I’m kinda new to PM. I’ve Been reading on this forum about “Your Favorite Go To Gun”. I’ve been hunting for a long, long time. I shoot 30-06, 308, 7mm, and others. Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope, Rock Chucks, Prarie Dogs, and everything in between!! Lots of shotgun mixed in to. I’m slowing down these days though.
But for these critters: the larger frame dogs and such, Rem 700, in 243 w/75 gr. Hornady V-max. My red-Hots@ 3600fps over Varget powder. My sons like it for deer with a 100 gr. Sierra BTSP @3200fps over Varget, topped off with a Leupold 4x12x40. It’s an old set-up, but it still shoots like gangbusters!! I sure would like to try it on a hog someday! We just don’t have them in Utah, where I live anyway.
For the smaller frame critters and varmints, I built an AR 10, Aero-Precision receivers, w/a 20” barrel in 223 Wylde!! It’s a real shooter too! My fav load is 52 gr. Hornady HPBT over 25.3gr. of AR Comp@3100 fps. I put a 4x16x44 Vortex scope on it with the hold-over tic marks. I’ve taken rock chucks at about 400 yards, I didn’t have my range finder with me that day, but it was a long freakn’ shot!! Prarie Dogs are too small for my tired old eyes that far, BUT under 200 yards or so, they are toast!! That little HP will cut them right in half!!!
Glad to be part of the group!! Thanks!!