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Post by segsarge on Dec 19, 2011 18:22:19 GMT -6
Gonna take up calling. What gets the nod on yotes, cats and fox out to 100-120 yds. Don't want to sew baseball size holes and I'm hunting brush with 1 large open field. I thought about the .204 or .223 but it's more money. Anyone got an opinion?  |
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Post by watershedman25 on Dec 19, 2011 18:42:12 GMT -6
Sorry man I'm not a gun nut (sorta, just not balliatics). I shoot a mag and my buddy shoots a 17. I like em' both. I know thats no help. Good Luck
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Post by krank on Dec 19, 2011 19:10:39 GMT -6
OK....I'll start a fight.
.22 mag is the rancher/farmboy gun. Handy and does at 1oo yds what a LR does at the muzzle. I used to hunt with a kid that racked up alot of yotes with his.
When the .17 HMR came out then I bought 5 savage bolts and passed them out to all my buddies.(They paid me for them) We called up two coyotes and shot them and they walked around in circles for awhile and fell down. Not real impressive. The neighbor swears by his but I never seen him get anything with it. I sold mine.
Coon hunting with a .17 is ok but expensive. .223 messes up bobcat real bad.
I shoot a .17 mach IV which is based on a 22 fireball brass. Truly the ultimate except the wind will blows it around.
Lately I have gone back to the old 22 hornet and worked up some neat loads for that. 200 yd max.....
The 22-250 will hit anything you can see and you may not recognize it when you walk up on it.
I got a new 204 and it may be the deal as it dont drop much and has a tiny bullet. I reload as factory shells cost a buck apiece. Aint killed nothing with it.
So....I never found one gun that has range, fights wind, doesnt mangle and is economical.
I predator call alot with a 22mag as it knocks them down and has a good reputation. Drops coyotes up to150- 200yds and is nice to bobcats and coons. Close up and fast.
I can reload 22 hornet or 223 cheaper than I can buy 22 mag. The 17 centerfires really perform but have to be handloaded and hate wind.
OK-I would say if I could only own one varmit gun it would be a 223 and sorry about the bobcat. You can shoot 55 gr. military ammo cheap but understand it is for an AR twist of 1-7 or 1-10 so bullets wont stabilize in a sporting arm with a slower twist so shoot the 4o grain reloads.
I used to know an old trapper(born 1890) and the only gun he had was a single shot in 22WRF (old cartridge that the mag is based on) and he produced all kinds of critters.
There are lots of guys that use whatever they got and are in the right place at the right time. I would never tell them their 30-30 is not proper as they got me beat.
Somebody is going jump up and say something else but that is my experience and I have thought about it alot for years.
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jw636
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by jw636 on Dec 19, 2011 19:11:09 GMT -6
iv got Henry golden boy in .22 mag and love it, i don't know about out to 120 yards but at 50 its right on the money
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Post by mmaxwell on Dec 19, 2011 19:28:11 GMT -6
I probally wont be of help to you either but, I picked up a Revelation - Western Auto Supply Co 22 mag for dirt cheap, of couse it had been abused.
I stripped it down, re-blued and refinished stock and now it looks good again, shot it a few times and shoots good to.
Bought a scope for it to do some coyote hunting with and its been in the gun safe for 5 or 6 years lol
I did sight the scope in a few weeks ago and plan to try and get some hunting in over christmas.
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Post by Goot Shooter on Dec 19, 2011 20:14:44 GMT -6
Bought a caller n hoping to get it n couple days. I bought my first 22 mag a month ago. Was a little late today on a 17 that was 4 sale.If the guy didnt buy it I was next in line. He wanted $75 with 5 boxes of shells. Came with scope n all. It was a single shot but I wanted it bad! So sorry I cant help either, but great post. Can't wait 4 other replys.
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Post by Goot Shooter on Dec 19, 2011 20:16:02 GMT -6
I got 22-250, .223 , n was wondering wich would be the best today myself. Glad you brought this up!
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Post by trkyslyr on Dec 19, 2011 20:21:34 GMT -6
Don't own either but I would say that a .17 cal is a little lite for a yote IMO.
But at the same time, I'm also in the group that thinks a .22 cal is too lite for deer, soooooo......
Will it kill, yes. I just think we owe the animal a little more respect than to see "how low we can go".
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Post by tylercraiglow on Dec 19, 2011 22:21:13 GMT -6
.17 all the way! But still like the 22 mag though. I own a 17 hmr and 17 Mach 2. Both savages with accutriggers. Been eye-ball'n the .17 hornet! I reload so it would be a wise choice since I LOVE to shoot. And the MYTHS about .17 hmr not handleing the wind are bs, atleast with in it's ethical range(for me 225yds). In general, the faster a projectile reaches the target the less time the wind has to affect it's flight. I have shot coyotes with both, I suggest a head shot. Which is easily done with the hmr. Flip a coin because they are both good choices. All of this is IMO.
