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Varmint hunting can be one of the most exciting types of hunting. Unlike hunting deer, bear, elk, or other larger game species, it's almost guaranteed that you'll shoot something when varmint hunting.
Squirrels and rabbits can be considered varmints, as can prairie dogs, whistle pigs, and weasels. Those are tiny little things, but varmints aren't reserved for tiny animals. They can be invasive species, which include what we might also consider medium game, like hogs.
That's not even mentioning predator species like coyotes and bobcats. The term varmint can be quite encompassing, and these species can be invasive, destructive, and more. Varmint hunting requires a varmint rifle.
For this article, we gathered a bunch of rifles we've personally shot, reviewed, and owned here at Pew Pew Tactical as well as some rifles we've conducted heavy research on to determine their worthiness of varmint hunting.
Every review rifle undergoes 500 rounds of practice ammo and heavier match-grade ammo at 50 and 100 yards with a 5-25x scope (unless otherwise noted). We require all AR-15s to be tested with at least three magazines to assess compatibility, and we use a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure the average trigger pull for all guns.
For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more.
Best Varmint Rifles
1. Palmetto State Armory Sabre Forged 20 - Best AR-15
Velocity kills; if you want to get the most velocity from an AR-15, you want a 20-inch barrel. There are plenty of 20-inch uppers in A4 and A2 formats, but they don't maximize accuracy with free-floating barrels. Those tend to be rare and, when you can find them, they're usually expensive. Enter the Palmetto State Armory Sabre.
This 20-inch AR-15 has a free-floating barrel and all the modern fixings you could ever want from an AR-15. It seems far from a hunting rifle, but with a 20-inch barrel, it makes for an excellent varmint rifle. This one is chambered for .223 Wylde, which allows you to shoot .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO safely.
Inside, we get a two-stage trigger that's tuned for excellent accuracy. A compensator keeps the barrel and muzzle from rising as you shoot. Less muzzle movement is fantastic when shooting a very tiny target that might be moving.
Even better, attaching a suppressor is very easy if you're so inclined. This will reduce muzzle movement even more, and cut noise to a more manageable volume. Those pesky critters might have a tough time identifying your position, giving you a few extra shot opportunities.
The gun retails for less than a thousand dollars and gets you into the high end of the PSA arsenal. The .223 cartridge family is fantastic for varmint hunting, and the AR platform provides an ergonomic and low-recoil gun that's easy to accessorize. Strapping on optics, bipods, and beyond isn't a challenge.
It will turn prairie dogs into pink mist with a quickness and do so affordably. The AR platform can't be denied, and it's a fantastic option for varmint hunting.
A lot of varmint hunting isn't always the most formal affair. Sometimes, varmint hunting is more like pest removal. In that case, the Ruger 10/22 is undeniably handy.
I can't count the number of rats in barns I killed as a kid with a 10/22. However, I was using rat shot, which made the gun a straight-pull bolt-action.
The Ruger 10/22 is America's favorite rimfire — I'd go as far as to say it's the AR-15 of rimfires. It's widely copied and cloned, and it's easy to see why. Ruger's micro-sized semi-auto is remarkably reliable, easy to shoot, and accurate for its price point.
The gun's popularity ensures a healthy aftermarket and many options for accessories and upgrades. Optics, bipods, lights, and more are easy to equip to turn the gun into an effective varmint terminator. It's also one of the easier platforms to suppress, and it is always handy for varmint removal.
As a rimfire, it has access to a wide variety of munitions. We have standard .22 LR and the aforementioned rat shot, but there are also .22 CB, which bridge the ballistic gap between rat shot and standard rifle rounds for short-range varmint removal.
The Ruger 10/22 doesn't offer the same range, accuracy, or power as other options, but it's tough to beat for close-range varmint removal, especially at its price point.
Since we are talking Ruger, let's discuss a rifle and cartridge designed explicitly for varmint hunting: the Ruger American Predator chambered for .204 Ruger.
The .204 Ruger cartridge premiered in 2004 and gained serious steam in the predator- and varmint-hunting community. If you need a round that saves pelts but gives you high accuracy, good range, and centerfire reliability, the .204 Ruger is for you.
Their rifle's action is power-bedded, features an adjustable Marksman Trigger, and pairs with a heavy, tapered, cold-hammer-forged barrel. Ruger built the gun to hit small, moving targets with total precision. The integrated Picatinny rail is handy and ensures you stack fewer tolerances than a traditional setup when mounting a long-range scope.
The American Predator in .204 Ruger gives you a very soft-shooting gun that's just plain pleasant to use. Combining the two makes it easy to hit those small pesky varmints. If you're hunting for hide, the .204-caliber bullet leaves a tiny hole, and a little hole means minimal damage to the hide.
The American Predator is an affordable option. Retail prices are less than $500 and that includes a scope rail and a threaded barrel. Toss a can on that muzzle, and you have a quiet varmint killer that'd make Bugs Bunny hide.
The humble and often unloved .22-250 Rem might be one of my favorite cartridges. This fast mover breaks the 4,000 feet-per-second threshold with lighter loads, and hits harder than any bullet that size ought to. It doesn't have much recoil, and the small .224-caliber round doesn't have a track record of destroying pelts.
The Bergara B14 Ridge is the perfect host for .22-250 Rem. The 1-MOA accuracy guarantee is going to be tough to beat. It throws those fast little rounds straight and takes advantage of their laser beam-like trajectory. Unlike other .22-250 Rem rifles, the B14 Ridge uses a fairly fast 1:9 twist, which allows for excellent stabilization of heavier projectiles.
