Varmint hunting gun

I am a beginning varmint hunter. does anyone have a idea what an allaround gun (less than $800) would be?

the ruger mini-14 is a great varmit gun

Yeah if you keep the shots under 50 yds. I have owned three mini 14's I love the look, feel, and action, of the gun, but I never had one that would keep them in a 3 inch circle at 100 yds.

Get a good bolt action in 223 , it will handle all of your varmiting needs, and most will shoot sub 1 inch groups at 100 yds,, many will shot sub 1/2 inch groups with good handholds, I got one that shoots 1/4 inch groups in no wind.

you might look into a 6mmrem. depending on your hunting country

Hi Matt, What types of all around Varmint do you plan on hunting? There are quite a few nice rifles out there that can be had for less than $800. Also how much do you want to spend on a scope, there is no substitute for good glass. As for a shotgun for Varmint if you're not shooting over 35 or 40 yards it might work. As for a Ruger Mini-14, well at range it won't cut the mustard without alot of work. There is also alot of caliber choices out there and depending on your hunting enviorment and conditions a .223 may not be the right choice. So how about somemore information on what type of Varmint and conditions and then maybe we can start helping you narrow things down.

Geoff M.

> I am a beginning varmint hunter. > does anyone have a idea what an allaround gun (less than $800) would be? > M-77V Ruger or the Winchester Model 70 Varmint, the ones with the bull barrel. 6 mm Remington or .243 Winchester. I have owned both. Both were great on crows and wood chucks out to 400 yards, and killed deer out to 300 yards. (not great for still hunting because with a good scope, loaded, both weigh over 12 pounds)

Robert from Up North, Wisconsin

i would suggest a browning a bolt with the boss system chambered for 308 win this is a very fine rifle and with the boss system you can fine tune the rifle to shoot tight groups with any grain bullet i have an abolt in varmit grade 308 that will shoot sub one inch groups at 250 yards if you cant afford the abolt i would suggest getting a rifle that is chambered for a caliber that can take large game as well make a good varmit gun

If you want a cheap varmit rifle, i'd look into a New England Firearms Handi-Rifle.(around 200) The company has an offer where you can send the gun to them and they will fit additional barrels for you. So let's say you buy the .243 model, you could get a .223 barrel and a 12gauge shotgun barrel to fit the same gun. It's a good deal and I hear they are pretty darn accurate.The Rifle barrells run about $75,smoothbore shotgun barrells around $35.

Concur with a bolt action .223 for beginning vaminter. Can get a new Winchester M70 for $400, a heavy barrel varmint variant for $800. Never had much luck with used varmint rifles personnally. Plus the price and availability of ammunition (and brass and bullets if you reload) really helps a lot. The .223 is great out to 250 yds and beyond, especially on calm days. You can move up to a .220 Swift, 22-243, or one of the bigger wildcats when you want to start pushing the 300-400 yd barrier.

Good Shooting.

There is no doubt that the 308 can be successfully used for varmit hunting,, so can the 7mm mag, but most varmit hunter don't want to take a beating shooting P dogs with a large caliber rifle,, after a couple of hundred rounds shoulder hurt.

When the wind is strong the bigger guns do a fine job,, but the smaller ones are easier on the shooter,, even a 243 can began to get to you after a day hunting dogs.

I guess I from a different school,, I like to own a different rifle for each animal, and a different one for different ranges for the same animals, and a different for different days, and a different one for different weather conditions.

I have even over 20, 22 rim fire rifles,, each with a different purpose.

Any excuse to own another one, and convince my wife I just have to have it for a certain reason.

Look no further....short range = 22-250 in a light barrel...long range 22-250 in a heavy barrel. I prefer the Remington in this caliber.

Good luck and good hunting,

Tripp Holmgrain