Ultra-accurate, semi-auto varmint rifle?

[RaspberrySurprise]

22-50 ought to get the job done.

[HankB]

With proper bullets a .223 will do for any varmint; this means some kind of expanding bullet. Military FMJ ammo depends on post-impact tumbling and fragmentation for its terminal effect, and I haven't seen this on small critters. A good expanding bullet will do for varmints at any range you can reasonably hit them at. Service rifle match shooters fire the .223 at up to 600 yards, so in principle, a 'scoped .223 should do for varmints at 400m . . . but you better have both good ammo and a good rifle to snipe the little critters that far out.

And though it would not be my first choice, a .223 will do for deer as well, with both good bullets and good shot placement. (Last time I looked, Nosler did make a .223 or .224 Partition bullet) But I wouldn't go shooting deer at 400m with one . . .

[230RN]

Thing is, anything that will hold together enough to dispatch deer at moderate range will not disintegrate at long range.  The farmer in question will likely have to settle on either having to do a mag change to use different bullet types or settle on a compromise load.

Frankly, the requirements listed are going to be very tough to meet:
* 400m varmint-accurate
* Powerful enough for deer
* Rapid firing (semi-auto)

Well, that's what I was getting at.  One shouldn't be using a big heavy round for the "usual" kind of varmint shooting.  (I declined to comment on the other direction, using varmint cartridges on larger game.)

Yes, I know there are guys trying to bust prairie dogs at a mile or more, but that's specialized shooting in specialized areas.

[bedlamite]

22-50 ought to get the job done.

Would a 22-50 be the next step up from this?  

[zahc]

Well, that's what I was getting at.  One shouldn't be using a big heavy round for the "usual" kind of varmint shooting.

Is .243/6mm really considered a 'big heavy round'? I always considered .223 a close/medium range varmint round. Good for short stuff, crows in the garden. 22-250, 220 swift, 6mm remington are the real, long-range groundhog rounds to me.

[230RN]

^ No, I've used several 6mm rifles, but as I say, for the low-angle shooting I was doing, they did ricochet too much for my comfort level. It's just a question of degree.  I was exaggerating a little when I said "big, heavy bullets" for the sake of making a point. Most of my prairie dog shooting was nearish to urbanish areas... small farms and ranches fairly close to each other, and you can't be sure of where a bullet or, almost as important, where its sound might end up.   You know what happens:  "Why, I heard that bullet zing right by my head --I coulda been killed," just because they heard a ricochet two pastures over.

So I figure the less metal in a bullet, the less I could have "killed" anyone with a "pwaaannng."

Terry, 230RN

[nico]

As someone suggested, if you want something that's suitable for varmints and deer at several hundred yards, your best bet would be to carry at least two magazines: one with your varmint load, and one with your deer load.  Otherwise, you run into problems with the laws of physics. 

The AR platform has gotten to the level that you can get all but benchrest accuracy out of it if you're willing to pay.  What's the maximum price range we're talking here?

If the sky's the limit, I don't think you could go wrong with a JP LR-07 or GA Precision AR-10.  The GAP starts at $2500 and the JP starts at ~$3200, and you can talk to either them about what exactly you're looking for.  I'd be very surprised if either shop let an AR out the door that didn't shoot well under 1moa. 

If you're looking for something a little more budget-oriented, like someone said, I've heard the RRA Varminters are tack drivers in .223 and would imagine they'd be very accurate in .308 too. 

[230RN]

As someone suggested, if you want something that's suitable for varmints and deer at several hundred yards, your best bet would be to carry at least two magazines: one with your varmint load, and one with your deer load.  Otherwise, you run into problems with the laws of physics.

And you run into the laws of optics.  You'd better have darned good positive adjustments on your sights if you change loads back and forth.

Well, to each his own.  The strictures provided herein ( precision semiauto suitable for both varmints and deer (at least for the kind of varmint shooting I used to do)) are pretty hard to adequately meet without beaucoup bucks, in my opinion. 

Sort of like a Honda CL-350 motorcycle I had once.  Supposed to be good for both street and trail, but wasn't much good for either.

Besides, if one rifle is good, two are better.    Anyone disagree with that? 

Terry, 230RN

[RaspberrySurprise]

Would a 22-50 be the next step up from this? 

Pretty much. Same concept using a 50 cal casing.

[Jamisjockey]

As someone suggested, if you want something that's suitable for varmints and deer at several hundred yards, your best bet would be to carry at least two magazines: one with your varmint load, and one with your deer load.  Otherwise, you run into problems with the laws of physics. 

The AR platform has gotten to the level that you can get all but benchrest accuracy out of it if you're willing to pay.  What's the maximum price range we're talking here?

If the sky's the limit, I don't think you could go wrong with a JP LR-07 or GA Precision AR-10.  The GAP starts at $2500 and the JP starts at ~$3200, and you can talk to either them about what exactly you're looking for.  I'd be very surprised if either shop let an AR out the door that didn't shoot well under 1moa. 

If you're looking for something a little more budget-oriented, like someone said, I've heard the RRA Varminters are tack drivers in .223 and would imagine they'd be very accurate in .308 too. 

At distance you'll be swapping dope if you swap magazines.  A few inches here and there and you'll miss by a country mile at three or four hundred.

[roo_ster]

At distance you'll be swapping dope if you swap magazines.  A few inches here and there and you'll miss by a country mile at three or four hundred.

I think a mil-dot scope would help.  Zero set at "way out there" and for closer shooting at deer hold on one of the mil-dots.

[MechAg94]

If you weren't concerned about money, you could also get a couple of good scope mounts from LaRue Tactical and just swap out scopes.   
I have one of those and it works very very well.

[MechAg94]

That GA Precision rifle looks pretty good.  Cheaper than a lot of the rifles I looked at recently.  I decided I wanted an accurate 308 and looked at AR10's first.  The cost seemed to go from reasonable to WTF?! really quick.  I have pretty much decided to look at a decent heavy barrel bolt action instead.