Author Topic: Rimfire for farm gun suggestions? (Read 2820 times)

RB1235 · « **on:** May 25, 2010, 04:57:36 AM »

My 5mm died just before the centurion ammo came out. I ran a centerfire conversion for years. The barrel is just shot out. It got to where a body shot on a groundhog was iffy. Years ago it would put one in his eye. So I waited and waited for a rifle to come out, nothing. Now I am in the which rimfire boat. This will be a farm rifle to dispatch critters. No coyotes here yet thank goodness. So raccoon, fox, groundhog, bobcat, opossum and beaver will be about as big as they get. I can handle head shots only. I have been using a 22lr for awhile and it has been doing the job, I just want to get the range back.
Many thanks.

montveil · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2010, 07:09:07 AM »

I would think a 22 mag would be a great farm gun, all critters including coyotes at 100 yds
Check out ammo available for one at CCI, Federal and others
Not as much a rifle as the 5mm but the ammo is cheaper and should do what you want up to 150 yds.
Other than a 22 mag, a 223 would be the next jump for more range, hitting power up through 300 yds, more ammo expense & report,
I tend to choose my rifles by looking up ammo properties and then fitting the rifle to the cartridge.
You did not mention the ranges you would most commonly be shooting.
Hold on as you will get a lot of opinions on this one--good lock

RB1235 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2010, 08:02:30 AM »

The 5mm did good out to 200 with some windage applied. I have been stretching the lr out to 125. Most of the time the lr will put them down. Sometimes they run off with a head shot, so energy is an issue. Forgot to mention I need help picking out the rifle along with caliber. I have never owned either caliber. I do have two .223 in the truck and tractor and a .22-250 at the back door. Honestly looking to keep it rimfire only. Just a light weight knock em down rifle that shoots accurate for working in the field. Thinking cz for rifle but open to ideas since I am not familiar with the cartridges.
Thanks

guzzijohn · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:36:31 AM »

I would look for an older Remington or Winchester bolt action. Would be reliable and probably quite accurate and would not have to worry about keeping it pretty.
GuzziJohn

Daman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2010, 06:11:53 AM »

I would buy a CZ in 17HMR or 22mag beings you said you were considering a CZ. Now if I was buying just for me I would buy a Henry 22mag. I like the Henry and I like the Marlin 983 bolt action.

All in all I think the 17HMR would fit you bill---fast flat shooting.

Daman

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:49:03 PM »

For a rimfire, most good hunting guns were the Marlin model 60, the Ruger 10/22, Remington 552 or the pump 572, the semi auto Nylon 66, Pump action Rossi/Taurus 62, the Model 73 is a .22mag pump, leveraction Winchester 9422, Leveraction Browning BL22, BP22 pump, Browning semi auto 22, if you are comfortable with a used rimfire look in a pawn shop, one can glean a good/ accurate .22 from time to time.
I found a $45 Stevens springfield model 83 that was a hoot to shoot. Old Marlin 81 Boltaction tube fed was also a good one.
As I like a good fast shooting gun, when you see a opposum, raccon or fox slipping round your chicken coop or a coyote jumping out the window of your Hog shed you want to lay lead fast the above guns are some the better hunting guns to do it.
Otherwise any old yard sale $15 gun would work if you want to do just one shot
I found a old $40 Marlin 110 will be just as accurate as a CZ at a fraction the cost.

coop2564 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2010, 06:40:40 AM »

.17 HMR in Savage or Marlin lot of bang for your buck!

NRAJOE · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2010, 08:41:40 AM »

I picked up this used Marlin 883 for $200 otd.... .22 mag...would be great on a farm:

helotaxi · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2010, 04:31:57 AM »

I just sold a Marlin 917 to a friend so I could replace it with a Savage 93R17 in left hand. 17HMR is the cartridge that you want. Better downrange energy than the .22WMR and the selection of ammo keeps getting better. I just found some soft points yesterday. That makes four different bullet types (FMJ, JHP, polymer tipped and soft point) from four different manufacturers (Hornady, Winchester, CCI and Federal).

