Thread: Wanting to build a new varmimt rifle

Originally Posted by bully

My initial intended range is 6-700, as ideal, I don't mind trying any distance if i can find them. I don't get that chance too often where I shoot, and it's a whole new ball game just to locate a rabbit that far with binos or a spotter, they get a whole lot smaller. Nobody told me to prepare to update all your binos, spotters etc.
I use a 8-32 scope, I wouldnt have a problem going bigger again.
I've had good success at the full bore range too.

bit of a ramble . . .

been thinking about your last post for a few days @bully . . . and the difference in location and animal numbers etc makes to choices of optics


in Central Otago i dont need spotting scopes or overly powerful optics to find the rabbits at LR . . i have my favourite spots on the station & i know there is going to be rabbits about, the question is how many and whats the wind doing

i use 10X kahles binos which have great colour / sharpness . . . spotting rabbits at 7-800yrds is not a problem in this landscape

recently changed the scope on my .243 from a MK4 Leupold 6.5-20X50 to a Nightforce NXS 8-32X56 . . . some thoughts . . . the extra magnification is helpful when checking accuracy / bullet drop at longer ranges but for me thats all, it hasnt given me longer range on the rabbits . . . i use a 2.5inch square target for LR, if the bullet lands inside the square we are good to go, a great group outside the square is of no use . . . sadly what i can do on my makeshift range doesnt transfer over to field shooting . . you get 1 shot in the field, no adjusting for wind or shooting strings untill you walk the bullet in . . which is all part of it & makes for the challenge eh.

i have successfully missed rabbits out to 900 yards . . i could see them clearly thru my 6.5 - 20X scope, just sometimes ya can't hit the little fckrs . . . ya come close, a few inches of drift out, but close enough so you want to come back and have another go another day.
watched an aussie guys vid shooting rabbits out to +700yrds with a 3-15 Nightforce, that magnification is to low for me even with a very fine crosshair.

this spot shooting across the gully is a real challenge, the toughest spot on the place . . and the most fun . . up drafts, down drafts, always cross winds blowing around all over the place . . when you connect its a buzz



final thought . . . is it worth having a separate thread on Varminting only and who is doing what / when . . . the rifles, gear etc

end of ramble . . . . R