My standard PD rifles for years have been a .308 Win with 168 grain A-Max and .25-06 with 100 grain Match Kings. I got my first real varmint caliber this year a .204 Ruger. I got it to cover my shooting out to around 300-350 yards. So I could save my lager rifles for the longer shots.

I grew up in SE Colorado where long shooting is the standard.

Ihave killed PD's with every gun I own to includ my .458 Lott. I still need to wack a Coyote with my Lott though.

Semper Fi and Safe hunting.
Will
In the first photo there is one 10-22, two Winchester Modle 70 .308's, One Ruger .25-06 with custom match barrle, One Remington 10X in .25-06 AI, one .220 Swift AI (but I forgot what make) and one Ruger .220 Swift
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n141/wjbarks/100_0063_r1_edited-1.jpg

Thats me on the left with a good Marine Corps buddy shooting PD's on a friends ranch in SE Colorado. On this trip three of us fired just over 2000 rounds each. over 5 days of busting Fox, Coyote's, Rabbits and PD's. You can't do this in FRANCE!
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n141/wjbarks/100_0060_edited-1.jpg

Savage 17HRM 93 thumbhole stock (sweetgun!)
Marlin 882ssv 22mag
Kimber 82 22 Hornet
Kimber Longmaster Classic 223
new CZ 527 Varmint 204

Customized Ruger 10-22
H&R "Sportsman" Bolt-action .22lr
H&R .17HMR
H&R .223, bull barrel
Rem 700 VLSS Thumbhole in .22-250
Rem 700 in .30-06
Ruger MK IV Hunter

custom ruger 10/22, CZ 527 22 hornet, Rem LVSF 221 fireball, CZ 527 varmint 204, Rem vssf 22-250, Stevens 200 243, 2 Rem 721 30-06s, win 1885 highwall 7mm wsm

It's been a while since I posted, busy with hunting seasons....

1. Savage 12FLV in .308win, Choate Stock, Farrel 10moa bases and rings, Leupold 6.5x20x50mm LRT w/ varmint reticle.

2. Remington 700 LH in .243win, Leupold rings and bases, Leup. w/ 3.5x10AO

3. Remington Etronix rechambered to 22-250AI with Leup. rings and bases and a Bushnell 3200 5x15x50mm.

4. Custom Ruger 10-22........................

Well let's see:

Remington 700BDL in 223 Remington
Remington 722 rebareled and chambered in 22-250AI
Remington 700VS chambered in 22-250
Remington 700VS rebareled and chambered in 22-250 Remington
Custom Remington 700 chambered in 6mm Remington
Custom Remington 700 chambered in 25-06

All the above are fitted with Leupold scopes and Jewell triggers.

Just got in from a little coyote calling, however no luck. Anyway no PD's in area so my battery is pretty much aimed at coyotes.
1. Remington 700BDL w/Leupold 12x - .17 Rem.
2. Heckler Koch 630 w/Leupold 2x7 - .223 Rem.
3. Remington 700VS w/Leupold 6.5x20 - .220 Swift
4. Gre-Tan Custom Remington XP 100 w/Leupold 2.5x8 - soon to be Lazz.7.82 Patriot

What are the boundaries of going from a "battery" to an arsenal?

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
What are the boundaries of going from a "battery" to an arsenal?

If it's used in gun-friendly terms, it's a battery. If it's on the news or otherwise anti-gun, it's an arsenal.

Ruger 10-22 Custom
17 Mach IV, Shilen barrel on a CZ 527 Varmint
6 BR custom Savage
220 Swift AI on a Custom Rem
223 AI on a Custom XP 100 rifle

Various 22rf rifles.
CZ Bolt gun, 17HMR
Blaser R93 223Rem Jagdmatch
Blaser R93 6.5x55 Jagdmatch
Kimber Longmaster 204 Ruger (selling the Kimber for a soon to be an AR15 in 204Ruger)

I have used 6mmBR Norma's, 25/06's, 308's and even bigger stuff...

