Looking for a 300/400 yard, kill a predator, cartridge & gun. What would you choose?

[JohnnyFlake]

I am looking for a solid 300/400 yard cartridge and a quality solid bolt or lever rifle that is not ridiculously expensive. I want the power to solidly put down a human predator at that range. I am not looking for a .50 cal or even a 300 Winchester magnum. I want something easier to shoot that will do the job, if I do mine.

What would be your choice in cartridge and weapon?

[JLA]

easy.. Savage Mod 10 Precision Carbine in .223 rem.

Easily capable of 400 yd shots and will more than drop a human. And best part is they are inexpensive. Retail less than 650, come with heavy carbine length barrels, accustock and accutrigger. You could have one scoped and shooting for less than a grand. And they are SUB MOA with good handloads.

[aa1911]

.308 bolt gun, scoped.

[25yretcoastie]

JLA What is "SUB MOA"?

[JLA]

Sub Minute Of Angle. means itll put 5 inside an inch or better at 100 yds.

[old semperfi]

its the amount the impact of the bullet moves per clink of scope adjustment.to me the savage is the ticket.the savage has one of the best barrels in the industry.both the 223 and 308 can be the ticket,if ammo cost has anything to do with it then go 223.the 223 rounds can be purchased for around 8-10.00 per box of twenty.the 308 at least twice as much.dont misunderstand you can buy the same ammo for two or three times more depending on brand on both calibers. old semperfi

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by JLA

easy.. Savage Mod 10 Precision Carbine in .223 rem.

Easily capable of 400 yd shots and will more than drop a human. And best part is they are inexpensive. Retail less than 650, come with heavy carbine length barrels, accustock and accutrigger. You could have one scoped and shooting for less than a grand. And they are SUB MOA with good handloads.

JLA will the gun do that well with standard military ammo or do you need special commercial or hand loaded ammo?

Also I am no expert but that seems like a long way for a 55/65gn bullet. I guess I need to look up some data on that.

That seems like it would sure be an easy gun to work with.

[aa1911]

military ammo will be just fine. I've made good hits at well past 400m with 5.56 geen tip. I just prefer .30 cal ammo when I can use it.

Lots of folks are shooting .223 out to 1000 yards, wouldn't count on much oomph out there but at 3-400m you are good for many purpose IMO. Watch the wind is all.

[JLA]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

JLA will the gun do that well with standard military ammo or do you need special commercial or hand loaded ammo?

Also I am no expert but that seems like a long way for a 55/65gn bullet. I guess I need to look up some data on that.

That seems like it would sure be an easy gun to work with.

The .223 is good out to 500 with just about any bullet. For ranges beyond youd need something a bit heavier. I like 69 gr SMKs. they do well beyond 500 and are very accurate.

The Savage M10 PC is spec'd for 5.56 and .223. It is one of the Military and LE versions offered my Savage so must be able to handle the NATO ammo.

It is a very easy rifle to work with. and balances well.

Its perfect in .223/5.56 in every way. But a bit short in .308 as I feel the .308 neds at least 22" (24" is better) to realize full ballistic performance.

[jack404]

i've a bit more expencive rifle a tikka T3 in 223

ive take deer at 500

the round is good to 700, 800 no wind

the rest is up to the shooter

the round will do it though

( prefer .308 but thats me )

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

I am looking for a solid 300/400 yard cartridge and a quality solid bolt or lever rifle that is not ridiculously expensive. I want the power to solidly put down a human predator at that range. I am not looking for a .50 cal or even a 300 Winchester magnum. I want something easier to shoot that will do the job, if I do mine.

What would be your choice in cartridge and weapon?

Josh makes a great recommendation; I would personally take my A-Bolt in 7mm-08 though.

[JLA]

I was 50 bucks off on the retail. Heres one listed brand new on Buds Gunshop. And FREE SHIPPING!
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...+PRECISION+223

[JohnnyFlake]

Thanks guys, lots of very good info in a very short time. I need to do more research. That Savage M10 is looking mighty good!

