Thread: Light Varmint/Target Rifle ideas

@Tentman, this is a very interesting question as it mirrors exactly what I looked at last year. I wanted a varmint rifle that I could confidently shoot long range pests, and out to 600m+ on gongs, something fast, reasonably flat but most importantly capable of handling the best of the long, high BC bullets available now.

Believe me I looked at every permutation of calibre, cartridge, twist rate and bullet in sensibly priced factory rifles. Even did a spreadsheet (nerd). Was actually a lot of fun. What I ended up doing was my choice, and you’ll have several, and I don’t for a moment suggest what I did is the only way.

First up, you can go wildcat if you want, but I discounted that from the outset. I wanted either a new off-the-shelf rifle ready to go, or maybe a good second hand rifle with a new custom twist barrel, but chambered in something easy to feed.

The .22 calibre cartridges are only worthy of consideration in fast twist barrels, this to meet your windage criteria. Therefore, its a 1:7/8/9” .223 or 1:9” .22-250. You must be able to chamber and stabilise an 80gr high BC .224 cal bullet to be in the game, otherwise windage is a problem. The increase in available long for calibre .224s, like TMK and ELD-M is great, but not all the manufacturers’ .224 chambers will allow you to sit the bullet far enough out to get the oommppff, which is something I tested at the store with a Hornady COAL gauge.

I looked at the Valkyrie but they just aren’t available. At the end of the day, I discounted the .224s as I felt I was trying to stretch it too much.

I chose 6mm, in 243 Winchester form. I looked at the range of of bullets available that will shoot in a 1:10”twist, and decided that the original crossover varmint / deer rifle cartridge was very very hard to beat. Especially when it comes to cost and availability. So a 1:10” would do, but a fast twist .243 was an even better proposition and that’s what I decided on.

My cousins in the US use 1:8” twist .243s primarily on long range coyotes. They have Savage rifles with screw in custom barrels and they shoot A-Max (now ELD-M) and Berger VLD Hunter bullets. What they do with those .243s gives me a hard on. They are freakin’ accurate, really, really good. Winter ‘yotes at silly ranges is a doddle, they can handle a bit of wind and they have plenty of energy to put the varmints down.

The standard factory option is the Remington 700 with the 1:9.125” twist, as that will stabilse the 103gr ELD-X no problem. That way you have a basic rifle with good credentials that is very upgradable. It will shoot 600m gongs with heavier high BC bullets, but also has an unbeatable selection of 60-100gr varmint bullets and deer bullets. The new 90gr ELD-X will be great in .243 but the old school Sierra varmint pills are fantastic and always will be.

The 6mmBR was a consideration but I just couldn’t find factory rifles. Since I looked at this, the 6mm Creedmoor has come along, but it hasn’t been picked up by many manufacturers yet. Ruger is the only option, the RPR is ok but too much for a carry rifle, the American Predator is stuck with the shitty stock and even worse magazine. So until a Tikka or similar comes along in 6mm Creedmoor, its not an option.

So that’s where I’m at. Over the last 30 years I’ve taken more deer here and elsewhere with .243 Win than all the others cartridges I’ve owned put together, using 100gr ProHunters. But I’d never really explored the lighter, faster varmint bullets with it. After one winter with my cuzzies and fast twist .243s I was hooked, and even though I already own a 1:10” .243, the fast twist option opens up the 600m+ game which is heaps of fun. Yet I can still feed it 65gr V-Max and go rabbiting without feeling like its OTT.

Sorry for the long waffle! This is a subject I can get a bit excited about.