what rifle would you have for a first longer range gun ?

[mitchy]

Cheers for all the replies, I did look at a t3 and quite liked it I also looked at a remington 700 but preferred the tikka, but also liked the styer and each bolt is made for the caliber its ment to be shooting not just a standard size altered to fit all barrels

[M99]

Cheers for all the replies, I did look at a t3 and quite liked it I also looked at a remington 700 but preferred the tikka, but also liked the styer and each bolt is made for the caliber its ment to be shooting not just a standard size altered to fit all barrels

Forget about the Styer unless you are going for the wood stock or an aftermarket stock. The synthetic stock is a nightmare, even on the MKII.

I have a 223 Remi VLS and a Tikka T3 Varmint in 6.5x55 - it is horses for courses.

Mike

[mitchy]

What do you find both like ? The 6.5xx55 was recommend to me as a good all-round round as long as I was going to self load, I guess the off the shelf ammo isn't great ?

Do you do much Target shooting or just hunting ?and why is the synthetic stock a pain on the styer ?

[M99]

The styer stock flexes too much and your point of aim will not be consistent.

You would not get the 6.5x55 for Bunnies and fox - well I doubt it!

Mine is a Target rifle, but also conditioned for Deer and vermin. There is plenty of factory ammo for it if you do not wish to reload.

Mike

[mitchy]

Yes its a bit over kill for bunnies and foxes, would a 223 be a good caliber to go for ? I won't be shooting deer so It should do everything I need ?

[M99]

Yes its a bit over kill for bunnies and foxes, would a 223 be a good caliber to go for ? I won't be shooting deer so It should do everything I need ?

Calibre is a personal choice - I am sure you will get lots of different opinions. Do you have access to suitable land (In writing) for your FAC to be conditioned for vermin?

I very rarely shoot rabbits with my .223, as I have the .22lr for the job, it is effective and at much less cost, if they are too far out, I simply move closer. I do; however, use it a lot for foxes and long range crows, but the ground I have makes it a nice safe shot across the valley. If you have flat ground, long range vermin is not usually safe.

Mike

[mitchy]

Yes I do have some land and I have more I can shoot on but not yet in writing, I think I will do more Target shooting with the a 223 for example and foxes and a 22lr as you said for rabbits, how far are you shooting rabbits out to with your 22 ?

[M99]

Yes I do have some land and I have more I can shoot on but not yet in writing, I think I will do more Target shooting with the a 223 for example and foxes and a 22lr as you said for rabbits, how far are you shooting rabbits out to with your 22 ?

As far as I am confident of a clean kill at the time of the shot

Mike

[MartinS]

Tikka T3 Super V in .223!

Job done. That should cover the lot!

[tackb]

This 16 inch naval rifle has a decent range, though it won't leave much of Bugsy ...

All well and good if you don't mind a 16" group at best!