Thread: Thinking about getting into this ….

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.

Originally Posted by Lucky

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.

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!

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