low recoil distance gun choice?
I have been thinking for quite a while about getting an accurate rifle, and for the longest time was going to get a .220 swift. After pricing the ammo, I simply can't afford to burn that much money to get good at several hundred yard shots. I started thinking about the .223, due to the cheap ammo. Recently on a prairie dog hunt in KS, I was shooting my .300 winmag (really just using live targets to practice a little), and my buddy who has nearly everything made (a little exaggeration), stopped shooting his 22/250, and his 6mm rem, even put down his .17 to pick up his lowly old .22. He shot more dogs with it that day than all the others combined. I had to rethink this...
He was using a very highly modified 10/22 [:p]. Is there something else out there you guys would suggest? I have shot kimber and liked them, shot some of the bolt target rem & marlin .22's.
Should I do like he does and have a bigger caliber for some fun, then scale down to a .22 when the ammo gets too high? I know I shoot more on cheaper stuff.
On a side note, I was thinking about a flat varmit gun that I could also use for deer hunting (in KS it has to be 23 caliber centerfire to be legal). Ideas? 6mm, .243, 25-06 (nothing bigger since I have my .300 winmag).
He was using a very highly modified 10/22 [:p]. Is there something else out there you guys would suggest? I have shot kimber and liked them, shot some of the bolt target rem & marlin .22's.
Should I do like he does and have a bigger caliber for some fun, then scale down to a .22 when the ammo gets too high? I know I shoot more on cheaper stuff.
On a side note, I was thinking about a flat varmit gun that I could also use for deer hunting (in KS it has to be 23 caliber centerfire to be legal). Ideas? 6mm, .243, 25-06 (nothing bigger since I have my .300 winmag).
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25-06!!! Big enough for any deer! Reach out and touch varmints with a vengeance! If you got yourself a 17HRM and a 25-06 you'd be covered! GHD 0 -
Ruger Mini-14
Cheap ammo, long range accuracy, and the reddilly availible BDC scopes
the new mini-14 scopes with Bullet Drop Compensator would be excellent for what you are looking for0 -
ajb101 - you must have one of the only Mini-14's with long range accuracy.
Highly recommend a 25-06.
B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze0 -
abj, I am a major Ruger fan... 10/22, old style .44 sporter carbine, Redlabel, used to have a mini-30...
What kind of accuracy are you getting? at 100 yards, 200 yards, 300 yards???
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
Why not just learn to reload and cut your ammo costs? 0 -
The least expensive long range would be the .223 if you want negligable recoil get a heavy barrel in say a ruger at 9 lbs. you won't know your shooting. a little more expensive would be a flat top bushmaster with free float kit no recoil at all. 0 -
The BDC scopes for mini-14's don't stand for the normal "Bullet Drop Compensator". For them to work on a mini-14 they would have to have "Bullet Dispersion Compensation"!!! Has to be the poorest excuse for accuracy I've ever seen!!!! Well maybe with the exception of one old Jap rifle a guy btought to the range that wouldn't hit a 4'X4' target board 2 times in a row!! GHD 0 -
dito on the mini 14 my brother got one and i put the scope on and sighted it in ......they are terible accuracy wise i could keep all the shots on a 8x10 piece of paper but thats about it.......if you hit a p dog at100yds plus it would just be a lucky shot.
I carry a 243win all the time in my pickup and reload 55gr nos bal tips
makes for a very good varmint round"have killed many coyotes at 300yds+ with the 55gr bulletand my rifle shoots these very well" then you can use 100gr bullets for deer and ect and as GHD mentioned the 25-06 would be a fine choice also for varmints and deer.
doc0 -
Thanks to all your insights. I don't have the space currently for reloading. I have a shotgun reloader, but I don't even keep it here. We are in a small house for the next few years so reloading is on hold.
So I guess none of you would consider a .22 lr at all for long distance shooting then?
It looks like I got a lot to think about then.
I'd like some more info on the which bushmaster model you were talking about. I've heard they are good guns, but haven't ever shot one. Thanks to all!
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
I hear Bushmaster is coming out with a new model for 2003! It's called "The Trunk Edition"! I've been waiting for 2 weeks to get the right thread to put this on! hehe GHD 0 -
If you reload and are going to have one build, 6/284 is an awsome long range varmiter, and with 100 gr bullets would do the deer and antalope.[:)]
Self defence is an ablsolute and natural right. Keep your powder dry! J. Rau, Alaska0 -
I aggree with the guy who remarked about the 25-06...Kind of...
But there are the recoil and ammo price issues.
Considering your same question I bought a Rem. 700 PSS in .308. It shoots 1/2"-3/4" groups consistantly out the box (+$50.00 Trigger adjustment job) . The 4.00 per box Hertinberger FMJ groups 1-1.25 at 100 yards. Dropped a White Tail this season from 400 yards with Fedreral Gold 165 Gr.PSP And for Varmints I shoot Georgia Arms 125 grain Nosler Ballistic tip loaded to 3000 FPS. Cuts hogs in half shoots flat. ($17.00 per box). Very Sweet Gun.
BUT...from just about every article I have ever read and based on the guns I own I don't think there is a "Perfect Rifle"...Then comes the Thompson Encore System. Reasonably priced, single shot tack driver right out of the box. I only wish a "glass break" trigger pull was possible. The trigger is a little heavy. I like no creep 2.5 to 3 pounds and no over travel.
This System may be the answer you seek. It's kind of like betting on all the horses at the race if you're confident enough for a single shot hunting rifle.
The gun in most calibers runs around $480-540. Barrels run about $200-250 and can be changed in the field in virtually a minute. You can cover your Ammo budget with a .308
.22-250 or .223 barrel (recommend 26" heavy). There's your deer rifle and Any Varmint you care to terminate. Three barrels, one rifle. Do the math, even if you bought lower end Savage synthetics in these calibers. Sorry for sounding like a Thompson commercial but after shooting the .223 at the range and dropping a Red Fox with the .22-250 I was sold.
Good luck.
Charlie0 -
Bluewaterhunter, WELCOME TO GB!! I noticed that was your first post! Good job and good info. If you're around here enough you'll find out I'm very fond of the 25-06!! I also have been impressed with the ENCOREs. The one problem I have is that the only problems with ENCOREs I've seen in the accuracy department is with 25-06 barrels!!! I've seen 2 that were very,very unacceptable! Other than those two I have nothing but high marks for them! Enjoy and post away!! GHD 0 -
bluewaterhunter,
Welcome to the GunBroker forum. Great first post, very informative.
B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze0
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