CZ 527 .22 Hornet
CZ 527 .221 Fireball
Rem 700 .222
Ruger 77 .22-250
Rem .243
Ruger .308

Mine, rifles:
Ruger #3 22 Hornet
Ruger MKII VT 223
Savage 99A 250-3000
Winchester (pre 64) M70 270
Handguns:
Hi-Standard Sportmatic with custom 10" bbl, 22lr
S$W Mountain gun 44 mag (for the under 50yd shots)

Son's rifles:
AR 15 M4 - 223
AR 15 A2 - 223
Custom Mauser heavy bbl 308
PTR 91 - 308
Handgun
Sig Pro - 40 S&W

Volquartsen in 17 HMR
Blaser R93 Professional .223 Rem Jagdmatch
Martini Action medium weight barrel in 22 Hornet
Magnum Research Light weight in 17 Mach II
Coming soon - Stag Arms complete LEFTY AR in 204 Ruger

.22lR CZ 452e Varmint(I love this wee gun to bits!!)
.222 CZ 527 varmint ( use 50gr Vmax as my fox gun)
6.5x55 Tikka T3 s/s (my new deer gun)
.308 winchester MOD 70 coyote ( my fav gun in the in cabnet!!!)

Everything in the safe!!!

Here are the ones that see the most use right now.
1).22 Mag in a 10/22 with a Burris 2.5x7 compact
2).223 in a Mini-14, fixed 4x cheapo scope (Simmons?)
3).22-250 Ruger M77, Luepold 4x12
4).257 Roberts M77, Weaver 3x9
5).25-06 Win M70, Luepold 4.5x14

Haven't been using much else lately for calling, but the truck gun gets used when on the club. Nate

Ruger 10/22
Win 94/22
Win 94/22M
Marlin 917 17HMR
Rem 700 Varmint Special 22-250
Rem 700 Varmint Special 6mm Rem x2
Win Mod 70 Varmint 243
Rem 700 VLS 7mm08
Rem 700 PSS LTR 308
& still looking for more.

.17 Remington
20 Tac Savage Fss custom
204 Ruger Savage 12FV
10/22 Ruger custom
222 Remington BDL custom
222 Remington Varminter
222 Remington Magnum S & W 1500 custom
223 Remington VSSF
223 Savage 12FV
22-250 Winchester Heavy Varminter
22-250 Remington 600 custom
220 Swift Remington VSSF
220 Swift Winchester Heavy Varminter
243 Remington 600 custom
6MM Remington BDL custom
6MM/284 Remington custom

WOW! Jay I think you win with the full house of .22 cal rifles. I have never been able to buy two rifles of the same cal. It's such a loss of variaty and the opertunity to have 8 more boxes of bullets that I bought to test and never used the remainder due to results.

Will

Blaser R93 300 Win JagdMatch
Blaser R93 6mm BR JagdMatch
Blaser R93 222 Rem Jagd Match
Blaser K95 222 Rem
Blaser R93 243
Remington M700 25-06 Sendaro
Ruger custom M77R 6mm Ack (got the parts awaiting a build)

Rem 700 .243
CZ 527 .22 Hornet
Rem700 .300 RUM (bigger varmints, heavy barrel canjar trigger really the .300 RUM is just a ginat 22/250 )
couple of .22 lr's and 12 gauges
Really miss having a .22/250 and 30/06

.204 Ruger - Savage Model 16
.223 Rem. - RRA Pre-ban M4
.223 Rem. - RRA Varminter upper on Armalite NM Lower
.223 Rem. - Tikka T-3
.22-250 Rem. - Howa 1500 Varmint
6mm Rem. - Savage 16 action, custom mag contour barrel
.25-06 Rem. - Tikka M695
.270 Win. - Remington 700 ADL
.308 Win - Savage Striker
.308 Win - Browning BAR Stalker
.30-06 Sprg - Remington 760
.300 WSM - Howa 1500 Sporter

In looking at this list, I think I need a 7mm
something!