The Marlin is nice if you're right handed simply for price, I got mine for under $200. The Savage is more money, comes in left hand and has the Accutrigger. I paid $235 for the mine yesterday. The Marlin was a real shooter and I've no reason to think that the Savage won't at least equal it in performance.

If you want something faster shooting and don't mind paying a decent bit more, a few companies have lever action .17HMRs on the market. The Ruger 96/17 is the one I'm most interested in because of the detachable magazine. I've seen them going for around $450.

montveil · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2010, 12:57:16 PM »

I have both a 22 WMR and 17. I love both I believe the choice is what range and what the target.
@ 150 yards the 17 has 97 foot pounds, the 22 mag 30 grain JHP =89 while the WMR 50 grain has 131.
I believe the WMR has more penetration on larger game such as coyote than the 17.
150 yards is about max for both IMO
I do love my H&R 17 for flat shooting and accuracy 1/2 "at 100 yds and use it for anything up to woodchucks you want to blow apart. If you can do what you want with one shot consider the H&R's

RB1235 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2010, 08:30:05 PM »

How about the 22 mag on accuracy?
I ran into the game warden the other day and asked him what he has seen from the two rounds. He told me they are popular with the spot lighters. I guess from what he said they shoot for the glowing eyes. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It looks like they would use buckshot or something. He did say he has seen a lot of coyote killed with both, but also heard a whole lot of stories of them running off. So since I don't have coyotes, right now it is looking like both are pretty even for the little animals I am after.

helotaxi · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:48:41 AM »

The spotlighters don't use buckshot because a shotgun makes way too much noise. If you're poaching you don't exactly want to wake the county now do you.

hillbill · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2010, 02:33:24 PM »

if your wanting sumpin close to what yu had with the 5mm then yu better look at the 22 mag.myself i would be looking at a bolt gun in 223 that yu can shoot at about the same price,however if noise and such is a consideration the the 22 mag gits my vote.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2010, 03:00:10 PM »

I bought a Rem. 597M (22 WMR) here for my farm, and i mounted a straight 7.5X Leupold on it. It's worked out perfectly, and it has never jammed or failed in any way since the day i bought it, several years ago.

DM

Ladobe · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2010, 10:03:22 PM »

The 17 rimfires (HMR & HM2) replaced all of my 22 rimfires (MAG & LR) in turn when they first came out. I have 3 of each, love them and would never go back to the 22's. The HMR will handle all the critters you mention (and more) at surprizing yardages with well placed shots using the correct bullets.

The bobcat pictured in my avitar took 1 shot to the back of the head at about 80 yards with my 17HMR in the picture and a 17 grain CCI TNT.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2010, 01:52:43 AM »

Lots will qualify for the task but the old .22 cal is hard to beat. Plus, ammo is cheap.

schoolmaster · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2010, 06:47:27 AM »

My knock about truck gun is a Savage 22 mag with a blue barrel and black synthetic stock. Bought it because it was cheap kept it because it was accurate, light weight and just gets the job done.

DennyRoark · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2010, 10:17:22 AM »

I am a dyed in the wool 17hmr fan, but due to windy day bullet drift problems as of late, I would be more inclined to recommend .22WMR or even the 204 Ruger. All 3 three have the umpff to mess up a chuck at over 100! I LIKE that pic pf the Marlin 883 above, beautiful rifle.

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2010, 10:32:25 AM »

I would say a .17 HMR or a .22mag

Ron T. · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2010, 04:02:38 PM »

My vote goes to a .22 magnum rimfire since you stated you wanna stay with a rimfire... but it is, at best, a 150 yard cartridge in MHO.

From there, I'd go center-fire (.222, .223) to make 200 yard shots an EASY shot. My heavy-barreled Sako in .222 is DEADLY out to 225 yards... you can pick the single HAIR you wanna hit, but beyond 225 yards, bullet drop becomes "drastic".

