Semi varminter advice needed

No semi-auto will keep up with a bolt action for varmint use.



Because the law says so. Why do you think they might be restricted?

Depends on the rifle. I have AR10 rifles that shoot .5 moa with match ammo. This is in there with a good quality tactical rifle for accuracy.

There are AR-15 rifles (Les Bauer) that are known to shoot well below .5 moa. Some have even made claim to around 1/4 moa. If the AR platform wasn't restricted it would be the dominant varmint rifle. A bull barrel and match trigger turn these rifles into very accurate semi autos.

I agree mini14 target (But get the trigger done, it sucks in stock form), Then the SL8 and the Swiss Arms. The Tavor might work for varminting. It showed some promise with the right ammo. A varmint heavy barrel version of the Tavor would be fantastic along with a lighter trigger. I'd buy another one.
 
When are you going to accept that the answers you have been given are correct? There are no cheap, black, accurate semi-auto centerfire rifles, restricted or non. The very nature of a semi means it is inherently less accurate than a bolt action. For whatever reasons, all black rifles are very expensive for what you get, in terms of performance, and there are very few black rifles that did not get hammered by the Libs and put onto either the prohibited or restricted lists.

mattockx,

I hope i did not offend anyone. I didn't mean to be rude at all. I was just questioning. I came here to get answers and i got them. When i asked; how do you know it's restricted?, i only wanted to know where to get the answer by myself for other models.

Now i am sure that i will not get an accurate semi for a reasonable price.
And now thanks to you all, i am thinking to get a bolt gun.

But i have another question; when one of you said that i should be ok with a BAR, does that mean i'll get 2" groups or 8" at 100 yards with a BAR?

Thank you all again!!

RYBACK!!!
 
mattockx,

I hope i did not offend anyone. I didn't mean to be rude at all. I was just questioning. I came here to get answers and i got them. When i asked; how do you know it's restricted?, i only wanted to know where to get the answer by myself for other models.

Now i am sure that i will not get an accurate semi for a reasonable price.
And now thanks to you all, i am thinking to get a bolt gun.

But i have another question; when one of you said that i should be ok with a BAR, does that mean i'll get 2" groups or 8" at 100 yards with a BAR?

Thank you all again!!

RYBACK!!!

No worries, I was probably snippier than I needed to be on the answer. As you have discovered, there really isn't anything like what you are looking for within the budget you have stated.

The BAR would probably get into the 2" range with some care in load development and that is more than sufficient for its mission of big game hunting.

Before you spend money, at least try a decent heavy barrel bolt action to see if it really is something you don't want to have. While you can't bang away like with a semi, there is a charm in shooting tiny groups and hitting your target every time if you do your part.

Mark
 
What about the MR1 from Benelli? Looks good, but it's advertised as a home defense weapon... Don't know about medium or long range capability.

And how do i know if this gun is restricted or not in Canada?

RYBACK!!!
 
Y'know, I do ALOT of varmint hunting. The worst thing that can happen is you miss and you take another shot - no big deal.

If you want a semi - and you know they are going to be a tough fit in your budget, there is another option: Go with something in 7.62X39. The ammo is CHEEEEP, there are many semi's in the market such as the SKS, the CZ 858 etc. They may not be sub-moa, but you'll have fun and not break the bank. These are the last great source of an inexpensive $hit eating grin in the shooting world. Lower your standards a bit and go have fun.
 
MR1 wont be available in Canada until about September.

there will be likely a restricted and non restricted version

non restricted will have a 20" bbl
 
ryback: a good rule of thumb, if it is an AR style platform it is restricted, and if it has a barrel of less than 18.5" it is restricted.
 
Y'know, I do ALOT of varmint hunting. The worst thing that can happen is you miss and you take another shot - no big deal.

If you want a semi - and you know they are going to be a tough fit in your budget, there is another option: Go with something in 7.62X39. The ammo is CHEEEEP, there are many semi's in the market such as the SKS, the CZ 858 etc. They may not be sub-moa, but you'll have fun and not break the bank. These are the last great source of an inexpensive $hit eating grin in the shooting world. Lower your standards a bit and go have fun.

I agree buy a nice Savage or Tikka centerfire bolt gun and out fit it with Bushnell 3200 optics. Blued action/barrel and a synthetic stock and a 3-9X40 scope could be done for under $1000

Or check the Equipment Exchange here and you can get used equipment and be set up even cheaper.