Squeeze

458Lottfan: My "Varmint Battery" consists of quite a few Rifles and pistols!
And by Varmint battery I hope you are not overlooking ALL of the other wonderful and worthy "Varmints" besides Prairie Dogs in regards to your inquiry.
It never ceases to amaze me how many folks think the only Varmints that actually achieve status of "Varmints" are Prairie Dogs.
I beg to differ!
All kinds of fun and excitement can be had from using ones "Varmint battery" to chase all the dozens of types of Varmints that I have chased over the past 5 decades!
Everything from Starlings and Crows to Turtles and Raccoons and Fox to Coyotes have fallen to my "Varmint battery"!
Presently I have:
4 dedicated 22 LR Varmint Rifles
3 dedicated 22 LR Varmint pistols
1 Rifle in 17 HMR
1 pistol in 17 HMR
1 pistol in 22 Magnum
1 Rifle in 22 Magnum
Then I have centerfire Rifles in the following calibers
1 in 17 MachIV
3 in 17 Remington
3 in 204 Ruger
2 in 22 Hornet
2 in 218 Bee
2 in 221 Remington Fireball
5 in 222 Remington
8 in 223 Remington
1 in 222 Remington Magnum
1 in 224 Weatherby
2 in 22 Remington Benchrest
4 in 22-250 Remington
6 in 220 Swift
1 in 6x47
1 in 6mm PPC
1 in 6mm Remington Bench Rest
4 in 243 Winchester
2 in 6mm Remington
1 in 6mm Remington Ackley Improved
1 in 240 Weatherby
1 in 25/06
1 in 260 Remington
I also have a Remington 700 Sendero in caliber 270 Winchester that has taken several Coyotes in the last 5 years, but its main duty is high plains Mule Deer and Antelope.
I am never critical of other folks choices of "calibers" they use for "Varminting", but I have to say using the 458 Lott on Prairie Dogs has me tempted to pass judgement!
If one does not develop the flinches or recoil shyness after a days Prairie Doggin with a behemoth like that (458 Lott!) then said person is simply born immune to the detrimental effects of recoil!
Good for you if you are in that category!
Long live Varmint batteries"!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Well, mine is always evolving and changing but the current battery consists of:

22 LR Ruger MKII stainless pistol w/Nikon 1.5-4 scope.
22 LR Ruger 10/22 Butler Creek carbon fiber barrel, laminated thumbhole stock Swift Premier 4-12x40AO scope.
17 HMR Marlin HB sweet trigger, bedded w/Older Tasco 4-16x40AO scope.
17 Remington Interarms Mini Mauser Mark X, Shilen 25" light barrel, all stainless, custom stock Nikon 4-12x40AO.
20 BR Savage 10 action, Bell and Carlson stock, SSS barrel SS 26" bull, Redfield Golden 5 star 6-18x40AO scope.
223 Savage 112 BVSS, single shot adaptor, Nikon 6.5-20x44ao scope.
220 swift Savage 112 FV-S Single shot, Nikon 6-18x40ao scope.
243 Ruger VT, Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40 scope.
243 WSSM Winchester Stealth II, Simmons V-Tac 4.5-14x44ao scope.
257 Bob AI LA 700 BDL, sporter barrel 22" Bell & Carlson stock bushnell 3200 4-12x40ao TDS reticle.
308 Savage 10FP, Burris Signature Select 8-32x44ao fine plex.

Other calibers I have owned:

22 Mag, 22 Hornet, 204 Ruger, 22-250, 6mmBR, 25-06, 260 Rem. I have owned several #1's and several AR's. After much thought and use I much prefer the good old bolt action.

I hate plane jane black synthetic stocks so I always paint them a custom camo pattern of my own design. Every rifle I have shoots well to fantastic. Most of them did not until some accuracy work was performed of good handloads were worked up.

WOW! Compared to most of you I am gun poor. My battery.

Savage 110 in .308 Win for those dang antlered varmits.
A 10/22 for squirels, rabbits, and the occasional prarie dog.
Savage 12FL in .223 Rem.
Rock River Arms AR (Varmit style, heavey barrel).
And a Kimber 1911 in .45 ACP and .22lr for the real up close ones.

Kimber Classic Varmint 17 M2
Kimber Classic Varmint 22 LR
Sako A1 223
Kimber Montana 7-08
or any rifle I have in my possession when my path crosses that of a varmint.

Hey Varmintguy

First if it is leagle/huntable/edible/killable I will hunt it!

My PD shooting with the .458 was limited to 30 rnds and about 20 some mashed PD's. It gets pricey lobing 350 and 500 grain progectiles out there. The great thing about the Lott is that it is a pretty good area weapon. If you just hit infront of or close it generaly kills them. The recoil is not that bad! As long as you are not wraped around it on the bench testing loads. When I whack my first coyote with the Lott I will post the wreackage for you. The Lott was purchased for my first African Cap Buff hunt that will be in Nov 2008. I feel that hunting coyotes with your favorite big game rifle is an excelent way to truly learn to shoot well. As long as you are not bent on nice pelts!!!
I have not recovered any hides on the coyotes I have shot in the desert in AZ. The hide quality is nowhere near what I was used to when I was growing up in Colorado.

