|
You've already received some good info. Not sure if I can add anything to it or not but will try.
First of all if this is to be your first Varmint Caliber Rifle you'll probably be shooting it a lot. In my opinion (like has been stated) nothing quite compares to the .223 Remington. Ammo is everywhere and can be found for some really decent prices also. Bullet selection is simply amazing, provided the proper rifling twist is used bullets from 40grs. through 69grs. and up to 80grs. can be found (not all bullet weights will normally shoot the best through some rifling twist rates though). For Varminting though you'll probably be interested in mainly 40gr. through 55gr. bullets and there is many, many to pick from in this weight range.
The .223 is also quite easy to load for (should you venture into handloading your own ammo) and a variety of powders provide quite good accuracy and performance.
For the Rifle itself, if this is to be a general purpose, do it all Rifle then in my opinion a 22" to 24" Barreled Sporter weight Rifle will provide you what you are after. No this will not be ideal as a specialized Prairie Dog or Bench Rest Rifle, but will suffice. However if you entend to carry this rifle a lot for Calling / Hunting Predators like Fox, Coyotes or Bobcats the sporter weight rifle will not wear you down nearly as quickly as a heavy barrel varmint rig. In my opinion if you take care not to let the barrel get too hot the sporter weight barrel will also provide you with quite good accuracy.
As for the Scope, I think a variable in the 4x12x range will provide a good compromise for a Varmint / Predator Rifle. Yes at times a 2x magnification on the low end might be better for a called in Predator at 10 yards, and a scope with 16x to 18x or more on the upper end would be helpful at times in shooting Prairie Dogs. However it has been my experience that anything above 16x is not able to be used when it is extremely hot in super bright sunshine as the mirage and heat waves in the scope will cause you to crank em down.
My ideal Varmint / Predator Rifle is my Ruger KM77RFP MKII Stainless-Synthetic Sporter in .223 Remington. I have a 4.5x14x40mm AO Nikon Buckmaster Riflescope mounted on it in the supplied Ruger Scope Rings. I have tuned the trigger on this rifle so it is super crisp and breaks at 2 1/2 pounds. I have also Free Floated the Forend of the stock so the stock does not touch the barrel forward of the chamber area of the barrel. In addition prior to ever shooting this Ruger I hand lapped the bore with FLITZ Bore Polish followed by a 50 round shoot-n-clean Barrel Break in procedure. This Rifle prefers 50gr. Nosler Ballsitic Tip Bullets loaded with Hodgdon's Benchmark Powder and or Ultramax Commercial Reloads that are loaded with the 55gr. Winchester Pointed Soft Point Bullets. Both are quite accurate and so far have provided me with all I require of this Rifle.
Just two weeks ago I had the opportunity to test out the 50gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips on a Coyote. I hit the Coyote at 350 yards through the right front shoulder. At the shot the Coyote did about 3 somersaults and skidded to a halt. The bullet blew up inside the Coyote killing it instantly and did not exit. This can be both good and bad, but in this case the pelt was perfect with the only hole in it being the entrance hole.
Good luck with your quest.
Larry
|