I've got a Bullberry 20" bull Contender carbine barrel (w/hanger) coming, along with the fore-end, W-W brass, Redding dies, & shellholder.
What I've read leads me to believe that small pistol primers will help with accuracy and velocity spreads. I'm going to stick with 40-50gr. bullets (V-Max, TNT,
Nosler BTs), and use OEM 55gr. bullets with 85% charges for fireforming.

Now, assuming that I'm going to use this barrel on varmints as small as p-dogs and crows, and as large as groundhogs (and hopefully, foxes and bobcats), what
magnification scope will work best?

Assume high-quality optics, and ranges of 125 yds. or less; the scope should be powerful enough to let me see the bullet holes on 100yd. targets.

2x-8x?
3x-9x?
3x-10x?
Or higher, say, 5.5x-16.5x?

TIA,
George

George,

Man that set up sounds to be almost a carbon copy of the one I have been using on prairie dogs for the past three seasons. I have mine equipped with a Leupold fixed 12X AO scope. It wasn't that I decided that is what was need at the beginning, it was what I had at the time. However, my set up is an absolute pleasure to shoot and the 12X scope allowds me to do a good job of picking my target. My feeling is that the higher power scope will motivate you to call your shots and will result in your improved shooting.

Have a bunch of fun,

Don Shearer

My set up has a 3-9X scope and it has been fine for me. Also, Lil-Gun powder and magnum small rifle primers give me the best accuracy and velocity. I tried about every primer (pistol included) out there with Lil-Gun powder to arrive at my final load.