Forums.NitroExpress.com

Personally I probably have more rifles in the varmint class than all others, ranging from 17HMR which I do use on P-dogs out to 200 yards or so..

Have several Coopers. One in 6/284 with a Schmidt/Bender 4-16 scope.. 70 gr Blitz Kings.-3900+ fps...which is hell on wheels for P-dogs and pretty much anything else it hits in that size of game..have also used it on antelope and deer with great results..the next one I have used a lot is a Remington 700 in .243 that I load with 70 Nosler ballistic tips--have a VX3 4-14 Leupold on it..have them running just shy of 3600fps using Varget Powder..actually used that one day to shoot a 22 yr old black bear sow that was on my friends ranch...have another Cooper in 220 Swift that I have used a lot on P-dogs...Have a heavy barrel Remington in 22-250 that I have also used a ton on P-dogs..very very accurate, even with Factory loads..Have 2 rifles in .204 Ruger which are fine up to and including coyotes..One is a Cooper and the other is a CZ with a set trigger..actually the CZ is every bit as accurate as the Cooper and love the set trigger on the CZ--both of those have Leupolds on them..My truck gun and what I have been using the most for calling in Coyotes in the past 3-5 years is a little Tikka Stainless with a 4.5-14 Leupold on it in 22-250...I shoot 50gr ballistic tips out of it..have shot tons of P-dogs with it. My wife hammered a Pronghorn with hit at just over 500 yards 3 years ago..also shooting 50gr ballistic tips..and have used it on culling deer..works great..I have 2 custom built rifles with Rem acitons and Hart barrels chambered in .257 Weatherby that I have used on coyotes but its too much..also have a Weatherby in 240 Weatherby..works well also but I prefer the Cooper in 6/284. Have a Remington 5cut barrel sporter in .223 that I have used on P-dogs --works great but I like the toss factor a bit more for the 220 swift and 22-250..speaking of which, I do like the ballistics a bit more of the 220 Swift but like the availability of ammo of the 22-250 should you run out of your handloads..

I have numerous AR's chambered in 5.56 or 223..frankly don't use them much for varmint hunting other than coyotes..fun if a group of 'yotes show up and you want to toss a large amount of lead their direction..but for all out accuracy I prefer one of the both actions..as to optics, they range from Trijicon red dots to Leupold 4-12 to 1-4's, etc..again, they are more set up for the two legged varmints therefore are scoped accordingly..

For the closer stuff--shooting gophers or closer P-dogs..have a Ruger and savage in 22Mag..that works really well out to about 150 yards..have also shot coyotes with them --have to be more specific on shot placement ..but it works..have 3 different 17HMR's...2 Anshutz--one heavy barrel--one sporter--both have a Leupold 4-12 on them....also have a CZ 17HMR with a set trigger as well..one of my favorites as to rimfire..

For me..of all those I have I would choose either the 22-250 or the .243 and load it accordingly to what you plan to shoot..as with most hunts, shot placement is everything..

As to scopes I really really like the Leupold 4.5-14 VX3--its is enough power to shoot and see out as far are you will ever need it, yet allows for quick acquisition on running game such as coyotes if you have doubles or triples come in to a call..I have others up to and beyond 20X but find I rarely use them at that setting..

I am sure I missed some I have, but this is what comes to mind as to what I have and have been using in the most recent past.

Ripp