Varmint rifle for my dad

Ultimate Mainer

Ultimate Mainer

New member
Hello, I need help finding a good varmint rifle for my Dad. He has always wanted a rifle that he could kill nuisance animal in the backyard, and still be able to kill a deer with it. He likes odd caliber rifles like 218 bee, 221 fireball and 220 swift. But I'm on a budget of $500 or less. I thought it would make a good Christmas present. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
 
A 22mag comes to mind for backyard use.
Realistic guns would be a savage axis in 223,
Tc venture
Ruger american
Remintonn 700 sps adl
Black friday sales will be good for the budget for the budget rifles and scopes. I would look to the 223 with deer on the menu. A 204 may work for head and neck shots. I have never shot a deer with my 204.
 
The budget rifles aren't usually chambered in the 3 calibers you mentioned in your original post. But if he doesn't have a 223, it seems the logical choice would be one of those. Light bullets for vermin, and heavier for deer. Just get a faster twist barrel. Something like the ruger American rifle, or the remmy 700 Black Friday specials. They have a rebate on top of the same prices.
 
Or look for a 17 caliber centerfire. Might have to spend a little more though I'm thinking. It won't be legal for deer but he has a 308. Get him a dedicated varmint rifle. He has a multi purpose 308 already.
 
I have to put a plug in here for the .221 Fireball. If you or your dad is a handloader then it is a great fun round. My first one is a CZ 527 American that I bought just on a whim and wow, what a fun gun! 14-15 grains of powder, amazing accuracy and it is SO cute! I have taken coyote, prairie dogs and a bajillion ground squirrels with mine. And I would not hesitate to take it deer hunting either if loaded with the right bullet and could keep my shots under 250 yards or so.

I have a .220 Swift too and love it as well. But why burn 40 grains of powder (and noise!) when a third of that does the job so very well?
 
Originally Posted By: derbyacresbob
It sounds like your dad needs a 223 Rem!

While that is likely the best choice as far as calibers, it does not come close as to falling into the "odd" category.
 
I'll guess I'll be the odd man out here, but I don't like using the 22 centerfires for deer. I have killed a few deer with the 223, but they were close shots, and I could pick the exact spot. Since he likes oddball calibers, why not a 6mm Rem. It's a good deer and varmint cartridge, and not something you find every day. I don't own one, have never fired one, but I do shoot a lot of 243's so I know a little about the 6mm's, and they are a far better choice for deer than any 22 centerfire.
 
While not being a very odd caliber anymore, a .22-250 would
probably suit his needs from small varmints to deer, if .224
is legal in Maine. I have shot and know of a LOT of deer taken
with .22-250's in SW Nebraska. Broad side lung shots make mush
of the lungs. It disintegrates rats and other small creatures.

Or you could get something that will shoot 55gr-100gr+ pills
in a 6mm-08.....oh wait, Winchester already did that. They
call it something else, though.
 


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