Hi guys , i am looking for a firearm in .223 for goats and possibly deer if in close range. Money wise an entry package will be a 1000 to 1500 approximately so would i be better off to wait and buy a second hand ar15? What is the advantages? Cheers
Printable View
Hi guys , i am looking for a firearm in .223 for goats and possibly deer if in close range. Money wise an entry package will be a 1000 to 1500 approximately so would i be better off to wait and buy a second hand ar15? What is the advantages? Cheers
The advantage of an AR15 (or other semi-auto) is being able to fire several shots quickly. I can't think of any other advantages, and most people don't need rapid fire for hunting anyway.
If you often come across a big group of goats and need rapid fire then an AR would be useful but a bolt action Howa with a decent scope would put food on the table for less.
Over the medium term AR style rifles are getting cheaper so you could switch later as 2nd hand ARs will often go for 1300 or so without optics
Welcome to the forum
So no difference in terms of accuracy or range? I thought from the popularity there was real benefit from an ar but maybe its just wank value!
They're reasonably accurate.
They're also very "pointable" if that makes much sense. Having a protruding grip makes any rifle very quick to shoulder and aim.
I think the other advantage is the ability to have more than one upper for your AR. I suppose as a disadvantage you can only shoot short action calibers.
Not really. With a two point sling and an AR carbine you can sling it muzzle down under your arm pit and forget it's there.
Might spend a bit more dosh and get a tikka t3
The problem with the AR is you will want another one once you have your first!
Not sure why this is, but it happens to most of us...
Long one, short one, mid length one, suppressed one, FDE one, black one, A-cat one, E-cat one, pink one (not for me mind you), other one...
I actually agree with this. They're abit of a bitch to carry for extended periods.Quote:
A sporting rifle is nicer to carry slung for those long walk ins!
This is a good idea. But still abit of a mess. Especially if you're walking somewhere with limited headroom (ie. Not on a nice track or flat bit of bush. )Quote:
Not really. With a two point sling and an AR carbine you can sling it muzzle down under your arm pit and forget it's there.
The advantage with a sporting rifle is it's akin to carrying a long stick. It's just that - straight. So it's super easy to push it through gaps in brush. Anything with a pistol grip means you have abit more width to consider. Add some optics and it's more width again.
I haven't hunted with an Acat stock, but with some of the configurations out there, they make the butt end of the rifle f-ing massive.
I'm not full of experience, but I haven't hunted with my tikka in over a year since I got my AR off Digit. I
mainly shoot wallabys and fallow though and not in a heap of bush so that probably makes a difference.
I use a multi point (I think it's called) sling and love it because I can sling it under my arm if carrying a deer or sling it for the walk in. Plus I personally find it much nicer to shoot with and great for follow up shots since there is so little recoil.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Much of a muchness really, both very good first rifles, the tikka will be lighter, both are as accurate as each other, both have average at best factory stocks although I prefer the hogue on the howa to the Tikkas.
The bonus with the Howa is that if you speak to your local gunshop they can get just a bare barrelled action from Cameron sports, you can then fit and bed it in whichever stock you prefer, Boyds, McMillan, b&c, whatever and have a great little rifle.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The tikka factory plastic stock is much stiffer than the howa houge, so if you are working of a bipod the tikka will be the better shooter, the howa feels nicer in hand though. I think I prefer drop plate over a dbm, especially the tikka DBM as you cant top load it, so have to take out the mag and refil every time you want to empty the chamber
Can you run a standard .22 through the ar? Approximate cost? I only plan on using a 223 and 22 so if i could get both through an ar at a similar cost of a howa and 10/22 i would lean that way
Get yourself a .22 Dedicated upper like mine ,you can swap upper from .22lr , .223 & 300BLK all using the same Lower if you wish.
