First time rifle advice please ??

[Bunny-Blaster 0]

Hi there, first of I would like to apologise if what I am about to ask has already been covered and if so Iwould appreciate being pointed in the right direction please...

 

Right....I have had my SGC for a couple of months now so have been much more active in my search for permission and fortunately I have landed on my feet by getting and Air port, a huge country estate and several more farms.

 

The land I will be shooting on has mostly already been passed off and has Deer, Fox's, Hare's and plenty of Bunnies. Now as I say I already have my SGC and I also shoot an Air rifle with NV etc, etc.

 

The problem I have is that I have now got all this land with much bigger game/vermin species, so I need to up my game and step up to a rimmy.

 

Now I have been told several different things from several different people who all of course have their own personal preferences and ideas, so I was hoping that you may also be able to help me out with it?

 

I need to take Bunnies/Hares out at 100 yds maybe even 100yds+, so what calibre/makes and models would you suggest please?

 

Also what calibres/makes and models would you suggest for the Fox's and Deer?

 

In addition to this what problems do you envisage me having with my Firearms Officer when I come to apply because I keep hearing stories about people being told to wait till they have had their SGC for a year or two before putting in for their FAC or being told they need a mentor to shoot with first and also things like you have to have a .22 first for a while before you can move up to a .17 HMR and then have that for a while before putting in for anything bigger etc, etc. Can someone please shed some light on all this mystery for me please lol?

 

The only previous experience I have of shooting .22 rimmy and above was when I was in the Marine cadets and used up to a 7.62 SLR but that was many years ago.

 

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice guys n gals

Edited December 15, 2012 by Bunny-Blaster

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Bolt action .22lr for the bunnies, cheap to run, quiet, effective. CZ American would do the job.

 

.243 for the foxes & deer. Me, I'd go custom or semi custom. But there are plenty of factory rifles out there.

[Bunny-Blaster 0]

Cheers John, do you have any advice/horror stories about the problems I could run in to with my FAO while applying?, obviously pre-warned is pre-armed.

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Sorry I don't, I live in Ireland so a different process here.

[Bunny-Blaster 0]

Ok thanks any way mate

[bignoel 14]

if this is your first rimfire/centrefire the chances are very high you will need a mentoring ,you could get a chap lined up to take you on .

[cyclonebri1 8]

H'mmm I'm just down the road from you, PM for details, but I do have a good few years with firearms and shotguns,

 

I'm getting on abit so not so able today so I won't run away with your shooting, and to be honest as a centrefire owner I'm no mentor, I use mine rarely.

 

But any advice with rimfires, .22 or hmr, then give me a call, on phone or face to face no issue.

If I can help I will, ps I already have enough shooting of my own.

 

I only ever wanted a rifle, but like you I realised a year on a shotgun cert would be money well spent, it was. That was 40 years ago. The reasoning holds fast today.

To answer your original post, you need a .22, no one that actually shoots rabbits would be without 1.

 

Do you need a .17hmr?, the police will want you to have 1, I don't thing it's for you, go straight for the .223. good for odd long bunnies and sat out foxes and lamping too if they don't mind the noise. You would be unlikely to get over a .223 on 1st applic in our area, but will suit small deer species.

 

Let me know in this thread if you want any assist and feel free to PM.

Edited December 16, 2012 by cyclonebri1

[remi700 99]

If you want to shoot rabbits at 100+ yards id say the .17hmr would be a better calibre then the .22. You'll have a flatter trajectory. Not quite as cheap to feed but there not too bad. Something like a cz should do the job nicely. Easy to get hold of, cheap and reliable. For the foxes and deer the .243 will do your job well. Concentrate more on a good scope then a good rifle. Most rifles are capable of shooting 1" groups and thats adequate. Something like a Remington 700, Howa 1500 or a savage arms will do your job. ATB Mark.

[Bunny-Blaster 0]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll be in touch Cyclone, many thanks

[riflehunter583 58]

if i were you i would defiatly have a .22lr for closer bunnies hares and very close fox and night shooting etc. its a great cheap allrounder. up to 120 yards if using a range finder.

