Newbie - Christchurch

Hi all - new to forum and shooting/hunting.

I don't know what it was as up until a month ago I had never had any interest in shooting or hunting, but then I suddenly got bitten HARD by some sort of shooting bug! Midlife crisis? About to turn 30 haha.

Anyway I ended up with an air rifle and applying for my FAL (waiting for it to come through is painful!)

I am back in Christchurch from Friday for a week or so and wondering if anybody is interested in taking a newbie on a rabbit or possum shoot? Any guides or such for rabbits/possums in the canterbury area? Absolutely dieing to go!

Welcome aboard. There will no doubt be someone down there that will get you underway

Welcome to the forum. Good luck on getting your FAL

Welcome

Welcome along,

Thanks all.

So, I bought myself a 10/22 Ruger yesterday. Full carbon barrel silencer, laminated evolution stock and a decent scope, etc. Spent a couple grand at gun city's fathers day sale all up (ammo, gear, torch, cleaning kit, etc). They're holding the gun and ammo until I get my FAL of course.

I really want to shoot it though! Going to kill me waiting.

Is anybody keen to take me out for small game? Any day between now and 6th (wifey is away), and any time night or day I am keen. I'll cover ammo, gas costs, etc and chuck in a hundred bucks as a thank you.

Cheers,
Matt

How far do you want to travel Matt ??

Hawkes Bay ?

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

How far do you want to travel Matt ??

Hawkes Bay ?

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Hey 7mm! Damn, wish you were closer. Nah, not that far! I'd prefer Canterbury if someone has farmland or such, or knows somewhere good.

Really appreciate the offer though!!

how'd ya go on gettin a little familiar with some airborne pesties we have in canterbury.jackos&rabbits access may be a little thin on the ground but guess what-not 30kmaway are some very good pests and challenging shooting involving 12guage shotguns and tons of fun.If youre keen to spreaD YOUR WINGS -I'D BE HOPING TO MAKE YOU KEEP MOST OF YOUR DOSH IN YOUR POCKET!

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Originally Posted by mposkitt

Thanks all.

So, I bought myself a 10/22 Ruger yesterday. Full carbon barrel silencer, laminated evolution stock and a decent scope, etc. Spent a couple grand at gun city's fathers day sale all up (ammo, gear, torch, cleaning kit, etc). They're holding the gun and ammo until I get my FAL of course.

I really want to shoot it though! Going to kill me waiting.

Is anybody keen to take me out for small game? Any day between now and 6th (wifey is away), and any time night or day I am keen. I'll cover ammo, gas costs, etc and chuck in a hundred bucks as a thank you.

Cheers,
Matt

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Shit you could have spent some of your hard earned Aussie dosh on something else.:D

they saw him coming eh?

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Originally Posted by scottrods

they saw him coming eh?

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I guess so but the rabbits wont be able to tell the difference.

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Originally Posted by 300winmag

I guess so but the rabbits wont be able to tell the difference.

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Haha. That you, Tim?

Got to shoot my gun the other day under supervision. Put about 300 rounds through it. Extremely happy with it! Even I could hit what i was aiming at! Being taken out tonight - going after rabbits mainly but the guy taking me says he sometimes gets deer or pig on this farm. The station we were going to go to had to be canned due to snow yesterday.

You guessed right, don't burn out you barrel

What sort of scope did you put on it Matt??

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Originally Posted by 300winmag

What sort of scope did you put on it Matt??

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I gave it a good clean and oil after those 300 rounds. How much does it take to burn out a barrel?

Scope I eventually settled on is a Redfield 2-7x Accu-Range. I was tossing and turning over that and a Bushnell 3-9x. It was close but I really like the Accu-Range reticle. Nice for different ranges. After last night i'm glad I went that way as I never went more than 2x except once on about a 120yd shot that I can't believe I fluked on a possum across a gully.

Had a blast last night! Got 8 hares, 2 rabbits and 5 possums.

Well done, your getting the hang of it.
As for barrel wear in that rifle and at that rate you won't have a problem, I was only winding you help.
Sounds like you are addicted to it all ready.

I just built up two rifles for a trip to Aussie last month, I fitted a Bushnell 6 x 24 x 50 to one and a Leupold 4x16x42 to the other, the Leupy pisses all over the Bushnell for the same sort of cost.
Cheers.

