Firearms boredom is setting in. Help!

Well, this is always a dangerous place to be, but I’m bored. Add to that the fact that Mrs. Grouse just got her bonus check and engaged in some Retail Celebration Therapy to a four figure tune, and I figure I’m kinda sorta entitled to ask for a few crumbs to be added to the corporate Sporting Toys Budgetary Allocation.

But the problem is what should I buy? If I were a bow hunter or waterfowl hunter, it’d be no problem as you guys can run through money like sailors taking a 1 day leave on Hooker Island.

Menwhile, back at Grouse Ranch, I’m bored and need a new rifle to work up. My Plan A was the new Savage in the .17 WSM, but I decided to put that on hold until higher end models are available.

Soooo… Here’s are the meger ideas I can come up with:

1. A pre-64 Winchester 70 in .220 Swift. The King of the Varmint Calibers meets the Rifleman’s Rifle. However… I’m not sure I’m up for the PITA effect of owning a .220 Swift when it does nothing that the .22-250 does.

2. A new .22-250, probably something higher end like a Sako. I don’t personally currently own a 250, up until now I’ve much preferred burning out the barrels of 250s owned by others. But maybe I should get one for me?

3. Going way out into the weeds, how’s about an AR Platform like the new .223 DPMS Prairie Panther in brush camo? Don’t own an AR, never thought seriously about it, but these kinda-sorta look like fun. Coyotes, fear me. If I don’t manage to hit you, I’ll at least make an impression by missing a LOT more than I would have with a bolt gun.

4. Some kind of screwball, semi-obsolete varmint caliber like a Winchester 43 in .22 Hornet, 219 Bee, or perhaps the ultimate screwball choice, the 217 Zipper. Yes, yes, try to find a box of THAT ammo on the shelf at your local sporting goods store…

I have to admit that this option has the most appeal, but like a high maintainance woman, it’s also going to cause the most long-term pain.

5. Blow a bunch of money on a 16 gauge over/under or (even worse) a SXS. This is by far the best in terms of a really bad idea because I LOVE pretty guns… you see where that road could go.

Other ideas? Maybe a nice new brush cutter for easier trail clearing? Maybe I should buy my father an ATV?

Grouse

Since I’m also in a holding patter on the .17WSM, my newest edition at the top of my list is the Kel-tech PMR30. I know this isn’t a rifle, but I believe you have an attraction to rimfire toys. Well, don’t we all??

Anyway, this is now my #1 toy list item. Sorry I can’t help in the rifle area. I’m extremely happy with my current lineup short of a large caliber elk gun.

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/pmr-30/

I vote the Sako. I love Randy’s Howa he always show pics of on here. I’ve been wanting one a long time. If you go the AR route. Head up to Element arms in Becker. They’ll set you up for a better price than anyone. But I warn you you’ll want to buy a lot more it’s got everything.

Given that you don’t own an AR the answer sounds easy to me.
With your ability you could build a nice one cheap by gathering all the good parts and make something exactly to your specs. Maybe use one of the “different” calibers like the 300 Blackout making them true deer killers. Or any size that would fill a niche for you.

Did you see that little gem in this months American Rifleman? Mikey likey.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/tristar-c-100-9mm-luger

Kooty, I kinda-sorta thought about getting another semi-auto handgun, but then I remembered why I sold out almost everything I owned: No time to shoot them.

All my handgun time these days is devoted to staying in shooting form with my Contender. I just found that I didn’t have time, nor these days do I have the reloading components to shoot enough to make these worth owning.

Because I love (and can’t resist) shooting rifles (as opposed to just owning them), the ammo and reloading factor IS an issue. I just finished the resize, clean, and polish case prep steps for the 1000 rounds of ammo I shot out in South Dakota in June. That’s a lot of time and I’m still less than half way to having that 1000 rounds be loaded ammo. Yikes.

What to do…

Grouse

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I vote the Sako. I love Randy’s Howa he always show pics of on here. I’ve been wanting one a long time. If you go the AR route. Head up to Element arms in Becker. They’ll set you up for a better price than anyone. But I warn you you’ll want to buy a lot more it’s got everything.

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The AR route is interesting, but I’m having trouble getting past the fact that a fully set-up AR with scope, extra mags, etc is going to be about the cost of a Sako.

