Printable View
A rabbit hole I’m looking at going down this summer is long range varminting , have not done much homework but plinking bunnies at 200yds sounds like fun and interesting , like everything there are plenty of calibres etc that do the job , but all those small calibres I have know experience with , any sound simple advice with rifle , calibre , scope magnification would be appreciated.
if its just a bunny gun i have a rossi 22mag s/a c/w NV scope and suppressor all unused and mint condition for sale
A Tikka T3 223 in 8 twist
ADI brass
Federal 205 primers
ADI2206H powder
50-75 grainers
2-10x40 Leupold with CDS turret
Drop them out as far as you can see them
Out past 150M wind will be your biggest challenge, the 223 recommendation is a good one unless you like hunting in the wind, then a really honking .224 like a 22-250 or really upping the game to a 6mm+ will make life easier . . .
.223 - relatively cheap ammo. Easy peasy to reload for. Good selection of components. All models of rifles seem to chamber for it. Good selection of barrel twist rates. .223 good for 400 yards in still conditions. Don't buy anything so heavy it will be a pain to carry around. 1:8 twist Tikka ideal.
Scope 6-24. Element Helix 6-24 is an excellent value option.
Don't listen to anyone else. This is the definitive advise :)
(p.s. while I wrote this I see a couple of others chimed in. If they agree with me they are correct. If they don't, they are misguided).
.223 is similar price to buy ammunition for as a 17 or .22 magnum and its easy to feed...usually very easy to get shooting straight...and using varmit projectiles its arguably safer as risk of projectile whizzing off into distance after hitting rock is minimal....
AND if a goat/pig/deer just happens to pop out ,well you can happily pop that off too.
2" group is minute of bunny so if you can put pills into 1" at hundy....a 200 yard bunny is mince meat...and that another BIG advantage of varmit bullets, they blow up mr bunny,even a very poorly placed hit will ensure a quick kill.
What rifles do you have already?
Shooting small critters with your “ Big Rifle “ is great practice.
If your keen on getting a new setup though listen to previous posts .223 is where it’s at for 200-300 yrd shots .
Cheap to run , barrels last a long time compared to some of the .22 cal speedsters , and noise isn’t as loud either.
Thanks fellas , the 223 tikka sounds the way to go , kinda what I was thinking as well , plus can shoot some bigger critters with it , going to be my summer project .
223 all the way. Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.
Buy a 204. Set up on a vantage point, good binocks, range finder, good rest, coffee and biscuits and settle in for a lazy avo, busting bunnies!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky
The 223 is the queen but the 204 is the king, if you can find ammo and feed it.
I bought a sako varmint 223 to do the same thing,if like me you enjoy setting up on a high point and survey the area for bunnies then at least for me there are advantages to a heavy longer barrel varmint rifle.In hindsight would have bought the tikka supervarmint with adj cheek riser and optional vertical grip.
Others experiences may differ.
Plus one for the .223 - though Im still developing loads for it.. just need to correct the Strelok predictions out at 350 yards.. but like yourself, I bought this platform for bunny busting.... also has had the knock-on effect of refining reloading, and annealer construction. Win Win!
now if this bloody rain buggers off...!
I used to go and bop rabbits with the 30-06 good practice.
I know where there's a beautiful Kimber Varmint in 204 for a pretty sharp price. It's had me tempted although it's the last thing I need
223 all the way. As Tahr said, don't get something with a bull barrel and weight. I have had both a varmint weight CZ that was awesome to shoot but a ball breaker to carry.
Then I got a standard Tikka T3 and it was a joy to carry and shot just as well.
I shot out to 450 mtrs on rabbits, 4 = 16 scope, gotta have a bipod and better suppressed as it reduces muzzle jump and you can send a lot of rounds down range varmint shooting so better on the ears.
It depends on the type of country you are shooting on, if shooting on rolling farm land, where there is no issues with backstops, then 204, 223 etc is ideal. However if on flat ground thats semi built up or there are roads in close proximity etc, then the 204 or 223 is likely not the best choice.
