Varmint rifle recommendation

copndoc3 · Jun 13, 2011

Looking for a good varmint rifle to euthanize chicken-stealin', egg-stealin', and other ugly varmints that wander into the farm. Looking for a lever action, scope equipped rifle that my bride can also handle. Recommendations as far as make and caliber welcome.
Our barn, with attached chicken coop is approximately 100-120 yds from our house and I would love to sit on the back porch with binoculars watching for critters that haven't been invited and sending them into next week. I might even spot-light the coop area after dark to see what wanders in.

Rustyiron · Jun 13, 2011

22 Hornet , .223, small cal. and flat shooting, there are a bunch more. If you could get a little closer a good .22 or .22mag rifle will get the job done cheap.

bcp · Jun 13, 2011

Mild, scoped lever actions:

Savage 99, 243 or 250
Winchester 88, 243
Browning BLR, 223, 243
Marlin 336, 30-30
Winchester 94 Angle Eject, 30-30

Bruce

RTII · Jun 13, 2011

I know it's not lever action but I've turned into a real fan of AR's. .223 is also a great caliber for varmints up to hog size. Acurate and lots of ammo choices from cheap on up. Sorry, not much help considering your specifics with lever action but thought I'd throw it out there. Good luck with your choice.

kg7il · Jun 13, 2011

The lever actions are great for 'a day of hunting', but a ranch rifle should be safe and easy to get to, and fast to the shot. At the end of the day, it should be just as safe, and easy to put away. And it should be a joy day after day.

A magazine fed firearm allows you to carry with chamber empty and full magazine in place. Operation the action makes it fire ready. At the end of the day, make sure the magazine is out and the chamber is empty.

Your typical lever action will require you to cycle action for each round in the tubular magazine. Savage 99c is a magazine fed lever. There are others.

A great ranch rifle is the Ruger Mini14. .223 is a great round for mid size and smaller varmits. It is a semi-automatic rifle, but can be had in stainless and synthetic stock.

As for me, a 1911 .45 is the tool of choice. It's always with me.

foggy1111 · Jun 13, 2011

I'm not sure how "rural" you are. If neighbors are not an issue you may want to go to a 223 or possilby a 17 Remington cartrige.....or possibly something between.

Keep in mind that those type of centerfire cartriges will have lots of muzzle blast and will require hearing protection.

Stepping down a bit.....you may be happy with a 22 magnum or a 17 HMR. Both of these are rimfire ammo and can be accurate out to the ranges you specify above. The noise is not excessive and there is litttle or no recoil with a light gun. (there is little recoil with the two previous cartriges- but there is some.

I like a 22 magnum and these are pretty good on fox size critters out to 125 yards or so. Likely not enough for coyotes tho.

A lever action may limit you some for your purposes.....but I like the levers too. I think Henry offers one in 22 mag.....maybe Browning? .....I'll do a google or gunlist and give you a few options in anohter post.

OH.....if you did a little search via gunlist....and are willing to pay a bit.......a Marlin 39 in 22 Mag is a doozy. They no longer make 'em....but they can be found for around $600. It's on my "to buy" list if I stumble across one for a reasonable price.

IcUdoUcme · Jun 13, 2011

If money is no issue:

Pistol for the tractor and field work Five-seveN® Handgun

For the house P90® USG

I also have a few ARs they are great! The only down side is if you have a compensator/flash supressor at the end it has a pretty good bang and blow back for by standers. The FN P90 with a 5.7x28works well it's a high velocity round with out alot of noise. My wife loves this gun. It is semi auto. If you're in a gun friendly state you can get 50rnd mags for it

But for over 100 yds this good
308 Marlin Express Series

BrianR · Jun 13, 2011

I prefer the AR-15 in .223 caliber with mil-dot 10x42 scope for groundhogs, fox, coyote, etc, provided I have enough space to take the shot. No sense in killing perfectly good neighbors ya know!? Follow up shots while they are on the run, are easier with this rifle/scope combo.

For closer, urban type, shots I use .17HMR or .22Mag bolt guns with 3-9x variable scopes. Good stopping power without the over penetration.

For those up close and personal shots, I like a Ruger MkII pistol (bull barrel, compensator, and extended mag release.)

BrianR · Jun 13, 2011

Oh.....also a word of caution: If you take a shot from inside a pole building (metal sided), be sure to wear ear protection!! Nailed a pesky racoon that was stealing my sweet corn, that way. Man is that loud!!

foggy1111 · Jun 13, 2011

To follow on earlier post:

Winchester 22 Mags (94/22 Mag) are recently out of production. But these may still be had new if you do some quick shopping or have a dealer search for one.

Ruger makes a #96 lever acton 22 mag (I think this is the right number)....and I think it gets good reviews.

Henry makes a popular priced and good operating lever gun. H001 Mag.

If you want a lever 22 mag....my first choice would be the discontinued Marlin....if you could find one. It will be an heirloom one day.

I'm sure there are others.....but you need to determine a cartrige first....then the brand of gun.

I have a 17 HMR in a bolt-action rifle and a 22magnum in a Ruger 77/22mag bolt[action rilfe. I really like the Ruger.....but either gun has killed praire dogs out to 200 yards.