
25 caliber is a .257" diameter bullet - cartridges are not plentiful but sufficient
Do you reload? If yes, I would take a serious look at a 221 Remington Fireball (22 caliber). Light recoil, beautiful rifles, good ballistics, and just rare enough to hold and increase its value.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,079
- 2,609
bsick1":3f4c129s said:
Buy a Savage 12 FV in 223 to cmpliment your 25-06 and be done!
If this is your only varmint rifle between you I would start with the 223. Some of the others make way more noise and the guns report is quite annoying to others in particular in the summer time.
The Savage 12 that I had was very heavy. Just a 22" or 24" sporter weight barrel would be just fine.
Good luck.
The Savage 12 that I had was very heavy. Just a 22" or 24" sporter weight barrel would be just fine.
Good luck.
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 0
Savage99 did write: "The Savage 12 that I had was very heavy. Just a 22" or 24" sporter weight barrel would be just fine. "
Of course a "sporter weight barrel" will serve to shoot whistle pigs, but then you must contend with too much heat in the barrel and fluxuating heat changing your point of impact, as that light barrel heats and cools rapidly. Varmints aways seem to appear in bunches and it is very hard to use discipline in not allowing a lightweight barrel to overheat when the targets are coming fast and we want to continue to bring them under fire. In those situations you can't beat a heavy varmint barrel for varmint shooting.
Of course a "sporter weight barrel" will serve to shoot whistle pigs, but then you must contend with too much heat in the barrel and fluxuating heat changing your point of impact, as that light barrel heats and cools rapidly. Varmints aways seem to appear in bunches and it is very hard to use discipline in not allowing a lightweight barrel to overheat when the targets are coming fast and we want to continue to bring them under fire. In those situations you can't beat a heavy varmint barrel for varmint shooting.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,079
- 2,609
bsick1":1pgshdzy said:
Whatever you do forget the 223 WSSM. It is trash man. 90% or better of all the people I know are experiencing huge difficulty with accuracy and throat erosion!
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 0
POP did write: "Whatever you do forget the 223 WSSM. It is trash man..."
It has also been reported that in hand loading, one can easily experience painful finger pinches when trying to feed those tiny cases into the die.
I have been convinced that the penchant for shorter has gone beyond good sense.
It has also been reported that in hand loading, one can easily experience painful finger pinches when trying to feed those tiny cases into the die.
I have been convinced that the penchant for shorter has gone beyond good sense.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,079
- 2,609
No bull! I have buddies with Winchester Coyotes (semi-heavy barrels here) that should and will shoot moa on demand with many other calibers. Same guns in 223 wssm and the guys are struggling to get 1.5 moa or less. :shock:
