Ideas for an all weather farm gun

[MachIVshooter]

...now we have people that think it is the end all and be all of everything....it is the answer to every question....need a can opener....use an AR.

So the "new" users to this platform ruined it for me

Something becoming popular, more refined and more useful is about the silliest reason I can think of to stop using/liking it.

I crack myself up.

I think you're the only one.

Even those who aren't fans of the weapon around here generally have no trouble acknowledging it's attributes, it's utility-especially in a role like the OP's intention.

I own a lot of firearms, even built a number from raw stock because no manufacturer produced what I desired. If I needed to deal with a coyote problem while driving trucks or equipment around on a farm or ranch, I could choose anything on my rack from a single shot .22 Hornet to semi-auto or bolt action .22 mags to lever action .44 mag, .30-30, bolt action varmint guns that reach out past 700 yards with MOA accuracy, and so on. I'd still grab a 10.5" or 12.5" 5.56mm AR with a can on it for that duty because it's perfectly suited.

 

[303 hunter]

What about a Mosin M44? Plenty of power and range for the job, and still reasonably priced. Iron sights are decent, and ammo is dirt cheap.

As far as the AR thing goes, I own 6. Two in 6.8SPC, three in 7.62x39, and one in 5.56. They are extremely adaptive rifles for a wide range of jobs, I also own several bolt guns, and like them also.

 

[MachIVshooter]

What about a Mosin M44? Plenty of power and range for the job, and still reasonably priced. Iron sights are decent, and ammo is dirt cheap.

I think the OP wanted to retain his hearing, and not singe his hood if he should ever have to shoot across it

 

[303 hunter]

I think the OP wanted to retain his hearing, and not singe his hood if he should ever have to shoot across it

I’ve shot my M44 across all 4 fenders of my atv and still have 3 of them.... lol!

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I think if chocolate chip cookies were in favor you would be telling us all how terrible they actually are and how peanut butter cookies are what we really need. Obviously the chocolate chip fanbois don't know whats good for them, they've been brainwashed by the cookie industry.

Hey watch it
I love hot chocolate chip cookies but also love home made peanut butter ones, especially when warm.
And the batter for both is yummy!

 

[fireman 9731]

A Ruger 77/357 is probably second on my list. It is a little spendy and also a little long. A carbine version would be great.

If suppressors weren’t such a hassle I would have 10 of them and this thread wouldn’t exist.

I think this thread has run its course. If anybody has a 357 Handi they want to part with, please PM me! Thanks for all of the suggestions.

 

[adcoch1]

A Ruger 77/357 is probably second on my list. It is a little spendy and also a little long. A carbine version would be great.

If suppressors weren’t such a hassle I would have 10 of them and this thread wouldn’t exist.

I think this thread has run its course. If anybody has a 357 Handi they want to part with, please PM me! Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Just a thought, if you can't find a 357 handi barrel, a competent gunsmith or machinist (or a motivated tinkerer) could build one from a 35 cal barrel blank. Even line a 12 or 20 ga handi barrel with the blank. Just another idea. I would suggest though, for your application, a repeater of some kind would be a lot more useful. And Someguy2800's suggestion of the krink brake is a great one. They really focus the soundwaves away from you. Good luck!

 

[T.R.]

Perhaps you will consider a Mossberg model 464 in 30-30 like mine.
TR

 

[redneck2]

If I am every foolish enough to ask for suggestions on a rifle, remind me to go back and read this thread. It would be less painful to get your hand slammed in a car door than read some of the suggestions here.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

If I am every foolish enough to ask for suggestions on a rifle, remind me to go back and read this thread. It would be less painful to get your hand slammed in a car door than read some of the suggestions here.

Really?
I always find these threads entertaining. I say that as there are so many options. Put in a few parameters and some folks will give you great suggestions. Some will offer their favorite, and some just offer what they know. So you hpjust have to take it with a grain of salt and try and make sense what makes sense to you.

OP had several requirements and suggestions were made. He had a few personal biases (we all do) and that limited his choices. The reality though is if you’re looking for one simple solution that we’ll all give you, then yea it’s painful. But if you want choices and want some reasons for why the choice is good and/or bad then it’s fun.

 

[redneck2]

Put in a few parameters and some folks will give you great suggestions. Some will offer their favorite, and some just offer what they know. So you hpjust have to take it with a grain of salt and try and make sense what makes sense to you.

“I want something that’s not too loud”

“Get a SKS”. Really? Have you EVER shot one of those without Ear muffs? They are painfullly brutally loud

“I don’t want an AR”

Get all AR. You need an AR. AR’s are perfect.

