What exactly is a varmint?
Varmint is a term most often heard when the conversation swings around to customized, expensive bolt-action rifles, although customized AR-pattern rifles have gained acceptance as good varmint rifle platforms. "Varminting" is the hunting of prairie dogs, rabbits, coyotes, and other small, fast, highly alert animals. Traditionally, this was done to protect a farm or ranch from the aforementioned critter's destructive habits, and involved an irritated farmer sitting on his roof with a pile of ammunition and a muttered promise. As such, a "varmint" firearm component, be it stock, barrel, scope, or cartridge, is a component that is intended to allow a stationary shooter to fire many shots in a row, hitting very small targets while staying far away so as not to spook the animals, and a "varmint rifle" is a rifle made up of said components. Varmint components are heavier and more accurate than other types of components and often feature ranges of precise adjustment that other components lack. A rifle with an adjustable-comb stock, heavy barrel, and high-magnification adjustable scope would be quite a pain to lug around on a week-long hunting trip, but it's just the thing for clearing your acreage of pesky critters.
Still confused? See below for a component-by-component explanation.
Still confused? See below for a component-by-component explanation.
varmint barrel or varmint-contoured barrel
A thick, heavy barrel to mitigate both vibration and the thermal expansion caused by firing many shots in a row. It is unlikely that a varmint barrel will have iron sights, as varmint hunting is almost exclusively done with telescopic sights (scopes).
A thick, heavy barrel to mitigate both vibration and the thermal expansion caused by firing many shots in a row. It is unlikely that a varmint barrel will have iron sights, as varmint hunting is almost exclusively done with telescopic sights (scopes).
varmint stock
A comfortable stock that is heavy to absorb recoil and provide a rock-solid shooting foundation. A varmint stock will be designed specifically for use with a telescopic sight, with features such as a raised comb to support the shooter's head. It may also feature adjustments to let the shooter configure the stock exactly to their frame and stature. The forearm will be flat-bottomed, allowing it to rest solidly on a supporting surface, and may have vents to dissipate barrel heat generated by firing many shots in a row.
A comfortable stock that is heavy to absorb recoil and provide a rock-solid shooting foundation. A varmint stock will be designed specifically for use with a telescopic sight, with features such as a raised comb to support the shooter's head. It may also feature adjustments to let the shooter configure the stock exactly to their frame and stature. The forearm will be flat-bottomed, allowing it to rest solidly on a supporting surface, and may have vents to dissipate barrel heat generated by firing many shots in a row.
varmint scope
A telescopic sight with variable magnification and fine adjustments to allow the shooter to quickly locate the target before zooming in and then dialing in to take the shot. These scopes will usually have a higher maximum magnification than hunting scopes; 20x or higher is not uncommon. Varmint shooters often keep a DOPE sheet to take full advantage of their scope's extra-fine adjustments.
A telescopic sight with variable magnification and fine adjustments to allow the shooter to quickly locate the target before zooming in and then dialing in to take the shot. These scopes will usually have a higher maximum magnification than hunting scopes; 20x or higher is not uncommon. Varmint shooters often keep a DOPE sheet to take full advantage of their scope's extra-fine adjustments.
varmint cartridge
A specialized round that fires a small, lightweight bullet at extremely high velocities. The bullet does not need to be large or heavy as the intended game is usually only 5-25 lbs, and the high velocity results in a flat trajectory, making calculations for bullet drop less difficult. The .223 Remington (and its almost-identical twin, 5.56x45mm NATO) is a common varmint round.
A specialized round that fires a small, lightweight bullet at extremely high velocities. The bullet does not need to be large or heavy as the intended game is usually only 5-25 lbs, and the high velocity results in a flat trajectory, making calculations for bullet drop less difficult. The .223 Remington (and its almost-identical twin, 5.56x45mm NATO) is a common varmint round.
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