Help: Varmint rifle - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

myonlyswerving · 02-23-2007, 12:10 PM

Okay, I've got a few questions...

1) I've been looking into getting a Savage Series 40 lately but I don't know of anyone who has one. Anybody here have any thoughts on this rifle?

2) Basically, I'm looking for a varmint rifle for no more than $400-$450, so any other recommendations on a suitable rifle would be great.

3) Also, I've been looking at this scope. Thoughts?

4) Finally, which do you prefer between the .22 Hornet and .223?

Thanks!

**DanTheEldest** · 02-23-2007, 12:16 PM

I would suggest sending chupachabrachus a PM. He makes a regular hobby out of hunting tree rats (squirrels), and has some good experience with varmint calibers.

40SWXDSHOOTER · 02-23-2007, 12:24 PM

I have had a few Savage rifles and you can't go wrong with them.
As for ammo I would sat go with the.223, the ammo is cheaper, has a longer range, heavier bullets, and you can find it in more places.

The scope you where looking at, I have never looked through one, but for that price range you could look at a Burris.
I like to spend a little more on my scopes (sometimes even more the the price of the gun), when you sit and stare through it for hours, your eyes get pretty sore with a cheap scope.
Thats just my .02, as a recovering varmint hunter.

PeteTschantz · 02-23-2007, 12:43 PM

what ranges / varmints are you talking?
I have a Savage in .17 hmr that is absolutely nasty

Brickboy240 · 02-23-2007, 01:45 PM

The 223 makes more sense than the 22 Hornet. Not that the Hornet is not a good round, it is, but it is for shorter range varminting that the 223. My Dad has a Contender in 22 Hornet and yes, it is big fun to shoot. Ammo is very pricey. If you will not be shooting more than maybe 200yds, the 22 Hornet might do for your needs.

Any reason you are passing up the 243 or 22-250? I use both of those for coyotes, bobcats and stray dogs on Dads ranch and they kill like lightning. The 243 also can double as a deer gun.

- Brickboy240

AZXD40 · 02-23-2007, 01:50 PM

+1 on the .223, not there is anything wrong with the other

myonlyswerving · 02-23-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Any reason you are passing up the 243 or 22-250? I use both of those for coyotes, bobcats and stray dogs on Dads ranch and they kill like lightning. The 243 also can double as a deer gun.

No particular reason. The Hornet and .223 are the only ones I've fired before. I'll have to look into the .22-250 & .243.
I'm really looking for something small and fast that I can be accurate with at 200-300 yards. I'm getting a .308 for the bigger stuff, so I'm not sure if I need the .243 to double as a deer rifle.

Plinkomatic · 02-23-2007, 05:54 PM

Look good and hard at the .204 Ruger through a Savage 12 Low Profile or a Ruger 77mII. That round shoots flat forever.. very impressive ballistics.
At 300 yards a .223 is 7.2 inches low whereas a 40-grain .204 bullet is 4.3 inches low. Were I plinking tree rats and cleaning fields, that would be my round of choice for sure.

Gunzzi · 02-23-2007, 06:15 PM

I just purchased a Remington 710 chambered in .270 Win at Wally World for under $300.00 complete with a decent Bushnell scope. Out of the box and bore sighted and fined tuned with 6 rounds at 50 yards, rounds #7,8&9 were 1/4" apart and 1/2" above the X @120 yards. No finer varmint rifle out there for thiis kind of money. Down side, some people don't like this rifle for different reasons, the bolt is a little stiff (in time will get broke in) and some don't like the composite stock. Also there aren't a lot of after market parts to hot rod this gun, but my opinion, doesn't need it. Can't wait to get back out to the range and fire this bad boy again.

Red02Deuce · 02-23-2007, 06:23 PM

Savage bolt actions are great

the .223 is excellent

This scope is a steal at this price... I bought one yesterday...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=418276

02-23-2007, 12:10 PM	#1
myonlyswerving XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UT (from TX) Posts: 53	Help: Varmint rifle Okay, I've got a few questions... 1) I've been looking into getting a Savage Series 40 lately but I don't know of anyone who has one. Anybody here have any thoughts on this rifle? 2) Basically, I'm looking for a varmint rifle for no more than $400-$450, so any other recommendations on a suitable rifle would be great. 3) Also, I've been looking at this scope. Thoughts? 4) Finally, which do you prefer between the .22 Hornet and .223? Thanks!

