Gear Guide: Great Bolt-Action Rifles for Predator and Varmint Hunting
While hunting season is over for many animals in the U.S., there are still numerous opportunities for you to get out there and sharpen your skills during this time of year, all while enjoying the thrill of the hunt. Today, we’re going to be talking about predator hunting and varmint hunting, looking at some of the best bolt action rifles to get the job done.
Predator/Varmint Hunting: What is it and why do it?
While these types of hunting are pretty well known, we thought we’d provide some background on them and why it’s as important as it is fun.
What is it?
Predator and varmint hunting is the practice of hunting unregulated game, which can be hunted year-round and doesn’t have a traditional season like regulated game. This allows hunters to get out and enjoy the practice of hunting without the regulations that protect game like deer, elk, and various birds and waterfowl. It should still be noted that hunting licenses are required. Additionally, consult your state laws for specific guidelines surrounding these types of hunting. The most common examples of this include hunting coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and the popular and needed activity of feral hog hunting.
Why do it?
Beyond the fun of varmint and predator hunting, there’s a definitive need for this kind of hunting as well. The main reason why predator and varmint hunting is important has to do with population control. Whether it’s coyotes, foxes, feral hogs, rodents, birds, etc., the populations of these animals can quickly get out of control. Once they do, they can cause damage to land, destroy crops, deplete natural resources, and overtake populations of desirable game like elk and deer. In fact, a recent Texas Standard article covering the feral hog issue states, “Feral hogs are among the most destructive invasive species in the United States. Every year, they cause over $1 billion in damage nationwide to crops and property. So landowners and government agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investing in decreasing their population.”
The Rifles
Now that we’ve looked at what varmint and predator hunting is and why it’s important, we can move on to our favorite rifles for these types of hunting. Depending on what you want to hunt and what you’d like to prioritize (such as stopping power, pelt preservation, and distance), you’ll need a specific caliber to get the job done. Though there are both semi-auto and bolt action rifles for this type of hunting, we have focused this blog post on bolt action rifles. We will write a separate article on semi-auto rifles in the near future. While you can start this kind of hunting with a typical hunting rifle meant for big game, we have a selection of hunting rifles in specific calibers that are better suited for these small to mid-sized animals.
The Tikka T3X Lite – 6.5 Creedmoor
The best choice for hunting at long range, the 6.5 Creedmoor will easily maintain the energy and speed needed to travel several hundred yards for distance shots. Our pick for this caliber is the Tikka T3x Lite. The T3x rifle combines a lightweight build with incredible accuracy and reliability, with Tikka rifles delivering quality you can depend on.
This Tikka T3x rifle delivers great features like a two-stage safety, a bolt with a spring-loaded plunger ejector, bolt handle, and a 70-degree opening angle. The T3x’s single-stage steel trigger has vertical grooves for added grip and is adjustable through the magazine well from 2 to 4 lbs. The receiver introduces a widened angular ejection port, integral rails for scope mounts, and is tapped so you can add a Picatinny scope mount base. The cold hammer-forged stainless steel barrel is hand-crowned and is guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA with match ammo.
Tikka T3x Lite Specs
| Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor | Barrel Length: 24.30” | Rate of Twist: 1:8” |
| Capacity: 3+1 | Sights: Drilled and Tapped | OAL: 44.50” |
| Safety: Two-Stage | Stock: Synthetic | Weight: 6.60 lbs |
CZ 457 Varmint – .17 HMR
The best choice for those that are trying to harvest the pelts of their targets, .17 HMR has a smaller mass while maintaining a high muzzle velocity. This means it can take out smaller varmints as well as coyotes or foxes from close range without causing large entrance or exit wounds. While there are a lot of options for .17 HMR rifles, our pick is the CZ 457 Varmint. Designed with traditional bolt action rifles in mind, the 457 Varmint delivers a modern hunting rifle you can use with confidence.
The features of this CZ 457 include a heavy 20.5-inch barrel that delivers precision accuracy and swift maneuverability, allowing you to hit the mark every time. This rifle also features a walnut wood stock, adjustable trigger, and a swappable barrel and stock system like the previous CZ 455, allowing for a premium and customizable experience. To make mounting a scope easier, the 457 Varmint has a 60-degree bolt rotation instead of 90 degrees, for scopes with lower heights to be mounted. It also features a 5-round polymer magazine.
CZ 457 Varmint Specs
| Caliber: .17 HMR | Barrel Length: 20.5” | Rate of Twist: 1:9” |
| Capacity: 5+1 | Sights: None, Integral 11mm Dovetail | Length of Pull: 13.75” |
| Safety: Two-Position | Stock: Walnut Stock | Weight: 7.08 lbs |
Savage 110 Apex Predator XP – .22-250 Rem
One of the best high-speed and high-energy choices in ammo is the .22-250 Rem, which allows for good long ranged shots as well as shots on a moving target. One of our favorite options in this caliber is the Savage 110 Apex Predator XP. The Apex Predator XP pairs a Savage Model 110 rifle with a factory-installed 4-12x44mm Vortex Crossfire II scope that’s ready to take on the hunt.
