Thoughts, please....feel like a unicorn hunter

[mikegaiz]

Ok Guys I am 74 and any 6mm to 7mm non magnum will work great, There is this newfangled thing called a muzzle brake.

I think the most accurate factory gun is a Sako 85 Varmint SS laminated stock with a set trigger. I would suggest a .243. The gun is beautiful and accurate 23 3/4 in fluted Barrel and the set trigger is wonderful. It will shoot great with no mods. But a muzzle break will do wonders....

 

[skeeljc]

I think he would enjoy an AR-15. Low recoil, easy to handle, lots of good factory ammo. I am 75 and I own three. I have a tactical AR-15 in 5.56, a 9mm PCC, and a varmint Ar-15 with a 24" barrel.

 

[mikegaiz]

Going on a rant here for a second....

I like Ar's every one should have two, I have two, having said that, There is something wonderful about the feel of a well fitting wood stock with a palm swell (a Sako standard feature) and working a finely tuned action looking though a top end Scope, squeezing a great trigger with a good scope picture and pew. Need I say more.

Plastic guns don't have that. Nice to shoot, but not the same.....

Rant over....

 

[drover]

I’d like to build a gun for my soon-to-be 75 y/o father. The only animal he would possibly shoot would be a coyote or hog. Will almost exclusively be shooting steel with me and my boys...we shoot at MOA-sized dots on 4 MOA-sized plates...slowly working our way to 1000 yds, which will be our max. He has been shooting guns for 50 years, but never owned a center fire rifle. My “wants” don’t seem to be meshing very well, and I’d appreciate y’all sharing any suggestions.

My wish list:

1. Low recoil- would like for him to be able to think about spotting his shots

2. Shorter length as opposed to some sort of lance for a jousting match...just for ease of handling...

3. I was hoping for something not terribly heavy...maybe MAX of 12 lb including optic

4. I actively reload, but if I didn’t have to drag him through that process, it might be more enjoyable for him if he got a case of ammo along with the gun (what about a tuner?)

Thanks again for your thoughts...would really appreciate any specifics...especially barrel length and contour

Buy a 1-8 twist Tikka Varminter or CTR in 223, save yourself a lot of time and hassle. Either of those have enough weight to calm recoil enough that he can see his own hits/misses.
Buy the best piece of glass that you can afford which will help immensely with seeing hits and be sure that it tracks well so that is not a frustration.

It is an admirable thing you are doing but don't over complicate it.

drover

 

[swimster]

A 6 Br or one of the improved variants . 6 Dasher, 6 Brx etc. For a little more poop for 1000y. Would fit the bill. Savage target action and screw on a 8 tw barrel to fit your weight preference. Boyd's makes some pretty decent stocks. A Nightforce Benchrest scope . Just my thoughts.

 

[paul castelli]

Lots of reasonable choices in the marketplace section
I could post a modern .243, but something more classic that might appeal to an older generation seems more appropriate
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...-vz-24-model-98-mauser-varmint-rifle.4009903/
And for the price you'll have some money left over for brass, a nice bipod, and a bottle of Red Breast.

 

[rwj]

Buy a 1-8 twist Tikka Varminter or CTR in 223, save yourself a lot of time and hassle. Either of those have enough weight to calm recoil enough that he can see his own hits/misses.
Buy the best piece of glass that you can afford which will help immensely with seeing hits and be sure that it tracks well so that is not a frustration.

It is an admirable thing you are doing but don't over complicate it.

drover

A 6 Br or one of the improved variants . 6 Dasher, 6 Brx etc. For a little more poop for 1000y. Would fit the bill. Savage target action and screw on a 8 tw barrel to fit your weight preference. Boyd's makes some pretty decent stocks. A Nightforce Benchrest scope . Just my thoughts.

I like the .223 bolt action setup, only negative I see is that it won’t be as accurate as a 6BR, especially beyond 600 yards. But if the target size is 4 MOA, does it really matter? I’ve never shot a bolt action .223 beyond 600 yards... can others share their experiences with the OP?

 

[swimster]

I have a. 223 AI with an 8 twist shooting 75g Amaxes at 3020 fps.. It works pretty well on prairie dogs out to 600. It should stay super sonic past 1000. It's a Savage LRPV 26 inch Criterion barrel and Nightforce Nxs 8x32. Shot some great groups fireforming also. Could be a good option. If you go up to 80g you may need a 7.5 or 7 twist.

 

[nakneker]

If you want to have lots of factory Ammo choices the 6.5 creedmoor would be a good choice. Lots of good rifles that don’t break the bank, I’m a fan of the CTR Tikka, already threaded which makes a muzzle brake easy or shoot it without one. Lots of other good rifles for under 1k. If your wanting to save some money you might reload for him and if thatS the case you just opened up the choices, .243, 6 creed, fast twist 22 cal shooting heavies. My father lives with me, he’s shot all his life, he enjoys the big bores but as he approaches 80 he can’t do that anymore. We have a 1000 yard range on the place and he loves to still shoot, the rifle he takes the most is a 6.5 Creedmoor with a thunderbeast suppressor. Just makes it easy for him. Good luck with whatever you decide, I think that’s a great thing to do for Dad!

 

[4xforfun]

I'll be the "different" one here.... You said you hand load......

6.5 x 47. I LOVE the 700 rem, but a Savage with a pre-fit 6.5 tube would be just the ticket. A little less than the Creed, but easy to tune and plenty of HP to bang steel out to 1K.

Just me being different,
Tod

 

[Oso]

I really like .223... favorite adult-size fun caliber that I shoot more than everything else combine. However, it has been my experience that it is on light side for shooting hogs. It is do-able, but less forgiving with smaller margin of error. With an AR15, the 30-round magazine and rapid follow-up shot capability helps offset the lighter bullets. With an older shooter, dexterity and complexity may be an issue for a shooter who has no previous experience operating an AR. My father struggles with racking the bolt and the safety selector never felt natural to him. KISS - stick to the easy and familiarity of a bolt gun.

Muzzle breaks are next best thing to a suppressor. It'll tame recoil at the expense of increasing blast/noise at the shooter. My dad wasn't a fan... the extra noise was too distracting/punishing. It came down to either a suppressor or going to a smaller caliber with less recoil.

 

[Hrsmn51]

Currently my favorite is 6BRA. I hate fire forming but this one is easy!! Shooting the 103 VTAC at 3000+ fps helped a 10 yr old hit 2moa steel at a 1000 yds. Took him less than 5 rounds can't remember 2 hits consecutively. 26 inch criterion from NSS. It does have a break from Bugholes not to obnoxious.
H

 

[MGYSGT]

How does dad feel about recoil. That may further narrow the field. As my wife is fond of saying YOUR not 60 any more. After shoulder surgery, I find anything above 6mm BR gets uncomfortable quickly. The .223 with 80's is ok until the wind comes up.

 

[Terry_M]

I've had several 20" Tactical barreled 223's that would sling 80gr flat base Bergers out to 1000yds with better than 4MOA accuracy. Wind is a bear at that distance. Out to 600 was easy peasey.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

6 Creedmoor. No recoil, factory ammo. No brainer. (I really should get one, maybe a Tikka...)