And it’s about half the rifle the Sako .22-250 is. Prairie dogs are mildly concerned about a .223 AR. They live in trembling, mortal fear of a .22-250, the likes of which, they know, can wreak havock and visit death upon them from distant counties!

The AR would be fun. The .22-250 would be a killer.

Grouse

.22-250 hands down. I will be buried with mine.

I’m too inconsistent myself to say what I would do but a 22-250 would certainly have it’s temptation near or at the top of the options list. I have one in the Axis….. entry level shooter….. but it’s a fun one! Something higher end….. drooling!

My love for the 22-250 caliber is beyond compare. Clearly this should be your choice. The challenge will be the super high end optics I’d pair it with. Truly a hole puncher. Coyotes, look out!

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I vote the Sako. I love Randy’s Howa he always show pics of on here. I’ve been wanting one a long time. If you go the AR route. Head up to Element arms in Becker. They’ll set you up for a better price than anyone. But I warn you you’ll want to buy a lot more it’s got everything.

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The AR route is interesting, but I’m having trouble getting past the fact that a fully set-up AR with scope, extra mags, etc is going to be about the cost of a Sako.

And it’s about half the rifle the Sako .22-250 is. Prairie dogs are mildly concerned about a .223 AR. They live in trembling, mortal fear of a .22-250, the likes of which, they know, can wreak havock and visit death upon them from distant counties!

The AR would be fun. The .22-250 would be a killer.

Grouse

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I don’t know. Put the right part together on an ar and prairie dogs beware. mine old one did great out there. building it yourself is definately the way to go. Cuts costs more than in half.

Well, I made the mistake of getting some prices yesterday… Of course, nothing on my list can be bought off the rack, it’s all going to be a PITA to get.

The Sako .22-250 I’d like currently prices out at $2500 + tax and it’s a factory order (none in stock at the US distributors), so 3-4 months. Ouch. Short of getting lucky and finding one on a retail rack somewhere, I’m a little put off by this option now. I really like the Sako.

In the interests of getting something sooner, I might go with one of the new Tikka Hunters with the fluted stainless barrel. I KNOW Tikka’s are shooters, I have one in .243 and my father has a .22-250 that I took to SD this year. Awesome accuracy for the $.

Gotta think about this for a few days before plunking down my money. I want the Sako, but I would feel just a little bad running burning 1000 rounds each year down the barrel of such a fine rifle just to splatter pasture poodles.

Hmmm…. decisions, decisions….

The bug hit me hard 2 months ago while shooting at Lodi, WI. with a friends 300 Hulk ( do a search if needed) a true tack driver at 1000 or better. The 338 Lapua Mag that I have is great for shooting and stretching things out but it was fun shooting a long range custom ¼ moa rifle as well, we also had a little fun with a 408 Chey Tec that day.

So any how shortly after that I ordered a new build project so “hopefully” in a little less then a year it will be operational.

Cal. 375 VM2

Lilja 9 twist barrel – 38”

4 port shark bite muzzle break

Jewell trigger

70 moa picatinny rail

Vortex Razor scope 5-20×50 EBR2

Mc Millan – Mc Hale stock – Black with accents

With a adjustable rear spacer system and bipod mounts

I plan on running GS 414 solids down the barrel and may play around with some 377 Cutting Edges and 400 gr Rocky Mountains. I should be able to have a finished rifle running a ½ moa or better at around 3200 to 3400 fps, only time will tell but it will be real close.

Either way it should be a good build for stretching out to –> 2000 to 3000+ yards

Cheers

Kooty, You just missed one. We had one in the store for a total of about 3 hours. I will let you know the next time one is on the way. By the way, IT WAS SWEET!

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The bug hit me hard 2 months ago while shooting at Lodi, WI. with a friends 300 Hulk ( do a search if needed) a true tack driver at 1000 or better. The 338 Lapua Mag that I have is great for shooting and stretching things out but it was fun shooting a long range custom ¼ moa rifle as well, we also had a little fun with a 408 Chey Tec that day.

So any how shortly after that I ordered a new build project so “hopefully” in a little less then a year it will be operational.

Cal. 375 VM2
Lilja 9 twist barrel – 38”
4 port shark bite muzzle break
Jewell trigger
70 moa picatinny rail
Vortex Razor scope 5-20×50 EBR2
Mc Millan – Mc Hale stock – Black with accents
With a adjustable rear spacer system and bipod mounts

I plan on running GS 414 solids down the barrel and may play around with some 377 Cutting Edges and 400 gr Rocky Mountains. I should be able to have a finished rifle running a ½ moa or better at around 3200 to 3400 fps, only time will tell but it will be real close.

