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Bushmaster or XR-100
T1jetmech
Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
Ok...I still haven't made up my mind yet and I am leaning towards a decision. I am driving my wife nuts with my procrastination but I am thinking I have narrowed it down to these two rifles. The varmint version is the bushmaster I was looking at. Or I could save alittle on the rifle and get the XR-100 and spend the money I save on the scope. What do you all think? I will be shooting out to about 400 yds at the most.
Comments
I'm interested in some of the information from your first posts:
"I used to shoot a Browning A-Bolt in 22-250 and loved it...real pleasure to shoot. The only problem is 500 yds consistently was hard to obtain unless I shot on the calmest of days.'
Yet, both rifles you are considering are chambered for the .223 Rem. or the 22-250 Rem. (slow twist) in the case of the XR-100. Personally, think you would be better served by the .243 Win. or the .260 Rem. which are available in several models from every manufacturers with suitable twist rates for higher BC bullets. The Savage BVSS not only comes in .243 Win. with a proper twist rate but will allow for a high quality scope purchase also.
http://www.savagearms.com/12bvss.htm
"Living in Mississippi I don't get much prairie dog hunting but we do get Nutras that are very smart...when your watching a pond, it is nice to be able to take out a musk rat or beaver or nutra on the other side without skipping your round off the water. I know that takes pratice...and a round capible of reaching 450-500 and still kill the varmit. The 22-250 just wounded them."
No offense, but we aren't allowed to shoot over water in at least 3 of the states I've lived in. Granted I haven't checked the laws in your state but knowing the extent of the Nutria problem, I can imagine that it might be overlooked. No matter what the cartridge or bullet, when the trajectories available from shore are taken into account, it might be difficuct to avoid the 'skip'. See the above for the answer to the 22-250 problem.
"Several of you mentioned stock design. Never really occured to me. What characteristics of stock design dictate what results?"
Stock design depends on body type and shape as well as shooting position. A correctly fitted stock will have the right length of pull, height to the cheek, cast-off, grip shape and diameter, etc. Recoil can be minimized by a correctly fitted stock. If you feel that you need a fitted stock and can't afford a custom stock from a stockmaker, there is the option of using one the semi-custom aftermarket stocks with an adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull.
I don't see the need for something like the Bushmaster especially considering the cost. It will not have the accuracy of the XR-100 by any means and I don't think the ability to use semi-auto fire is a benefit for your stated uses.
Best.
T1jetmech,
I'm interested in some of the information from your first posts:
"I used to shoot a Browning A-Bolt in 22-250 and loved it...real pleasure to shoot. The only problem is 500 yds consistently was hard to obtain unless I shot on the calmest of days.'
Yet, both rifles you are considering are chambered for the .223 Rem. or the 22-250 Rem. (slow twist) in the case of the XR-100. Personally, think you would be better served by the .243 Win. or the .260 Rem. which are available in several models from every manufacturers with suitable twist rates for higher BC bullets. The Savage BVSS not only comes in .243 Win. with a proper twist rate but will allow for a high quality scope purchase also.
http://www.savagearms.com/12bvss.htm
"Living in Mississippi I don't get much prairie dog hunting but we do get Nutras that are very smart...when your watching a pond, it is nice to be able to take out a musk rat or beaver or nutra on the other side without skipping your round off the water. I know that takes pratice...and a round capible of reaching 450-500 and still kill the varmit. The 22-250 just wounded them."
No offense, but we aren't allowed to shoot over water in at least 3 of the states I've lived in. Granted I haven't checked the laws in your state but knowing the extent of the Nutria problem, I can imagine that it might be overlooked. No matter what the cartridge or bullet, when the trajectories available from shore are taken into account, it might be difficuct to avoid the 'skip'. See the above for the answer to the 22-250 problem.
"Several of you mentioned stock design. Never really occured to me. What characteristics of stock design dictate what results?"
Stock design depends on body type and shape as well as shooting position. A correctly fitted stock will have the right length of pull, height to the cheek, cast-off, grip shape and diameter, etc. Recoil can be minimized by a correctly fitted stock. If you feel that you need a fitted stock and can't afford a custom stock from a stockmaker, there is the option of using one the semi-custom aftermarket stocks with an adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull.
I don't see the need for something like the Bushmaster especially considering the cost. It will not have the accuracy of the XR-100 by any means and I don't think the ability to use semi-auto fire is a benefit for your stated uses.
Best.
Sooo many choices. As always I value your opinion. I have shouldered both guns I have been looking at and both "feel" comfortable. I am going to a range close to home where a gun shop owner is going to let me fire a bushmaster he has for sale. I agree that the semi-auto isn't exactly what I had in mind for this upcomming season.
On private lands here you are allowed to shoot over small bodies of water for beaver,musk rat and nutria. For large game it is illegal to shoot them in water and at them over a body of water. You also can't shoot over public bodies of water for any reason. In those areas, game management officers trap problem animals.
Nice thing is I have about 2 months before spring so I can take all this info into account and make the best choice. I am hoping I can rule out one choice this weekend. Any thing else comes to mind please let me in on it. I value everyone's opinion.