I'm after some advice

[Bluey]

Hello all, I'm newly registered, but I've been lurking for a while.
I'm after a bit of advice/opinions on a new rifle. I'm intending to use it for mainly rabbits, foxes, and hares out to about 300 yards (that's probably pushing my abilities), and occasionaly pigs/goats rifle. It'll be my first centerfire rifle so I'll want something fairly easy of the shoulder.
My first thought was a .223, but I would hesitate to use it on a goat or pig due to it being a bit light, although it'd be popular, readly available, flat shooting for most of what I'd do and comparitivly cheap. Second thought was a .243 because I can use lighter bullets for shooting rabbits/hares/foxes but also use something heavier on pigs and similar sized critters. It's also fairly readly available here, and pretty flat shooting (from what I remember reading) for what I'd be doing.

The setup I'm looking at would be:
Rifle: Tikka T3 Varmint in .243
Scope: Bushnell 3200 or 4200 elite 4x14 variable or Leupod VXI of similar magnification.

I'd also add a bipod when finances allow, and try to wrangle a sling right off. I'm going to have a look at the scopes before I make a definite choice, but I'm leaning toward the Bushnell at the moment. I'm also intending to start reloading soon, so buying ammo probably won't be as much of a problem.
Any advice or opinions? I don't think I forgot to mention anything...

 

[LiquidTension]

Welcom to THR!

It sounds like you've thought things out pretty well. .223 is great for varmint shooting, but unless you're very confident in your shot placement skillz I wouldn't use it for pigs at 300yds. Wild boar (is that what you're after?) have pretty thick skin...I'd definitely use something larger than .223, probably a .308. I'm used to hunting hogs that weigh in around 4-500lbs, so if your pigs are smaller disregard that. Shot placement is more important than caliber. Ability to shoot your gun is the most important. I've fired .243 but never really liked it. IMO a .308 would be better because of availability of ammo. On the other hand, if you're shooting mostly rabbits and foxes, a .308 would be overkill. In fact, a .243 is overkill for rabbits simply because of the cost of ammo... most .223 ammo is cheaper. Also, .243 is overpowered for rabbits. Hell, a .22 would be fine for rabbits. Sorry I can't be of much help, but I use different guns for rabbits and hogs....

Uhh...welcome to THR?

 

[jobu07]

Welcome aboard. You're thinking .223 eh? I think if that's the case everyone here will agree that your ideal varmit rifle is going to be one of those EBR AR-15's with plenty of 30 round mags.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I know of several people around here who hunt pigs in the 150-250lb range with .223. The key is proper ammo selection and shot placement they claim.

I haven't tried it myself; but they are certainly successful on their hunts.

 

[jcarey]

I hunt deer exclusively with a .243 and used it for groundhogs and foxes for many years, and it served me very well. If you're hunting rabbits and hares for meat, you're not going to have much left using a .243 or any higher caliber. I agree with LiquidTension. Get a different gun for the two sizes of animal you'll be shooting, especially since you probably will be eating the smaller stuff. The .243 (or even a .308) wouldn't be overkill for me since I'm interested in mainly varmint extermination, and if I can splatter them all over the place it simply saves me the trouble of disposing of the carcass .

 

[dakotasin]

25-06 is my first choice.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

This may be somewhat unresponsive, but how about a .22 for rabbits/hunting and a larger caliber for larger game? The .22 also offers cheap ammo for practice and fun. You can pick one up used for $100 or so.

For the larger caliber, .243 seems like a good long-range choice for small critters that can still work for deer-sized game. .308 or 30-06 opens up more options and seem a better "one rifle" choice.

For the rifle, you should go handle a bunch of guns. The Tikka and a Savage, CZ, Remchester, etc. The "feel" and ergonomics of bolt guns are all over the place. Most will be more accurate than any of us if you clean correctly and don't scratch the muzzle crown.

I'm not a big scope guy. The few I have and use are low-power, low-end Leupolds. I have done a little internet noodle-ing on higher power scopes for a .243 varmint rig and found that the Bushnell Elite is one of the more often recommended. Another "low end" scope is the Tasco Super Sniper - much different than the lower-end Tasco scopes.

Welcome to THR!

 

[MAUSER88]

Have you looked at the 22-250 cartridge? It's a real screamer.

 

[El Tejon]

Welcome to THR.

No advice or opinions, lots of good choices, it's the software, not the hardware.

See you around, critter shooter.

 

[Skofnung]

.223 is enough for Wild Hog if you are a good shot. Around here, the .22 Magnum is used with good success (by good marksmen mind you)for taking hogs (up to 200 lbs) during small game season on public land. The .223 is more than enough, especially if you use pills heavier than 55 grains.

.243 or .22-250 would be good as well, but in my mind they are a bit much for rabbits, if you intend to eat them anyway... I favor using the smallest round on game animals that will deliver a clean kill. I hate waste.

 

[brian roberts]

rifles.....

Ackley did a bit of hunting of goats with a .17, i think it was the .17Mag. said it performed VERY well. then, let's not forget Paul Marquart, and his .17 Javelina!!! (developed for its outstanding performance on the denizens of the Arizona desert.)

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'm not the world's most experienced hog hunter, but I've been out a few times, and one of the things to take into consideration is that it's hard to predict how big your quarry will be.

I mean, deer don't typically range in size from 40 pounds to over 400, but feral hogs do, and there's no way to tell how big the next one will be.

With that in mind, I wouldn't want to be underpowered when up against a 400-pound boar.

I'd suggest a .243, at an absolute minimum.

Have fun, and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[Bluey]

Thanks for the replies. I should probably have put in my origenal post that I've already got a .22, I've just found it doesn't seem to have enough out down for hares and foxes and I'm looking for something as a pig and goat rifle.
I'll definitly have a look at other manufacturers though, as people have suggested.

 

[jcarey]

I've already got a .22, I've just found it doesn't seem to have enough out down for hares and foxes

Shoot them in the head...

 

[mustanger98]

Somebody suggested an AR type saying most everybody would agree. I disagree partly because I don't like AR's in general and mostly because it's back to a direct gas impingement system in field conditions. The Mini-14 is the semiauto to have when you're likely to be away from your toolbox a good while. But, this thread is discussing bolt actions, so...

From what I've heard about .223, the 55gr SP's are too light for hog sized game. With deer, you have to put it in the ear or eye to garuntee a kill. In a rifle with a twist rate slower than 1:9, anything heavier than 62gr will keyhole at 50yds- I know because I've tried it. I also know, because I fired my Mini-14 side by side with the 1:12 bolt action, that a 1:9 twist will stabilize a 68gr BTHP, but I've yet to find hunting bullets in 68gr (maybe I haven't looked in the right place yet).

On .243Winchester, I like it, but in the generally stocked 100gr SP offerings, it's a deer sized bullet. I know Winchester makes 80gr PowerPoints, but I've found not all rifles that shoot 100grainers accurately will shoot 80grainers nearly as well. It could be the twist rate and it could be the barrel's harmonics. I'd say you better know what twist rate you're getting. For foxes and up to good sized deer, .243's fine, but for hogs, you better be able to shoot the heaviest bullets you can get. If it were me hunting hogs, I'd say get a .308 over the .243, but then I'd probably have my M1 out there with handloaded 165gr SP's which are loaded to work right in the Garand.