With Varmint hunting season right around the corner, now is the time to get ready for the upcoming season. Whether you plan on hunting squirrels, prairie dogs or coyotes, a good varmint gun is absolutely a necessity. Let’s discuss some options from various manufacturers.
Tikka T3X Varmint
The Tikka T3X is at the top of my list. The smooth action and out-of-the-box accuracy are perfect for hitting small targets. Available in both right or left-handed, the T3X has all the features for accuracy that varmint hunters could want such as free-floated heavy barrel, an impressive trigger, an integrated scope mounting rail and it is available in most popular varmint calibers. The T3X also features an interchangeable pistol grip to adjust the grip to the shooter’s liking.
Tikka uses barrels with aggressive twist rates, which allow hunters to shoot a wide range of ammunition. With a 1 MOA accuracy guarantee, you will have the confidence you need to pursue whatever you’re after.
There is a lot of varmint hunting that can be done with a rimfire and the Savage 93R17 is a great option for those who want to hunt on the cheap. Chambered in 17 HMR, the Savage 93 is excellent for taking down rodents large or small. The rifle comes plenty of models and there is sure to be one that fits your style and taste.
The rifle’s detachable box magazine holds five cartridges and features a 21-inch 9 twist barrel. These rifles are known for shooting accurately with a clean breaking trigger and a wide selection of ammunition. The rifle is available in both blued and stainless models as well as a camo patterned finish. Some models are available with iron sights, while others come with scope bases installed to mount your choice of riflescopes. Whether you want a synthetic stock or a gorgeous wood laminate, there is a Savage 93 for you.
The 22-250 is considered by many to be the king of varmint cartridges and the Ruger American bolt-action rifle is a great platform to use alongside it. With a 22-inch 1:8 twist barrel, you can shoot some of the heavier .224 bullets to add some distance to your varmint hunting. Its lightweight and shorter barrel will make it quick to get on target.
The American features a tang mounted safety, an adjustable trigger, and a free-floated barrel. The latter two help give the American its accuracy potential and with the included scope base, you’ll have your scope mounted in no time. This Ruger weighs in at just over 6.5-pounds, making it ideal for hunts that require long hikes.
Heirloom-quality and dad-approved, Henry Repeating Arms’ beautifully engraved Golden Boy Silver Father’s Day Edition rifle is a lever-action .22 fit for the frontier of fatherhood. Here's a closer look.
For big-bore rifle shooters, the Banish 46-V2 is an all-around multi-caliber can that weighs less than a pound but effectively tames powerful cartridges all the way up to .45-70 Gov’t.
The GL-10 in .308 Win has been very reliable and highly accurate, though a tad heavy. Despite the standard trigger and relatively low price for an AR-10, I can shoot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards all day with match ammo.
The Canik SFx Rival-S is a steel-framed pistol that costs a lot less than many top-tier race guns but can still give the competition a run for its money.