The nice thing about a .222 is that it works REAL good on coyotes, too... and you say you don't have 'em yet... "yet" is the operative word!!! They're supposedly in all the "lower 48" states and expanding their range even as we speak, so if you don't have 'em yet, you will have 'em soon.

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

RB1235 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2010, 04:49:38 PM »

Yes sir, no doubt they will be here eventually. They are thick in the valley below me. When I lived there the anatolians killed 14 of them in 2 years. I moved to a mountain about 8 years ago 15 miles away. Not a whole lot of bunnies up here so the coyotes have stayed down in the swamps where the rabbits are thick. This is AL, not out West. Can't believe how thick they are. When they make it up here they will be hunted with an AR. I am terrible on doubles with a bolt action.

PowPow · « **Reply #21 on:** June 01, 2010, 05:53:02 PM »

Hard to imagine no coyotes where you are!
Talked to a guy Sunday who shot two coyotes in the Birmingham city limits, about a half mile from the Vulcan statue.
He used a 22 with a silencer, took 3 shots, said they didn't hear it when he missed.

Keith L · « **Reply #22 on:** June 02, 2010, 12:40:24 AM »

Sounds like you have more than one gun, so this may not be a factor. Around here (SE Wisconsin) we have had a bunch of bear sightings in fairly heavily populated areas. Ten years ago no one saw any, now they are popping up all over. So far they have been raiding bird feeders, but if they become a real problem no rimfire is enough. Wildlife is coming back.

onthefarm · « **Reply #23 on:** June 02, 2010, 06:29:06 PM »

I assume it also needs to ride in your truck or tractor so it shoudl be able to take punishment? How about a Savage 93FV? Accutrigger, synthetic stock, no iron but I assume you want a scope, and the price is right(a little less than $300 MSRP)!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #24 on:** June 02, 2010, 06:49:21 PM »

I did a Marlin 917V with a weaver 3-9X38 V9 scope whole rig with spare mags and ammo was around $500.00
The Stainless Version is really neat and would have gotten one if the budget were a little larger.
I have a 22 mag and really like. The 33 grain Ballistic tips will do everything the 17HMR will do. the 17 HMR will just be a little more lazer like out to 200 yards.
I have another Marlin in 22 Mag and an H&R Ultra in 22 mag that wears a 6X38 Weaver V6 scope and it is a rugged easy to shoot rifle.
I really think it is a trip to the gun shops and see what they have more and go that way.
I Just purchased a CZ 452 Varmint in 22 LR and really like it. I do not think you could go wron with one in 17 M2, 17 HMR or 22 Mag.
I use the 17 when ever we have rocks. The bullet turns into dust and does not carry far.
Did i ramble enough and say too much and nothing at all?

RB1235 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 02, 2010, 07:02:08 PM »

No sir, no rambling. All of ya'll are providing me with some good info.
It is much appreciated.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 03, 2010, 06:36:54 AM »

I might suggest the 22 Hornet. it's a bit more than a WMR or a 17HMR and with reloading it is still a very cheap shooter. The CZ527 FS is a wonderfully accurate rifle, with a single set trigger for hits at longer ranges and is still compact and very portable. Best of all it is adequate for the odd coyote at 150 or perhaps a bit more, the rimfires are really not. It can be done of course and has but is more of a stunt.. Accurate and Hornet are not usually used in the same sentence but the CZ is an exseptional rifle..Mine outshoots rifles costing more than 2 times as much and with factory ammo yet!!!

RB1235 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 03, 2010, 08:04:07 AM »

Well I ended up with both. Last night a guy that was fired last month from work had left a message for me to call. This morning I got back with him and he wanted to sell his guns. I ended up with a few cz 452 Americans in 17 hmr, 22 mag and 22lr. All had good scopes and his price was no where near fair. But it was his price, plus I didn't care for him that much anyhow. Had it of been a good guy on hard times I would have given him more than he was asking.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #28 on:** June 03, 2010, 09:52:13 AM »

Congradulations.
You will be happy with the Cz rifles.
I am with my three.

born-to-hunt · « **Reply #29 on:** June 03, 2010, 10:09:25 AM »

cool man tell us when you shoot somethin