You cannot use the flat plate and tube on the back in the field. Looks good for working up loads. For varmint hunting you would most likely have a bipod and the stock would be on your shoulder. What's the cost difference between a modified AR for long distance shooting and a Savage Model 12?
ARs for Varmints--Pros and Cons
- Thread starter Forum Boss
- Start date
A model 12 savage has a very definite price, but a long range AR has few limits. You can get a "long range" upper from $400-$1200+. Then there are the stock options and handguards, etc. For really long range (600+) I want my bolt guns, but for something closer, I like my AR's.
Good thread! I'm glad to see my Bushmaster Varminter SS 24" 9tw didn't get bashed too much.. Just sent my Mini Target kickin the can down the road.. Picked up this one.. First 5-string after bore sighting was golf ball size, a couple clicks ragged hole at 50yd. Did several 1-1/2" groups @100yd w/ factory, was happy with that.. started some recipes the other day,, came up with 8 sub 1" groups out of 21 recipes and 7 bullets.. Happy,,happy... Will get her dialed in next week.. probably won't go any lighter than 50gr VMax and TNT's with the 9tw. The Mini would only shoot 60gr Nos BTBT's nothing heavier, nothing lighter. And it was Hell on brass. I haven't had one smashed case with this AR.. Case catchers are great, did a little piece of velcro on the underside of the fore-tube, stays right where I put it. Haven't had bench issues, made my own bags. I like the upper option,, am looking into .204, 20TAC or 20Practical.. LOVE my .204 bolt gun.
Look out pdogs,, I'm a comin fer ya!
Look out pdogs,, I'm a comin fer ya!
To Clifffy: I grew up in prairie dog country and when I retired moved back. Except for the tuned up R 10-22 T rifle I have used tuned up bolt action rifles including the 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, 204 Ruger ,22 LR RF ,22WMR, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 243 Win, and some big game rifles to shoot prairie dogs. Some of the rifles have Leo 6.5-20 X AO scopes ,some have Leo 6-18 X AO scopes other have Burris scopes. I started shooting p dogs in 1949 and have enjoyed triing out the different rifles. A few years ago I picked up 37 boxes of Winchester 223Rem -55 Gr ammo for $4.00 per box of 20. After reading all the post where some AR 15 are shooting 1/2 inch groups and I have a bunch of 223 ammo , one is one my wont list along with a bolt action 17 H Hornet. One question , do you full size cases from a AR15 or can they only be neck size ? Old gun nuts never die, they jest dnot have any boom or bang.
Just had our annual pdog hunt two weeks ago, and before I went I decided to try this new fad of ARs myself. So I picked up a 24in bull barreled AR with a match 2-stage trigger.
Pros
- Decent trigger. Not great, but decent.
- Accurate with no need for bedding.
Cons
- Decent trigger, but definitely not great.
- Hate that stupid spring noise in my ear at every shot.
- Even with heavy barrel, was JUST too much recoil to watch the hits while above 11x on the scope. A muzzle brake should help this though. (This was off a bi-pod, mind you)
- Shot way too many rounds way too fast!
Seriously, way too many rounds haha. It could just be me, but all that crap about a "fast follow up shot" is pointless. One; they are prairie dogs...not an attacking lion. Two; it just made me take less care with each shot knowing I had a follow-up. Found myself going, "eh, good enough" and letting rounds fly. Hit percentage went way down, not because of the rifle, but because it was too much fun to just keep pulling the trigger! Which is the converse to my 'not needing a follow-up shot' argument...who cares whether it's needed, it's just fun! And it also depends on your personality; I can't control my fire rate, but other people can just fine.
The cost factor is hard to objectify...base model varminting ARs have a fairly even starting price across the board, and the sky's the limit after that. While you CAN buy/build an accurate bolt gun for the same or less, the prices can also quickly go up as well.
It's one of those "too each his own" things. I don't NEED the volume of fire available with an AR...but it's fun sometimes. I prefer other cartridges that can't be had in an AR, but that is definitely just personal preference.
Conclusion? Bring a bolt gun...AND an AR ;D
Pros
- Decent trigger. Not great, but decent.
- Accurate with no need for bedding.
Cons
- Decent trigger, but definitely not great.
- Hate that stupid spring noise in my ear at every shot.
- Even with heavy barrel, was JUST too much recoil to watch the hits while above 11x on the scope. A muzzle brake should help this though. (This was off a bi-pod, mind you)
- Shot way too many rounds way too fast!
Seriously, way too many rounds haha. It could just be me, but all that crap about a "fast follow up shot" is pointless. One; they are prairie dogs...not an attacking lion. Two; it just made me take less care with each shot knowing I had a follow-up. Found myself going, "eh, good enough" and letting rounds fly. Hit percentage went way down, not because of the rifle, but because it was too much fun to just keep pulling the trigger! Which is the converse to my 'not needing a follow-up shot' argument...who cares whether it's needed, it's just fun! And it also depends on your personality; I can't control my fire rate, but other people can just fine.
The cost factor is hard to objectify...base model varminting ARs have a fairly even starting price across the board, and the sky's the limit after that. While you CAN buy/build an accurate bolt gun for the same or less, the prices can also quickly go up as well.
It's one of those "too each his own" things. I don't NEED the volume of fire available with an AR...but it's fun sometimes. I prefer other cartridges that can't be had in an AR, but that is definitely just personal preference.
Conclusion? Bring a bolt gun...AND an AR ;D
That would have been great on my squirrel hunting expedition. A while back I found a company that made something similar, but in wood. It didn't have the adjustments, but it had the straight lower section and a longer length of pull. I'm surprised more folks don't use something like this. The standard AR buttstock,with sling swivel) is not-so-hot in a rear bag.
