Best gun for varmints

[nnbreeder]

I personally like my 44-40 for close work and my 7mm Mauser for the longer distances. The 44-40 is great for putting a large slug in a target and even though the bullet doesn't travel all that far it has a lot of power at close range.

Unless you are hunting big game or shooting at a long distance you really don't need all that much power. as someone else said it's all in placing the shot.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
I tend to go along with the old adage that says: "Take enough gun."
Even well placed shots, if fired from marginal cartridges, don't do the job intended. There are many variables working against you, far more than you think.
Now, the 44-40 and 7mm Mauser are enough. Big slow moving slug for knock down punch inside 100 yds. (.44-40) and high velocity bullet for longer range, flatter shooting (7MM). They'll do for most situations.

I'm not one to generally recommend ammo that is so far down the popularity list, however. At least for most folks who are more into chickens than guns.

Something like a .44-40 (an old black powder revolver round) and the 7mm Mauser (a European rifle round) are wholly adequate for their purpose, but may not be readily available in all locales.
The popular equivalents would be the .44 Magnum/Special and something like a .270 WIN.
Both the .44 Mag/Sp and the .270 WIN are available in rifles and are very common.

(Were it me I'd prefer the 7mm-08, the modern duplicate of the 7mm Mauser. But again, not as common in all locales).

 

[lone cedar farm]

I like my Ruger .22 for round the farm, goes where I go!

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
I tend to go along with the old adage that says: "Take enough gun."
Even well placed shots, if fired from marginal cartridges, don't do the job intended. There are many variables working against you, far more than you think.
Now, the 44-40 and 7mm Mauser are enough. Big slow moving slug for knock down punch inside 100 yds. (.44-40) and high velocity bullet for longer range, flatter shooting (7MM). They'll do for most situations.

I'm not one to generally recommend ammo that is so far down the popularity list, however. At least for most folks who are more into chickens than guns.

Something like a .44-40 (an old black powder revolver round) and the 7mm Mauser (a European rifle round) are wholly adequate for their purpose, but may not be readily available in all locales.
The popular equivalents would be the .44 Magnum/Special and something like a .270 WIN.
Both the .44 Mag/Sp and the .270 WIN are available in rifles and are very common.

(Were it me I'd prefer the 7mm-08, the modern duplicate of the 7mm Mauser. But again, not as common in all locales).

The 44-40 was a sorta magnum in the black powder days. Though hard to find loaded ammo, one can get casings from starline. Black powder is easy to reload, just deprime, resize, prime, and fill the case to the top with powder and shove a bullet on top.

I love shooting black powder, though I am not lucky enough to own a 44-40, I do load 44spl and 44mag in the black. I shoot a 45/70 buffalo rifle. It is not unusual for me to carry one of my 1851 navies converted to 38spl loaded in black. Surprising is that black powder cartridges have almost the same power as the smokeless in 38spl. Even my 12ga is loaded in the dark stuff.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
I tend to go along with the old adage that says: "Take enough gun."
Even well placed shots, if fired from marginal cartridges, don't do the job intended. There are many variables working against you, far more than you think.
Now, the 44-40 and 7mm Mauser are enough. Big slow moving slug for knock down punch inside 100 yds. (.44-40) and high velocity bullet for longer range, flatter shooting (7MM). They'll do for most situations.

I'm not one to generally recommend ammo that is so far down the popularity list, however. At least for most folks who are more into chickens than guns.

Something like a .44-40 (an old black powder revolver round) and the 7mm Mauser (a European rifle round) are wholly adequate for their purpose, but may not be readily available in all locales.
The popular equivalents would be the .44 Magnum/Special and something like a .270 WIN.
Both the .44 Mag/Sp and the .270 WIN are available in rifles and are very common.

(Were it me I'd prefer the 7mm-08, the modern duplicate of the 7mm Mauser. But again, not as common in all locales).

The 44-40 was a sorta magnum in the black powder days. Though hard to find loaded ammo, one can get casings from starline. Black powder is easy to reload, just deprime, resize, prime, and fill the case to the top with powder and shove a bullet on top.

I love shooting black powder, though I am not lucky enough to own a 44-40, I do load 44spl and 44mag in the black. I shoot a 45/70 buffalo rifle. It is not unusual for me to carry one of my 1851 navies converted to 38spl loaded in black. Surprising is that black powder cartridges have almost the same power as the smokeless in 38spl. Even my 12ga is loaded in the dark stuff.

I, too, love black powder and the vintage "charm" of the stuff. But for most people, its not gonna be a best choice. Simple and common place is better.
In the non +P loadings, a stiff charge of black powder should come close to orginal .38 Spl loads.
On a tangent, one of my favorite all around predator/farm rifle is the Marlin 1894C in .357 Mag/.38 Spl. It has a wide power range out to 100 yds and the ammo is as common as fleas on a dog. I recommend it highly.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

I have a Weatherby rifle in a standard caliber(.25-06). The reason being. I can go to any gun shop, pawn shop, even Wal-Mart and get ammo for it. I have to drive nearly 100 miles to Gander Mountain to get Weatherby Magnum ammo. And for about $120 for a box of 20. I reloaded my own ammo now so I can do it for alot cheaper than store bought. One thing you need to consider when buying a rifle is how easy you can get ammo. Go up to Wal-Mart and see if you can find a brick of .22 long rifle ammo. You can't.

 

[mxpres]

I recently purchased a 17 caliber marlin bolt action,with a 3x9 scope .I does what I need it to do without a big boom our powerful recoil,the slug is small,fast and explodes on impact,and not too expensive to feed,up to 150 yards is the longest distance I am going to be firing,and no worries about the slug passing through,,but,,,no matter what kind of gun you use or intend to use,if you can,t hit what your aiming at,,the best rifle and ammo on the market is useless to you,,a 20 gauge shotgun with #4 shot up to 40 yards would be best suited for someone that has limited experience firing a gun,,just make sure of your target and backstop...

 

[Buster52]

Rooster Cogburn Jr. :

Also. Sighting in. The best targets are the kind with crosses on them.

All done! This was really helpful. Sighting in on crossed lines made it a lot easier. Now that it is lined up I don't know that I will continue to use them, but it helped having something I could directly match up with the cross in the scope.

So, thanks!

As to finding rounds, I figure it will be easier to find them once all the panic over the election is over.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

My Dad taught me about the crosses years ago. 1 card board box, a ruler, a Sharpee, thumb tacks, and computer or notebook paper. Sighting in is a snap. Then I shoot the thumb tacks to prove it's on. My favorite ones to shoot are the sticky shoot and see targets. You can get these anywhere. You can see where you hit without needing a spotting scope or walking down range to check, which gets old fast especially on hot days. I think I got a pack of 50 from Gander Mountain for about $10. Keep it in the 10 ring.

 

[Rooster Cogburn Jr.]

p.s. The turtles will disappear fast in a few days when they see you coming. And they'll also disappear from your zero'd in Rifle.