AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/22/2006 9:01:45 PM EDT
|
Been looking into getting a Varmint rifle and wondering about the diffrent brands and models. What are some of the pluses and minuses of the diffrent rifles? Basicly what ever info you have would be great along with your likes and dislikes. Thank you. |
| My buddy has a 16" Bushy V-Match that will consistently put 5 shots into less than 1/2 inch at 100yds. He has taken it out to Wyoming prairie dog hunting and says he can kill them almost as fast as they pop up. Watch out though, if you get too excited you can cook your barrel if you don't allow some time for cooling on hot days. |
|
I have a DPMS 20" Panther Bull that produces 5 shot groups in the .4 to .5 MOA range with 55 grain bullets from a cool to moderately warm barrel. As the barrel heats up to the point of being uncomfortable to hold for more than a few seconds, (after maybe 50 shots over 10 minutes) the groups open up a bit to around 1 MOA but the point of impact does not change. With a Nikon 6.5-20X44 Monarch scope it is pretty much a prairie dog killing machine out to about 300-350 yards. For the same money, you could get a nicely tuned bolt gun that would produce 1/4 to 3/8 MOA accuracy, but the bolt gun will not kill them nearly as fast. There is a very perverse satisfaction in blowing the little critters out of their holes as fast as they pop up.  And despite it's limitations, the .223 is a great varmint caliber as it is comparatively inexpensive and is easy to develop reasonably accurate loads for a .223 chambered AR. I am a big fan of the 1-9 barrel twist because it handles 50-55 grain bullets very accurately but still has a fast enough twist to stabilize 62 to 69 grain match bullets effectively if you want to trade economy for a little more range and wind bucking ability. I'll usually take both loads along and adjust the sights as needed to change the zero from one to the other as the situation dictates. |
|
I bought a RRA Coyote Model (first AR) a few months ago & topped off with a Mueller 8.5x-25x Eradicator scope. Although I've not been able to get into actual varmint shooting action, I have zeroed at the range & consistently place 5 shots inside of 2" at 250-yds. This is with reloads using a Ramshot powder & 55-gr. Nosler ballistic tip bullets. Reason I selected this one is due to some needed field carry & lighter than a the bull-barrel cousins. I really like ACE skeletonized stock & is where some of the total weight is being saved. |
|
I have SO FAR 11 Varmint rifles. One AR-15 is a DPMS superbull 24" 1-9" with a 8x25 Leupold and the other AR is a DPMS with a White Oak 1 in 12" bull barrel with a Leupold 6.5x20 Scope. This WOA barreled gun is set up to shoot 40 Gr. v-max which really explode the varmints. I also us a Colt H-bar as a walking rifle. All guns have custom triggers and all the neat stuff. <br> My bolt actions originally were Remington 700 varmint but as I shoot them out they are being replaced with Savage Varmint Rifles. The quality of the Remington's has fallen off sharply. We used to get 10-15,000 rounds through the guns before they were shot out. The cost to rebarrel has gotten to the point that it is cheaper to replace the guns with the Savage Varmints. The Savage accu-trigger is the best on the market. <br> The most important thing is to install muzzle breaks on all the guns so that you can see the results of the bullets hitting. |
 In a case of Deja vu, I have a friend with the bushmaster, another with a RRA, and my DPMS that will chase each other all day on the range or the prairie Any of these would make excellent varminters |
|
I'll chime in on this one. A friend of mine has a Bushmaster Varminter (24" bbl), and it is a tack driver; with respect to an AR. It will shoot under 1/2" groups at 100yds. all day with the right ammo. But he is very picky about letting the bbl cool also. Which when I was shooting it, I got scolded a couple of times. That being said I really would love to try out the Bushmaster Predator. With a 4" shorter bbl (20") and I'm sure just as accurate. From what I've read a .223 doesn't start to loose muzzle velocity untill the bbl is at, or under 18". Sorry, I can't give you ballistics right off the top of my head. Wrap this up....Bushy Predator is the rifle I would go with. Or the RRA Predator Pursuit, Nice Stainless bbl....Damn!  Get one of each! Decisions, decisions!!! My thoughts on that. And I'm sure I didn't help you out a bit. Mort |
AR Sponsor