Thread: Silencer question

Originally Posted by JoshC

No offence but Chris is right. Learn to walk before you run. If you haven't shot a firearm before and plan to 'go hunting' you need practice. You need to learn to shoot. Learn where to shoot an animal to achieve a clean kill. The animals deserve it. Practicing with a centre fire is costly if you are buying ammo. I'd recommend taking a step back, buying a rimfire and practicing. Then joining local deerstalkers club and tagging along on hunts will be far more productive than just buying a 308 and expecting to go shoot stuff.

My plan was to get a couple hundred rounds (I've put money aside for some cheap FMJ stuff) and just spend a few days at the range over this way to get my bearings and zero the rifle, Most 22 clubs here don't shoot further than 25 yards. I've had plenty of practice with air rifles, pre charged rifles, crossbows in the past and when it comes to shot placement I know the basics of where to shoot on a deer, High shoulder to attempt to cause the spine to break or Behind the lower part of the shoulder blade to attempt double lung/heart shots and usually avoid headshots at longer distances due to the brain being a small target and you risk shooting its jaw and causing it to not be able to eat and slowly starve to death. I also intend on joining the deerstalkers and taking a wee course to learn stuff first hand as I really don't know any hunters personally, Restricted to watching tutorials and informational videos online!

Originally Posted by ebf

There was a cleaning thread recently. You might want to read that and get something other than a cheap multi-piece rod to stick down a nice new rifle...

It was originally for a heckler and koch, Says made in germany on it. If I need another one oh well I guess i gotta get it I will also give that a read Wanna get as much know-how as I can.

22, is never a bad idea.

They are a hell of a lot of cheap fun, and you will very likely end up a better shot if you start out and move up.

I shoot mine way more than my 6.5x55 or 7.62x39

1; I think everyone should use a .22lr (or rimfire of some sort) to get some general gun use experience before a centrefire. That would be my recommendation, however that's obviously entirely up to you. And seeing as you've had plenty of practice with air rifles I guess that would suffice
2; I would NOT buy the Savage Axis. Save a little longer and go for the Savage Trophy Hunter or similar priced guns (Howa for example are good guns for the money, as multiple people have already stated).

Originally Posted by Pengy

You are spoilt

Shit mate we even have one in Te Puke

Originally Posted by Scottishkiwi

I agree I'd probably need a bit of coaching at first, But I don't see much point in getting a .22 if I'm planning on hunting, Especially deer and goats. I'd imagine it would be like when I started riding a motorcycle I had a 250 then a couple months later I was desperate for something bigger, Been on a 750 ever since I may get a .22 at some point for indoor shoots but that isn't what I'm wanting to do right now and seems like i'd be wasting money.

I think you are missing the point completely ...

If he doesn't want to start on a .22 that's fine, he's a student, probably isn't earning that much money and more importantly it is more likely he can find and use peoples .22s who are willing to let him pop off 100s of rounds for free or for very cheap at indoor clubs with club guns. I agree he should get his practice in, but with limited funds and the end goal being goats and deer a .308 is the ticket.

Just make sure you get plenty of range time with the rifle before you take it hunting, go with someone who knows what they are doing, even shooting 'cheap fmj' before you zero with hunting loads will give you a feel for the rifle. Go down to a club or a mates farm and practice fundamentals with the .22.

People will spend your money quickly on this forum. Take their advice as it is sound in principle, but get the rifle you want, and get practice with a .22 without buying one.

Originally Posted by Scottishkiwi

I asked on another thread about the howas and they seem to be quite good, I was unsure because 1. i've never heard of them and 2. They are japanese, I didn't even know they still made firearms for civvy use!

Yes, the Japanese make civilian firearms - Browning X Bolt, Howa and some Weatherby rifles.

Heaps of good advice on this thread.

Originally Posted by Gibo

Shit mate we even have one in Te Puke

The only official range up here is open just the second sunday of the month, and caters for black powder,pistols, rimfire and centrefire all on the same day. It is outdoor, so a bit weather dependant, and it is just much easier to go a to a mates farm and use his setup. It only gets out to 100 safely, but that is fine. The only other restriction of course is stock in nearby paddocks

Originally Posted by Shamus

I think you are missing the point completely ...

