Rural Calibers (guns that are useful around working farm)

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rural Calibers (guns that are useful around working farm)

Posted: 6/4/2008 3:17:15 AM EDT

I have many different guns. Last three years living on a farm, I have come to rely mostly on two guns for almost everything.

S&W Mod 10 in .38 specail with 3 HP and 3 shotsells. Killed about dozen snakes so far around chicken coop and garden
Marlin bolt action .17 HMR. Killed two feral goats, 3 feral pigs, 1 feral dog, bunch of crows, 2 skunks, 1 coyote.

I have other guns but these seemed fit well around our NE Texas farm.

EDITED ADD: Couple of you mentioned .22LR. I have few of those two. But mostly, I kill varmints and .22LR doesn't perform well beyond 50 yards. I have a lot more confidence in .17 HMR beyond 50 yards which is most case around here.

Posted: 6/4/2008 3:20:51 AM EDT

[#1]

Let me be first to say: .22 LR!

Posted: 6/4/2008 3:24:09 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
Let me be first to say: .22 LR!

Yep.

Posted: 6/4/2008 3:36:16 AM EDT

[#3]

Yep! 22lr gets my vote, use it to kill the hogs, shot charge for snakes and rats also Carpenter bees

Posted: 6/4/2008 5:55:10 AM EDT

[#4]

For us it was .22LR and .30-30

Posted: 6/4/2008 6:00:37 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
For us it was .22LR and .30-30

Yepper.... only thing I might add is 22 mag instead of 22, but we had both.

Posted: 6/4/2008 6:00:51 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
For us it was .22LR and .30-30

Yup!!! Nothing better. If I had to live in the bush,those are exactly what I would want if I could only feed 2 guns!!!

Posted: 6/4/2008 6:10:21 AM EDT

[#7]

Savage over/under combo gun.

Posted: 6/4/2008 7:24:05 AM EDT

[#8]

22/250 for varmits

Posted: 6/4/2008 7:46:48 AM EDT

[#9]

Well as everyone else said a 22lr and maybe something with a little more range and power maybe a nice deer rifle.

Posted: 6/4/2008 9:21:12 AM EDT

[#10]

.22lr was not the response i was expecting upon reading the title of the thread. would the .22lr be sufficient for a coyote?

Posted: 6/4/2008 9:46:34 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
.22lr was not the response i was expecting upon reading the title of the thread. would the .22lr be sufficient for a coyote?

I would think so. 22lr is GTG for small game in WA State including 'yote's. And 22center fire for the cats.

Posted: 6/4/2008 9:52:20 AM EDT

[#12]

A 22 would/could kill coyotes, but I would prefer something bigger. We have big uns around here. Thats why I think you can do just about anything with a 22 and a 30-30.

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:01:46 AM EDT

[#13]

thanks foxherb and blackhawkhunter for your replies. we have chickens, about 20 baby ones, and goats and two coyotes were chased off of our property by one of our dogs, by the time i got to a position where i could see what was happening, two coyotes (i'd heard they were solitary?) were about 250 yards away trotting perpendicular to me. i have an SKS, but only w/ iron sites, so i thought better of taking the shot. i have an old winchester .22lr that is scoped, but i think the scope is zeroed at 100 yards, i'll have to check that out.

there is a spring fed pond about 500 yards onto a neighbor's property and every spring a mama coyote has her pups there. inevitably, one of them will come for our animals. especially as we keep adding more and more animals.

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:03:55 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
thanks foxherb and blackhawkhunter for your replies. we have chickens, about 20 baby ones, and goats and two coyotes were chased off of our property by one of our dogs, by the time i got to a position where i could see what was happening, two coyotes (i'd heard they were solitary?) were about 250 yards away trotting perpendicular to me. i have an SKS, but only w/ iron sites, so i thought better of taking the shot.

Coyotes are far from solitary, they are very social.

ETA:
For most places .22lr and 12ga are really all you NEED.

.223 or similar for longer range varmint control is very handy, and maybe a bigger bore rifle for dangerous predators or escaped bulls or the like. (you can take down a large bull with a .243 but I'd not recommend it, I'll send him the link to this thread

)

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:05:37 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
thanks foxherb and blackhawkhunter for your replies. we have chickens, about 20 baby ones, and goats and two coyotes were chased off of our property by one of our dogs, by the time i got to a position where i could see what was happening, two coyotes (i'd heard they were solitary?) were about 250 yards away trotting perpendicular to me. i have an SKS, but only w/ iron sites, so i thought better of taking the shot.

Coyotes are far from solitary, they are very social.

i had wondered. some locals stated they were not pack animals. seems if they're not pack animals, there never far apart.

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:31:11 AM EDT

[#16]

Take a look at this Building the coyote rifle it might give you and idea with out spending a lot of money.