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Post by mmaxwell on Dec 20, 2011 7:14:30 GMT -6
Looks like we did help ya out, the verdict is get them both lol
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Post by tylercraiglow on Dec 20, 2011 8:08:36 GMT -6
Looks like we did help ya out, the verdict is get them both lol Agreed. But definently put good glass and rings on them. |
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Post by tylercraiglow on Dec 20, 2011 8:11:49 GMT -6
Oh, the 17 Mach 2 ammo is roughly HALF$ that of HMR and mag. And it's plenty for your stated distances, but still head shots.
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Post by krank on Dec 20, 2011 8:19:20 GMT -6
A close range, wind is not an issue with the .17s. Get out there 300 yds and the wind can take a foot. Like I say, people will surprise you with what they use. I am sure theres alot of farmboys that are deadly with a 22LR.
Years ago, varmit cartridges were the 218 bee and the 25/20 and the 222.
I have a TC in 17 machIV and I have $900 in that gun so homie aint letting that bang around in the truck. I got a 22 hornet that is $150 gun and absolutely rough as a cob. I leave it lay around the homeplace.
Last winter when it was zero and a foot of snow on the ground, the coyote were hungry and prowling. I was taking 300-500 yds shots. Guess what? Fur damage was a non-issue. I was working up a load that shot that far. I was packing the 22-250 and my 308 with bi-pods. It was real humbling the first few shots and real thrilling once I got dialed in.
Biggest factor is "what is your range?". Less than 200 and just about anything will work and then next comes fur destruction. The 17 centerfires leave a tiny entry and usually no exit. Might be a little messy inside.
I cant say about the 17 rimfire because I got rid of mine.
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Post by segsarge on Dec 20, 2011 10:42:22 GMT -6
The answer probably is to buy both,LOL! My distances probably will seldom be more than 75 yds, but it's possible to have a long shot. I looked at the local shops yesterday, I can buy either and not break the bank. I reload my own stuff so if I found a deal on .223 or something ammo costs aren't a big deal. I'm leaning towards .22 Mag but the jury isn't in. Thanks for all the help though.
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Post by ThatHoundWontHunt on Dec 20, 2011 10:53:37 GMT -6
If you reload, get centerfire. A .223 is good for exactly what you need. You can reload 40 grain nosler balistic tips with the granulated copper core. It would be very accurate and small and would still take down anything the size of yote or smaller. And it will not penetrate or damage fur as bad as a traditional lead core bullet.
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Post by ThatHoundWontHunt on Dec 20, 2011 11:00:47 GMT -6
This is what you need to be shooting. In .223 I am a fanatic when it comes to my .223. With the right load and a steady shot, you should be able to take down anything in SW MO. www.nosler.com/Bullets/Ballistic-Tip-Lead-Free.aspxI would recommend the 40 grain if your twist is less than 12. If 12 or more, you could get away with the 35, but it will have a lower ballistics coefficient and be more influenced by wind, obviously. |
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Post by trappingfarva on Dec 20, 2011 14:26:21 GMT -6
Sarge I have a .22 mag you can use to see of you like it. Can't hurt the old marlin so pm me if you want to use it
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Post by ThatHoundWontHunt on Dec 20, 2011 14:42:03 GMT -6
The .22 mag is a great round. I have shot many of them. But if you reload, then price is not an issue. My stepdad has his .22 mag sighted perfectly, but past 50 yards, I can shoot circles around him. Inside 50, it does not matter, you can do it with a regular .22 LR. Past that, the .223 is going to be bread and butter. If you can work up some really good loads, the .223 will be unrivaled. You will not be sorry.
Hound
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Post by krank on Dec 20, 2011 16:39:53 GMT -6
I might buy another 22 mag but I am done with the 17 rimfire. By the time you lessen your range and only take head shots then you might as well use a 22 LR. I forgot to tell you about the time I tried my 17 for dispatch and the bullet kept bouncing off the critters skull. I am sure there is somebody out there that loves their 17 but I have been there and done that.
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Post by tylercraiglow on Dec 20, 2011 20:54:00 GMT -6
I shot a couple possums with the Mach 2. There was too much fur floatn in the air after the shot(One @5ft & another @15yds). Won't be doin that again. And Segsarge since you reload, give the 17 Hornet some thought. Probably get one myself. Gotta use my squirrel money on something........
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