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Originally Posted by 300winmag

Well done, your getting the hang of it.
As for barrel wear in that rifle and at that rate you won't have a problem, I was only winding you help.
Sounds like you are addicted to it all ready.

I just built up two rifles for a trip to Aussie last month, I fitted a Bushnell 6 x 24 x 50 to one and a Leupold 4x16x42 to the other, the Leupy pisses all over the Bushnell for the same sort of cost.
Cheers.

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So when are we going hunting?

What are you hunting in Aus? Or have you already been?

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Originally Posted by mposkitt

So when are we going hunting? When you get a bigger canon:thumbsup:

What are you hunting in Aus? Scrub bulls, donkeys, horse's, pigs, wild dogs to name a few - Or have you already been?

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Got back mid August but going back next year, actually not far from where you are working, maybe a thousand or so clicks.

A couple of pics from last years trip, didn't take many pic's this year as it was much the same. Went to the same Cattle Station in the NT. There only so many pics you can take of dead horses and donkeys etc. This year I nailed a good scrub bull which is on it's way to the taxidermist for a shoulder mount. Another guy that came along with us got a good 100" Buff, I'll post a pic up of it when I write a story about the trip soon.

Get your license organised and if you are keen maybe we could jack something up, there's a heap of good buggers on this forum that could help you out as well. Give us a call.
Cheers
Cheers

Attachment 14095

Attachment 14096

Sorry guys, this should be in the big game section but Matt might progress from bunnies to this in a short time:yaeh am not durnk:
Attachment 14097

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Originally Posted by 300winmag

Sorry guys, this should be in the big game section but Matt might progress from bunnies to this in a short time:yaeh am not durnk:
Attachment 14097

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Fark, that's a big head. Where'd you hit it? NT, huh? Be a long time before I go to Aussie for pleasure and not work, haha. Much enjoy icy cold hunting here than spending even more time in that hot hellhole! Some of my team keep trying to convince me that the rest of Aus is different. "Come to Cairns," they say - "You'll love it." Yeah, right, I just love 90% humidity.

The next gun on my list at this stage is a 223 but I'm guessing you'll tell me to skip a few more calibers and buy an elephant gun. Amirite!? What do you recommend?

License is all taken care of, I should receive the number in about a week which means I'm good to go. Printed will be few more weeks off. Heading back to Aus tomorrow but only there for 17 days this time around. When I come back I'll be going out as often as I can.

Cheers,
Matt

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Originally Posted by mposkitt

Fark, that's a big head. Where'd you hit it? NT, huh? Be a long time before I go to Aussie for pleasure and not work, haha. Much enjoy icy cold hunting here than spending even more time in that hot hellhole! Some of my team keep trying to convince me that the rest of Aus is different. "Come to Cairns," they say - "You'll love it." Yeah, right, I just love 90% humidity.

The next gun on my list at this stage is a 223 but I'm guessing you'll tell me to skip a few more calibers and buy an elephant gun. Amirite!? What do you recommend?

License is all taken care of, I should receive the number in about a week which means I'm good to go. Printed will be few more weeks off. Heading back to Aus tomorrow but only there for 17 days this time around. When I come back I'll be going out as often as I can.

Cheers,
Matt

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I didn't shoot this buff, another guy that went with us from Auckland knocked it 2 hours before we were due to leave, by memory he used a 450 Nitro Express, it took a few to drop it. All in the boiler room.

As for calibre on your next rifle, get what ever floats your boat so long as it's big enough to deal with your intended game you want to hunt, no substitute for cubic capacity.
Make sure they are all black then Mum won't know how many you have as they will always look the same. Choice of scope is important too so do your homework, generally the scope can cost more than the rifle so you don't want some sales assistant telling you what you need.

As for a 223 - make sure it's a Tikka:thumbsup: Lots of Tikka owners on this forum.

The weather in the NT was ok actually, bloody cold at night and approx 35 during the day, to busy snotting stuff to worry about the heat.

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Originally Posted by 300winmag

As for a 223 - make sure it's a Tikka:thumbsup: Lots of Tikka owners on this forum.

The weather in the NT was ok actually, bloody cold at night and approx 35 during the day, to busy snotting stuff to worry about the heat.

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Why is the Tikka so popular? Price? All of the reviews I've read put the Sako, Tikka and X-Bolt pretty much neck and neck and just recommend getting whatever feels most comfortable.