Either way it should be a good build for stretching out to –> 2000 to 3000+ yards

Cheers

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I gotta see this one when it’s done. Would be awsome to see the groups on this after its done. The long range shoots you’re doing are fun to watch.

To keep everything politically correct we will be using a 36″ Bartlein gain twist barrel in place of the 38″ -9 twist. They have had outstanding performance in the 36″Bartlein gain twist on the 375 snipe tecs using the GSC 414s and Bartlein has agreed to run a batch of these barrels again.

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The bug hit me hard 2 months ago while shooting at Lodi, WI. with a friends 300 Hulk ( do a search if needed) a true tack driver at 1000 or better. The 338 Lapua Mag that I have is great for shooting and stretching things out but it was fun shooting a long range custom ¼ moa rifle as well, we also had a little fun with a 408 Chey Tec that day.

So any how shortly after that I ordered a new build project so “hopefully” in a little less then a year it will be operational.

Cal. 375 VM2
Lilja 9 twist barrel – 38”
4 port shark bite muzzle break
Jewell trigger
70 moa picatinny rail
Vortex Razor scope 5-20×50 EBR2
Mc Millan – Mc Hale stock – Black with accents
With a adjustable rear spacer system and bipod mounts

I plan on running GS 414 solids down the barrel and may play around with some 377 Cutting Edges and 400 gr Rocky Mountains. I should be able to have a finished rifle running a ½ moa or better at around 3200 to 3400 fps, only time will tell but it will be real close.

Either way it should be a good build for stretching out to –> 2000 to 3000+ yards

Cheers

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Jeff – Can’t wait to see it!

Grouse, For the $$$, I’m thrilled with my Howa 1500 stainless 22-250. I dropped the Burris XTR 6-24 x 50 on there. Sunday will be DOOMS day on the prairie rats. Leaving for Cabelas’ Denver grand opening, then staying in CO/WY for a couple days If your still compelled to spend more, A Sig may be more suited for you

BTW – As morbid as it may sound, there isn’t many “reports” I like more than a rat imploding at 500+ yards with this Howa!

Kind of thought about the Howa/Weatherby, Randy. Always heard good reports about the accuracy and the new trigger is said to be excellent (not that the old one was bad, it was good as well).

But there are 2 things that make me not too sure:

1. No removable box magazine. Top load only with floorplate. I REALLY like having a removable mag on a hunting rifle.

2. The price is so close to a base model Tikka, that it’s hard to know if it’s worth it to chance going away from the Tikka, which I already know are fantastic.

Now in favor of the Howa is the fact that there are more aftermaket parts available. Boyds makes a really nice thumbhole stock, etc.

I guess I’m going to have to look at a Howa in person. Very dfficult to know what to do.

Grouse

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Kind of thought about the Howa/Weatherby, Randy. Always heard good reports about the accuracy and the new trigger is said to be excellent (not that the old one was bad, it was good as well).

But there are 2 things that make me not too sure:

1. No removable box magazine. Top load only with floorplate. I REALLY like having a removable mag on a hunting rifle.

2. The price is so close to a base model Tikka, that it’s hard to know if it’s worth it to chance going away from the Tikka, which I already know are fantastic.

Now in favor of the Howa is the fact that there are more aftermaket parts available. Boyds makes a really nice thumbhole stock, etc.

I guess I’m going to have to look at a Howa in person. Very dfficult to know what to do.

Grouse

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The Howa thumbhole sporter is a cheaper way than buying a base model, then adding the Boyd. Midway USA and others stock the after market removable magazine.

HOWA drop in mag

Legacy Arms – Sporter

OK, seeing that there’s also a 10-round mag option available, I may just have to give the Howa a serious look. Love the thumbhole stock factory option.

So who carries Howa locally (Twin Cities area)? I don’t buy from Gander Mtn.

Grouse

I got my best deal going through gun genie and having it delivered to a local store that was on the list.

This thread is making me jealious!!!!

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This thread is making me jealious!!!!

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I didn’t survive it! I added two handguns and a shotgun in three weeks, in part I say, to conversations like this! Then again, I’m single so there’s no one preventing me from impulse!