I posted this in both the "Ask the experts" and here.
I don't know where I will get the best response.
Guys, in the next few weeks I should be coming into a little money that will allow me to purchase a "Walking around" rifle to use on Prairie dogs next year to complement my Swift from the bench.
We shoot about half our dogs from the Bench where my Swift is still King to their .22-250s and .223s, but at 12.5 pounds it sucked carrying even with my 27" bipod I planned to use from sitting for the "walking around." Plus I am getting a little too old so that getting up from sitting much LESS prone hurts like heck!
My Marlin .22 LR which is the most accurate .22 I have ever shot (.850" at 50) sucked at much over 50 yds from offhand or the walking standing bipod we were using compared to my buddy's 17 hMR and the other's .22 K-hornet wich were scoring past 125 to almost 200. I only got the "sloppy seconds" and the stupid yippers up close..
Two years ago I used my tactical AR which worked OK out to 150 or so with decent ammo EXCEPT for the scrambling around in the cactus and potential rattlers on my knees for the BRASS...
SO I want a .222....A REALLY accurate round, better than the Hornet, and will play the wind in SD better than any .17.... Plus my wife used to hunt deer in PA with her beloved Grandpa (who I inherited the venerable '97 from !) with his .222 Rem. Savage, so she is giving me a LOT less flack about buying this rifle than any other....
I have pretty well narrowed it down to two I have found....a used light barreled SAKO AI with a 12x M8 Leupold in pretty much almost unfired condition for $1000 asking price, .........and a pretty sweet Remington 700 medium barreled BDL with a 6x M8 Leupold with a few dings but decent shape for $899 asking price...
Give me your thoughts on each...
I am leaning towards the SAKO, have never heard anything but good things about them, but I don't think I know know enough about SAKOs. Help me out.
I know enough about the Remington 700s to know what to expect. I could live with it.....
I want the most accurate rifle I can buy, 1/2" or less from a bench at 100, that I can load for for "carrying" and shooting from crossed sticks or a walking bipod dogs out to about 200...if I can shoot to 300+ from the bench it will be a plus....
Any advice you can give me which will help me spend my precious money best will be appreciated!!!!!!
I don't know where I will get the best response.
Guys, in the next few weeks I should be coming into a little money that will allow me to purchase a "Walking around" rifle to use on Prairie dogs next year to complement my Swift from the bench.
We shoot about half our dogs from the Bench where my Swift is still King to their .22-250s and .223s, but at 12.5 pounds it sucked carrying even with my 27" bipod I planned to use from sitting for the "walking around." Plus I am getting a little too old so that getting up from sitting much LESS prone hurts like heck!
My Marlin .22 LR which is the most accurate .22 I have ever shot (.850" at 50) sucked at much over 50 yds from offhand or the walking standing bipod we were using compared to my buddy's 17 hMR and the other's .22 K-hornet wich were scoring past 125 to almost 200. I only got the "sloppy seconds" and the stupid yippers up close..
Two years ago I used my tactical AR which worked OK out to 150 or so with decent ammo EXCEPT for the scrambling around in the cactus and potential rattlers on my knees for the BRASS...
SO I want a .222....A REALLY accurate round, better than the Hornet, and will play the wind in SD better than any .17.... Plus my wife used to hunt deer in PA with her beloved Grandpa (who I inherited the venerable '97 from !) with his .222 Rem. Savage, so she is giving me a LOT less flack about buying this rifle than any other....
I have pretty well narrowed it down to two I have found....a used light barreled SAKO AI with a 12x M8 Leupold in pretty much almost unfired condition for $1000 asking price, .........and a pretty sweet Remington 700 medium barreled BDL with a 6x M8 Leupold with a few dings but decent shape for $899 asking price...
Give me your thoughts on each...
I am leaning towards the SAKO, have never heard anything but good things about them, but I don't think I know know enough about SAKOs. Help me out.
I know enough about the Remington 700s to know what to expect. I could live with it.....
I want the most accurate rifle I can buy, 1/2" or less from a bench at 100, that I can load for for "carrying" and shooting from crossed sticks or a walking bipod dogs out to about 200...if I can shoot to 300+ from the bench it will be a plus....
Any advice you can give me which will help me spend my precious money best will be appreciated!!!!!!