New varmint rifle build?

[Gibbshooter43]

After mentioning my 243AI and 220 Swift, my Tikka T3 222 and my Mauser 98 based 240 Gibbs reminded me they both shoot bug holes at 100 yards if I do my part. I apologized to them and assured them I'd give them some love as well.

 

[surgeon260]

I really like the 87gr v-max in my 6mm/284. The 6mm creedmoor would be a better choice for barrel life but I don't care.

This would be my recommendation as well. Super flat and very destructive.

 

[matt_3479]

I'm partial to a 20 cal myself. Love the ballistics on them. Currently shooting 20 tac with Dakota brass (lapua) pushing 39gr blitzkings at 3800 FPS! For more down range performance I've been seriously debating and throwing together a 22creed. I also bust out the 6mm creed and 260 when winds and conditions are extremely tough.

I agree with 204 ruger..love that round. Low recoil high velocity..bad prairie dog medicine.
I've reloaded mine with Hammers...waiting fir the chance to use. Was using factory hornady ballistics with amazing results

Which hammers have you loaded? Have you taken anything coyotes with it yet?

 

[M Jager]

Some of these suggestions for a prairie dog rig make me cringe. 22 creed, 243 ia, 6/284 for a primary prairie dog rifle? Either you dont have many dogs or you dont mind spinning up a new barrel every 2 to 3 trips. High performance cartridges for prarrie dogs should be limited to novelty shooters who dont shoot much or 3rd (or 4th) rifle that sees limited rounds.

For P dogs you really need 2 rifles (preferably more). Something mild mannered for closer shots like a 223 or 204 and a heavier gun shooting high bc bullets for longer stuff. Ideally I throw in a 6 br or variant in for midrange 400 to 700 yard stuff, so you can save the barrel burners like 6 creed and up for the long shots. I would actually consider a 260/6.5 creed/6.5x47 for a dedicated long range dog gun. Better barrel life than their 6mm counter parts, bigger bullets make seeing impacts easier and give more splat factor, better bc makes getting hits in the wind easier. Build the gun heavy to mitigate recoil.

Big splats at long range isnt very realistic in my experience. True varmint bullets don't have the best BCs and high BC target bullets aren't going to expand much on a small target when the velocity drops. ELDs and TMKs about the best you can do IMO when trying to compromise BC, expansion, and barrel life.

 

[zr600]

Ok well I have a 6.5 creedmoor it's a bergara hmr so it's heavier and it runs a can. Then I also shoot my ar15 which is a 6x6.8 which is shoot 58g Vmaxes out that. How does the 6.5 do on prairie dogs with the eldm or tmk? I was just really disappointed with my 22-243 with 75g amax at 3500 even close 100-200 yard shots didn't blow them up.

 

[M Jager]

You should be good when impact velocity is above 1800 fps. Under 1800 and expansion will probably be inconsistent. 147 ELDs splat well out of my 260 ai started at 2875. Granted at 800 plus it's not the same as a 22/250 at 100 but we cant have everything. Since you already have it, give it a try with say 140 elds and see if it does what you want and go from there .

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Ok well I have a 6.5 creedmoor it's a bergara hmr so it's heavier and it runs a can. Then I also shoot my ar15 which is a 6x6.8 which is shoot 58g Vmaxes out that. How does the 6.5 do on prairie dogs with the eldm or tmk? I was just really disappointed with my 22-243 with 75g amax at 3500 even close 100-200 yard shots didn't blow them up.

These were shot with the 140 eld-m at 2825 fps. Range was 100 yards.

 

[longtubeman]

I have another one I shoot, it's a 222 mag imp

. It is cheep to shoot, and is like having a 22-250.

 

[Mainmechanic]

Some very good info that I based my same choice on. 6mmbr.com. Once there search 6mm remington ackley varminter. Some of the best info I ever read on this subject

 

[DXHI]

I'm partial to a 20 cal myself. Love the ballistics on them. Currently shooting 20 tac with Dakota brass (lapua) pushing 39gr blitzkings at 3800 FPS! For more down range performance I've been seriously debating and throwing together a 22creed. I also bust out the 6mm creed and 260 when winds and conditions are extremely tough.



Which hammers have you loaded? Have you taken anything coyotes with it yet?

Unfortunately no. I had a second /3rd hand 30 year old scope on it that crapped out in the load work up process. It's getting repaired now.
But I went with the 31 grain hammers and it's almost a one hole gun at 100

 

[matt_3479]

Unfortunately no. I had a second /3rd hand 30 year old scope on it that crapped out in the load work up process. It's getting repaired now.
But I went with the 31 grain hammers and it's almost a one hole gun at 100

I've been trying to find some time to load up the 35gr Berger's. I've heard excellent things about them. We have a buddy that is a taxidermist and likes to sell the fur and the 39gr blitz kings are ballistically amazing, but boy do they ever make a mess of things! I was able to do a quick load work up but need to spend some time behind them. I'm always open trying something different. Want it fur friendly and better B.C. then the 35 bergers

 

[ronstone09]

ok I want to build a varmint rifle that will work well for long range shots. It will be mostly prairie dog shooting so I want to use a good high bc carmint bullet and want a pretty decent velocity, but barrel life is kind of important. I'm going to proably build off a big horn origin action ag composite stock trigger tech trigger but need to figure out what cartridge to go with. I want good brass available that will last, i do reload so wild cats will be considered.

Try the .204 with a 40 grain bullet !