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Gotta Build A Varmit Gun


Horsefly

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A friend has been hounding me hard for 2 years now to build him a varmit rifle,and I need you cats to chime in on what you think would be the easiest round to feed through a Mauser.He doesn't care what caliber,action,and synthetic stock is ok.He just wants a rifle to plunk at song dogs with.I have a couple K.KALES,and a Corelite stock already.I want to make this as easy and fast a project I can.I've begged him to just buy a used factory gun,but he's into custom cars and knives,and wants a converted Mauser.He's been a a hell-uva good buddy and has done a lot for me,so there's no way I can hold off any longer.I was wondering if 6MM wouldn't be a good choice? 257.Roberts sounds good too,but I don't know if the bullet velocity is fast enough for him.You dudes please chime in and help me get this project started.Jerry

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I built a 243 on a yugo m98. after barrel replacement,headspacing, the only thing els I done was change the follower and spring, oh an added a spacer block. I've had no problems with it. I use nos btbts, 55 gr. 3800-3950 mv is fast enough for tree rats, song dogs, even good for small deer if you load 100grainers. Just my .035 worth. Dave

 

However depending on how fast he wants it to run would say what to use. I, myself would just rebarrel to a 25-06. that is a good runner also. Don't need super sonic in the mach 4 range to take out dogs, just accuracy fro m the rifle and the shooter. Again ,just my .035 worth, Dave!!!! Again!!

 

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By far the easiest to get to feed with little or no mods is the 6mm Rem. A dy-no-mite cartridge for deer and varmints. With the 55 grain pills the kick is little more than a .22-250. Depends on what your friend wants to shoot. If only little critters then perhaps a .22 centerfire is better. The .22-250 would get my vote but be prepared to deal with feeding. I'd opt for the shortest action I could find although many have been built on standard length actions too.

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Mine is a 6mm-'06! Works real good.. but I suspect that a good ole 6mm would be just as good .. and no "wildcat" hassels, nor feeding issues. [which I did not have].. Beats my 22-250 on all counts! $0.03 MV

I will add that if I were to build on a yugo, I may consider the 243.. but only if the 6mm caused feeding issues!

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what would a 6mm necked down to .22 be? i know about the .22 Cheetah, but that's on the .308 case. with no hassles, a 6mm Rem would be the ticket. mine is almost contoured to be sent off to re-heat treat. i am trying to do all my receivers at the same time to save $$...

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what would a 6mm necked down to .22 be? i know about the .22 Cheetah, but that's on the .308 case. with no hassles, a 6mm Rem would be the ticket. mine is almost contoured to be sent off to re-heat treat. i am trying to do all my receivers at the same time to save $$...

 

 

22-6mm Remington:

http://www.accuratereloading.com/226rem.html

http://www.grafs.com/browse/1899/410

or

.224 TTH get the barrel from ER Shaw

http://www.ershawbarrels.com/about2.asp

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbth...n=0&page=99

 

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If you're looking for a good shooting varminter don't scrimp and get the barrel from Shaw. the only barrel I've ever had walk on me was a Shaw. Juast yesterday a guy came in who had installed a Shaw .17 HM2 kit on his 10/22, it was bulging the rear of the cases. A call to Shaw netted this response, "yeah, we've been having problems with them."

 

No sir, they'll not be getting any of my business. For a few dollars more you can get an excellent Lothar Walther Barrel.

 

So Jerry, what caliber (cartridge) have you settled on?

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Jerry,

 

I built a heavy barreled 6.5x55 a couple years ago for antelope hunting and varmint shooting if I'm ever lucky enough to get to go.

 

I bought a Lothar Walther Article 722 barrel and had my gunsmithing screw it onto to an M48 action. If you wanted to use a K.Kale, I would imagine Lothar could short chamber a small ring thread Mauser barrel for you at minimal extra cost.

 

I like my LW barrel - the bore finish is smooth as glass!

 

-Jason

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I've bought some other stuff from him but not barrels. A client bought a 9.3x62 barrel from him and is very happy. I believe Wilson made some if not all the barrels he caries.

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Jerry, the 6mm rem.is an outstanding choice. I bought one 29 years ago, and I can assure you the accuracy of this cartrige can be amazing, and with 100 gr. bullets its an exellent deer cartrige as well, but, if your buddy isn't a handloader, finding factory ammo in varmint weight bullets will not be as easy as a 22-250 or a 243. I was handloading when I bought the rifle got out of it for 10 - 15 years, shooting factory ammo, then got back into handloading. I saw that 9 out of 10 retailers selling ammo didn't carry it, and when they did, light varmint bullets were scare to nonexistant. Today he should be able to find plenty of ammo on the internet, it just takes a little more time and planning. I still think it's the best cartridge for what you want, and if he's not already a handloader, mayby this is a good way to get him started. GUY

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Jerry, the 6mm rem.is an outstanding choice. I bought one 29 years ago, and I can assure you the accuracy of this cartrige can be amazing, and with 100 gr. bullets its an exellent deer cartrige as well, but, if your buddy isn't a handloader, finding factory ammo in varmint weight bullets will not be as easy as a 22-250 or a 243. I was handloading when I bought the rifle got out of it for 10 - 15 years, shooting factory ammo, then got back into handloading. I saw that 9 out of 10 retailers selling ammo didn't carry it, and when they did, light varmint bullets were scare to nonexistant. Today he should be able to find plenty of ammo on the internet, it just takes a little more time and planning. I still think it's the best cartridge for what you want, and if he's not already a handloader, mayby this is a good way to get him started. GUY

 

Some good points, especially about lighter bullets if you don't handload. Mine has proved to be exceptionally accurate. My childhood buddy killed a lot of whitetail in TX with his .243 and 85 grain bullets. These days, Hornady has their great light magnum ammo which sends a 100 grain pill sailing at better than 3200 fps. I'm restocking one of mine for a pronghorn rifle, the other I'm redoing as a longer range praire dog rifle.

 

 

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Fly if it's a gift, chances are good he will be happy with what ever you select the first time he rolls a coyote with it. I've seen coyotes drop from a single shot with a 22 but on the other hand I had one run like hell nearly a 100 yards with a 170 gr Silvertip 30/30 clean through both it's rib cage. My last one apx 2 years ago I got with a 125gr hollow point 38 Spec +P, shot with a Rossi lever rifle at apx 40-50 yards. He rolled and never got up.

 

Coyote hunting is not as popular out here anymore as Game & Fish now requires the hunter to carry them out or face a citation and fine. There was pressure from the animal lovers, not over yotes but it stemmed from them trying to protect wild burros. The burros, considered a nuisance by farmers and ranchers that would shoot them as well as other nuisance animals and leave them for the buzzards. Now we have to carry anything out we shoot but some how feral dogs and cats are excluded as G&F claims they do not have the authority to regulate domestic house pets. I passed a coyote up this past Sept during Dove season, didn't know what to do with it.

 

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Well fellers,ya'll came through for me again.I have settled on a .22-250.I've been offered a deal I can't turn down by one of our buddies here on the board for a barreled action with a Rem. heavy barrel,and it will put me way ahead in the game.Thanks for all your input and suggestions. Jerry

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