Hunting rifle

[Fat Dog]

Hi all, a bit of advice required. I am about to embark on the long trek for an addition of a rifle to my FAC, to be used mainly as a field gun for rabbit shooting. Any advice on brand, callibre, scope etc would be greatfully accepted. Brands I have in my head so far are CZ and Wierauch.

 

Kind regards

 

Alan

[njc110381]

What guns do you already have? What ranges are you needing to shoot to and is it only rabbits you want to shoot? Do you need to be quiet or is noise not too much of a problem on your shoot?

[Fat Dog]

What guns do you already have? What ranges are you needing to shoot to and is it only rabbits you want to shoot? Do you need to be quiet or is noise not too much of a problem on your shoot?

Ranges around 100 - 120 yards, and yes would need to be quiet. I currently shoot only with shotguns and would like to expand sporting options.

 

Cheers

[JohnGalway]

100-120 yards then probably a .17HMR. Nice round, flat shooting, ballistic tip or hollow point bullets for field shooting.

 

They won't be near as quiet as a .22lr (both moderated) but a .22lr wouldn't be the best choice for the range you have mentioned IMO.

 

The best way I can describe the noise level of a HMR with SAK moderator is like an unsilenced .22lr firing HV rounds (possibly not that loud depending on the terrain) or a ruler being slapped down hard on a table. You can't take that crack away, but a moderator will make a world of difference so I highly reccomend getting one.

 

As for makes and models, how much time have you got? lol. Friend on mine on here (Conor) has a Sako Quad HMR and it's a fantastic rifle, another friend of ours has also just bought one. Other popular brands being CZ, Marlin, Anschutz, Savage... Go have a look see what you like the best.

 

People will be able to give better advice if they know your budget for rifle, scope & accessories.

[Aldo]

quote]

Ranges around 100 - 120 yards, and yes would need to be quiet. I currently shoot only with shotguns and would like to expand sporting options.

 

 

If it HAS to be quiet then it is possible to use 22LR with subs at the ranges you mention but it's a lot of work.

You need to be pretty sure of your distance and have practiced a lot with paper at various distances to work out holdover/under.

I zero at 70 yards and have 1 milldot under for 50 yards and 1 over for 100 yards. 125 and 140 are 2 dots and 3 dots over (all using Eley subs)

 

I tried various HV 22LR ammo and the best was CCI Velocitor but the Eleys are much more accurate (and quieter)

 

Having said all of that I'm about to get 17 Mach2 as they've finally cleared the land I shoot for it although it's a shame that they still didn't go for 17HMR

 

I bought the Quad so that I could try 22LR while I negotiated with my FEO and then get the 17 without having to buy another rifle (just barrel)

[Dirty Harry]

Aldo,

 

Whats the problem with the land? Why wont they let you have the HMR?

 

Fat Dog,

 

Consider the Sako Quad. I have one in HMR and .22lr. It's a cheeper way to have 2 quality rifles.

 

Harry

[08shooter]

i would go for the 17hmr in cz big bang for your buck i have 22lr but at over 100 yds i would gor for the 17hmr.i shot my first the other evening and was impressed bigtime with it.awesome tool

[BigGun1]

100-120 yards??

I used to shoot with a guy who had an Anschutz Match 64 that had been shortened by 6", screw cut, schmit&bender scope, bipod, blah blah blah and could shoot a sub 1" group at 100 yards. Of all the times wse went shooting I never saw him take a rabbit past 75 yards, If David couldn't make it a head shot he would never pull the trigger. If you want that kind of accuracy by a .17 HMR or .17 Mach 2, more accurate than his rig and for less money.

Whatever you get have fun and be safe!

[Fat Dog]

Thanx for the replies. Can I ask, if it is to be a .17HMR, is it more difficult to add to a FAC than a .22 in Northern Ireland, please excuse my ignorance if this has already been covered in the past.

 

Alan

[Aldo]

Aldo,

 

Whats the problem with the land? Why wont they let you have the HMR?

 

It's a long story but in Surrey they prefer to give 22LR over 17HMR and they say that 17HMR is "too much speed" for small areas of land (9 acres in my case)

I'm happy to compromise on Mach2 rather than involve BASC etc as it's almost as good and the safety improvements with ricochet issues (or lack of them) make everyone happy.

It took a long letter when I asked them to reconsider 17HMR and copies of ballistics charts etc but I gave them the chance of giving me Mach2 as a compromise knowing that they were unlikely to want to be seen to be changing their minds once they'd turned down 17HMR (which they did when they gave me 22LR originally)

[al4x]

Aldo,

 

Whats the problem with the land? Why wont they let you have the HMR?

 

It's a long story but in Surrey they prefer to give 22LR over 17HMR and they say that 17HMR is "too much speed" for small areas of land (9 acres in my case)

I'm happy to compromise on Mach2 rather than involve BASC etc as it's almost as good and the safety improvements with ricochet issues (or lack of them) make everyone happy.

It took a long letter when I asked them to reconsider 17HMR and copies of ballistics charts etc but I gave them the chance of giving me Mach2 as a compromise knowing that they were unlikely to want to be seen to be changing their minds once they'd turned down 17HMR (which they did when they gave me 22LR originally)

 

 

its amazing how forces vary Herts prefer the HMR and from having used both I'd be far happier using an HMR on a small plot of land. Simply because of the reduced risk of rick o Shea. the .22lr is fine for quiet use but you need to be so carefull backdrop wise as that zing you get off flat land is very un nerving.