Those heavier rounds give you a higher ballistic coefficient, and a higher BC equals better all-around ballistic performance. The Bergara B14 Ridge weighs 7.5 pounds, a little heavy for the cartridge, but that's due to the barrel taper.
The No. 5 barrel taper is heavier than your typical sporting rifle. A heavier taper helps you shoot those fast and hot .22-250 Rem rounds one after another and maintain excellent accuracy. That can be a valuable thing to have in a varmint rifle.
If I had one complaint, it would be the 22-inch barrel length. I think 24 inches would be better for a round designed for speed and wouldn't add meaningful weight.
5. Savage Model 12 Long Range Varmint Hunting Rifle
The Savage Model 12 LRPV is a fascinating rifle. Its whole purpose is incredible accuracy, with the ability to fire many times without accuracy degradation. This is a .223 Rem gun optimized for most loads with a 1:9 twist.
The barrel measures 26 inches, so you're getting a ton of velocity out of this thing. It's a stainless steel barrel, so it's accuracy optimized, and it's quite heavy, although there is some selective fluting. The gun weighs 11 pounds before adding an optic, making it quite hefty and meant to be fired from a supported position.
The gun is a single-shot bolt action with a right-hand side bolt but a left-hand side ejection and loading port.
It's an interesting setup that allows for easy reloads when you're shooting prone or off a bench (ahem, truck bed). This odd design maximizes accuracy by eliminating the hole in a receiver necessary for a magazine.
Like every other Savage rifle, it features an AccuTrigger, which is adjustable from 2.5 to 6 pounds. It makes for a very nice pull that eliminates some human error.
For something a little more affordable, the Mossberg Patriot Predator comes in swinging. The Patriot Predator is a bare-bones bolt action designed for the everyday hunter. It comes chambered for several cartridges, including big straight-wall loads, moderately powered deer rounds, and the varmint-unfriendly .22-250 Rem.
The round certainly does its job against predators and varmints. The Patriot Predator offers an affordable firearm that allows you to poke varmints accurately from very far away.
The Patriot Predator isn't super fancy but it has a few awesome features. The barrel is threaded and has an 11-degree match crown. These guns are designed for suppressor use, which is handy when varmint hunting.
Mossberg fluted the barrel to reduce weight, and you get a spiral-fluted bolt that's smooth as butter. This company includes the LBA adjustable trigger, which can be adjusted from 2 to 7 pounds. Oh, and don't forget the included Picatinny rail that's fixed to the receiver for mounting a scope.
The Patriot Predator is a fantastic, downright lightweight rifle at a great price point. It's easy to shoot, accurate, and feature-filled for its price point.
The Patriot Predator does suffer from the same problem a lot of .22-250 Rem rifles have: a 22-inch barrel. Come on, just give me a 24-inch barrel!
7. Tikka T3x Super Varmint - Best High-End Varmint Rifle
The Fins are an interesting bunch with a fascinating culture. As a gun guy, I appreciate their dedication to high-quality rifles and the art of riflemanship. As a varmint hunter, I also appreciate the Tikka T3x Super Varmint.
The rifle comes chambered for .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, and 6.5x55 SE. Here in the States, the .223 Rem and the .22-250 are going to be the more popular options, and I'd lean into them.
Tika addressed the ballistic difference between each caliber and didn't just mass-produce one rifle in several calibers.
For example, .22-250 Rem gets a 600mm barrel, which translates to 23.6 inches. The .223 Rem variant uses a barrel that's just over 20 inches. These lengths allow us to hit peak velocities of each cartridge, which maximizes their range and energy.
We get a brilliantly smooth action, exceptional accuracy, and a refined experience. The Super Varmint has a two-stage trigger, a heavy-contour barrel, and the Tikka swappable grip design to make the rifle fit your needs.
The Tikka is the way to go if you want to maximize your varmint hunting power. Be prepared to pay the price for it.
How to Pick the Best Varmint Rifle
Varmint rifles are as varied as the varmints they hunt, but luckily, we've put together a wide variety of options for the enterprising varmint hunter. Here are some considerations to help you find the best varmint rifle for you.
Varmint Hunting Cartridges
Varmint rifles typically chamber somewhat small calibers. The biggest caliber used for varmints is typically .243 Win, but that's rare. The more popular rounds are .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.
These rounds are powerful enough to take varmints but are less likely to maim the hide, which many varmint hunters may collect.
Varmint Hunting Actions
Actions vary. They can be semi-automatic, bolt action, or even single-shot. It really depends on the game you're hunting. If I'm hunting prairie dogs, I'm using a semi-auto. If I'm hunting coyotes, a bolt gun is perfect.
Accuracy
When hunting varmints, you typically need a rifle that can consistently shoot very tight groups. Ammo and the shooter also play a part in that equation. Varmints can often be small, and a little miss is a big miss when your prey is the size of a prairie dog or squirrel.
Meet the Experts
Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike wrote this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. His experience as a machinegunner, recreational shooter, and hunter has given him unique insight into various weapon platforms. Additionally, Travis has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, and has tested countless guns and other firearm accessories.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this article. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
Varmint hunting can be done for hide, for meat, and to remove nuisances. In some cases, it's done recreationally, but in others, removing invasive species is necessary.
It's one of the more accessible hunts and is tons of fun -- especially when you have a tack-driving rifle!
What do you hunt varmints with? Let us know in the comments below! Looking for more hunting rifles? Check out our list of the Best Hunting Rifles.
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