whats a good varmit rifle

[Bob_VT]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

30-06 great choice now get some 125grain loads and you will be in good shape for varmit. Once you get the balistics down pat on the 30-06 you can get a 375 H&H and it has the same balistics but, deals out the shoulder punishment!

 

[stl]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

You will have to excuse my inexperince. I got a .30-06 for deer hunting. Are you saying that I can use that for rabbit and squirrel with 125 grain?

 

[JRJ]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

30-06 is a good choice. What grain bullets do you intend to hunt with?

 

[JasonB]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

A .22 is a good starter. Cheap/fun to shoot with reasonably limited range. I have a Marlin 60 semi-auto that I was given as a kid. Not so great design, but I've fired many boxes through it plinking cans. The reason I say not so great is that if you don't thouroughly clean it after every 25 shots or so, it tends to jam/click every other cartridge. I learned quickly how to clean it rapidly As others have said, the 10/22 is nice for a semi-auto, but not sure if it would be best for a kid. In your shoes, I would want a bolt action.<br /><br />I always wanted one of the .22/.410 guns JB referred to, but after I was given a Savage .410 single shot for my 12'th b'day, I was a bit frustrated it. It was good for squirrel, but shells are 2x or more what I could buy shells for my 20ga for. My little youth model 20ga single shot is a blast to shoot. It was my 11th b'day gift. Those 3 guns will belong to my kids in another 12+ years. <br /><br />Funniest thing I ever did with the .410 was to find a box of slugs when I was a teen and shooting at a regular old 55gal drum. That little slug barely dented that drum, so I pulled out my 303 British and made a couple "drain" holes

 

[Scaaty]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

Bolt action AND a Ruger 10-22.....(then the Mini 14)!

 

[roscoe]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

Ruger 77/22 is the bolt action version. I love mine.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

Stl- I meant that the 30-06 is good for dispatching woodchucks and coyotes at 100+ yards. I would not use it on a rabbit or squirral.<br /><br />The '06 will drop any game in North America with the right bullet.<br /><br />Small game (rabbits, squirrals, birds) I would hunt with a shotgun or a .22

 

[heycods]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

You can use the 30-06 for squirrel if your not hungry. Now go to the pawn shop and find a 1950s vintage remington 22 bolt action with a tubular magazine, around here you can find one in decent shape for under $100. I gave $35 for one 2 years ago that someone had robbed the rear sight off of.As I had a sight it wasnt a problem.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

I don't own a gun (money's tight right now) so I had to borrow from friends when I had varmint troubles (squirrels nesting in my eaves, or perhaps a very rare copperhead). <br /><br />First I borrowed a single shot .410 shotgun. Worked quite well, especially for squirrels in trees (although the single shot part was a bit of a PITA).<br /><br />After I gave the .410 back I borrowed a Ruger semi-auto .22 from a different friend. Although it's a really neat gun, I find it to be of very limited use for varmints. First, I got most of my squirrels after they went up into the trees; there's no way I'd feel safe shooting a .22 up in the air given that there are houses not too far from where I live. I tried .22 ratshot on a target and feel that given the spread and size of the shot, it wouldn't do the trick for squirrels unless I was at an extremely close range.<br /><br />Other problem is that even if I had a clear longer shot at a varmint with a background I'd trust shooting into (like into a hill), without a scope I don't think I'd trust my aim enough to even attempt it. Scope would just push up price that much more.<br /><br />So for my purposes, a .410 or even 20 guage shotgun beats the nicer .22 all to pieces.<br /><br />Several have mentioned a .22/.410 combo single shot gun. Does this fire .22 cal rifle shells as well as .410 shotgun shells (and how does it work if it does), or am I completely off base? As you can probably tell, I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to firearms...<br /><br />btw, when I can afford it I'll probably just get that ubiquitous remington 12 guage (forget the model, but it's been around forever) somewhere down the line.

 

[one more cast]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

LakeLivin, The .22/410 combo has 2 barrels over and under style. <br />

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

And some have two separate barrels that interchange.

 

[PAkev]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

I am happy with my Ruger .22 hornet. It's a tack driver out to 75yds. Ammo can become a little expensive but I reload which diminishes the cost of shooting substantially. <br /><br />Although a .22 long is probably the best value for shooting at paper, I've been dissappointed many times when using it to shoot (wound) varmits.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

A combo sounds perfoect for my needs. anyone have any idea what a .22/20ga. or .22/.410 combo starts at $ wise?

 

[one more cast]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

Try here for prices. Savage Arms model 24 is one such combo.<br /> Rossi matched pair is another option.<br /><br /> http://petesdiscountfirearms.com/products.html

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: whats a good varmit rifle

Kinda pricey if you purchase new. Savage Arms makes a nice 20 ga / rifle combo (with assorted calibers).<br /><br />If you want low cost look into NEF (aka H & R) which is a company connected with Marlin. The single shot rifles are very good and you can purchase multiple barrels/calibers for the same gun.<br /><br />One of my favorite toys is my Thompson Contender for which I have a wide assortment of barrels. Most recently I decided to add a .22 magnum to my rifles and ordered a marlin bolt action... it should be here soon.<br /><br />Budget should dictate what you end up with and the NEF are a good value.