“AR’s are too hard for me to carry”

You need an AR. An AR is perfect

“I have an AR”

You should get an AR it’s perfect.

I swear, half the responders never bother to really read the OP, and the other half don’t care.

Kinda like the Theoretical Elk Hunt thread.

“I want a new rifle”.

Use the one you have.

“But, I kinda wanted a new rifle”

Use the one you’ve got.

“I want something that is adequate to 300+ yards”

I always shoot my elk at 75 yards. Get a .45-70

 

[fireman 9731]

I’m glad I’m not the only one that was a little disappointed in this. I’m no novice, already have an AR and SKS and milsurps and wide variety of different arms over the years and I want to keep my hearing.
Those parameters do limit a lot of things but that’s the reason I’m here asking. The noise requirement is the stickler, and the answer of “buy a tax stamp” is not what anybody wants to hear.
I think any carbine chambered in 357, fed with 38s will serve me well. I reload and know of all the lower noise loading options and the range limitations of a 38 special. Unfortunately, there just aren’t that many knock-around options out there.

 

[somethingbenign]

Next time I'm at my local Cabela's or other used gun stores I'll keep an eye out for any worse for wear 357 carbines. If I find anything I'll send you a PM.

 

[jmorris]

Something becoming popular, more refined and more useful is about the silliest reason I can think of to stop using/liking it.

Back when a cheap one was the better part of $1000, and the dollar was worth a little bit more things were different.

These days one can get a “beater” AR 15 for pretty cheap. As far as taking the abuse of use and elements it’s hard to argue that it’s a poor choice as the military has been using it all over the world for longer than lots of shooters have even been alive.

I’m glad I’m not the only one that was a little disappointed in this. I’m no novice, already have an AR and SKS and milsurps and wide variety of different arms over the years and I want to keep my hearing.
Those parameters do limit a lot of things but that’s the reason I’m here asking. The noise requirement is the stickler, and the answer of “buy a tax stamp” is not what anybody wants to hear.

As a guy that has tinnitus to the tune of a 30dB loss, you should be wearing hearing protection already, on your tractor unless it’s a cab tractor and unless you have a suppressor you don’t want to be shooting any centerfire without hearing protection either.

I’ll have to admit not wanting to have to buy stamps myself but for a compact, quieter rifle capable of being in easy reach it’s one of the better solutions for me.

 

[redneck2]

Like I’d said way back, if you could somehow stumble on either a Hornet or .22 Mag, those would be perhaps you’re best alternatives to the .38. I don’t know how a .44 Mag using .44 Special

 

[chicharrones]

I think a Handi-Rifle in 357 is the ticket. I already have an H&R Buffalo Classic so I'm familiar with them. I also have plenty of 38/357 revolvers to pair with it. Now the hard part will be finding one.

I think any carbine chambered in 357, fed with 38s will serve me well. I reload and know of all the lower noise loading options and the range limitations of a 38 special. Unfortunately, there just aren’t that many knock-around options out there.

A brand I don't know much about is Traditions.

Below are links to a brand new still made .357 magnum break open rifle with cerakoated metal parts and synthetic furniture. No sights though, those would have to be added if wanted. Cut the barrel back to 16.25" to 18" if you want to shorten the gun to 32.25" to 34" long.

Around my area the price is $357.00 for the non-scoped version and $429.00 for the scoped version (before sales tax).

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/product/outfitter-g2-rifle-357-mag

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/...fle-357-mag-with-3-9x40-scope-and-deluxe-case

More links:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...415000330/TRAD+OUTFITTER+G2+357MAG+22+BLK+SYN

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/415000335/TRAD+OUTFITTER+G2+357MAG+22+BLK+SYN+3-9X40+&+CAS

Article:
https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2018/3/16/review-traditions-outfitter-g2/

 

[BSA1]

I’m glad I’m not the only one that was a little disappointed in this. I’m no novice, already have an AR and SKS and milsurps and wide variety of different arms over the years and I want to keep my hearing.

Why?

Since you are not a novice then you already know how loud firearms are. A occasional shot outdoors, especially over the noise of engine running on your tractor, is not going to do a lot of damage to your hearing.

Those parameters do limit a lot of things but that’s the reason I’m here asking. The noise requirement is the stickler, and the answer of “buy a tax stamp” is not what anybody wants to hear.

“is not what anybody wants to hear.” Is that an unintentional pun?

I think any carbine chambered in 357, fed with 38s will serve me well. I reload and know of all the lower noise loading options and the range limitations of a 38 special. Unfortunately, there just aren’t that many knock-around options out there.

I posted that my Uberti 1973 Carbine in 32-20 is my favorite but it is expensive. With a proper hard case scabbard it may be well enough protected enough to avoid being treated too roughly.