The guy I've been shooting with uses his 223 for deer and pigs as well as longer shots on small game. I asked if it was enough for bigger pigs and his reply, "you ever tried running with a hole in your head?" Thoughts here? Is a headshot with a 223 enough for these? I'm sure there's a few different views around on this to say the least, haha.

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Originally Posted by MattyP

Why is the Tikka so popular? Price? All of the reviews I've read put the Sako, Tikka and X-Bolt pretty much neck and neck and just recommend getting whatever feels most comfortable.

The guy I've been shooting with uses his 223 for deer and pigs as well as longer shots on small game. I asked if it was enough for bigger pigs and his reply, "you ever tried running with a hole in your head?" Thoughts here? Is a headshot with a 223 enough for these? I'm sure there's a few different views around on this to say the least, haha.

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Hi Matty,


Tikkas are popular because they are the right in the sweet spot in the market. Best bang for your buck. Seriously good accuracy out of the box. I personally would put the Sakos and Browning a step above but i'm fairly in love with my X-Bolt so could be biased. I've used all of them a fair bit and own a Browning X-Bolt in .270.

As for your next cal it depends what you want to shoot. If you're looking for a good step up I wouldn't write off a .243. I'd reccomend it. Good enough for deer but cheap enough to get varmint like you already are! Although anything above a .22....even the .223....is going to leave a mess. I've shot rabbits for a while with my single shot .223 and it's great out to 300m but I wouldn't shoot deer with it. A .243 will see you up for the bigger stuff quite nicely.

I'm in Christchurch and if you want to borrow my Baikal .223 you're more than welcome. It's shoots damn good out too 300m. and further when i'm feeling lucky...or come out on our next rabbit shoot....Haven't had luck with possums as I don't have access to private land close to here but plenty of rabbits and hare around. Get about 5 a week from 2 night shoots a week.

As for the brand of your next rifle. If you're in the market for a Tikka, get one. If you want to spend a bit more go for a Browning, spend a bit more again... get a Sako but, at the end of the day it's what fits you the best and what you like the best.

I reckon a .243 for your next by what I can read from the above as it's going to set you up for anything, any size within 400m. and further if you're good enough :P

Hope this helps


Jord

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Originally Posted by jord

Hi Matty,


Tikkas are popular because they are the right in the sweet spot in the market. Best bang for your buck. Seriously good accuracy out of the box. I personally would put the Sakos and Browning a step above but i'm fairly in love with my X-Bolt so could be biased. I've used all of them a fair bit and own a Browning X-Bolt in .270.

As for your next cal it depends what you want to shoot. If you're looking for a good step up I wouldn't write off a .243. I'd reccomend it. Good enough for deer but cheap enough to get varmint like you already are! Although anything above a .22....even the .223....is going to leave a mess. I've shot rabbits for a while with my single shot .223 and it's great out to 300m but I wouldn't shoot deer with it. A .243 will see you up for the bigger stuff quite nicely.

I'm in Christchurch and if you want to borrow my Baikal .223 you're more than welcome. It's shoots damn good out too 300m. and further when i'm feeling lucky...or come out on our next rabbit shoot....Haven't had luck with possums as I don't have access to private land close to here but plenty of rabbits and hare around. Get about 5 a week from 2 night shoots a week.

As for the brand of your next rifle. If you're in the market for a Tikka, get one. If you want to spend a bit more go for a Browning, spend a bit more again... get a Sako but, at the end of the day it's what fits you the best and what you like the best.

I reckon a .243 for your next by what I can read from the above as it's going to set you up for anything, any size within 400m. and further if you're good enough :P

Hope this helps


Jord

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Too late, he's already purchased one of those rubbishy X-bolts. ;)

http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...tml#post176503

The best choice! In what cal?


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Originally Posted by jord

The best choice! In what cal?


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The best cal!

.270?


Sent from my Browning

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Originally Posted by jord

.270?


Sent from my Browning

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308

A "what cal?" normally drags just about everyone into the argument.

Valid. Will tread carefully going forward! ;)

X bolts are brilliant though. Got my first deer a couple nights ago. Was only 150m away but right on point of aim. Standing unsupported so pretty damn happy with mine. He'll have fun with it.


Sent from my Browning

Should be just enough for gun for rabbits & hares :x_x:

Welcome Bob.