The platform provides accuracy and adjustability thanks to the features that come with it. The Savage 110 Savage AccuTrigger, thread-in headspacing, floating bolt head, and button-rifled heavy barrel all contribute to on-target accuracy. Plus, the length-of-pull of its synthetic Mossy Oak camo stock can be easily adjusted as well to fit any hunter for better comfort and consistency. The Vortex Crossfire II optic has a Dead-Hold BDC reticle and is securely mounted to a one-piece EGW 0 MOA rail, making it easy to place accurate shots at extended range. In addition, this hunting rifle is magazine fed with a 4+1 round box mag.
Savage 110 Apex Predator XP Specs
| Caliber: .22-250 Rem | Barrel Length: 20” | Rate of Twist: 1:12” |
| Capacity: 4+1 | Sights: Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm Scope | OAL: 40.25” |
| Finish: Mossy Oak Mountain Country | Stock: Synthetic | Weight: 8.41 lbs |
Remington Model 700 ADL Varmint – .308 Win
The best caliber for big game and taking out larger, more dangerous game like bobcats or feral hogs, the .308 Winchester packs a punch and has a higher mass. Our pick for the .308 is the Remington Model 700 ADL Varmint, as it provides excellent accuracy and reliability. The Remington 700 is the number one best selling bolt-action of all time, proudly made in the U.S.A. The legendary strength of its 3-rings-of-steel receiver paired with a hammer-forged barrel, combine to yield the most popular bolt-action rifle in history.
Though the Remington 700 ADL has a simple design, it boasts a quality build and features which provide the performance you can depend on. It features the R-5 barrel, which is cold hammer-forged and features a 5-R rifling profile which increases barrel life expectancy, accuracy, and creates less fouling and bullet deformation over time. It also has a durable composite stock, a drilled and tapped steel receiver, and a dual front swivel stud system that provides convenient mounting of bi-pod and sling. The Remington Model 700 also utilizes an X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger.
Remington Model 700 ADL Varmint Specs
| Caliber: .308 Winchester | Barrel Length: 26” | Rate of Twist: 1:14” |
| Capacity: 4+1 | Sights: Drilled and Tapped | OAL: 46.50” |
| Finish: Matte Black | Stock: Synthetic | Weight: 8.50 lbs |
.223 Remington
As you might expect, the .223 Remington is one of the best all-around calibers for varmint and predator hunting. It’s widely available, relatively inexpensive, and delivers good velocity and range. Because of how popular it is, we have two different picks which come from the Ruger American lineup of hunting rifles.
Ruger American Predator
The Ruger American Predator is an excellent mag-fed bolt-action rifle in .223 Remington which delivers precision and accuracy. 100% American-made, the American Predator delivers the rugged performance and reliability that’s featured in many of Ruger’s new products, making it a rifle you can depend on.
The Ruger American Predator .223 offers a variety of great features that provide smooth operation with every shot. Its Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger offers a crisp release with a pull weight that is user adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds, allowing customization of the feel of the rifle. The one-piece, three-lug bolt with 70-degree throw utilizes a full-diameter bolt body and dual cocking cams for easy cycling from the shoulder and allows for ample scope clearance. The rifle also features a bedding block system that positively locates the receiver and free-floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy, allowing the rifle to provide minute-of-angle accuracy that can make every hunt a success. The 22-inch cold hammer-forged barrel results in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning. It also comes with a 10-round capacity AR-style mag.
Ruger American Predator Specs
| Caliber: .223 Remington | Barrel Length: 22” | Rate of Twist: 1:8” |
| Capacity: 10+1 | Sights: Picatinny Rail Scope Base | OAL: 42” |
| Safety: Tang | Stock: Synthetic | Weight: 6.60 lbs |
Ruger American Ranch
The Ruger American Ranch is a great option that’s very similar to the American Predator. However, it’s a great option for those that want a shorter, more maneuverable build. It has a 16.12-inch barrel and an overall length of 36 inches, making it easier to carry and manipulate. It’s also a great option for smaller shooters since it has a smaller build and a lighter weight.
Ruger American Ranch Specs
| Caliber: .223 Remington | Barrel Length: 16.12” | Rate of Twist: 1:8” |
| Capacity: 10+1 | Sights: Picatinny Rail Scope Base | OAL: 36” |
| Safety: Tang | Stock: Synthetic | Weight: 6.10 lbs |
Hunting Rifles For Sale at GrabAGun
If you want one of the hunting rifles that we covered in this article, or you’re looking for another gun for sale, look no further than GrabAGun! On our website, you can easily find bolt action rifles for sale, predator rifles, and other great deals on things like hunting ammo, handguns for sale, and shotguns for sale. Additionally, if you want to learn more about coyote hunting basics, check out this coyote hunting article by Outdoor Life. And if you are interested in hunting feral hogs, look no further than this wild pig hunting guide by Meat Eater. Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy!
—Matthew Cornell