 

.17hmr will be good from say yards to 160 yards for bunnies etc

 

but don't be put off buy going for the .223 and not the hmr after the .22lr i have done this recently and successfully but get some help with the application cause some of the feo are unhelpful at best.

 

if you have anything larger than cwd munjac then you need a .243 and asking for a .223 when yu have roe or fallow or red is not going to help you with the feo.

 

a good starting point is .22lr bolt (cz/anshutz) or semi auto (ruger) etc then work from there.

[PLEDGEY 495]

I applied, and got, a 22lr and a 17 hmr, both CZ's, before i had my SGC, and i never had to have a mentor. For rabbits a 22 bolt is the tool for the job. If you really need to be shooting past a 100 yrds then the HMR is what you want. It'll also take out fox at sensible ranges. For ammunition apply to hold 600 rounds of each caliber. Then when you are down to your last hundred you can buy 500, aka a brick, of ammunition. My FAO asked why i wanted both, a 22 and a 17. I said so i could use the HMR in the day when the noise wouldn't be such an issue and the 22 at night with my night vision. Plus the HMR has less ricochet which also makes it safer option. If you talk to your FAO and you sound like you know what you are talking about, and you should know what you are talking about, you will be more likely to get what you ask for. I also went on a days shooting safety course. I got a certificate for safety and competence for rimfire and center fire rifles. It was a piece of piss to get and doesn't really mean much, but it shows you are serious.

[tegater 789]

if i were you i would defiatly have a .22lr for closer bunnies hares and very close fox and night shooting etc. its a great cheap allrounder. up to 120 yards if using a range finder.

 

.17hmr will be good from say yards to 160 yards for bunnies etc

 

but don't be put off buy going for the .223 and not the hmr after the .22lr i have done this recently and successfully but get some help with the application cause some of the feo are unhelpful at best.

 

if you have anything larger than cwd munjac then you need a .243 and asking for a .223 when yu have roe or fallow or red is not going to help you with the feo.

 

a good starting point is .22lr bolt (cz/anshutz) or semi auto (ruger) etc then work from there.

Nice and unbiased, just forget the semi auto

[Bunny-Blaster 0]

Thanks for the advice fellas, much appreciated.

[riflehunter583 58]

if i were you i would defiatly have a .22lr for closer bunnies hares and very close fox and night shooting etc. its a great cheap allrounder. up to 120 yards if using a range finder.

 

.17hmr will be good from say yards to 160 yards for bunnies etc

 

but don't be put off buy going for the .223 and not the hmr after the .22lr i have done this recently and successfully but get some help with the application cause some of the feo are unhelpful at best.

 

if you have anything larger than cwd munjac then you need a .243 and asking for a .223 when yu have roe or fallow or red is not going to help you with the feo.

 

a good starting point is .22lr bolt (cz/anshutz) or semi auto (ruger) etc then work from there.

Nice and unbiased, just forget the semi auto

 

my personl preference is bolt over semi all day long for a number of reasons.

 

but who am i to stop someone having some fun with a semi if thats what they want to shoot with. and its a good tool the americans use them for rat shooting in the swamps.

[tegater 789]

if i were you i would defiatly have a .22lr for closer bunnies hares and very close fox and night shooting etc. its a great cheap allrounder. up to 120 yards if using a range finder.

 

.17hmr will be good from say yards to 160 yards for bunnies etc

 

but don't be put off buy going for the .223 and not the hmr after the .22lr i have done this recently and successfully but get some help with the application cause some of the feo are unhelpful at best.

 

if you have anything larger than cwd munjac then you need a .243 and asking for a .223 when yu have roe or fallow or red is not going to help you with the feo.

 

a good starting point is .22lr bolt (cz/anshutz) or semi auto (ruger) etc then work from there.

Nice and unbiased, just forget the semi auto

 

my personl preference is bolt over semi all day long for a number of reasons.

 

but who am i to stop someone having some fun with a semi if thats what they want to shoot with. and its a good tool the americans use them for rat shooting in the swamps.

and you can shoot a bolt gun .22 well :thumbs: