Speaking of Varmint Rifles...
 

Here is a pair currently occupying my gun safe. The top one is a custom build by Ken Freudenberg on a Ruger #1 action. It has a 28" stainless Lilja barrel, with a 1:12" twist and chambered in .220 Swift. It launches 60 grain Hornady V-Max's at just a click over 3,800 fps with a stiff load of Reloder 22. Scope is a 6.5-20x Leupold with adjustable objective. My wife snuck my old, burnt out barrel #1 (originally in .220 Swift) out of the house and had Ken build this up on our 10th anniversary.

Bottom one is a Remington M700 with a 24" bull barrel, 1:14" twist, chambered for the .223. It's favorite load of H4895 drives the 50 grain Hornady V-Max at about 3,200 fps. Scope is a Tasco 8-32x with a dot reticle. I gave it to my oldest son on his 13th birthday.

Both rifles shoot sub one inch groups all day long from the bench. At 200 yards. The Swift actually does it at 300, where I keep it zeroed. Both have accounted for countless ground squirrels, rock chucks, and coyotes over the years.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221104960.jpg

i personally would prefer to be shot by the m700.

Nice. I have the Bushmaster Varminter. Test showed: 1/4" @ 100. I wonder if this would equate to .5" at 200 yards.

http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_xm15_PCWVMS24FVAR9.asp

I'm currently interested in getting a rifle to take out countless ground squirrels on my property. I think I heard somewhere (probably on here) that there are .177 caliber with .22 casings. Anybody know anything about it? Good idea? Or is a plain old .22 a better way to go?

I wouldn't shoot squirrels with anything larger than a .22 or a shotgun on my own property. Real rifles are very loud and will way overpenetrate a small animal. I wouldn't be too worried about pointing a .22 up at a tree. But I wouldn't do it with a rifle.

A little off thread but what would you recommend for shooting beavers? I only have an issue with bounce in one direction. Thanks.

schamp - cheap easy way to get into it would be a Savage 93 in 22 magnum. I have a 93fv (blued, synthetic stock, heavy barrel) that holds 1" groups at 100 yards with my cheap $20 scope. And skeet clays, soda cans, etc. on the berm at 200 yards are easy hitting...

QUOTE: " A little off thread but what would you recommend for shooting beavers?"
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Very dark sunglasses ...so they can't see your eyes.

And because of the rounded/blunt tip, one can assume a vertical trajectory...
so loose fitting trousers are necessary also.

(And don't let the wife catch you either!)

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' bout. Nice pair Jeff!

I'll bring my .223 over and see how you like it.

For squirrels and such in your yard, I would recommend a Ruger 10/22. They are excelent guns and cheap. Plus you can use 22shorts or CB rounds to shoot them from the house. Works great and the neighbors never know.

I use a RWS model 48 air rifle in .22 cal. Silent, but many a black bird has met his maker with this one. Use a Bushnell 6-18X44mm scope and you can pick which feather you want to shoot.

The best caliber for ground squirrels is aluminum phosphide. Die, you filthy varmints, die.

This is real varmint shooting-

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221167543.jpg

Here's my latest shooter-
At the 1000yd KD range Ft. Bragg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221169911.jpg