Need some in-sight......

[Roadshadowww]

Greetings All! I'm new to the forum and have a bit of a long winded question.
I'm a returning to guns kind of guy, I'm retired military and not stranger to guns or ARs. My son is recently out of the Air Force,24) and we're looking at doing some shooting together, not really golfers.

We have some 22's that we take to the range, a scoped 17HMR Savage, H&K 45 / FN 5.7 Pistols and a FN PS90. All fun to shoot but we'd like to try our hands at hunting per sey. Funds are limited for us two ex-military types, so big game stuff is out of the question.

We ran across a nice guy at our local gun shop one day, that is heading out west to go PD shooting. He enjoys the travel, low cost of shooting 223 stuff and the challenge.

So all that, to ask this:
We're looking at either a Varmint type AR or Rem 700 VTR 223.

The VTR seems an excellent deal at $660 and the Bush 20' fluted barrel AR is $1191

We have a Nikon BDC 4.5-14 x40 to mount on either.

We plan to take turns shooting, 10 shots and switch, one spots and one shoots.

I'm considering selling the FN PS90 and buying both of the above.

Is the 20' barrel good enough or should we search for a 24' ????

Any thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated as we both enjoy this forum and have learned a lot from all of you.

Best Regards,
Bob and Justin Collins

 

[alf]

Buy two VTR's. Don't even think of taking one and taking turns. More is better yet. I take a minimum of six, and a 1000 rds. per gun. Too many things can go wrong, as in scope dies, bolt handle falls off, case separates, etc. etc. Mr. Murphy is always hanging around.
Nothing wrong with a 20' barrel in 223, especially at that price point. I do run longer tubes on mine. A little more velocity and it gets the muzzle blast a little further away from the ears.
I think the 4.5-14's are the perfect scope for doggin'. I use all 4.5-14x30 LR Leupolds with the Varmint Hunters reticle for my main guns.
I just got back last night from South Dakota. Shot for four and a half days and a little over 1600 rounds. I've been going every year for 25 years, so I think I'm getting this doggin' thing down. It never gets old.

Good luck, Al.

 

[Stoner25mkiv]

I just returned Sat from a SD p-dog shoot. You'll have the time of your life. I'd agree on the two bolt guns vs the one AR. I do take AR's, and they are my primary p-dog rifle of choice, but I too think you'd be better off with both of you having a rifle. Don't forget to take your 17HMR. I shot about 250 rounds of 17 the 2 out of 5 days that we didn't have too much wind. The 17's are a blast out there.
Oh.......and I thank the 2 of you for your service to this nation.
If going on the hunt requires you to only buy the one rifle then so be it. You'll still have fun. Try it once and you both will be hooked, and you can always collect more 'junk' to take on subsequent trips.

 

[people]

Now we are talking my game. I do other shooting also but PD shooting is my game. As much as it would pain me to give up my two AR-15 flat-tops I have. I would also say get two bolt rifle and scopes on them. Trading off really is not the way to go. I guess if you have a video camera taking turns is a great way to get some good footage.

If nothing else get one rifle and a tone of ammo with your rifle. Pease remember to take a old towel with so you can tear a strip off of it and drape it wet over your tube. That really works well to keep the heat down on the host days.

 

[Roadshadowww]

Exactly the kind of replies I was hoping for, great comments from experienced shooters.

Stoner... thank you for the kind comment, we both served with pride in our nation.

We will also take the 17, nice piece with a Burris Full-Field 3-9x40 with Ballistic Drop ret. on it. Fun gun to shoot.

Yea, was thinking for the $1200 for the AR we could get 2 VTR 223s

The bigger cost would be an additional scope at $310.

 

[M700]

Good advice on the varminting so far! I too would go with a pair of bolt guns. Simple, reliable. Check for used rifles and scopes too..

But 'so big game stuff is out of the question'

Don't give up so quickly on hunting deer or whatever is near your neck of the woods. Pawn shops and gun shops are well stocked with all sort of suitable .308's and such that will provide a lifetime of 'big game' hunting for only a few hundred bucks. The cost of a hunting license isn't much either. I'm just a working stiff with a family, I hunt deer in my own state every year, sometimes elk and bear too. Every few years I make it out of state to hunt Wyoming. Awesome experiences... Even taxidermy doesn't have to amount to much, I usually just put the antlers on a nice piece of wood, or do a 'European mount' which is nothing but the bleached skull on a piece of wood. Very economical way to hang those trophy antlers...

Varmint shooting is very enjoyable, but it just helps me sort of march-in-place while waiting for big game season to open again...

Regards, Guy

 

[jerrschmitt]

Prairie Dog shooting is a slippery slope to financial ruin.

I started out with an old Rem .222 and a Weaver K6 scope. I had 60 rounds of brass and brought my reloading gear with me. Then I had an Idea. If I had one of those new Weaver K10 scopes I could make longer shots. Shortly after Weaver brought out the K10, Remington brought out the 700 Varmint rifle. Now if I had a 700 heavy barrel rifle in .243 and a K10 scope, I could really make longer shots. Then Redfield came out with a 4-12 scope and I also needed better binoculars. See where this is going? Next thing you know you're going to need a special rifle for under 100, 100-200, 200-600, and 600-1000 yards. Best take up knitting while you can still walk away.

You might pay a visit to
http://www.varminthunters.com/forum

Have fun.

 

[Roadshadowww]

I went over this evening and placed 2 VTR 223s on hold til Saturday.

You guys are working on me !

 

[jerrschmitt]

I went over this evening and placed 2 VTR 223s on hold til Saturday.

You guys are working on me !

That'll take care of the close ones out to 4-500 yards. Ya still need a 6 BR for the far ones. and maybe a 17 something or another for the in between ones.



USN Ret also

 

[Roadshadowww]

We'll take our Savage 17HMR for 50-150 or so......... taking 400 rounds for it.

 

[M700]

You guys are going to have a blast! It's amazing what fun can be had for the price of a few tanks of gas, and a case of ammo...