Tools of the Trade

The farm rifle is as much a farm tool as rake, hoe or ax. The farm rifle is an instrument for which the farmer protects his investment with against an opposing force. Basically this will entail any low life critter trying to eat something that belongs to him. However, so farmers have a different view of the farm rifle. Some farmers fail to evaluate the design of the trusty ole farm rifle or the ammunition its uses.

Barrel length I feel is a major factor in the design of the rifle. The reason for this was in most varmint shooting situations the average shot is 100 yards or less. Often as not the target is moving. Therefore the better control the 

PERFECT FOR PREDATORS….

During the past few years scores of hunters have discovered the fun and rewards of predator hunting. This increase has opened the eyes of some rifle makers to meet the demands of the consumer. Remington, Ruger, Thompson Center and others have now begun building rifles with the predator hunter in mind. These guns are lighter and shorter than the average rifle. In most instances the barrel length of these rifles will be between 20 and 24 inches. This has aided the predator hunter dramatically in rifle performance. But are these rifles perfect for predator hunting? Maybe and maybe not.

Defining what a perfect predator rifle begins with the hunter’s personal preference. The reason for this is not predator hunters are alike. Some people are bigger and stronger than others. Some hunters may not carry a rifle for extended periods while other might. Some hunters may prefer a lighter weight single shot rifle over the weight of a repeater. Various factors such as these all should influence our decision on the type of rifle we use.

Hunters should also take into consideration the most common position they will be using the rifle in. In most predator hunting situations the hunter will be firing from a sitting position. Here the weight and balance of the rifle can become a deciding factor. This is another reason I prefer the lighter shorter versions. In fact, my pet predator rifle is a Thompson Center "Predator" rifle.

The T/C custom shop rifle features an 18-inch barrel mounted on the T/C G3 frame. The total length of the rifle is a mere 32 inches and weights a tad over seven pounds including scope, mount and rings. The rifle is extremely quick pointing and extremely accurate. The cartridge of choice for now is the .223 Remington. However, having begun playing with the .204 Ruger round lately I feel .223 may be facing retirement.

Today I feel there is little room for complaining what the predator hunter now has. Technology in every factor of the sport has advanced the hunter. The booming populations of predators have created a need for the hunter. The increase in fur prices has allowed fur to become profitable. So if you are looking for a way to have fun, make some money or just wanting to up grade your equipment, now is the time do it.

Modern technology has now aided hunters with better guns and ammunition. In recent years numerous advancements in guns and ammunition have occurred. This is extremely true of bullets and propellants. Today with the improvements in propellants some cartridges can generate higher velocities than they could a few years ago. Advancements in propellants have also led to cleaner and safer burning powders.

The advancement in bullet designs has also influenced both accuracy and performance. Bullets such as the Nosler Ballistic Tip and the Hornady V-Max have captivated the modern varmint hunting market place. These bullets feature an ultra thin jacket mouth that ensures rapid expansion at almost any velocity. Nested in the mouth of the jacket is a streamlined polycarbonate tip. The tip is color coded for a specific caliber. In most cases hunters will find these bullets extremely accurate and perform as they are designed to do, produce violent expansion.

Violent expansion bullets have won the hearts and minds of most varmint hunters. These type bullets increase the pleasure of shooting varmints. However, not all hunters want to transform their targets in multiple pieces. This is especially true of those who take predator hunting serious. Many predator hunters trade their targets for cash money. The least amount of damage a pelt receives the better. So are these new bullets good for harvesting coyotes, bobcats and foxes?

During the past few years I have shot a lot of predators with these new bullets. In most cases the cartridge was either a .223 or .22/250 Remington. These are the most popular found among predator hunters. The thing I found most interesting was the over-all performance of both cartridges firing the new bullets.