Rifle Ammo question?

[manganos]

I've been shooting the .17 here recently. Groundhogs bring $5 a piece here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Think of it as a .22 rimfire that is good to 150 yrds easy. The only problem is that it is so new it is hard to find the ammo as of now. 50 rounds for $9.99. It is cheaper for me to shoot it then my Mini 14.

 

[fishman]

Pbenven

Considered the 22 hornet? Ruger makes a nice bolt action
as do several other manufacturers. Midway between a 22 mag and a 223. Neat historic cartridge that is enjoying a resurgence in popularity for the reasons you describe.

 

[Egon]

What you need is a drilling for around the yard.

Egon

 

[Egon]

I may be mistaken but wasn't the " Boone And Crocket " grizzly shot with a .22 rifle.

Egon

 

[RobertN]

For a utility rifle, I would look at a couple options, based loosely on what you described.

1) Ruger Mini-14 Ranch rifle. It's basically built for what you describe. It's light, compact, accurate, and fires a round that would work for what you describe. The .223Rem is accurate and has plenty of power. You might study varmit bullets; most are made to really explode on impact, which reduces ricochet.

2) Any of the lighter entry level bolt actions in .243. That is a great all-around calibre for your description. Light, easy to handle,, not too powerful, but with enough power for up to coyote size varmit. It is a nice deer cartridge too.

3) One of the .357 or .44 lever actions, from Ruger, Marlin, Winchester. I like shooting the Marlin 94CS .357 lever. It is compact, light, handles well, and .357 would work for your needs. It is also relatively inexpensive ammo, especially if you use .38sp low power loads. the recoil is very minimal too.

Of the choices I listed, I would be hard pressed. I used to have a Mini-14 Ranch rifle. It was a very solid dependable unit. I like the lever action too. I have not used a .243, but know of folks that do. Nice round...

 

[RobertN]

There's been good discussion on this.

The 30-06/.223-sabot is a standard 30-06 case. The .223 slug is in a plastic sabot that is .30 caliber. It offers the shooter a high velocity round that would otherwise be unavailable in that cartridge.

125 grain varmit stuff is out there of 30-06, but is much slower than this sabot round.

I would advise handloading. You can tailor a bullet to your barrel and shooting styles. You could load a nice 150gr spitzer or 165gr boattail for deer and antelope, a 180gr for elk, or a 125gr for varmit. Of course, handloading is an investment, and it takes time to get you money back,although you can see good returns in accuracy. For me, it is as much the fun of working up loads and testing them as it is the savings.

I use a varmit barrel .308 for antelope with 165gr Sierra HPBT Gamekings. Real flat shooter, even at 3-400 yards.

I make my own beer from time to time too. I can get the same thing these days from all the micro brews that are available. But, I like the cooking and testing and all.

 

[Rowski]

WOW! Turned out to be a good topic /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!

Many thanks for all the reponses!

I have got some Accelerators ordered, $22 per box. I will not be shotting it to often after I shoot it at the range and get some idea of grouping and adjust my scope accordingly. I wish I could get another gun, but not enough $$ to go around. I also wish I could reload my own ammo. That sound like fun and technical to get what your gun likes. Sound time consuming too.

Right now I'm shooting groundhogs and beavers. It may turn into shooting wild dogs. They got 6 deer on my father's 40 acres this winter /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.

I'll post my results (maybe even some pictures of the targets)with the Accelerators when I go to the range later next week.

 

[DaveNH]

"I also wish I could reload my own ammo. "

You can and not for a whole lot of money.
FOR YEARS UPON YEARS, I used the el-cheapo
infamous Lee Loader. I think I paid less than $7.00
for it (1975) and it made some pretty good ammo.
I see them on ebay going for about 10-15 bucks.
You don't need to get a Master Reloading Setup
to make great ammo. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Lee

 

[RanchMan]

pbenven -

<font color="blue">I'm looking for what I refer to as a "utility" rifle. Something that can be grabbed in a hurry to dispatch racoons, stray cats, and possibly even the odd coyorte....(.25-20, .220, .223) but that would be a little large for use around the home (3.5 acres in the country)....That 30-06 light load might be just the ticket. </font>

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif If your plot is 3.5 acres, a rifle is NOT the way to go. 3.5 acres (assuming it is square) would be a plot of land ~130 yards x 130 yards - WAY to dangerous - even with a .22 - don't even consider getting one if you plan on using it as you describe. Something that can still dispatch the critters you describe without having nearly the safety concerns would be a shotgun. Depending on the shot size, you will still have concerns (read no slugs or buckshot), but you are at least getting something that if you use small enough shot, you won't have to be nearly as worried about taking out one of your neighbors. Remember - a .22 LR can easily carry over a mile - forget what can happen with a higher velocity/higher weight projectile.

Sorry, but if I lived on the next plot beside/behind you, the only excuses I'd accept for you cracking off shots with any rifle in my direction would be that you were defending your life or there was a mountain between us - and even then I wouldn't like it too much. Yes, even those "light loads" in .30-06. You need to consider what happens if you miss, or even if you don't and your projectile carries on -- You can't call it back once you pull the trigger and it doesn't "magically" stop once it reaches your property line. Don’t know about you, but you won’t find me hanging out at the 150 yard mark on the local rifle range - even if everyone is shooting at targets located at the 75 yard mark. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Egon]

I've also got and used a lee loader. Works well as long as you don't get to hot a load and have to start resizeing the cases. The scale is a little more pricey. You'll also require handloading tables/books for types of powder and bullet types.

It is inexpensive and does work well.

Egon