I am definatly gun poor compaired to some of you. But nothing like setting new goals!

Will

I don't hunt with many different guns (yet), but I do have a Remington 700 VS in .22-250 with a Leopald 6.5-20x VariXIII on it and a Marlin .17 HMR with a 3-9x scope on it. Sometimes I use my .30-06 and .300 WSM for varmints, but haven't in a while. I'm also thinking about trading the .22-250 in as being too heavy and getting a .204 Ruger (keeping the VariXIII for the .204, though). Also gave passing thought to getting a .223, as well, but we will have to see about that. Depends on how many hunting trips I can swing this year and how much $$$ I have left.

458: why not shoot the 405grain remington stuff? Cheap to be a 458 bullet..

Nortman
I have been only shooting and working on my hunting loads for Africa in two years. once I am completly satisfied with those loads then I will build some general blasting ammo for fun. Thank you for the sugestion on the bullet. I will take a look at them.

Semper Fi and Safe Hunting.
Will

Varmint Guns

First off would have to be my Ruger K77/22VBZ in .22 LR. This one got a make over this past winter. I have had it Pillar / Glass Bedded. A machinist buddy made a Bedding / Recoil Lug Block that incoporates the front pillar that was glassed into the Laminated Stock. The Barrel was set back with a Match Chamber. This Rifle wears a 6x20x40mm AO Weaver Grand Slam Riflescope. This is probably my most favorite rifle of all time and the one I shoot the most for little varmints.

Next would have to be an old Marlin Model 25 in .22 LR. This rifle has special meaning as it was a gift from a very good friend. Sitting on top of this Marlin is an old Tasco 4x40mm World Class Riflescope that too was a gift from a good freind. Attaching the scope to the rifl is a set of Weaver .22 Rings that were also a gift from another good friend. I have refinished and reshaped the stock on this Rifle and spent more than an hour stoning and polishing the trigger so it now breaks quite crisp at 2 pounds. THis one rides in my work vehicle and gets shot almost every day dispatching small varmints of one type or another. Believe it or not I have also used this Rifle to take one Coyote. I snuck to within 30 yards of Mr. Coyote and put a Remington Sub Sonic Hollow Point between his eyes.

Next up is a Ruger KM77RFP MKII in .223 Remington that wears a 4.5x14x40mm AO Nikon Buckmaster Riflescop. This rifle shoots 50gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with Hodgdon's Benchmark better than can be believed. The muzzle velocity is 3310 FPS. Just this past Friday I made the best shot of my life with this Rifle in that I smacked a trotting Coyote at an honest 350 yards. The Coyote did 2 or 3 somersaults and came to rest.

Last but not least is a Ruger KM77RFP MKII in .243 that wears a 3x9x40mm Nikon Buckmaster Riflescope. For varmints I mainly use 70gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in this Rifle. These are in the form of Federal Premium V-Shok Factory Loads as I am still adding to my supply of Federal .243 Brass. I also use 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with Alliant Blue Dot when maximum velocity is not required. Both of these loads are <3/4" shooters in this Ruger. For Deer Varmints I switch to 95gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with H-4350 to a muzzle velocity of 3071 FPS. This load actually groups better than either of the varmint loads in this rifle.

Larry

SDHandgunner: I have a Ruger heavy barrel Rifle in caliber 17 HMR and I think its the same model as your 22 LR.
My question of you is how does your Ruger 77/22VBZ shoot?
What kinds of groups does it make at say 25 yards or 50 or 100 for that matter?
I am so happy with the accuracy of my Ruger 77/17 V/T (77/17VBZ?) that I have been contemplating getting one like yours in the 22 LR?
By the way if you can remember how did it shoot BEFORE your modifications?
Thanks for any info.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Gee Varmint Guy I want to be you when I grow up/ if I grow up.
My varmint battery.
H&R Mod. 12 in 22 LR
Kimber 82 Gov't in 22 LR
Ruger 10/22 in 22 LR
Ruger 10/22 in 17 Mach 2
Ruger 77/17 in 17 HMR
Rem 700 in 17 MachIV
Rem 700 in 204 Ruger
Nesika J in 20 BR
Win 70 heavy varmint in 223
Bushmaster lower/ Compass Lake upper AR15 in 223
Nesika J in 6mm BR
Win 70 Stealth II in 243wssm
Armilite AR 10 in 6mm-250
Mauser(military) in 257 Roberts AI
Mauser(swede) in 6.5x55

muck

As far as rifles are concerned:

