Your Varmint Gun

Ruger #1's are pretty expensive. They are well designed and most are tack drivers.

NH_Hunter

I like the 22 Hornet for close shots and a 223 for almost everything else, however I have killed hundreds of Coyotes with a 25-06. The first rifle I rebarreled myself was a 25-06 on a Remington action in 1964, and I always have one nearby. Back in those days I could buy surplus 4831 for less than a dollar a pound delivered to my house. I do have a 300 Ultra Mag in a Sendero SF that will shoot 168 Sierra's rather well and could be used at longer ranges for varmints.

Dan

Mine is a Ruger M77 in .22-250. It's a factory heavy barrel, Timney trigger, and a Leupold 6x18 scope. It shoots pretty well with factory ammo and I have yet to handload any rounds for it. I did get a group of a bit under .5" at 110 yards with some of that Hornady VX 55 grain moly stuff a while ago. My time is limited now so I won't be messing around with it again for a bit.

Fella's;

The 788 6mm Rem has come through!  On a rare windless morning early this month, during ammo testing, it shot a sub .5 group.  A couple of weeks later, in a light crossing wind, it backed it up with another group under .8 inch.

I think I've found my load for this gun.  The accuracy was heavily dependent upon both the powder and the seating depth of the bullet.  The load it favors is:  46 grains of IMR4350 in either Winchester or Remington cases, Hornady V-max 75 grain moly bullet & CCI 200 primer.  OAL is 2.825. 

I'll do more testing as to which brand of case produces the better accuracy & also try the non-moly 75 grain V-max's.

Velocity is not stunning.  The load gives about 3050 fps 10' from the muzzle, over an Oehler 35P.  However, since the barrel is only 18.5", I'm not surprised.  Since the barrel is so short, I see no need to try to push up the speed, especially since the accuracy is there.

Besides, this is meant to be primarily a coyote gun.  Anticipated ranges will be in the 50 to 150 yard range, with the longest being maybe 250 - 300 yards.  I could be wrong on that though.  Perhaps my first calling attempts will have the coyotes going t'other way!  Then the shots will be over-the-shoulder on them.  AKA 'Texas Heart Shots'.

900F

Varmints are evil.......

Primary rat-zappers are a Rem 788 in 243/Weaver 2x-10x and a Ruger 77RC in 223/Leupold 3x-9x Compact.  Wife and I shoot together, and whoever isn't working the scoped bolt gun has used our Mini-14 for follow-up strafing.  This Mini was built on a Wednesday, because with loads it likes it will do well under 2.0 MOA--once in a while shading 1 inch. 

This technique may change a bit--the 788 absolutely drives tacks with cast RCBS 95 grainers, so I might just use the 243 for the close shots and let Marie blaze on the farther critters.

Most of our hunting is on foot in desert washes for jackrabbits, with some stand hunting for ground squirrels.

For under coyote size, I use the NEF 17hmr, with bull barrel and a harris bipod. Bushnell 3x9.

For "dogs" I use 22wm.With Simmons 3x9

 Unfort. in my area most of the farm houses are too close for centerfire, and many of the farmers frown on these because of past experiences with "moron" shooters. But my set ups work for me.

Spotshooter,

I agree about the triggers on the NEF,  but your right they are tack drivers with the heavy barrels. If you ever decide to go with the savage, let me know. If the 223 barrel will fit the sportster model of NEF I would probably take it off your hands. I want one anyway and would rather give you the money then the NEF comp.

I like my Sako L-579 with a 24 inch medium heavy barrel in 243win.  It has a french walnut stock with a beavertail forend, and a 10 x Unertle scope in external mounts.  Trigger pull is 8 oz.

BEAR

Edip,

  Great googly Moogly man!  Must be hard identifyin them critters after they're turnt insides out with that swift.  It'd be interesting seein the hit, hell 22-250's give ya a nice poof of red smoke, cain't imagine what that rail gun of yers would do.

Spot