Cheaper to feed hunting rifle

DGY

DGY

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Good day, I have all sort of hunting rifle in cartridges from 257 AI all the way to 458 win mag, I have a couple 22lr, but I’m looking to buy a rifle that will be cheaper to shoot but still a centerfire. My thoughts are 22 hornet or k hornet, 223 rem, 7.62x39… I’m sure there are a bunch more like some 6mm of some sort or other 22 calibers. My objective is to be able to use less powder like 25gn max for a max load. What cartridges fit that bill that are readily available, not a wild cat, something that the components(brass) is available, and that rifles are made for it with out going the custom route?
Mainly to hit steel to 300m, probably some hunting coyote, wolf(small games). My budget would be $1000 or less new or used. If 223 a faster twist would be nice and more versatile for hunting using heavier bullets.
223 is probably the way to go, but just for fun what else fit the bill.
I like wood stock and blue steel, open sights are nice but not a deal breaker, no need for detachable mag just a plain hinge floor plate is good enough… Howa, winchester, Weatherby, Remington, Cz, Sauer, so many brand to choose from…
Help me out!
 
Very happy with my Howa 1500 in 7MM-08. It’s a highly underrated round in my opinion

Pick up a box of Nosler WT for $45 or so just to site it in and get some decent brass.

Reloading will be even cheaper. Tac driver and can push some impressive yardage for what it is
 
DGY said:
Good day, I have all sort of hunting rifle in cartridges from 257 AI all the way to 458 win mag, I have a couple 22lr, but I’m looking to buy a rifle that will be cheaper to shoot but still a centerfire. My thoughts are 22 hornet or k hornet, 223 rem, 7.62x39… I’m sure there are a bunch more like some 6mm of some sort or other 22 calibers. My objective is to be able to use less powder like 25gn max for a max load. What cartridges fit that bill that are readily available, not a wild cat, something that the components(brass) is available, and that rifles are made for it with out going the custom route?
Mainly to hit steel to 300m, probably some hunting coyote, wolf(small games). My budget would be $1000 or less new or used. If 223 a faster twist would be nice and more versatile for hunting using heavier bullets.
223 is probably the way to go, but just for fun what else fit the bill.
I like wood stock and blue steel, open sights are nice but not a deal breaker, no need for detachable mag just a plain hinge floor plate is good enough… Howa, winchester, Weatherby, Remington, Cz, Sauer, so many brand to choose from…
Help me out!
Click to expand...
A 22 Hornet can be fun , but as history has proven a .223 will fit the bill as components are readily available day in and day out.
Brass for miles, projectiles for even more miles and powder selection for ease of choices.
To get exotic maybe a .222...
Just a muse ....
Rob
 
If your looking for a hunting cartridge, with around 25 grains of powder. Take a look at 22ARC, 6mm ARC, or 6.5 Grendel. All cartridges fit that bill.

You would have to run powders a touch on the faster side, but typically they are burning 22-31 grains of powder. Depending on exact bullet/powder combo. Factory rounds are very affordable as well.

Ruger, Howa, CZ, and Savage chamber them in bolt actions, and probably others.
 
223 is the most sold ammo next to 22lr for a reason.
The price.

For $1000 (with out optic I assume)
Savage 110 hog hunter
Ruger American predator
Mossberg Patriots sometimes work well.

If you like irons the 110 hog hunter when it goes on sale at caboolas would be my choice.

I would stay away from remington.
 
I am going to add my two cents here an say a SCSA Taipan X, yes it is over your budget but I have been blown away by the performance of the firearm, it eats everything from $0.50 bulk ammo all the way up to some cool hand loads and puts them closer than I ever can. -Cons it has weight and it has one of the most bizarre triggers I have ever used ( super heavy but breaks like glass with zero creep and almost zero reset). Pros has good Australian accuracy (at least mine does) Cheap to feed, great mag availability , adjustable stock with tools, super reliable, and just a load of fun. This is coming from someone who has tried several of the "cheaper" options the one thing that gets me about a lot of cheap guns in mag price its no fun breaking the plastic tab on savage mag in the cold then spending over a hundred bucks for a replacement. Vs the mountain of Patern mags I have for the Taipan.
 