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:42:20 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
thanks foxherb and blackhawkhunter for your replies. we have chickens, about 20 baby ones, and goats and two coyotes were chased off of our property by one of our dogs, by the time i got to a position where i could see what was happening, two coyotes (i'd heard they were solitary?) were about 250 yards away trotting perpendicular to me. i have an SKS, but only w/ iron sites, so i thought better of taking the shot.

Coyotes are far from solitary, they are very social.

i had wondered. some locals stated they were not pack animals. seems if they're not pack animals, there never far apart.

Foxs are solitarty, coyotes are definate pack animals.... at least here in the NE.

Posted: 6/4/2008 12:25:10 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Quoted:
thanks foxherb and blackhawkhunter for your replies. we have chickens, about 20 baby ones, and goats and two coyotes were chased off of our property by one of our dogs, by the time i got to a position where i could see what was happening, two coyotes (i'd heard they were solitary?) were about 250 yards away trotting perpendicular to me. i have an SKS, but only w/ iron sites, so i thought better of taking the shot.

Coyotes are far from solitary, they are very social.

I had wondered. some locals stated they were not pack animals. seems if they're not pack animals, there never far apart.

Foxs are solitarty, coyotes are definate pack animals.... at least here in the NE.

+1. They're pack animals up here in Minnesota too... And they're pretty cannibalistic too.

Posted: 6/4/2008 12:36:58 PM EDT

[#19]

22lr, apperently the author of this thread does not practice much with his 22lr. Most 22lr have a drop of 5'' to 6'' at 100yrds

Posted: 6/4/2008 2:23:09 PM EDT

[#20]

.22 long rifle has killed many hogs, beefs, and most every thing else that has needed killing around grandpa's farm. It is not always the best gun for the job, but it is usually what was available first - unless we were actually hunting with a deer rifle or shotgun with round balls, the 22 is what was leaning against the wall behind most of the barn / shed doors, while the other guns were in the bedroom closet.

Posted: 6/4/2008 2:33:30 PM EDT

[#21]

ok, I'll throw something else in. If you're wanting 100-400 yard rifle for whatever, I'd pick .243

Posted: 6/4/2008 2:42:05 PM EDT

[#22]

I personally carry either a 9mm or a .45. Or if I have a long gun, it's either a Marlin 39A or my AR15. Once in a blue moon I'll carry a shotgun. But I NEVER go anywhere w/o a gun of some kind on the farm.

Posted: 6/4/2008 3:51:57 PM EDT

[#23]

I'd have to go with .22 LR and 30-06 myself in rifles, but nothing smaller than .38 in pistols.

Posted: 6/4/2008 4:01:40 PM EDT

[#24]

My marlin 17VS is my favorite farm gun for regular farm varmits. That doesn't mean that I don't have 3 times more .22lr guns!

I think a good quality 30-06 is the best compliment to one of the above choices. It can do anything that you might need.

Posted: 6/4/2008 4:04:55 PM EDT

[#25]

As said above 22lr

I farmed for the best part of my life with that said I always kept the 30-30 in my truck as I got older I cared less for shooting deer so I replaced the 30-30 with a ranch mini 14 toped with a cheap scope . The mini road with me every where most of the time with the 5 round mag in it ( never had a failure with the 5 rounder ) of course I kept a 30 rounder laying around . The gun always did what I needed , picking off crows and ground hogs from the cab of my tractor to intimidating trespassing hunters on my land . My friend/ farm helper carried a sks then a AK , it was just as usefull minus the fact it had didnt have an optional scope mount .

My best friend farms also and he swears by the 22 mag out of the 60 plus guns he owns . He says it economical to shoot , accurate and has the range to do what is needed to be done.

Posted: 6/4/2008 4:14:38 PM EDT

[#26]

Firearms enthusiasts tend to attach stigma to certain guns and cartridges. While there's nothing wrong with that, one must always insure that they're not letting emotion get in the way of facts.

For rural applications beyond the capabilities of rimfires, military calibers and styled arms will function just as well the more "traditional" setups.

I used or seen used ARs, AKs, Glocks, 1911s, etc. in rural applications. They work just as well as lever actions and six shooters.

Posted: 6/4/2008 4:25:58 PM EDT

[#27]

My Marlin 39A has harvested just about everything that exist in TN, AR, LA. and GA. I said just about, No black bear. I have made some increwdible shots with it. It goes were I go. Oh and by the way grew up on the farm and still live on one.

.22 LR all the way.

.22 Magnum is great.

>22 Hornet has done me well

And the the .223 is a reall good one.

Posted: 6/4/2008 5:19:54 PM EDT

[#28]

Can't believe not a single mention of the M1 Carbine.
Thats all we used on the farm. Very handy and enough power to put down a deer or a varmit of two or four legs.

That and a handgun.

Posted: 6/4/2008 5:30:45 PM EDT

[#29]

A friend of mine just sold me an M1 he had carried for years, he was a big fan of the 32-20, and felt the M1 was a close match, and the magazine made it easier to unload and load when getting in and out of vehicles (a requirement where he lives). He has now pretty much switched over to .22 Mag, with an SKS for anything that needs a bigger round.

