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Hey all, new to the forum and this is my first post
I've been doing a little digging and I think i am looking for a .223 solution to the goat question with a 1/8 barrel. I would be interested in others' views/recommendations.
I have also started reloading, and i think with today shortages this may also be a fairly common rifle to get reloading supplies for.
Cheers
D
Howa Mini, Ruger American, Tikka T3. Whatever tickles your fancy and fits your budget.
Add savage to that list very underrated functional rifles
yes you have a wide choice and dont forget .222 equally as good as .223 on goats - some oldies to keep an eye out for Remington 788 ( good ones are tack drivers ) and Remington 700 especially the model seven - Tikka LSA 55 and 595 well made and usually very accurate - BRNO Fox was good - BSA Hunter very nice - and all the new ones large choice there and all okay - Bergara have a reputation for accuracy -and Howa well made its what you likeQuote:
Originally Posted by Davel72
I run a Savage 22-250 for this, takes the same powder and primers as my 308 and is a great option, I prefer it to the Tikka 223 that's in my safe
yes I have used 22.250 on goats and very effective- just so much more grunt than a .222 - we tried to get ammo supplied back in Forest Service days but no - probably good as would have been a lot more deaf now - they certainly go offQuote:
Originally Posted by Happy Jack
Something short, and supressed.
52gr-60gr HP projectile is ideal for goats. I've shot over a thousand with the 223 & have mates done likewise and we soon settled on HP's for best results. A goat is generally a lightly framed animal that doesn't need a hard projectile. Yes a tuff old billy can take a bit of lead but they will fall to a well placed single shot just like a nanny if you do your part correctly.
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Just about any 222 or 223 rifle will do the job, most are pretty accurate. Ammo running 50-55 gr soft points is all you need plus lots of accuracy practice. I’ve shot thousands over the years without problems in these calibers. As posted yesterday on other thread, 58 goats for 6 misses and two that needed second shot over two days, they do the job.
Im usually taking the grendel out these days if im after goats.
223 great choice with a suppressor. Hard to look past a Tikka, especially if your want to customise it later on down the line.
I'm running a short suppressed mauser M18 as a fallow and goat gun with hornady 55gr training ammo.
Works a treat
300 blk and 6.5 Grendel are worth considering too. Both will give you a bit more operating span. But nothing wrong with the .223. Keep an eye out for a Zastava bolt action in .223 too. That is an underrated option that hasn’t been suggested yet.
Whatever you do decide to get, if there is option for a micro action, go for that.
The other thing worth considering is that the more popular options (such as Howa mini) have more aftermarket support. You have more options for scope mounting, replacement stocks, alterations to bottom metal etc.
Are you new to hunting in general, or just looking to try something different?
A .223 on goats is a good round , but is hardly worth reloading for with the bulk Belmont ammunition available . But if you want to go down the reloading avenue there are better more versatile rounds depending on your needs .
So the real question you need to ask is what sort of round will suit the type of hunting you will be doing ? , and how versatile do you want it to be ?.
in the current climatte. 223 howa mini with a bunch of spare mags. in past times, 223 AR15 with lots of mags
Is Belmont ammo actually available though?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tankd
I haven't seen stock in the website of 223 or 308 for many many months.
Was talking with them recently, they’re hoping for powder to arrive shortly so they can do a production run. Have had a standing order with them for some time now, hope to get something in the near future.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beetroot
22 creedmoor? Just been saami approved. Should be deadly on goats
You'd need one with a large trigger guard or it will have trouble getting a hoof in there.
[QUOTE=woods223;1482234]Was talking with them recently, they’re hoping for powder to arrive shortly so they can do a production run. Have had a standing order with them for some time now, hope to get something in the near future
There has been a few on here recently who have been talking to them, some one said they have been filling pest control orders yet no one I know has Belmont at the mo, another one said they filling police orders, now it’s no powder. Seems as if we are getting the run round from them
My suggestion is go to your local gun store and try the fit of a whole bunch of rifles - new and used. Find the one that fits your body shape and arm length , then worry about what make it is. And ignore the 1-8 requirement - the goat isnt going to give a damn , more goats shot with factory twist rate rifles than any trendy twist rate .
I use a Rem Mod 7 stainless rifle and that thing has been shot till its too hot to even get close to the barrel , let alone touch it .
[QUOTE=Fat ninja;1482247]Guess they’ll fill government orders first, that’s their primary market after all. Pest control orders next I hope, then everyone else. They’re suffering from powder supply issues same as any importer, things will sort themselves out hopefully, no use getting bitchy about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by woods223
I’m not getting “bitchy” about it. I’m pointing out that I’m hearing multiple reasons, I hunt for a living and no one I know has had Belmont ammo for ages, myself included.
I have a steyr pro 223 great rifle and you would struggle to find a more accurate factory 223
I went down this track awhile back and the 2 options I was looking at was a supressed Tikka t3x chambered in .223 or a supressed Howa 1500 chambered in 7.62x39. Although both are suited to the task at hand I went with the t3x and a few 10rnd mags toboot
I have a Ruger ranch. It takes AR mags. They are cheap and just love 60grain vmax. Having removable 10 round mags is a must.
The 50 packs fiocchi loaded with the vmax or the softpoint has always been very accurate for me, just a bit slow. It worked out as cheap as anything else. Not sure if they still sell them, i use to buy them in bulk when i had a 223 and shot large amounts of goats. I dont have one anymore. I found it easier to get and i think it was as cheap as belmont.
You asked about what rifle. I doubt their are many "Bad" rifle brands out there. Some at the bottom end of the market may need a little Tuning to get the best but minute of goat at 223 ranges is not a high accuracy requirement.
If just taking 1 or 2 goats at a time for meat etc then most any bolt action will be fine. second hand or new.
Scopes 1-6, 2-8 scope if working bush or scrub, moving up to 2-10 or 3-12 for more open country, I would think its hard to justify much more power in a scope on a hunting 223.
(Unless small game was on the list)
If however you are needing to take out larger numbers but don't qualify as a professional pest controller then possibly a lever action.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/4256418927
Just for example and no affiliation at all. get a spare mag as well. Bit pricy for many of us.
Or for a bit more knock down power and range 5+1 built in mag. (Barrel & Scope could be due for replacement)
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/4262799192
Plenty of lever action 30/30's in Win 94 or Marlin 336's etc around.
Z
Opps Calibre drift away from 223.
I thought centrefire semis were verboten?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramset
its just a bolt action that takes ar magsQuote:
Originally Posted by 6x47
Dave, you are sure to have a popular first posting !
Due to accuracy requirements and the sometimes small size of goats, for many people the 223 is a specialist short range(50m) cartridge.
i run a 16" ruger american 223 for pest control on wallabies and goats, cant fault it so far after 1000 rounds never had any feeding issues, 10 shot mag is great, nice mag release which is near impossible to bump open unlike the howa mini one which i had to attack with a file. all round happy as and will buy another when time comes. not too hard on the wallet either.
Theres a lot of people that will shoot further but my comfortable limit so far with 223 is 200m on goats. I know some here do but its not my choice for deer
dont over look a norinco in either 223 or 7.62x39mm either....they can be/are finished by hand and foot to be sure BUT some of them shoot very well,if the price is right,you have little to loose.
How many Goats are you planning on Shooting? 223 is a great Goat, ammo is cheap and light.