Varmint Spring 2019

Origination of the word “varmint” is somewhat difficult to track to a specific time and location of origin. That is to say, dictionaries I’ve searched through, including hardbound versions and various online examples, do not pin the term down too clearly. However, like most words in the English language, varmint is a derivative of a Latin term, in this case, vermis, or worm. Vermis became “vermin” (plural), and by the mid-1500s, varmint or varmints (an undesirable animal, troublesome). ...Read More >

The 25-06 Remington turns 50 years old this year. Introduced by Remington in 1969, the 25-06 was kicking around as a wildcat cartridge known as the 25 Niedner since the 1920s before Remington standardized the cartridge. ...Read More >

We all want more velocity from our varmint cartridges. So, when looking for new avenues to explore, I came across a Contender barrel at a gun show chambered in 223 Remington Ackley Improved (AI). This barrel was made by the Thompson/Center Custom Shop back when the company had such a department in Rochester, New Hampshire. ...Read More >

The 6.5 Grendel has gained quite a following since it was introduced in 2004. Most of that popularity has been from target shooting and deer hunting. The majority of factory cartridges are manufactured for those two sports, loaded with 120- to 130-grain bullets. The Grendel is also a great varmint cartridge. However, for that you pretty much have to handload the cartridge. ...Read More >

When you reside in the Northwest and suffer through endless winter weeks with no sunshine and deep snow, handloading helps stave-off cabin fever. Each winter I fill dozens of MTM Case-Gard cartridge boxes. I shoot hundreds of test loads under questionable conditions. Each of a dozen serious varmint rifles is paired with at least 500 pieces of brass – my three 223s inspiring numbers in the thousands. As this is written in late March, I have exactly 3,100 rounds of 223 Remington assembled. And no, I’m not prepping for the zombie apocalypse, as some jeering friends are fond of asking. Spring varmint shooting is as eagerly anticipated as fall big-game seasons around here. ...Read More >

When making a list of the most fun and most useful cartridges introduced since smokeless powder came into common use during the late 1800s, the 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) and 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) have to be among them. The 22 WMR came first, so I will begin with a brief look at its history. ...Read More >

As my casual wanderings at the 2018 SHOT Show came to rest at the Nosler booth, I was able to confirm the company had continued to expand its line of proprietary cartridges, this time to include the 20 Nosler. Then, to add shock to surprise, I discovered the company was introducing a handgun. ...Read More >

When it comes to custom rifles, I always look at the bottom line. Anything made on special order takes time, precision workmanship and attention to detail. Unlike production rifles, a shooter has a choice of barrels and the length of same; calibers to include, in some cases, wildcats; choices in wood that range from mild to wild. After the selections are made, that dreaded bottom line appears and spoils the fun. ...Read More >

When I left Cooper Arms in the summer of 2008, the company had just begun to transition away from single-shot varmint rifles in favor of the big-game hunting market. At the time, Cooper offered more than 60 different chamberings spread among three single-shot rifles, a pair of rimfire actions and the Model 52 repeater. My favorite was the Model 22, with its robust, three front locking lugs and broad Sako-style extractor. The actions are tough, stiff and accurate. Best of all, it came in the most consistently accurate cartridge the company offered, the wildcat 6.5-284 Winchester. ...Read More >

We all have our favorite loads, yet the science and technology of ballistics seems to be evolving faster than ever. I would speculate that some powders and cartridges will always go hand in hand – the 22-250 Remington and Hodgdon’s H-380 come quickly to mind – but new powders certainly warrant an audition. ...Read More >

A few years after Winchester Ammunition introduced its 243 Super Short Magnum (WSSM) cartridge in 2003, several problems combined to cause the cartridge to fade away to the scrap heap of discarded cartridges. One strike was the loss of a patent infringement lawsuit regarding Winchester Short Magnum and WSSM cartridges. Another was the closing of the Winchester Repeating Arms firearms plant in New Haven, Connecticut, in 2006. Probably the biggest reason was the 243 WSSM provided pretty much the same ballistics as several other established cartridges. ...Read More >