Ever try and shoot a groundhog? It is often about distance beyond the effective range of a 22LR.

But you're right.

That's why I bought a stainless 10/22 deluxe sporter at Wal-Mart on Sunday. For $239 you can't beat it and I can buy a boxcar load of ammo for less than the gun costs. $239 is what 1000 rds. of .223 runs me.

unbunch your panties. we're talking hypothetically here.

Ultimately this discussion is nonsense. At the end of the day, a single shot .22 or an AR-15 can both kill a person dead. So can a baseball bat, a pipe or a kitchen knife. If the new administration or any of you don't care for my choice of weapons or hobbies, all I can say is... tough crap. ;)

55 grain .223 is more like $400 per 1000 today. It's sold out everywhere below that price-- at least in Dallas Texas at the Gun Show last weekend 62 grain was going for $620 per 1000.

I have a 10/22 as well, and three other 22LR capable rifles, a Remington 597, a Marlin 39A and a Winchester Model 52.

I shot the 597 today, maybe 200 rounds on my little range. I was shooting targets, not groundhogs. Each have their place.

With the exception of the political BS some here can't help but spew, this is a pretty cool thread. Maybe some of you guys can help it stay that way. :)

Ironic how the folks who beotch and moan about guns the most are the ones who live in the urban areas where owning guns would make the most sense in regards to SHTF. Fortunately I live in a red county.... not much chance of riots breaking out where I live.;)

I own a gun. Why don't you hate on PARF, Tim? It was made for guys like you. :)

No, by the time I notice them, there's already a laser point on my forehead, and I know that drawing at that point would be suicide. I'm DAMNED good at talking down an angry, armed groundhog though!


:p

I have the right to hate whoever I want, but I changed my sig just for you. The fact that this thread has the "assault" rifle term in it means that it is going to bring up a discussion that has political roots. One party is for banning these weapons, one is not. Several here have stated that one of their reasons for owning one of these is because there is a very good chance that they will be banned again in the near future. IOW, this thread probably should have been posted in PARF to begin with if the original poster wants honest answers to his questions without offending the more sensitive members here in the G rated forum.

I think you need to clean your glasses. I read the OP as asking why other accumulate them, when he himself found them to be a not particularly useful gun. There was some mind, NEUTRAL talk about government restrictions. No one was pushing the "assault" agenda, and no one was taking political sides...

If you absolutely believe this thread needs politics in it, then lets ask the mods to move it. PARF was created for a purpose, and it's been a breath of fresh air in the main OT forum.

Houston, we have a problem:cool:

I have never asked the mods for anything and don't really care where this thread is located.

Sorry guys...didn't mean to make an offhand reference to "assault" rifles in the title to generate a political element. While I don't think responses such as second amendment rights/government bans/etc are overly political, if it degenerates into a heated debate on politics I understand moving it to PARF.

I wasn't seeking responses to attack why we own such weapons or make a value judgment...just interested in your reasons.

Speaking of varmint guns, I've had a blast with a 22-250 Remington 700...it is hell on crows and coyotes.

I stand corrected...it has a bipod and is long barrelled. Called up the buddy who got them and he thought he paid $90/each. Sold me mine for $100. It would have been around '91 or so.

Gun discussions are among the funnest ones we have in PPOT. I would hate to see them shfted to BARF, excuse me PARF. I think that as long as we don't bring specific politicians and political parties names into it, this is no more "political" than discussing a GM bailout.

My favorite groundhog rifle is, in fact, a high velocity .22 caliber center fire. The .22 rimfire is all well and good up close, but one really needs a .223 class weapon, or better, to really reach out and touch them.

Time was when the AR15 simply was not accurate enough for serious varmint or target work. Used to be one had nary a prayer in a highpower match with one; whereas today, one has nary a prayer with anything else. They are as accurate as any bolt gun, and the reduced recoil afforded by the gas system is a big advantage in timed and rapid fire stages.

For me, though, there is no timed or rapid fire stage to be fired when out after varmints. In light of that, a bolt gun or single shot suits me fine. My current varmint gun is a Ruger #1, a single shot, in .220 Swift.

The additional velocity and bullet weight I'm able to employ with this round effectively doubles its range over the .223. My favorite load launches the 60 grain Hornady V Max at just a click over 3800 fps. The better ballistic coefficient of the 60 grain over the more commonly used 50 and 55 grain bullets is a huge advantage in the wind, and the velocity makes up for a lot of error in range estimation.

This performance comes at a price. It is wholey unnattainable in a gas operated semi automatic. Gas port pressure would be too high with any suitable powder. The most prohibitive aspect of it, however, is throat errosion. Go rapid or timed fire with the .220 Swift and the throat will be gone before the first magazine is empty - it is that destructive if not treated properly. "Properly" is easily done with the relaxed shooting pace inherent in the single shot. It's proven to be a great combination for me, and pretty much takes care of my small bore/high velocity needs.

Dueller's original questions:

I've only shot a couple of rounds from an AK-47, and I've never tried an AR-15. I'm not sure I care to own one of these types of rifles right now, but maybe one of these days. :) I own a semi-auto pistol and my wife and I go to the range pretty regularly. I'm not as comfortable shooting a rifle, and home defense (urban condo) for me seems more readily managed with a pistol. I never have to worry about Zombies, and I heard they generally favor politicians over us regular folks. That's right, isn't it? :eek: