Thread: Make me a recommendation

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

have a squizz at the 222 controversial one thread.......it will make your mind up
as for will you look like a tool???? not if you can shoot straight you wont....sub 150 yards ,and you did say you like to get close...they are really neat wee rifles to use.

Cheers, I'll mull over this for a bit while attending to your recommended reading.

Definitely a 223 if I was you.
Maybe 22LR as well.

Think you might be on the money with the 6.5mm rounds. 6.5CM, 6.5x55 have the most available factory ammo, while the 260rem is right up there for those that tend to reload. All have very little recoil, especially when suppressed.
Tikka seems to be the go-to rifle for a large number of hunters, and for good reason. Not overpriced, shoot very well, and hold their price pretty well when it comes time to onsell. You also have a lot of aftermarket stocks, triggers, bolt knobs, shrouds, pic rails etc for them, so can customise as you see fit.
Lugging a 12lb 26" heavy barreled rifle around NZ bush to hunt with tends to seem like a good idea at the time, but you will get bored with it pretty quickly (from personal experience). Just having a long barreled rifle regardless of the weight is a pain in the butt in the bush. Hence why you often see the 12-14" .308 bush pig's used for tight bush hunting.

First thought is I think you are under rating the 7x57. For most NZ hunting it will do everthing you need provided you reload and can make the most of it. Certainly the 7x57 in a good condition action will out perform the 7m08 with the heavier pills.
I see the 6.5 being too close to the 7x57 so would skip that one.
So my first thought was 243 with a fast twist barrel would cover most NZ hunting out to 500 mtr if you reload. Again it's not that different to your 7x57 so I see the 223 as a viable option for shorter range deer and longer range pest control until you get your 7x57 and other here.

Lever actions, Marlin 336 in 30/30 or 35 Rem, Browning BLR in any caliber from 223 to 30/06, used Savage 99.
So if you can find one scratch both itches and get a BLR in 223. Will shoot with most bolt actions.
Z
NB I get wanting to use the 404,
These last couple of years I have been using mostly a 358 win over my 243, The 243 is so much easier to shoot, quality action, trigger etc, a little more weight and better shaped stock. But the 358 with it's crappy trigger and less ergonomic stock, extra kick is just so much fun and challenging to shoot.

Buy a 243

Personally l would be looking at something like this that you can use as the basis of a great style of rifle known locally as the kiwi bush pig on a proven, cheap rifle ie simply add suppressor & scope of choice & it will do it all far better than anything you are trying to bring over.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....3-308-a-60202/

If you don't fancy a .223 then why not the faster flatter shooting 22.250?

you'll probably want a rimfire rifle for small game / pests - depending on where you set up - a 22LR cheapest to burn ammo.

for hunting until your rifles are here (or not) - this could depend on the type of hunting you are going to be doing however options:

45/70 lever - Marlin 1895 Trapper would make a nice short bush gun option to shoot subs suppressed or leverevolution for more range.
A 6.5cm or 6.5PRC would give you a modern cartridge that can take any game in NZ and cover off longer ranges. Depending on what tickles your fancy a Tikka, Begara, Howa, or Ruger would fit the bill - all have their strong points depending on preference

308 will drop anything in nz, ammo is widely available in a range of projectile sizes.
to cover your bases you need a 22lr, a 12 gu and a 308

nothing wrong with a medium sized cal like 6.5creed/260rem or the close relatives 7mm08/243/308
its all thats really needed for NZ hunting

standard sporter or light weight barrel would be my recommendation,length around 20inch with a DPT suppressor
I always let the guys with the heavy barrel guns on the hunt handle my kimber montana once theyve started sweating a bit

.260 in a Tikka super light or maybe a Sako.. that’s my next pick.

Maybe even in a Model 7 if they do them

Originally Posted by outlander

I remember arriving on my mates farm up in Messina 35 years ago with a Bruno .270 and 150gr bullets and made to look an arse. I had to use the 303 for Kudu. Wat die fok is dit ..?

I know recently some landowners push for 30 calibres minimum in the bushveld. Didn't know that silliness started more than 3 decades ago. It's a bit silly really. Kudu isn't that tough, a 270, especially in 150gr, is more than enough gun for kudu. Certainly many on my dad's farm succumbed to his 270. Now if blue wildebeest is a consideration, I might start having doubts about the 270. A badly placed shot (as in, on the shoulder bones on a big bull) from a non premium bullet can make for a long hard day tracking a wounded animal. A slower, heavier bullet of premium construction is a better option. Still quite doable to shoot blue wildebeest with a 270 but certainly wouldn't be my go-to.

Originally Posted by bunji

Personally l would be looking at something like this that you can use as the basis of a great style of rifle known locally as the kiwi bush pig on a proven, cheap rifle ie simply add suppressor & scope of choice & it will do it all far better than anything you are trying to bring over.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....3-308-a-60202/

This really caught my attention. What optics would you put on that?

Originally Posted by Nkwe

This really caught my attention. What optics would you put on that?

Looks like it comes with a 3-9x42 scope. A ready to go package for a sharp price if it's still available. The only thing that could possibly be better is a 270

Originally Posted by Joe_90

Looks like it comes with a 3-9x42 scope. A ready to go package for a sharp price if it's still available. The only thing that could possibly be better is a 270

and there you go , ruining a perfectly legitimate thread by mentioning poo-seventy .... the poo is about to hit the fan (as it were )

next you'll be telling us how 45/70 is the best bush calibre .... oh , wait...