Then spend $250 on an SKS and buy a crate of surplus ammo ($125-140 per approx 1200 rounds). You can get the rapid fire fun on the cheap and still have a nice bolt action for precision shooting.
 
The Mini 14 with ATI Stock would be cool. But, restricted because of the barrel lenght and the overall lenght (folding stock)! Maybe they will make a non restricted model for Canada. But i doubt it, the demand for such guns is not very high around here (at least in Quebec). Even the salesmens at our gunshops don't know these products. When i asked for the Benelli MR1. they all say; what does it looks like? And when i describe it or they see a picture on the net, they say; it surly is restricted or i cannot order it.

MAybe i'll wait for the MR1 in september like ARIES wrote here.

Thank you all for your answers!!

RYBACK!!!
 
Mini 14 barrels are longer then the legal 18.5" limit, and as long as the whole package is more then 26" long with the folder (folded), you're legit. The government posts a list of the rules for restricted and prohib, although I find it difficult to believe that this wasn't covered in your PAL class. - dan
 
Mini 14 barrels are longer then the legal 18.5" limit, and as long as the whole package is more then 26" long with the folder (folded), you're legit. The government posts a list of the rules for restricted and prohib, although I find it difficult to believe that this wasn't covered in your PAL class. - dan

Not the Mini 14 with ATI stock. Barrel lenght 16,12". And overall lenght 34-37inches. I doubt that it would measure 26" folded.

Does anyone can tell me fur sure how long is that gun with the folded stock?

RYBACK!!!
 
How the hell can the word's mini-14 & Precision Rifles even be in the same fourm?
:confused:
What's next? SkS, Ak's & pa's old SxS shootie?
Also dan belisle any centire fire semi-auto rifle with a barrel shorter than 18.5" is a restricted rifle. Please check in the hunting fourm's for more info.
 
Since this is the precision rifle forum, I believe that a good bolt gun or single shot will be the only ones that will shoot with adequate precision, and even then will require tinkering and judicious reloading. The rifle will also require good optics. If you just want a gun to play around with that looks "cool" and you want to go through alot of ammo, get yourself one of those SL-8 Mini Swiss 14s, or whatever.
 
On another thread, i saw the FNAR. WOWWW!!! That's exactly what i what except for the caliber (308). But you know what? I like it so much that i may buy this gun no matter the caliber. Varmint must look out!!!

From what i can read on internet, it should be non restricted (correct me if i'm wrong please but i hope i'm not) and it should be very accurate for a semi. Also, easy to mount a scope on it. The MR1 seem's not built to use with a scope since it's advertised as a Home Defense Weapon. BTW, a Home Defense Weapon locked in a safe and empty is not very usefull in Canada!!!

Now i just have to find a retailer in Canada, Québec if possible!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT WEAPON? Does someone own such a gun?

RYBACK!!!
 
The mini 14 target model with handloads has had some pretty good reviews. Including good results by knowledgeable members of this forum. It would be considered a precision rifle (Varmint class). Not a bench rest but a precision rifle none the less.

An AR-15 or AR-10 with a match bull barrel and target trigger definitely qualifies. When you can buy them off the shelf and they have a 1/2 moa guarantee that is a precision rifle.

This mentality that semi autos can't be precision rifles is old fashioned. yes a bolt rifle can be more accurate, and it's definitely easier. But not all bolt actions are more accurate. In fact only the very top few such as Bench rest and the odd high end bolt action are more accurate than a precision Semi auto.

If you want a semi then go for it.
 
Not sure what other peoples experience with the mini are, but I can tell you my first hand experience. And please don't let my name "rugerfan" make you think that I am biased or somehow working for Ruger, I just like their rifles, warranty, and quality. But I also own a couple savages, a cooey .22, a winchester shotgun, etc.

With that out of the way, with american eagle hollow points, bought at the local UFA for $ 12 and change a box of 20, my target model has printed an honest 5-shot <1" group at 100 yards, I still have the target, and will photograph and post if neccesary, and it was witnessed.

Sure that may not cut it for gophers at 300, but for coyote or similar duty, it will hit the target as far away as the .223 round can deliver the required power.

I was in the same boat as the original poster, wanting an accurate non restricted semi auto, for me, the ruger was the best, if not only choice in my budget, and i don't regret it at all, but everyone has their own tastes.
 
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