700 Varmint for hunting?

[Guest]

Hello,
I am not new to firearms but have never hunted. Wanting to learn to hunt deer, etc. I see a Remington 700 Varmint on sale, with 4-12 scope, in various calibers. Would this be a good hunting rifle - or is the varmint version not a good choice? Would 30-06 or 308 be a good choice? Would something as small as .243 make sense?

I need to find someone to help me learn to hunt, but I want to be ready with a suitable rifle when I find someone to go with.

Thanks,

[Guest]

One other question - with no iron sights is there any easy and affordable way to add them? Or am I pretty much stuck with just the optic?

[Guest sL1k]

It's a very good rifle for the $ I have the .308 version its VERY accurate, I use it for target shooting and planning on using it for hunting. It's made for optics. Adding iron sights would probably cost a bit. I love mine I did snag a hogue overmolded stock for it on eBay for $45.

[DaveTN]

I own a 700 VLS (Varmint, Laminated Stock) in .308. I don’t hunt, but if I did it wouldn’t be my first choice for a deer rifle. The round (.308 Winchester) would be my first choice for deer, but a 700 heavy barrel is kind of heavy for a field rifle.

Most any heavy barrel is not going to have sights; not much point in a heavy barrel with iron sights. If I wanted to hunt deer with open sights I would just get a plain 700 BDL that comes with sights or a Lever action 30/30.

[TnShooter83]

Yes, it would be a fine deer rifle in any Caliber you mentioned.
Varmint usually means Slower twist rate barrels for using lighter FASTER bullets and they are typically HEAVIER and have a thicker barrel.
As long as you don't plan to run a suppressor or shoot REALLY heavy bullets it will be fine.

As for the Caliber, What is the biggest game you plan to shoot and at what ranges?
Do you tolerate recoil well?

As for sights I can't help. If you think you want sights, Might as well get a 700 BDL as they have them. Edited November 23, 2012 by TnShooter83

[Guest]

[quote name='TnShooter83' timestamp='1353637359' post='849624']
Yes, it would be a fine deer rifle in any Caliber you mentioned.
Varmint usually means Slower twist rate barrels for using lighter FASTER bullets and they are typically HEAVIER and have a thicker barrel.
As long as you don't plan to run a suppressor or shoot REALLY heavy bullets it will be fine.

As for the Caliber, What is the biggest game you plan to shoot and at what ranges?
Do you tolerate recoil well?

As for sights I can't help. If you think you want sights, Might as well get a 700 BDL as they have them.
[/quote]

I would like to learn to deer hunt. I wouldn't want to rule out wild hogs if needed either. Will the lighter/faster bullets work for large game?

As for recoil, I have a 7.62x54 I shoot at the range, and although it's certainly felt, it doesn't overly bother me.

I would like to have a rifle that I could use for large game (large deer, hogs, etc.) at fairly long ranges as I learn. The add doesn't mention what calibers they are offering, so I'm hoping .308 is available.

Thanks for the help. Edited November 23, 2012 by Guest

[R1100R]

I have a 700 BDL with a varmint barrel in .243. I have had it for over 30 years. It is one of the best rifles I have ever owned.
It has a 8X Unertl sitting on it. I have taken everything from parie dogs to black buck antelope. Mine did not come with iron sights.

They are great rifles.

[Guest]

[quote name='R1100R' timestamp='1353637859' post='849629']
I have a 700 BDL with a varmint barrel in .243. I have had it for over 30 years. It is one of the best rifles I have ever owned.
It has a 8X Unertl sitting on it. I have taken everything from parie dogs to black buck antelope. Mine did not come with iron sights.

They are great rifles.
[/quote]

Thanks for the insight. I am not sure which "variant" of 700 Varmint is on sale (BDL, etc...).

[TnShooter83]

[quote name='BlessTheUSA' timestamp='1353637775' post='849628']
I would like to learn to deer hunt. I wouldn't want to rule out wild hogs if needed either. Will the lighter/faster bullets work for large game?

As for recoil, I have a 7.62x54 I shoot at the range, and although it's certainly felt, it doesn't overly bother me.

I would like to have a rifle that I could use for large game (large deer, hogs, etc.) at fairly long ranges as I learn. The add doesn't mention what calibers they are offering, so I'm hoping .308 is available.

Thanks for the help.
[/quote]

I'm not going to claim to be an expert on bullet weights and game they can kill.
But if you are using light bullets they don't penetrate as deep and expand rapidly. Not the best option for a large game bullet.
But the rifle you mention above and in the calibers you mention will do fine with both light and all normal for weight/caliber bullets.

When I say HEAVIER bullets, I talking bullet not made for hunting.

Really, I made things more complicated than they needed to be.

In short, that rifle will do all you want it do in any of the 3 calibers you mentioned.
Unless you plan to tale Elk or larger game, then I would skip the .243 and go with the .308 or the 30-06.

[DaveTN]

[quote name='BlessTheUSA' timestamp='1353637775' post='849628']


The add doesn't mention what calibers they are offering, so I'm hoping .308 is available.
[/quote]
Dicks puts 700 heavy with a scope on sale at this time of the year. Is that where you see the ad?

[FJCrusing]

[quote name='BlessTheUSA' timestamp='1353634029' post='849594']
Hello,
I am not new to firearms but have never hunted. Wanting to learn to hunt deer, etc. I see a Remington 700 Varmint on sale, with 4-12 scope, in various calibers. Would this be a good hunting rifle - or is the varmint version not a good choice? Would 30-06 or 308 be a good choice? Would something as small as .243 make sense?

[/quote]

I own a Remington 700 Varmint in 308 and it is an excellent hunting rifle. Took a doe this morning actually. 30-06 ammunition seems to run a little less than 308 just FYI. Either will work great though. The scope that comes on it is not great but a good starter scope. I recently replaced that same one that came on mine with a Leupold VX2 3-9x40. World of difference.

Have you completed the hunter education course? I would begin with this as a hunting education course must be completed before you can purchase a hunting license and legally hunt. Plenty of information can be found on the TWRA site.