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Ray Ban Aviator
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Ray Ban Aviator
This summer I took my first trip to the prairie dog fields with an AR in hand, and I don't think I'll want to use anything else for the foreseeable future. In years past I've used Savage Target Action bolt guns in both 204 and 6BR. I must say that the fun factor went up by a large margin with an AR, even though the ballistics of the 223 aren't as good as I'm used to. It was really nice to be able to quickly send another round downrange, considering that I was by myself on this trip and it was really windy, even for South Dakota (sustained 20 mph with gusts to 30+), which made hits very challenging. Before I go again next year I'm going to add one of those lead weights to the buttstock. I lost my sight picture a little too easily on higher magnifications.
i'm all about bolt action and I have an el cheapo AR with a 16" barrel. I hate having anything and not using it on a regular basis. I started shooting it a little more. Gave it more of a chance. Got a harris bi pod mount. little better. OMG this trigger. the place between the upper and lower. 
. got an accuwedge. little better. two stage trigger??? what the hell is this thing? Got a single stage on the way. had 6 power weaver. shooting 69 grain smk. shot one ground hog. shot another. can't believe how hard it hit them. they never budged. usually no exit wound. have 16 power bushnell elite 6500 on it now. shot 2.1" group at 330 on friday. not my 6.5x47 lapua. it shot .95" group at 330. got a trigger on the way. free floating hand guard next. I'm starting to wonder. it weighs half as much. can I shrink the groups to 1.5". bolt gun might not come out unless I'm going to go beyong 600. you know how easy this thing is to carry? I use 25.4 grains of powder. things are starting to appear differently for me and I've had it for 2 years. I think sometimes we're hard headed. did I mention it has a 16" barrel and did I mention how easy it is to carry? it's like a toy.
. got an accuwedge. little better. two stage trigger??? what the hell is this thing? Got a single stage on the way. had 6 power weaver. shooting 69 grain smk. shot one ground hog. shot another. can't believe how hard it hit them. they never budged. usually no exit wound. have 16 power bushnell elite 6500 on it now. shot 2.1" group at 330 on friday. not my 6.5x47 lapua. it shot .95" group at 330. got a trigger on the way. free floating hand guard next. I'm starting to wonder. it weighs half as much. can I shrink the groups to 1.5". bolt gun might not come out unless I'm going to go beyong 600. you know how easy this thing is to carry? I use 25.4 grains of powder. things are starting to appear differently for me and I've had it for 2 years. I think sometimes we're hard headed. did I mention it has a 16" barrel and did I mention how easy it is to carry? it's like a toy.If I had a properly set up AR,I would have probably killed more Prarie Dogs than I did with my single shots.I would opt for a 20 cal,probably a 20 Tac or 20 Practical,22" 1:11 twist,no turn neck .231.W/thumbhole stock,and freefloated forend,w/Bipod. The only drawback for me,would be chasing brass,so would use the best brass catcher I could find.
how do I get one of these 6pdk. sounds like a nice round?
for the 6 pdk you just need a standard upper, a 6mm barrel and a 6.8mm bolt carrier group, chamber it up, don't forget about the 6mmAR/6mmARTurbo that AR-X specialize in. Uses 6.5 grendel brass (Lapua or Hornady) and you just neck down to 6mm, turbo is basically AI.
Ok we are talking varmits. I went from a rem 700 22-250 to a custom ar I built myself three years ago! I has a shilen match Stainless 204 ruger barrel 1 in 9 twist. Trigger is a dpms reworked with 3 lb jp springs. Overtravel removed bye me. This gun shoots in the twos and threes and I am no bench rest shooter. I am a avid coyote hunter. Recoil is minimal and you can watch the bullet smack . Yotes dont know what hit them and with twenty six grain varmit grenades it vaporises squirrls! I do use a modified brass catcher but it still isnt perfect! This is a fast twist for a 204. It shoots 40 and 50 grain bergers and 40 g vmax with the same point of impact! 32 grain is slightlt higher,, I am surprised 26 g varm grenades dont spin apart, but they group well but around 4 inches higher at 100 yards. I made custom walnut laminated stock and grip myself. Plan to make a bag rider for front this winter. If i could figure out how to add a picture I would.
Yote59 said:
That is because you are anti-gun. Way to sign up on a progun site then bash guns. Just because you have a semi it does not mean you cannot use the sights or exercise some trigger control.
You should actually read up on what you are bashing. Does it take 30 rds to kill a deer? Nope. Do I like to have 29rds left over after I have harvested my deer? Heck yes.
Should I be punished because of some bad apples? FRACK NO!
jackbrownii
Gold $$ Contributor
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Ben Franklin
The man had it right. Even if you're genuinely a hunter and only like bolt action rifles, this is not the time to engage in little internecine squabbling.
The man had it right. Even if you're genuinely a hunter and only like bolt action rifles, this is not the time to engage in little internecine squabbling.
I don't shoot a "Rock Lock" because I don't like to take a long hot shower with an inanimate object just to get it clean again. I don't shoot a full auto since Uncle Sam quit giving me ammo to feed it. My favorites were the M60 and M2. But if you like to use one. "Right Arm, bro. That's why they make Fords and Chevy's. I do hold a Master card in several NRA disciplines, so I have a special love for M14s and ARs. As I age, I am into F-Class with a single shot Barnard, but--it's a real hoot to shoot gophers and PDs with my AR.
What I am trying to say is--DO NOT speak ill about anyone's choice of what they like to shoot. Never talk bad about yourself--There are a lot of folks who will do it for you.
Favor center.
What I am trying to say is--DO NOT speak ill about anyone's choice of what they like to shoot. Never talk bad about yourself--There are a lot of folks who will do it for you.
Favor center.
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