WANTED: medium priced new varmint rifle

[Eric B.]

I'm thinking of getting a new rifle in 22/250 for coyote and other smaller varmints. $600. would be my very upper limit.

Right now I like the Thompson Center Venture of all the more reasonably priced rifles.

It has:
> 5-R rifled barrel (better gas seal, less bullet deformation)
> very good adjustable trigger
> 3 lug bolt (faster cycling)
> garanteed 1 MOA accuracy (from most factory loads)
> very high quality for the money

Any other suggestions BESIDES Rem 700? (Don't trust Rem. safties)

 

[songdogslayer]

Any other suggestions BESIDES Rem 700? (Don't trust Rem. safties)

I never trust any safety.

 

[Liquidmetal]

I like the Howa Varminters myself (I have two). Excellent rifles for the money.

 

[Phezzik]

+1 for Howa. I'd also look at Savage, as they make a good accurate rifle for a decent price. I would however stay away from Thompson Center. They just issued a massive recall of almost their entire line. I had to ship 10 rifles that I had in stock back because of it.

Thompson/Center Arms Issues Recall for Icon, Venture and Dimension Rifles - Guns & Ammo

Supposedly all of the brand new production rifles won't have this issue, but that's a lot of rifles recalled because of an oversight. And whos to say that you get a post June 13, 2013 rifle?

 

[jwb47]

I have a howa varmint supreme in 223. I have to agree with the other guy above , its an excellent rifle for the money .

 

[308Gunner]

+1 for Savage they are stupid acuurate and you can get one for under 600, I have a LRH in 6.5-284 and a 223 both shoot under MOA with factory ammo. not that I shoot factory but just saying

 

[BoilerUP]

Savage 12FV...

 

[RoyPreston]

Any other suggestions BESIDES Rem 700? (Don't trust Rem. safties)

didn't tc just recall every rifle they made including the venture and icon for safety issues?

 

[B.A.C.]

The Tikka T3 Varmint is hard to beat and is a nicer gun than most Remingtons. They come standard with a smooth action, detachable magazine, and side bolt release.

 

[lawman29]

Savage 10 predator hunter. If you're patient you should be able to pick a good used one up for ~ $600. There are some posts on it and all comments were excellent...

 

[Eric B.]

Phezzik-> Thanks for that update on TC rifle saftey problems. A real design error for damn sure. There is no Fed agency forcing recalls for firearms but to TC's credit they are recalling on their own initiative.

BUT, Remington has had a similar problem for DECADES, with several deaths and maimings as a result and they still refuse to recall 700s. (and I have an HS Precision/Rem. 700 target rifle in .300 Win mag. HS Precision checked and approved everything when they trued the action.

I dunno if I want to risk a Ruger American even though I have ruger 10/22, 96/22 mag lever action and an LC-9, all giving excellent service.

I'll look at the Savage rifles and the Tikka varmint in person. I love the 3 lug bolts like the Tikka's ever since I got my Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker W/ BOSS system. Very fast cycling.
I live in gun crazy 'Vegas so I'm sure I can find a sample of each, at least at a gun show.

 

[tylerw02]

Phezzik-> Thanks for that update on TC rifle saftey problems. A real design error for damn sure. There is no Fed agency forcing recalls for firearms but to TC's credit they are recalling on their own initiative.

BUT, Remington has had a similar problem for DECADES, with several deaths and maimings as a result and they still refuse to recall 700s. (and I have an HS Precision/Rem. 700 target rifle in .300 Win mag. HS Precision checked and approved everything when they trued the action.

I dunno if I want to risk a Ruger American even though I have ruger 10/22, 96/22 mag lever action and an LC-9, all giving excellent service.

I'll look at the Savage rifles and the Tikka varmint in person. I love the 3 lug bolts like the Tikka's ever since I got my Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker W/ BOSS system. Very fast cycling.
I live in gun crazy 'Vegas so I'm sure I can find a sample of each, at least at a gun show.

Frankly, you're misinformed. There's no problem with Remington safties. Furthermore, the "dangerous" guns were guns with triggers that were improperly tuned and people breaking basic safety rules. There is no reason to recall the 700.

 

[Phezzik]

Frankly, you're misinformed. There's no problem with Remington safties. Furthermore, the "dangerous" guns were guns with triggers that were improperly tuned and people breaking basic safety rules. There is no reason to recall the 700.

Agreed. Any safety you if is worthless if you don't know how to properly handle a firearm. Those reported Remington cases were because people were idiots and muzzle sweeping their friends or family with a loaded firearm. I think all the bad press is why TC is taking the initiative and sending out a recall.

Back on topic though (sorry), the Ruger American isn't bad. I haven't had a chance to field test one, but I've shot a couple at my shop and for the money they're pretty nice. However Tikka would be hard to beat, as well as the Howa or Savage mentioned before. A plus for the Savage is the ease of a caliber change at home with a few simple tools should you desire something different.

 

[Sidewinderwa]

Savages, Tikkas and Howas are all good guns for the money. We sell a lot of them at the sporting goods store I work at. I have more Savages than any other brand. Built two specialty rifles off of Savage target actions. I do not trust the old Remington rifle's triggers as well. I have handled guns for about 50 years and taught hunter safety for 8 years. I had a Remington go off as I closed the bolt and again when I took the safety off. It was an untouched factory trigger. The guy that designed the Remington safety told Remington the trigger was bad, but Remington did not want to pay for the change in design. I for one will not deal with that. My grandson will probably get my rifles and could not handle someone getting harmed with a gun I knew was untrustworthy. The rifle was pointed in a safe direction in both incidents. I put an after market trigger in it after the second incident.

 

[E. Bryant]

You guys do realize that the X-Mark series of triggers have a different safety design, right? It blocks both the sear and the trigger itself. Or just get a Timney 510, which has a similar safety that also avoids the potential issue with the older "Walker" trigger.

 

[e4nate]

At the risk of standing out, I bought a venture. Its a little light for the 7MM Rem Mag chamber, but in a varmint caliber it would be a great rifle. I am considering buying one in .223 just for coyotes and woodchucks so my boy can have my. 17hmr.