I have a CZ 527 carbine. It came in .223 and 7.62x39. Mine is a .223, I thought the flatter shooting cartridge would be generally more useful than the 7.62. It's a neat, good looking, slick little rifle, a miniature Mauser with controlled round feed. It has a single set trigger that's adjustable if you know what you're doing. I've tuned mine down to the point where I don't use the set feature anymore. Later versions had a 1-9" twist; mine is 1-12" and will shoot up to 63 gr flatbase reasonably well.

There are some disadvantages; first is that they're no longer produced, so you'll have to hunt down a used one, and hope it comes with spare mags because they're scarce as hens teeth as well ( and not cheap ).

It has good iron sights but has it's own weird scope mount set-up. It's hard to find actual low mounts for this rifle; most are high, and maybe a few medium.

The safety is backwards for an Englishman. Forward is safe, back is fire. You can train yourself to use it, but you do have to pay attention to what you're doing. Mostly I carry chamber empty, and when I do use the safety I pretend it's the hammer on a lever gun that needs to be cocked.

If you're lucky you might even find one with really nice wood.

Dscn0567.jpg
 
Atman.01 said:
I am going to add my two cents here an say a SCSA Taipan X, yes it is over your budget but I have been blown away by the performance of the firearm, it eats everything from $0.50 bulk ammo all the way up to some cool hand loads and puts them closer than I ever can. -Cons it has weight and it has one of the most bizarre triggers I have ever used ( super heavy but breaks like glass with zero creep and almost zero reset). Pros has good Australian accuracy (at least mine does) Cheap to feed, great mag availability , adjustable stock with tools, super reliable, and just a load of fun. This is coming from someone who has tried several of the "cheaper" options the one thing that gets me about a lot of cheap guns in mag price its no fun breaking the plastic tab on savage mag in the cold then spending over a hundred bucks for a replacement. Vs the mountain of Patern mags I have for the Taipan.
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This has to be the opposite of what I’m looking for, none of the characteristics other than 223 lol. Not my cup of tea.
 
FLHTCUI said:
A 22 Hornet can be fun , but as history has proven a .223 will fit the bill as components are readily available day in and day out.
Brass for miles, projectiles for even more miles and powder selection for ease of choices.
To get exotic maybe a .222...
Just a muse ....
Rob
Click to expand...
I use to have a 222 but it wouldn’t shoot anything above 40gn if I remember correctly. A BSA, nice rifle but I thought I could do better than that…🙄
 
TMO said:
Very happy with my Howa 1500 in 7MM-08. It’s a highly underrated round in my opinion

Pick up a box of Nosler WT for $45 or so just to site it in and get some decent brass.

Reloading will be even cheaper. Tac driver and can push some impressive yardage for what it is
Click to expand...
7mm08 is a great cartridge, but not in my 25gn of powder max category.
 
I would probably go with a Howa mini in 6 arc. NECG peep and add a front sight. I just put the weaver rail mounted peep on my 375 h&h and it is pretty nice.
 
I’m a hornet fan, but that said it’s a specialty gun. Shines on small critters . My 223 gets used little but is far more versatile. For coyotes I had a couple 243s but cost more to shoot. If you plan on a lot of paper punching a 222/223 makes sense.
 
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redneck09 said:
I would probably go with a Howa mini in 6 arc. NECG peep and add a front sight. I just put the weaver rail mounted peep on my 375 h&h and it is pretty nice.
Click to expand...
6 Arc is a "niche" cartridge and will likely fade out, other than a few die hards. Same goes for most of the ARC cartridges. Components are not easily come by when shortages happen.
 
I’d vote for the 6x45 or 6x47 rem. Keeping it factory probably the Grendel.
How about running a 308 based round with small primer pocket brass and a teaspoon of varget/4895? You could step it up with lr primers to hunt with and not have to take such a bath when it’s time to sell.
This has got to be the most cgn conversation ever, help me spend a grand to save a dime haha.
 
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There are other options, but I believe the 223rem would fill the bill you listed in your requirements.

One other option, although limited for range, is the 357 magnum.

I've used the 357 magnum from both custom bolt actions, single shot rifles, and lever action rifles to cleanly take everything from ground squirrels up to Deer. You're limited to appx 100yds, but up to that range, it's very capable.

Components are relatively cheap, readily available, and several different powders are suitable.

44 magnum, works as well, but components are more expensive and can be difficult to source.

Next would be the venerable 30-30 Winchester, which would likely be my choice, if I were limited to "one rifle" for the parameters listed by DGY.
 
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