Soilarch

I can understand your position.
.223 will do the job...and will be quite abit cheaper on ammo.
22-250/220 swift will do the job as well. They're a step up from the .223 but you pay for it in ammo price and availability
.243 will work also. Not quite as flat as the 22-250 but wind drift will be same until you get WAAAAY out there.
270, 7mm-08,308,30-06...these are all waaay overkill but would not be 'bad' choices and would give you an "all-around" rifle for everything. Recoil will become an issue with these things though if you plan to sit down and shoot alot of hogs. Since it sounds like you've got alot more groundhogs I'd go the .223 or 22-250 route. I'd look at a stevens bolt before I did the H&R....but this is ONLY because I've heard they don't do as well with the high-pressure rounds. 22-250 and 243 would definately be considered high pressure...not sure about .223.

Best of luck. Be sure to alot some decent money for a scope. It's a shame to put a $40 scope on even a cheap gun unless its absolutely necassary. You cant shoot what you cant see and the low-light situations are when you 'get what you pay for'.

kshafer

hairtrigger...yes you are correct and i hate it! but the places that i hunt there isnt a house within about mile or a mile and a half or so, and i am really careful about my shots. i am thinking a New England gun in .223 or .243 with a 3-9x40 scope. will i get more range out of a .223 or a .243? does anybody have a website for the New England Firearms? i have also seen a New England rifle in 35 Whelen, is this a choice? i truly have no idea in this one i have heard of this caliber but no nothing about it. thanks for all the help guys.

BareBack Jack

I would go with the .223 in the H&R or the Rossi (for realy cheap).The web site to H&R wouldbe under New England firearms or marlin.
I have a bull barrle Rossi in .223 with a 3-12 simmons(paid 199.99 bran new) it's a great knock around pick-up gun,shooting Winchester 55 gr HP and Rem Core-loks 55 gr.I can easily take yotes here in Montana out to 350 yds.If the wind picks up past 25-30 mph I use my 25-06.
Plus .223 ammo is dirt cheap and had about anywhere.
BBJ

kshafer

well i have it narrowed down to a H&R Handi Rifle in the .22-250 or .223. im thinking more around .223 because of all the good things that i have heard about it. im gonna talk to my dad about it cause he has a .22-250 and ill see what he thinks. now taking scope recomendations has to be somewhat cheap.(under say $80)

dway87

your scope is gonna be a VERY important part of your gun and under $80 ain't gonna give you nothin much.

kshafer

dway87.....thats what i thought of right when i posted that. so does anyone have one on their guns that they really like but didnt cost a fortune?

Chantecler111

I have a 4-12x40 Simmons Eight Point that I got for 50$ at Wal Mart, has been a very great scope.

stalkingbear

Get a .243 or a 25-06 and you will not only have the ultimate varmit gun,but you will already have a deer gun as well. Those are the 2 most popular-and most readily available calibers in their class. Your best bet is to find a used remington model 700 or a savage in good condition and save up your money for a GOOD scope.

Duckbutter48

You can goto www.natchezss.com they have some good deals on cheaper scopes.


Someone posted a Pentax 3x9-40 at www.midwayusa.com that looked like an awesome deal.

kshafer

Chantecler111....what do you have that scope on? walmart doesnt have the best but they are pretty good scopes for fairly low prices. i have a BSA that i got from there on my .22.

Stalkingbear....i would do that but here in indiana we cant use rifles to hunt deer. thats the only reason im not gonna get a .243.

thanks for the website duckbutter i saw a catalog from there that my cousin had but i couldnt remember what the heck it was.

thanks for all the help guys this is why i love this site.