Thread: NZFS and CAC

Originally Posted by zimmer

Just as a follow up on Gundoc's posting below -

The NZFS CAC loaded .270 ammo differed regionally, 150 grain loads for the North Island (more bush shooting) and 130 grain loads for the South Island (longer range open tops). This was largely the work of Lynn Harris, a firearms enthusiast who was at NZFS HQ in Wellington. The .222 came into vogue in the mid to late '60's and I think it started on the West Coast where bush shooting ranges were fairly close and the cartridge was both accurate (for head and neck shots) and fairly quiet. The .222 started out as a private purchase experiment (BSA Hunters were the rifle of choice) and became NZFS issue a couple of years later when they proved their worth with high success rates. I know that .222 was official NZFS issue by 1970 when I was asked to rebarrel a new unfired Ruger Mini 14 to .222 by a West Coast meat shooter/culler. The only issue ammo available to me by the NZFS (Marlborough) in 1966 was hollow point .303 ball but I think the .270 was available in some other areas at the time.

Yes I got the late Din Collings to re-chamber a mini 14 to .222. The increased magazine capacity made it a great rifle for goat shooting. I had been told that Mini 14's weren't particularly accurate but I was very happy with the way it shot.