brownbear53
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
or grizzlies, he's going to be hunting in bear country if he's from the Vancouver region
Opinions on semi auto hunting rifle?
- Thread starter Andrewstclair
- Start date
or grizzlies, he's going to be hunting in bear country if he's from the Vancouver region
Most people that have concerns about AR type rifles snagging in bush have probably never used them.
I don't understand the concern about a semi loading another round after a shot on game. Doesn't everyone reload their bolt action immediately after taking a shot on an animal?
I don't understand the concern about a semi loading another round after a shot on game. Doesn't everyone reload their bolt action immediately after taking a shot on an animal?
Interesting. I've seen more unsafe #### while hunting from guys with bolt actions than anything else, although bolt actions are far and away the most common in my circle.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
About the only legitimate logic, to choose otherwise than a semi-auto rifle: loading the first round at or near dawn, can sound like cocking the mechanism to an M2 .50 BMG in the morning forest.
Someone else mentioned this I think.
LOL
Yes....and speaking of new hunters, they can be excited enough to forget that a minute or two later if not reminded too lol
Hahahaha word.
Probably see people going loaded chamber, safety on more often
"Don't make sense"??? That is a poor wording to choose here, IMHO. There's no such thing as the Perfect Hunting Rifle, and expecting any rifle type to "make sense" for everybody's hunting requirements is silly.
If you need, as many do, to keep your hunting rifle unloaded and cased until legal shooting light, then a semi-auto is a joke, IMHO. I long ago lost track of the number of times that I was trying to silently load a magazine into a semi-auto, and then load a cartridge into the chamber, without spooking a nearby deer or coyote at first light. And I simply never found carrying an AR-style rifle (with which I did a fair bit of hunting back in the day), either slung or in the hands, to be nearly as comfortable as a traditional rifle, again IMHO. On the other hand, a quick follow-up shot or two, although essentially useless for most hunting IMHO, is a terrific advantage for called coyotes. So a semi makes "sense" for me only in a few specific hunting circumstances.
But plenty of folks value firepower and fast follow-ups. My favourite hunting rifles...single shots...are ridiculously inefficient if you need a second shot, so they "make no sense" to people like that. I can't even imagine what they think of traditional muzzleloaders.
We've had plenty of threads in which people comment on getting a cheap rifle for hunting, while at the same time spending megadollars on guns that will only be used for competition at the range. To me, a range gun is just a toy, a plinker, one on which I will never spend a ton of cash; I don't compete, so a gun like that will never ever take a shot that is truly important to me...but a hunting rifle will, with any luck, take the sort of once-in-a-lifetime shots that are essential components of priceless memories.
Aside from waterfowl, the last animal I took with a semi-auto was a deer that fell to my M305 (M1A clone). I really wanted to take an animal with that gun, which I really loved shooting just for fun...but when the deer dropped, my reaction was relief, knowing that I sure as hell wouldn't be doing that again.
Horses for courses.
Buying a new type of gun to try is never stupid, because you'll never know how you feel about it until you try it. Keep it if you love it; sell it if you don't. If you shop wisely on the EE you can usually find something that appeals to you, put enough rounds through it to get a feel for it, and then sell it on the EE without losing much or any money. If you do lose a couple bucks, just consider that to be the cost of a little bit of experience and education.
Lol, so you've also seen a lot more safe handling, a lot more game taken, and a lot more terrific shooting for that reason as well.
If you need, as many do, to keep your hunting rifle unloaded and cased until legal shooting light, then a semi-auto is a joke, IMHO. I long ago lost track of the number of times that I was trying to silently load a magazine into a semi-auto, and then load a cartridge into the chamber, without spooking a nearby deer or coyote at first light. And I simply never found carrying an AR-style rifle (with which I did a fair bit of hunting back in the day), either slung or in the hands, to be nearly as comfortable as a traditional rifle, again IMHO. On the other hand, a quick follow-up shot or two, although essentially useless for most hunting IMHO, is a terrific advantage for called coyotes. So a semi makes "sense" for me only in a few specific hunting circumstances.
But plenty of folks value firepower and fast follow-ups. My favourite hunting rifles...single shots...are ridiculously inefficient if you need a second shot, so they "make no sense" to people like that. I can't even imagine what they think of traditional muzzleloaders.
We've had plenty of threads in which people comment on getting a cheap rifle for hunting, while at the same time spending megadollars on guns that will only be used for competition at the range. To me, a range gun is just a toy, a plinker, one on which I will never spend a ton of cash; I don't compete, so a gun like that will never ever take a shot that is truly important to me...but a hunting rifle will, with any luck, take the sort of once-in-a-lifetime shots that are essential components of priceless memories.
Aside from waterfowl, the last animal I took with a semi-auto was a deer that fell to my M305 (M1A clone). I really wanted to take an animal with that gun, which I really loved shooting just for fun...but when the deer dropped, my reaction was relief, knowing that I sure as hell wouldn't be doing that again.
Horses for courses.Buying a new type of gun to try is never stupid, because you'll never know how you feel about it until you try it. Keep it if you love it; sell it if you don't. If you shop wisely on the EE you can usually find something that appeals to you, put enough rounds through it to get a feel for it, and then sell it on the EE without losing much or any money. If you do lose a couple bucks, just consider that to be the cost of a little bit of experience and education.