The heavier bullets that JLR mentioned, are they commercially available or do you need to reload to use heavier bullets. I guess I check out Corbon and some others, Buffalo Bore, etc.

[Twicepop]

I would recomend something along the line of a .270 Winchester or a .280 Remington or 30-06 in a good bolt action, or their smaller brethern in either .260 Remington or 7-08 Remington, or 308 Winchester also in a good bolt action. All of the aforementioned have better down range killing power than any of the .223 guns available. They are deadly/usefull on a variety of game sizes from varmits (two or four legged) through large quadrapeds and even some of the larger bears with proper shot placement. If recoil is an issue the .243 Win./6mm Rem or the .250 Savage, the .257 Roberts up through the 25-06 Remington will do as well under most circumstances.

those who beat their guns into plowshares, will plow for those who didn't

[JLA]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

Thanks guys, lots of very good info in a very short time. I need to do more research. That Savage M10 is looking mighty good!

The heavier bullets that JLR mentioned, are they commercially available or do you need to reload to use heavier bullets. I guess I check out Corbon and some others, Buffalo Bore, etc.

Black hills loads the 69 gr SMK, and it is stable in a 9 twist too.

[myfriendis410]

I would vote for something in 6mm like a .243. Just a little more oomph and still soft on the shoulder. It also carries more killing power IMO. I've shot a number of 'yotes with a 22-250, solid chest shots, and had 'em run. Not with the .243. It also bucks the wind a bit better.

[cycloneman]

300 yrds no problems with most anything that shoots a pointed bullet.

400 yrds if you dont do your homework your target is pretty safe.

500 yrds your target is as safe as a kitten in mamas arms. Especailly if there is any wind.

YOu should be asking about optics, range finders, mil dots, chrony, bbl length, and match ammo.

My choice is a Savage in 308 with 26" of bull bbl and accutrigger, then the optic. OH that is a can of worms. Then the ammo, hahahahahaha.

Tell us something, is this for self defense when the zombies come?

I would look to push a 165 gr bullet 3000 fps at the muzzel.

For distance shooting you need to look at it alittle differently. I am no expert to 1000 yrds but it is just a math problem for me. 500 yrds in any direction around me and nothing is safe from me.

[JLA]

yotes and occasional 2 legged predators is what i read in the OP.

[cycloneman]

I saw human preditor. I am going with the 308 although i can do just fine with the 223 also.

Yotes i would prefer the 243

yote is a smaller target, 400 yrds hmmm. its all in the optic

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by cycloneman

300 yrds no problems with most anything that shoots a pointed bullet.

400 yrds if you dont do your homework your target is pretty safe.

500 yrds your target is as safe as a kitten in mamas arms. Especailly if there is any wind.

YOu should be asking about optics, range finders, mil dots, chrony, bbl length, and match ammo.

My choice is a Savage in 308 with 26" of bull bbl and accutrigger, then the optic. OH that is a can of worms. Then the ammo, hahahahahaha.

Tell us something, is this for self defense when the zombies come?

I would look to push a 165 gr bullet 3000 fps at the muzzel.

For distance shooting you need to look at it alittle differently. I am no expert to 1000 yrds but it is just a math problem for me. 500 yrds in any direction around me and nothing is safe from me.

Good points! I will be asking about the above, when I finally decide on a cartridge and weapon.

JLA has it down - yotes and occasional 2 legged predators is what i read in the OP.

What do you guys think of the .243 / 6mm?

[JLA]

Love it. I built a .243 8 twist last year that is a 1000 yard nail driver with 105 Amaxes.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by JLA

Love it. I built a .243 8 twist last year that is a 1000 yard nail driver with 105 Amaxes.

Dam my friend, that means even more research!!!

[Fast Forward]

223,,,243,,,308,,,i like them all

[cycloneman]

I like the 243. I dont have one but friends do and i think it is outstanding.

[Ledslnger]

I would do a .220 Swift or a .308. Either a Ruger or a Savage. That new Savage Hog hunting rifle looks nice.