I get the point, But I simply don't make much money,I'm a student and 90% of my money is gone after paying for rent, gas, food and other essentials. If money was no issue i'd get a .22lr like a 10/22 or something no questions asked, But I have one end goal to start with and it took me long enough to save up what I have already(Almost a year). No doubt i'd buy one for plinking at some point but I want more versatility. At the end of the day getting a .308 or something makes no real difference except it kicks harder and the ammo costs more, Practice is practice.

Originally Posted by l1ft

If he doesn't want to start on a .22 that's fine, he's a student, probably isn't earning that much money and more importantly it is more likely he can find and use peoples .22s who are willing to let him pop off 100s of rounds for free or for very cheap at indoor clubs with club guns. I agree he should get his practice in, but with limited funds and the end goal being goats and deer a .308 is the ticket.

Just make sure you get plenty of range time with the rifle before you take it hunting, go with someone who knows what they are doing, even shooting 'cheap fmj' before you zero with hunting loads will give you a feel for the rifle. Go down to a club or a mates farm and practice fundamentals with the .22.

People will spend your money quickly on this forum. Take their advice as it is sound in principle, but get the rifle you want, and get practice with a .22 without buying one.

Pretty much what you said is dead on what my thoughts are. I'm trying to do this on a budget and not to mention I know pretty much no one in the hunting and shooting scene here so I'm starting literally from the bottom. Been saving what little i get left over after paying for essentials, I also don't know anyone in my region who owns a farm, only a couple people up north from when I worked up there for a bit and i'm not driving 8 or so hours to shoot a .22! I was even considering getting an SKS and buying an old surplus spam can. But I'd rather get a good bolt gun, good scope like a leupold 3-9x40 and some low grain fmj rounds and heavier hollow hunting rounds and getting a feel for each by spending a whole lotta time at the range and learning that way. (I still may get an SKS one day because I love milsurps )

You don't need to buy a new rifle to get into hunting. I would say the vast majority started with a 2nd hand rifle or a hand me down rifle.

For your budget of $1000 you could quite easily find a reasonable condition common calibre scoped centre fire (243/308/270) and reasonable condition .22. Have you considered that?

Originally Posted by JoshC

You don't need to buy a new rifle to get into hunting. I would say the vast majority started with a 2nd hand rifle or a hand me down rifle.

For your budget of $1000 you could quite easily find a reasonable condition common calibre scoped centre fire (243/308/270) and reasonable condition .22. Have you considered that?

This is good advice, as I said earlier if you are patient you can find good second hand quality rifles, scoped and ready to go, for less than a new budget rifle.
PM garyp, the Brno he has is scoped for $700 and is the equivalent of a CZ550 which are $1700 odd new as a bare rifle.
I have just paid $700 for a Brno zkk600 that has fired 20 rounds and is like new, they are there if you look for them and ths would leave some cash for a cheap .22.

Choice is yours though, I went new rifle to start and ended up selling them and replacing them with old premium rifles!

Originally Posted by JoshC

You don't need to buy a new rifle to get into hunting. I would say the vast majority started with a 2nd hand rifle or a hand me down rifle.

For your budget of $1000 you could quite easily find a reasonable condition common calibre scoped centre fire (243/308/270) and reasonable condition .22. Have you considered that?

I have, But I've been told 1/2 of your money should go towards the rifle, the other half should go towards the scope. I mean if i could find a couple for that price i'd go for it though. They say guns are like tattoos, once you get one, you'll get another. What are your opinions on getting a mosin nagant and a cheap .22? the 7.62x54R is a great hunting round and plenty cheap and the mosins run for about 300-400 dollars unissued and are easily sporterized.

This is damned good value for a basically new rifle with a reasonably reasonable scope.

Savage Trophy Hunter .270 win | Trade Me

I'm sure if you wanted to go second hand a few of the guys on here would be happy to check it out for you. Rifles are a bit like cars. The first 5m driven, from the car yard the the road, costs about 25% of the purchase value. I did buy a new centrefire but have bought a few second hand that have been excellent bargains.