Lol, so you've also seen a lot more safe handling, a lot more game taken, and a lot more terrific shooting for that reason as well.
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
This has been an entertaining thread...
The only counsel I will offer is keep the weight under 10 pounds. A rifle that weighs more than 10 pounds, for me, is on the heavy side. From my limited knowledge of AR platforms there are no reliability issues, they are reasonably accurate, fill your boots.
Yes indeed. If you ever see the driven boar hunts in Europe, the majority of shooters use straight pull bolt actions. Like anywhere else I’m sure some of them might not be able to hit the barn door but some are absolutely amazing shots, head shots on multiple running boar, firing almost if not as fast as a semi auto. I don’t think I’ve ever see anyone using a semi auto one those boar hunts. I don’t know about the other European country’s but apparently in Germany you are only allowed 2 rounds in the magazine in a semi auto rifle. Three shots won’t go very far for those guys, they can likely have 10 in a straight pull rifle.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've owned about six Browning Bar. Most commonly found on the EE are 30-06. Excellent rifles, in a league above the Remington, everyone I've owned has been accurate, some very.
Bought used, would be less than the rebarrel.
Bought used, would be less than the rebarrel.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Well I started with a 10lb sans ammo LE No.4 with a chin weld, a 10lb AR10 with a flat top rail would be better than that lol. But no some liberal douchebag or fudd doesn’t think I need one to hunt with.
It scares Toronto soccer moms (some of em ostensibly male) who never saw the bush in their life but know enough about hunting to tell us what we need haha.
The Stag-10 with a pencil profile barrel like a Faxon Gunner must have made a nice combo as long as it wasn't rear heavy
It wasn't LOL.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Agreed, I take a mag fed grizzly with a M4 stock out hunting grouse. Walking trails and bushwhacking and it’s main con is weight, I don’t find it gets caught on things anymore than a traditional stocked rifle does.
It’s funny that everyone gets hung up on quick follow up shots as a reason people want a semi, doesn’t everyone want the ability to quickly reload in case a second shot needs to happen? With a bolt it’s the first thing I do after I take a shot, I’ve only ever taken a follow up shot once and it was just to be certain that big mule deer stayed put and didn’t run further up hill. Both were lung/heart hits.
I was enamored by the semi-auto "bug" in my early hunting days, and acquired a Remington 740, chambered 30-06.
It was a good "field" gun, and everything I shot with it died quickly.
Once I started reloading my ammo, I got rid of it in favor of a decent bolt gun.
The only semi-auto rifles I have owned since have been rimfires. Dave.
It was a good "field" gun, and everything I shot with it died quickly.
Once I started reloading my ammo, I got rid of it in favor of a decent bolt gun.
The only semi-auto rifles I have owned since have been rimfires. Dave.
I would second the recommendation of BAR. Had one in 7mm Rem Mag and it shot wonderfully. The only thing I didn't like was the hinged mag floorplate. Was a pain in the behind when having to make/show safe, but not a huge deal. I really wish we got the DBM versions up here. As for the semi/manual discussion, I'll throw my hat into the "why not?" crowd. There are definitely situations where a semi (including an AR style rifle) would be very handy to have, such as coyote duty or close and fast bush hunting. I would absolutely not raise an eyebrow if someone showed up with a semi to push bush. In this day and age a 450-500 (or 200 if you had foresight) dollar SKS can do much the same as a 1500-2000 dollar levergun, and many hunters of my generation simply were too young to buy the 94s and 336s when they were more affordable and aplenty. That said if you're walking far and/or shooting far, bolts are the logical choice for reasons of weight/accuracy.
If that is the style you are looking for then get one. A 308 is a great cartridge. Just because im a fudd with blue and wood my choice has no bearing whatsoever on what you should get. PS, nothing wrong with a reliable auto!
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I own a Voere 2185 in 30-06 with the hunter half stock.
It is accurate for 3 shots from a cold barrel, and only slightly heavier than a BAR.
However I would not recommend a North American hunter to buy it. It shotgun patterns factory 180 grain hunting ammo.
Plus it has a match chamber. Anything Garand pressure handloads, and it must have a short throat because it's most accurate with 125 and 150 grain bullets.
Only 168s at Garand pressure and powders.
It's deadly accurate Nosler Accubond 125 & Varget.
It's a grumpy rifle. I got a great deal on it only because it was a Ruko table rifle, Ontario gunshows mid 1990s.
A very low serial number.
Edit: One can externally adjust the trigger pull weight to spooky light. I don't recommend that.
Spare magazines are stupid expensive.
It is accurate for 3 shots from a cold barrel, and only slightly heavier than a BAR.
However I would not recommend a North American hunter to buy it. It shotgun patterns factory 180 grain hunting ammo.
Plus it has a match chamber. Anything Garand pressure handloads, and it must have a short throat because it's most accurate with 125 and 150 grain bullets.
Only 168s at Garand pressure and powders.
It's deadly accurate Nosler Accubond 125 & Varget.
It's a grumpy rifle. I got a great deal on it only because it was a Ruko table rifle, Ontario gunshows mid 1990s.
A very low serial number.
Edit: One can externally adjust the trigger pull weight to spooky light. I don't recommend that.
Spare magazines are stupid expensive.
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