Your criteria on price limits your options when buying a NEW gun but shopping for a used one opens up a lot of choices most of which you are already familiar with.

I know where you are coming from as I live on a tight budget. It seems like a lot of other people in my area are also as inexpensive beater guns are hard to find.

In the rural area we live in the neighbors have enough food sources (chickens, etc.) to attract ‘yotes. ‘yotes are common and the ones I encounter are very smart about humans. I swear they can tell when I have a gun and when I don’t by their behavior. When I have a gun they kick in their afterburner and "get out of Dodge" fast. As I am not a good shot hitting animals on the run my main hope for hitting one is the smart-aleck one that stops running 100 yards away and looks back over it’s shoulder at me. It may be for only a few seconds so for me I want the advantage of firing a lot of shots quickly.

It is a good topic but you already knew the answers when you asked the question.

p.s. I never thought I would like a AR and my Uberti 32-20 is still my favorite long gun.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I’m no novice, already have an AR

Then why mention this: "I have an extra AR lower sitting in the safe"?

I want to keep my hearing.........Those parameters do limit a lot of things but that’s the reason I’m here asking. The noise requirement is the stickler, and the answer of “buy a tax stamp” is not what anybody wants to hear.

If you want hearing safe without a can, then your options are .22 LR rifles with 20" or longer barrel. It's that simple. Any centerfire is going to cause hearing damage without good suppression or ear pro, period. Even a .22 Mag is too much. I don't know why you think a .357 rifle is acceptable. Even firing .38s from a 16-18" barrel, you're still looking at 150-152 dB, well over the threshold for instant hearing damage.

 

[someguy2800]

What is the average range that you are seeing yotes? A 12 guage with #4 buck is absolutely devastating out to 50 yards and even out to 75 will still put a hurting on. I usually see them at 100-300 yards.

 

[fireman 9731]

I always have ear plugs when on my tractor but I don’t always have them when I’m walking around my yard. I can’t imagine that a wad cutter at 800fps out of at least a 16 inch barrel could be that loud.
Find me an AR upper that runs 38s and I’ll gladly find a use for my extra lower.

 

[dh1633pm]

There are as many choice as their are people who post here. A lot will be preference. My dad on his 200 acres preferred a handy rifle in .223. Mostly for killing coyotes when he was in the back woods cutting trees. He made two holders on the tractor fenders. One side has a chain saw holder and the other side has a handy rifle holder. He wanted inexpensive and something that he wouldn't mind if it fell off the tractor and got ran over. Like the skunk in the have a heart trap he caught in his basement. Put it in the tractor bucket after covering it with a blanket. Fell out and the trap got squished.

To this day he keeps the rifle by the basement door, waiting for its next trip out. You don't need perfection to take out an errant critter now and then.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I always have ear plugs when on my tractor but I don’t always have them when I’m walking around my yard. I can’t imagine that a wad cutter at 800fps out of at least a 16 inch barrel could be that loud.
Find me an AR upper that runs 38s and I’ll gladly find a use for my extra lower.

Still over 140 dB

They're your ears, man. Do as you please. Just know that anything other than a long barreled .22 is not hearing safe without a suppressor. 145, 148 dB isn't as damaging as 160, but it's like comparing the vehicle damage of a 35 MPH automobile crash with a 50 MPH one.

 

[Armored farmer]

A .22lr conversion kit in an AR is quiet.

^^^^^^I might possibly have been fanning the flames, just a bit.


Ill bet a Handi-rifle will serve you well.
Unless you need a follow-up shot. Then you will need an AR.
I'm kidding.

 

[WestKentucky]

Hey watch it
I love hot chocolate chip cookies but also love home made peanut butter ones, especially when warm.
And the batter for both is yummy!

Y’all need to live a little. Creatively dump the chocolate chips into the mixer when the wife is making peanut butter cookies. Did it, survived it, and what we refer to as Reese’s cookies are incredible. But chocolate melts to fingers and smears across walnut stocks.

 

[WestKentucky]

Most times I see them at ranges beyond buckshot or slug range, but one has ventured into my yard to kill a chicken last week and a few mornings ago one ran right down the road.
The CZ carbine is great for walking and carrying by hand but I have yet to find a good sling setup for it. Since its short, it always wants to pitch forward or the bolts poking me. I need something that easily carries with a sling. I'm all for using guns as they were meant to be used but my CZ is too nice to needlessly bang up.

I have the sling you need. Got it here on a pay it forward thread. No clue what it’s called, but it’s on the tag. I will try to look tomorrow. I moved it to one of my 22s today since squirrel season is almost here.