Small Rifle help

[Bob_Skurka]

Yikes after looking at those pics I am 100% convinced that this is no task for a rim fire rifle.

I agree with you. As much fun as it might be to shoot a grain of rice sized .17 caliber bullet into the ear of a beaver from 100 yards away through wooded cover, the reality is that a larger caliber is more suitable.

Silly me, I actually suggested that a .308 would be reasonable because beavers are bigger than most people think

Seems to me that there is a lot of consensus on the .223 as the next size up for MarkV to consider. I still think that any of 3 common surplus military rounds would be good. .223, 7.62x39 and .308.

 

[Soundguy]

7.62x39 should be fine.

Heck.. old 8mm mauser or .303 brit would pop thm fine.

Probably get an old C&R yugo mauser or turkish bolt action and 250 rounds for 100$ shipped. Accurate like all get out with iron sites... Or get a mosin nagant or clone and an elcheapo scope and pop em like all get out... and cheap too.

Soundguy

 

[thingy]

yeah,,they are a good bit bigger than a groundhog thats for sure,,,,well,,wish I lived closer to the beaver problem,,,would come over and try them new x-bullits out,,,it just depends how close you can get to them beavers,,never hunted them,,,22 mag 50 yards in the head would still do it,,if you can get a still shot that is,,if you gotta take a moving shot,,,yeah that 10 gauge with turkey shot or something,,if you gotta shoot over 50 yards,,,any good deer rifle oughta work just fine,,just depends,,like I said,,I've killed several deer with 22 long,,30 yards or so,,in the head,,and a deer is bigger than them beavers,,,,unless them beavers got extra thick skulls or something,,,is that one a them beaver dogs there? thingy

 

[johnk]

Here's a pic of my standard 1 OZ winchester super X slug taken out of the front shoulder of my 8 PT buck. I shot him at 100 yrds and down he went. I use a rifled barrel and have taken over 30 deer with a 1 shot kill and many were out to 100 yrds. Thats a good chunk of lead if properly placed.. I'd hate to be on the recieving end.

 

[thingy]

Thats a good chunk of lead if it ain't properly placed too.Feel sorry for you guys who have to use a shotgun though,,,never send a shotgun to do a rifles work,,,,,,,,[just kidding,,,,well,kinda,,] thingy

 

[johnk]

I can use rifle where I hunt but why bother when all my shots are under a 100 yrds. A slug plows through the little saplings without a lot of deflection versus a lighter, high velocity rifle bullet. I use open sights because most of the deer are haulin a** and it's too hard to pick em up with the scope. Everything isn't like on television in the real world. Never shot too many deer just loping within 10 yards putting the head down and eating under my tree stand during gun season. The deer by me are educated and look up when they run to see who has the best tree stands. 1st pick is my son hauling up the firecut on my property. Second is the kind of stuff we shoot through.

 

[gsganzer]

MD,,,yeah,yeah,,know all that, killed over 100 deer,,,just getting tired of a heart/lung shot buck running 50/100 yards and wanted some more pow/bang,,and this with a 77mm mag!!,,,guess what I was asking was,,anybody have any knowledge of this bullit,,,maybe the answer is just going to 180 grian or something bigger soft point,,,,in other words,,not really impressed with the 165 grain federal boattail,,good shooting,,but I want something with some crunch,,,,and,,,I don't save the ribs anyways,,,they all could be blowed out as far as I care,,just want that deer to lose so much body parts,,that he can't run far,,,p.s.,,,don't want to up grade to a 50 cal. or something,,,,,but you gotta admitt,,x-bullit sounds good??!! thingy

I handload two bullets almost exclusively, the Barnes X and the Swift A-frames. I deer hunt with a .257 WBY and load 100 gr. A-frames or 100 gr. Barnes TSX. I'm real happy with with either bullet and they both will group under an 3/4 inch. The original Barnes bullets had a problem with the copper and would often shed the petals upon expansion. I haven't seen this problem with the newer X bullet or the TSX. Barnes does recommend that you use one bullet size lighter then normal for the gave you're after. The velocity helps with the expansion. I also loaded up 180 gr Barnes XFB (Flat base) in a 300 win mag for an african plains game hunt. They also performed well on all shots, with only one recovered bullet (attached).

As far as a bang/flop kill: I shoot almost all my deer through the heart lungs, that way I don't ruin the shoulder meat. Almost all of them run 30 - 50 yards in a straight line before they fall over. That's just the way it works with that type of shot. If I'm hunting trophy animals, I take a shoulder shot. Even on a shoulder shot with a lot of bone damage, a Barnes bullet will typically exit, they're capable of a lot of penetration. I for one, look for this in a bullet for larger game. I want a good exit hole so I have a good blood trail to follow.

 

[thingy]

Thanks,,,so you think that barnes x bullit in federal 160 grain will give me a pretty good size exit hole,in deer,this in 7mm mag,,,,like I said,,been using 165 grain federal premium boattail,,but they just go on through,,,now they are accurate,,,killed many deer with that round,,,the x bullit is hollow point as you know,,my only concern there I believe would be would they blow up on a small twig?I bought a box,never shot one yet at target,let alone a deer,,,used to use about 175 grain soft point,[I think],,seems like I didn't have this problem than,,,,well,its not really a problem,,,yeah,mine never go more than 100 yards or so either with the 165 grain boattail,,,just wanta knock some more meat outta the far side is all,,,thingy

 

[thingy]

Another question,,will it even exit? I would bet yes,,on a deer side,,,but,,it is a hollow point,,,thingy

 

[cp1969]

Barnes X is a solid copper bullet--no lead inside. Once the petals off the nose get peeled off, there is really nothing left to expand, so they are supposed to have good penetration. I've never used them but know people who have...they are not magic.