02-23-2007, 12:16 PM	#2
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,348	I would suggest sending chupachabrachus a PM. He makes a regular hobby out of hunting tree rats (squirrels), and has some good experience with varmint calibers. __________________ To make mass murder palatable to the public, one must first strip the victims of their inherent humanity. First were the native Americans ("savages"), then the black slaves (only "partly human"), then the Jews and gypsies in Hitler's Europe ("parasites on society"), and now America's unborn (also "not fully human"). Save the Americans--end abortion now. Insights and documentation on our nation's Christian heritage: www.WallBuilders.com

02-23-2007, 01:45 PM	#5
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 9,198	The 223 makes more sense than the 22 Hornet. Not that the Hornet is not a good round, it is, but it is for shorter range varminting that the 223. My Dad has a Contender in 22 Hornet and yes, it is big fun to shoot. Ammo is very pricey. If you will not be shooting more than maybe 200yds, the 22 Hornet might do for your needs. Any reason you are passing up the 243 or 22-250? I use both of those for coyotes, bobcats and stray dogs on Dads ranch and they kill like lightning. The 243 also can double as a deer gun. - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick!

02-23-2007, 01:50 PM	#6
AZXD40 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 714	+1 on the .223, not there is anything wrong with the other __________________ John F. Kennedy: "Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."

02-23-2007, 06:15 PM	#9
Gunzzi XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 909	I just purchased a Remington 710 chambered in .270 Win at Wally World for under $300.00 complete with a decent Bushnell scope. Out of the box and bore sighted and fined tuned with 6 rounds at 50 yards, rounds #7,8&9 were 1/4" apart and 1/2" above the X @120 yards. No finer varmint rifle out there for thiis kind of money. Down side, some people don't like this rifle for different reasons, the bolt is a little stiff (in time will get broke in) and some don't like the composite stock. Also there aren't a lot of after market parts to hot rod this gun, but my opinion, doesn't need it. Can't wait to get back out to the range and fire this bad boy again. __________________ NRA Member Warning: May contain lead.... The land of the free BECAUSE of the brave! I don't dial 911 - I use .223

02-23-2007, 12:24 PM	#3
40SWXDSHOOTER XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 891	I have had a few Savage rifles and you can't go wrong with them. As for ammo I would sat go with the.223, the ammo is cheaper, has a longer range, heavier bullets, and you can find it in more places. The scope you where looking at, I have never looked through one, but for that price range you could look at a Burris. I like to spend a little more on my scopes (sometimes even more the the price of the gun), when you sit and stare through it for hours, your eyes get pretty sore with a cheap scope. Thats just my .02, as a recovering varmint hunter.

02-23-2007, 12:43 PM	#4
PeteTschantz XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Clover, SC Posts: 118	what ranges / varmints are you talking? I have a Savage in .17 hmr that is absolutely nasty

02-23-2007, 05:54 PM	#8
Plinkomatic XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,305	Look good and hard at the .204 Ruger through a Savage 12 Low Profile or a Ruger 77mII. That round shoots flat forever.. very impressive ballistics. At 300 yards a .223 is 7.2 inches low whereas a 40-grain .204 bullet is 4.3 inches low. Were I plinking tree rats and cleaning fields, that would be my round of choice for sure.

02-23-2007, 06:23 PM	#10
Red02Deuce XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 203	Savage bolt actions are great the .223 is excellent This scope is a steal at this price... I bought one yesterday... http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=418276 __________________ For those on the fence: "Just buy the thing and shoot the pis out of it." My take on those who are trying to quietly re-engineer America:* "These little pin pricks into our fabric of freedom will eventually lead to a rip beyond repair without some re-education on what this country was founded. Little, uneventful seeds planted with no obvious malintent propogating without notice. Communism with a different cloak."

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