Savage Axis .223 or Merkel SXS .375 H&H???

[hoytcanon]

I have two hunts booked... one for prairie dogs and one for Cape Buffalo... but I can only afford one gun... should I buy the Axis .223 or Merkel .375 H&H???

Opinions and pictures appreciated.

 

[GMC403]

I have two hunts booked... one for prairie dogs and one for Cape Buffalo... but I can only afford one gun... should I buy the Axis .223 or Merkel .375 H&H???

Opinions and pictures appreciated.

Neither, my vote goes to the Vanguard 2. I know its not on your list but everyone should get one. my buddy has one in 30-06 and he shot clean through a grizzly at 900 yards...........

 

[sgt.rock]

I just bought an H and R single shot in .30-30win I think you should get that and forget the rest.

 

[bearkilr]

Go for the Axis!

 

[Gatehouse]

hey are basically the same thing in slightly different packages. Poetaytoe/Patahtoe

 

[hoytcanon]

Go for the Axis!

I thought buff's were supposed to be dangerous... napping with the enemy hardly seems dangerous... more like... cute... maybe I'll go with the Axis .223...

 

[randyhub]

Which one are you going to shoot more?

I sold my .308 and bought a .223 Hog Hunter for gophers and shooting paper. I now shoot more often and much cheaper with no shooter fatique.

Love Savage accuracy and value.

Randy

 

[Kevan]

I have two hunts booked... one for prairie dogs and one for Cape Buffalo... but I can only afford one gun... should I buy the Axis .223 or Merkel .375 H&H???

Opinions and pictures appreciated.

Buy the Merkel, I'll lend you a 223 thats ' experienced ' with prairie dogs..

 

[Why not?]

I have two hunts booked... one for prairie dogs and one for Cape Buffalo... but I can only afford one gun... should I buy the Axis .223 or Merkel .375 H&H???

Opinions and pictures appreciated.

Ugh, too bad! You missed this 270 I had posted for sale yesterday....




Ted

 

[caramel]

Neither caliber will suffice... Get yourself a good 308 , you will never look back... JP.

 

[Arctic]

Go ahead and pick up Ardent's .375, use it for the buff, and when you get back I'll pick up a new Axis in .223 for you in trade, .......that way you'll only need to buy one rifle!
Win, win both ways!!!

 

[track]

30-06, best all around cartridge.

 

[dead meat]

Personally i think you should pick up a nice bolt action shotgun, maybe an old salvage. Will cover all your hunting for the next few years.

 

[Boomer]

When you can make doubles on prairie dogs with the Merkel, then you're ready for mbogo. I guess my vote is for the .375.

 

[hoytcanon]

This is just super awesome advice... keep it coming!

 

[hoytcanon]

Ugh, too bad! You missed this 270 I had posted for sale yesterday....




Ted

Bummer... if I had been lucky enough to own that one, I would have named it "Chip."

 

[hoytcanon]

Neither caliber will suffice... Get yourself a good 308 , you will never look back... JP.

I'm not sure that a guy with 100 .308's can truly appreciate my dilemma...

 

[hoytcanon]

Go ahead and pick up Ardent's .375, use it for the buff, and when you get back I'll pick up a new Axis in .223 for you in trade, .......that way you'll only need to buy one rifle!
Win, win both ways!!!

This is an awesome strategy... but in my case needs some tweaking... I will buy Ardent's Merkel... but my prairie dog hunt is BEFORE the buffalo hunt... so I will use the Merkel in Sask and then trade it as you suggest for the Axis before heading skating across the pond for buff...

This raises a couple new questions; does anyone have data for a powderpuff load for the Merkel, something appropriate for ground squirrels... and conversely, I would need a stout load for the Axis on buff (I imagine?)... should I just use the V-Max that I have? I notice that many recommend Partitions... I do have 17 of the 60 grain Partitions I could try in load development...

 

[hoytcanon]

30-06, best all around cartridge.

.30/06??? I have never heard of this one... is it like a .308???

 

[hoytcanon]

Personally i think you should pick up a nice bolt action shotgun, maybe an old salvage. Will cover all your hunting for the next few years.

Do they come in 16 gauge? I still have two boxes of Imperial 16 gauge shells in #7 1/2... but they are huge... I think too big for prairie dogs?