Ie i shoot rabbits out around 200 yards on a weekly basis, on flat smallish apple orchards and berry farms etc, where there is no way you could safely use anything larger than my 17 hornet. The beauty with the hornet is the very frangible 20 gr projectiles going very fast, as soon as they hit anything, even a stalky blade of grass sometimes the projectile explodes, this means I never get ricochets, and never get the bullet passing thru a rabbit and carrying on beyond etc.
But the 223 is the way to go if you shoot on properties where its safe to use.
yer and they burn out a barrel pretty quick 223 or 204 you can not go wrongQuote:
Originally Posted by muzza
The .220 Swift was born in 1935, and died 1936.Quote:
Originally Posted by muzza
You would remember both events wouldn't you muzza? :)
Is there anything a 223 can do that a 22 250 cant do better ? And dont write " frighten dogs and small children" Load it up load it down just all around more versatile. Had a Sako 223, made me feel cruel watching deer 'down but not out'
Thats a short life,could not have been any good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
Used to own a Sportco .222 and a Sako .22 250. Both were tack drivers, but man that .22 250 was an amazing rifle. Easily reached out a couple a hundred metres further, and the animals tipped over @400m even as you were finishing taking up the trigger pull. Hammer of thor with accurate shots. But I ran that Sako 22 250 in BS times (before suppressor) came onto the scene. Was bloody hard on the ears compared to the long barrelled .222Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
Ive got both...and my deer go down dead very nicely with the .223 thankyou very muchly..... yes the 22-250 is a .223 on steroids, but at under 200 yards you burning more powder for same effect...a down loaded 22-250 may as well be a .223 EG no advantage so moot point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
now a fast twist .22-250 with heavy for calibre projectiles is different beast entirely,thats getting up into .243 territory and is a serious bit of kit.
I can miss just as well with both.
I rest my case about right calibre for the right job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
All good till there's a fuck up
Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk
I would've expected a boom flop with a 223 vs bunny.
Same with any caliber. But I guess a 223 with a Nightforce on it is ok for deer Andy?? :) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by andyanimal31
As long as it is in a dirty tikka with an old camo stock ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
the way it flipped I would suggest/suspect it was decapitated.Quote:
Originally Posted by vulcannz
Just saw this thread had gone to the 3rd page , good to see the old mines better than yours banter is still alive and kicking hahaha , plan is to go for a standard weight .223 T3 , I have a redundant 3-10 x 42 NF Scope that I can trade up for a bigger scope as well .
This will be my summer project so not looking at buying anything right now , already got a new rifle coming in the next month or so , and want to get used to that first , also a new caliber for me a 260rem
Consider a Howa mini action in .223, can pick them up around $800 and in my experience Howa actions are pretty sharp.
Theres a few on tm all set up with suppressors etc
A 22 250 with 50-55gr bullets and you just point and shoot.
To be fair I shot a shit load of deer with my 22-250 until I put the bullet in a not so perfect place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
After looking for it for a few hours to no avail it put it back in the safe and left it for its more appropriate uses.
On the other hand when you slightly misplace the shot with the 300wsm you will know that it won't have gone to far.
A 223 in the right hands (tahr) with critical shot placement works.
It just takes a lot of experience to choose to take a shot that is ethical and fatal!
Funny you should bring up .223 tahr as just bought 500 cases from the wholesaler so now looking for a suitable weapon to use them.
Noted I have never owned a 223, but out goat shooting the other day it was hurting my pocket using my 308 as we got over 50 in a couple of hours, the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
And correct, a nightforce will turn an average rifle into a great one!
Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk
And on its 3rd barrel!Quote:
Originally Posted by Friwi
Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk
i would forget about a .223 and use the .260Rem for Varminting . . start planning on 400 500 600 yards when thinking of a scope.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky
nobody mentioned 224 Valkyrie here. it can push 80gn bergers out to 1000m
...And the barrel be shot out by Xmas!!!