urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I'm sticking with the AR for the closer stuff because it's cheaper for me to go that route meaning I should be able to have it ready by the start of next season. My original plan was to go with a bolt gun. You and I had talked about it, and I had everything ready to go. I was just waiting on my taxes to get done to make sure I didn't have any unexpected surprises. Well, there was an unexpected surprise. My wife changed positions at her job (RN, hospital) and they reset her withholdings to their default without us knowing about it and we ended up owing a little over $4k to Uncle Sam. Sooo... the funding for that project got re-assigned. I've run the numbers and I think I can be into a new AR upper in 20 Practical for around a grand with new brass and dies included. I've used an ARs before. I like bolt guns better for distance, but I've run my ARs out to 700 yds, and inside of 300 yds there is a big advantage to being able to run from a 30rnd mag and not having to cycle a bolt
Originally, I thought the 20 TAC was basically a 20 Practical AI. I didn't realize the shoulder was pushed back on the TAC. I think I'm sticking with the Practical just because the dies are cheaper, uppers and barrels are readily available, and a 40gr .204 vmax at +3700 fps should be more than enough for 400 yds.
The only reason I'm not really looking at the 223AI is because I don't feel like its enough of a step up in performance over a 20 Practical. If I was wanting ONE bolt action rifle for prairie dogs, a 223AI would be on my short list. Since I want at least 2 guns, I'm going with the AR in 20 Practical for shooting volume, and a bolt gun in a "middle" cartridge for when I want to stretch out a little farther. I realize, and even appreciate the idea that I can run a larger case and not push it as hard to get better case life, better barrel life, and often times more consistent accuracy, but its not in my nature. Even at 49 years old, if the book says 2900, I'm going to molly the bullets and see if I can get 3k....
As far as projectiles, I run mostly 53gr in my 223, but it likes the 75s too. Most of my misses are elevation, so I put a little more emphasis on speed than I do BC. For a midsize cartridge, I'm planning on shooting 75gr because they are economical, but there's a very good chance I'd end up running the newer 62 eldvt instead. In these cases, it should have about 1/2" more drift at 500 than a 75, but it should be dropping about 8" less.
I live in Indiana, and can only afford (already married) to get out west once a year for a 3 day hunt. From the bolt gun, I'll probably only go through around 300rnds per year so barrel life shouldn't be a huge concern. I've not been on very many towns that would let me shoot more than 700 yds. A 22CM is an option, but at this point I think it will be too expensive to feed to make it worth my while at the distances I'm actually shooting.
Add my barrel. Way under $1000.
