This is like opening up a can of worms, I know, but everybody likes a gun discussion. What do you all think it is? I shoot a Mini-14 181 series and I am addicted to all the variations there are for it (not as many as the AR); and I pack a custom .22-250 camo-dipped, and a long barrel with a smooth Mauser action. I like the Mini-14 for just about any kind of calling or hunting smaller game. The '250 is unbeatable when it comes to long range shots. Does anybody have great things to say about the lighter rounds of the .243? I haven't had the pleasure to try their varmint rounds yet.
Best All-Around Predator/Varmint Rifle
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I love the .243. Since I also use it for deer hunting I use 100 gr. bullets and haven't had a coyote take one step if hit. I plan on doing some fine tuning this spring to see how it does at the range at 200 yds. If I ever get another gun I MAY drop down on bullet weight, but for right now it is my main weapon of choice.
My whitetail hunting weapon last season is one of my Bushmaster lowers with an Olympic Arms 24" heavy barrel in .243WSSM shooting Winchester 95gr Ballistic Silvertips. It was a successful season, so I am having my gunsmith construct a new upper for varminting in Ruger .204 with most of the bells and whistles. I can hardly wait to try it out! I have used with success in my Ruger Frontier .243 the Cor-Bon round loaded with the 62 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade. That has been a very effective combination on coyotes. It sure is fun to experiment with different calibers and all the new bullets that are hitting the market.
Centex
Centex
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11 Posts
AR-15 in 223. Built by me via parts. I haven't seen an auto-loader off the shelf that is worth $1500.00+ that you can't buy the parts and make a better gun. You don't need all the "lead jockey" stuff on a predator weapon. No laser, tacticle lamps, toliet paper holder, etc,,, required.
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24 Posts
Olympic arms AR chambered for 243 WSSM with 58 gr. V-Max it does the job if your not hunting for pelts. 70 gr. Noslers are nicer to the pelts and work good for antelope and deer as well. I run the 58 grainers at just over 4000 fps that could be the reason for some of the damage.
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191 Posts
I run a Sabre Defense 18 inch 1/8 twist midlength in 5.56mm. PRI carbon fiber free float tube, Magpul UBR stock, Horner Comp and JP trigger. I have been using a Burris XTR 1x4 with a Larue SPR-E mount but looking to get a Horus with a H25 reticle. Those dogs look pretty small at 300 or so yards with a 4x.
Chris C.
Chris C.
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24 Posts
Knapper, My barrel is chrome lined so I will last a long time I don't shoot those light bullets too often usually I shoot 70 gr noslers and those run about 3400 fps. If it wasn't chrome lined it would probably only last about 2500-3500 shoots at 4000 fps.
My match rifle is 1/8 twist and I shoot the 80gr. matchking bullets very well, in a 20" barrel, very accurately. My working AR is a 1/9 twist and likes the lighter bullets better, I have some American Eagle which has been loaded to ss 109 milspec which shoots pretty good for buying the stuff off the shelf, I mostly reload and this rifle likes the bulk Remingtion 62 gr. hollow point match, they shoot quite well for cheep stuff.
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3,439 Posts
I really can't see how you could go wrong with anything in .223. I've got a Remington R-15, and a Thompson Center Icon Precision Hunter - both in .223. Love em both.
That's interesting. Olympic Arms has never made a chrome-lined barrel. Not in the WSSM line, not in any line. Did you find someone to do just one custom barrel in chrome-lining, or are you confusing chrome-moly with chrome-lining?<OPredatorFreak said:
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Savage model 11 in a 22-250 makes a great rifle. Stops em in their tracks. The accu trigger system is awesome.
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dtech, my 243 has a custom barrel sorry about the confusion. I had a 243 wssm before in a winchester and the barrel was not chrome lined. after about 2500 shots it wouldn't hold real good groups. So i contacted winchester and they said I probably shot the barrel out. I was shooting 58 gr. V-Max bullets and running them pretty hot. So when I got the new one from Olympic arms I also got a custom Chrome lined barrel.
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28 Posts
i am happy with my r 25 308 its kinda heavy though but its a very good rifle have not got to shoot a coyote with it yet but got a lot of ground squirrels with it at 50 to 90 yards they are only about 6 inchs tall standing so not to bad cat wait to cut down a yote
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I shoot a browning varmint stalker 223wssm with a chrome lined barrel at the moment. Really looking at geting a RRA predator pursuit sometime in the near future. I have heard of barrel problems with the super short mags on the first batch of guns offered by browning and winchester. They started the chrome lining to give better barrel life, but cant say Ive seen them on an AR yet.
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