17HMR
22 rimfire (4)
204 Ruger (2)
22 Hornet
22K Hornet
218 Bee
222 Rem(2)
25-20
257 Roberts
308 Win
6mm Rem (in the works)

I have others that will qualify as varmint calibers if I happen to be shootin' at one.

Muck: Thank you - I take that as a compliment!
I only have one vice (for the last several decades anyway!) and that is Rifles and especially Varmint Rifles.
I don't smoke.
I don't chew.
I don't drink.
I don't gamble.
I don't chase loose women.
I don't buy jewelery.
I don't golf (what a waste of time and money that is, and I consider it a "vice" by the way!).
I don't travel the world.
I don't have a mid-life crisis sports car.
I do though, constantly scheme and cannive (is that a word, cannive?) to acquire more Rifles and to shoot them at various Varmints and species of Big Game!
I am perfectly content to spend hours in my loading room making bullets for my Rifles and I look forward to range sessions and Hunting forays!
I lead a simple, yet VERY rewarding life.
You could do worse - for sure.
Thanks again.
Long live Varmint Rifles!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Here goes:

Volquartson 22LR
Rem 541 22LR

17maqchIV
17 rem on 40x action
221 rifle on x-p action
3in222 Rem
222AI
222 Rem mag
223
2in223AI
22BR
22ppc
22 Walldog
2-22-250AI
243
6mmrem
2in6mmremAI
6x250
3in6br
6in6ppc
6x284
6.5x284

Next year I plan on some 20cal rifles thinking about 20x250,20 tactical and maybe a 6x250AI. Of the center fire rifles listed only 3 still have the factroy barrrel.

hey VG - I've got more than you do you really need a few more guns

Butchbloc: NO WAY!
I am not DONE gathering Rifles as yet!
The last time I was "insulted" by a gun type regarding my lack of armament - I promptly went out and DOUBLED that portion of my arms collection that had been besmirched!
LOL.
The rest of the story though IS: About 3 years ago I was showing off my Varmint Rifles, Big Game Rifles and my Winchester Collection to a trusted "friend". Imagine my consternation when he inquired (while standing inside my gun vault amidst a whole lotta guns!) why I only had "ONE SHOTGUN"???
And indeed he was right, among all my Rifles and pistols, I only had one shotgun!
But it was my old tried and true Remington 870 in 12 gauge. This model has the 2 3/4" chamber with vent rib and straight modified choke.
With this shotgun I have taken all manner of waterfowl (from Snipe and Teal to Brant and Swans), upland game (from Bobwhite and Chukars to Golden Pheasants and Sage Grouse), along with Wild Turkey's, as well as numerous species of flying Varmints!
I was trained professionally to use this 870 and carried one similar to my own professionally for 29 years. The 870 Remington has served me so well and done every thing I asked of it so well, and allowing that my first love, firearms wise, was Rifles I did not feel I needed anymore shotguns!
Still it miffed me that my "friend" instead of complimenting my "collection" could find one small niche he felt needed to be pointed out!
Maybe it was fate, but it was not two weeks later I attended a Ducks Unlimited Banquet in SW Montana!
I bought ONE ticket for a chance to win a Benelli super whoop de doo 3 1/2" chambered 12 gauge shotgun.
You guessed it - I won it!
My shotgun arsenal then in fact doubled that DU night.
That nifty Benelli sits unassembled, in its carton, in one of my safes, to this day its still unfired!
So don't pass judgement on my arsenal's "ranking" just yet - I am still chasing "deals"!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have just added a 22 ppc to mine!

Varmintguy
Looks like you and I are similure in our ambitions/enjoyments.

I do travle a lot though. My wife is from New Zealand. Her family now lives in Australia and I deffinatly am hunting Africa provided I don't check you prior to Nov 3rd 2008. But every time I go to NZ or Aus I am exploring a way to set up an affordable hunt for the future.

Love the shot gun story!!!

Will