What Is a Varmint Rifle?

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What counts as a varmint

"Varmint" is an informal word for animals treated as pests or nuisances: prairie dogs, groundhogs (woodchucks), ground squirrels and rockchucks are the classic list, and coyotes are often lumped in, although many hunters call them predators instead. The legal status of these animals varies a great deal. In some states certain species have no closed season; in others they require a license or have seasons and methods rules. Always check the current regulations for the state and species, and get landowner permission.

Anatomy of a varmint rifle

The cartridge

Varmint cartridges are fast and flat-shooting, with light bullets and mild recoil. Flat trajectory means small errors in range estimation matter less. Light recoil means you can watch your own hits through the scope, which is half the point on a prairie dog town.

The barrel

Varmint shooting can mean many shots in a short time, and barrels heat up. A thin barrel's point of impact can wander as it heats, so varmint rifles usually use medium or heavy ("bull") barrel contours that stay stable longer. Some use fluting to shed a little weight and add surface area.

The trigger

Small targets at distance demand a clean, crisp trigger. Most modern factory triggers are adjustable within a safe range; a good trigger matters more here than on a woods rifle.

The stock

A flat, wide forend rides steadily on a bag or rest, and a stud or rail takes a bipod. Varmint shooting is usually done prone or from a bench, so the stock is designed for support, not for carrying.

The optic

Higher magnification than a deer scope, with adjustable parallax (side focus) so the reticle stays sharp and aligned at different distances. Our rifle optics guide explains the features.

Varmint cartridges compared

Rimfire options are covered in what is a rimfire rifle. For a close look at how a .22 LR fits in, see the FAQ below.

Varmint vs. predator vs. precision rifle

The line between them blurs, which is why this site groups them in one precision and varmint rifle category. Where hunting and precision rifles split, see hunting vs. precision rifle.

Bolt action or AR for varmints?

A bolt action usually delivers more accuracy for the money and lets barrels cool between deliberate shots. An AR makes follow-up shots and high-volume days easy, and 5.56 ammunition is plentiful. On a big prairie dog town, many shooters bring two rifles and rotate them so neither barrel overheats. If you already own an AR, hunting with an AR-15 covers setup and legal checks; for the bolt side, see what is a bolt-action rifle.

Varmint rifles worth a look

Safety and ethics in the field

Varmint country is often flat and hard, which is exactly where ricochets happen. Know what is beyond every target, avoid shooting at rocks or hardpan, keep livestock, buildings and roads well out of the line of fire, and use a proper backstop. Ask the landowner where it is safe to shoot, and leave gates the way you found them. The fastest way to lose access is a careless shot.

What makes a rifle accurate enough

No single rifle is "the most accurate varmint rifle." Accuracy comes from a combination of barrel quality, bedding, trigger, ammunition, scope and the shooter. The practical approach: buy a rifle with a good barrel and trigger, mount quality glass properly, then test several loads from a solid rest and settle on the one your rifle likes.