My N.E.A Dedicated Upper shots like a dream all day
Attachment 37441
I'd just get a conversion kit. They're really handy. You can have the kit a mag and box of bullets in your pocket and chuck it in if you want to have a go at some rabbits and possums. Accuracy tends to range from acceptable to shit but still good enough for 25yd shooting. I've witnessed a friend of mine make consistent hits on 6" steel plates at 150m with a conversion kit, so they can work well.
cost to do so? i have just been to my local and i can get a howa 223 with a 3-9-40 for $1000 and a scoped 22 for $400. they have tikka t3 lite for 1500 scoped and i don't think an ar15 would shoot any where near as well?
This sums it up really. Extra uppers are worth just as much as an entire rifle.
If you're not needing quick follow up shot then I'd personally go with the Howa and spend the left over on a Marlin 795 .22. The Howa will do everything the Tikka does for 30%, less. Ruger 10/22 are over rated/priced in my opinion, but that's a whole other argument.
AR's are as accurate as any hunting rifle needs to be, problem is that they're harder to shoot accurately in their standard form.
+1 on flagging the 10/22 for something accurate.
Howa and Tikka are by no means the only good centrefire options either - Savage, Remington, Marlin, Ruger, the list goes on... they all make accurate reliable rifles, handle as many options as you can at gun shops and choose the one that fits you best and you like the feel of.
And don't forget second hand, you can pick up some great deals on used premium rifles for much the same money as an entry level new one.
My Brno ZKK600 only cost me $700 and she is mint.
No issue if you go new but your money can often go further buying used.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Well I bought an Ar15 just over 6months ago and I have not had so much fun in a long while. Thing is its expensive....in ammo. I go up to the range with 400rounds have a great time wacking steel plates and come back with maybe 40, being $200 odd the poorer but wearing a huge grin.
:thumbsup:
$1900 should get you a pretty decent AR, but if you want to wack goats dont go to short a barrel.
Attachment 37448
You probably won't get a decent AR for anywhere close to what you will pay for a Howa. However when you get the Howa, you will want to to replace the shit stock and shit scope that comes with the Howa, so budget perhaps another $500 at least.
Be better off with a scoped tikka package in that case?
Depends on the scope, stock is not much better.
Look, the stock and scope they come with are perfectly functional but not the best, I stayed with the Nikko and hogue for 2 years before I changed them, they were fine and I won a few deer stalkers club days with them on, so they aren't that bad.
It's just that if you get serious you probably will want to change them.
Even shooting off a bipod with the hogue is ok as long as you load it forward so it is being pulled away from the barrel and not pushed down.
Go and handle as many rifle brands as you can and decide for yourself which one you like, rule of thumb, basically anything over $800 will serve you very well, just decide which one you like!
If you making the jump to the tikka you may as well look at a CZ527, Winnie mod70 and Browning x-bolt too.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
https://trademe.co.nz/899390678
CZ 527 American (222 Rem)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The tikka Comes with a burris fullfield 11 ballistic plex 3-9-40 if that makes any difference. Im getting the feeling it is just about getting what i want , a tikka or upgraded howa will end up being the same price as a second hand ar15
Don't forget to allow for a scope on the AR as well when you think about costs ;)
Like others have said, you don't have to upgrade an $800 rifle for hunting. Just get out there and use it, if you're not already an experienced shooter (which I'm guessing you aren't, or you wouldn't be asking this question) then the main limiting factor for a long time will be you rather than the rifle anyway.
1400ish second hand plus a scope is not too much more in price when comparing to a tikka etc. i think i will just go to my local gunshop and find something to my liking and give it a whirl
I think you will battle to find a decent ar for $1400ish.
Be careful, take someone who knows what they are doing to look at a second hand ar, you don't want to spend that money and find that it has been "modified" by some cowboy and is rooted.
Also remember a cheap Chinese made ar is probably going to disappoint you accuracy and fit and finish wise.
But you have got it, buy what you like!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I saw a NEA ar with 2-300 rounds through it sold on hear recently for 1400. Is that not reasonable?
Yep, sounds like a bargain! If you can find one like that and it is what you want then go for it!
Do you want to eradicate goats or shoot a couple every second weekend for meat and sport? Id go a bolt .223 with a suppressor.