Michael

Posted: 6/4/2008 5:49:00 PM EDT

[#30]

.44 for carrying around, you can switch up different loads.

.22LR for general use.

and a .12 gauge.

at least is is what we used.

Posted: 6/4/2008 5:50:05 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Firearms enthusiasts tend to attach stigma to certain guns and cartridges. While there's nothing wrong with that, one must always insure that they're not letting emotion get in the way of facts.

For rural applications beyond the capabilities of rimfires, military calibers and styled arms will function just as well the more "traditional" setups.

I used or seen used ARs, AKs, Glocks, 1911s, etc. in rural applications. They work just as well as lever actions and six shooters.

No argument here, just that we always and only had the 22LR and .30-30 and those two rifles did everything necessary on the farm.
There are many calibers and platforms that would work well indeed, no question about that.

Posted: 6/4/2008 6:24:12 PM EDT

[#32]

I personally wouldn't carry anything less than 7.62x39. You never know...

Posted: 6/4/2008 6:50:54 PM EDT

[#33]

I've allways used a 22LR and a handgun. I kept a centerfire rifle in the truck if it was deer season, or when we had feral dog problems. Main problems was snakes (though rarely was a firearm really needed- a shovel would work fine), rats and beavers. It was because of the beavers I used a 22 and not a shotgun, as I would take shots at swiming beavers. I would carry the shotgun on the tractor sometimes when bushoging or cutting hay (rabbits) or to shoot beavers at night.

One key is to use a gun that you can leave out, or stick behind the seat. A nice scoped rifle in a hard case takes too long to get out.

Posted: 6/4/2008 7:52:24 PM EDT

[#34]

S&W Chief's Special in the bib of your overalls. Shot loads in first 2 chambers. M24 Savage behind the door, extra rds. under the butt plate.

Posted: 6/4/2008 8:12:22 PM EDT

[#35]

.22lr got left behind a long time ago around here...

.17HMR is the rimfire of the highest order... it makes it happen.

.22-250 for a centerfire. Anything you want blow across 3 acres, you drag the /250 out and wreak havoc.

At least, here. I don't disagree a .22LR is an excellent cartridge, or the .223. But when it comes to the farm work, the above two excel and are by far the most popular locally.

Posted: 6/4/2008 8:57:24 PM EDT

[#36]

Dad's farm guns:

Erma EM-1 .22 in the F150.

Ruger Bearcat .22 pistol on the David Brown.

Stevens 12 gauge side by side in the barn.

Sako .222 in the garage.

Only thing I ever saw him use the shotgun for was "stinging" dogs that were running cattle or birds. Snapping turtles, foxes, snakes, etc. were dispatched with the .22s. The .222 was for foxes and groundhogs at distance. Dogs took care of the short range groundhogs.

Posted: 6/4/2008 9:22:58 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
For us it was .22LR and .30-30

Hell yeah, although in Harney County we often need something with more reach than a 30-30 saddle gun. For that i like my 8mm mausers. Czech is my favorite.

Posted: 6/4/2008 10:31:52 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
I'd have to go with .22 LR and 30-06 myself in rifles, but nothing smaller than .38 in pistols.

That works.

Posted: 6/5/2008 8:42:28 AM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
22lr, apperently the author of this thread does not practice much with his 22lr. Most 22lr have a drop of 5'' to 6'' at 100yrds

Actually I do. My .17 HMR does 1 MOA easily. None of my 22lr can even come 6 or 7 moa. I can hit the 12 inch metal gong consistently with the .17 but can't do that with 22

Posted: 6/5/2008 9:32:12 AM EDT

[#40]

Growing up, the best three guns around the farm were...
1.) 22 LR Rifles.
2.) .30-06 Bolt Guns.
3.) 12 Ga. / 8 Ga. shotties.

Posted: 6/5/2008 10:26:31 AM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
Growing up, the best three guns around the farm were...
1.) 22 LR Rifles.
2.) .30-06 Bolt Guns.
3.) 12 Ga. / 8 Ga. shotties.

what was the reason for the 8 ga.? i understand it's a larger caliber, yada, yada, yada. were there things out there that the 8 ga could take care of that the 12 ga. couldn't? or was it a preference thing? i have zero experience w/ an 8 ga. don't know that i've ever seen one.

Posted: 6/5/2008 12:07:18 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Growing up, the best three guns around the farm were...
1.) 22 LR Rifles.
2.) .30-06 Bolt Guns.
3.) 12 Ga. / 8 Ga. shotties.

what was the reason for the 8 ga.? i understand it's a larger caliber, yada, yada, yada. were there things out there that the 8 ga could take care of that the 12 ga. couldn't? or was it a preference thing? i have zero experience w/ an 8 ga. don't know that i've ever seen one.

Payload.

Posted: 6/5/2008 12:38:44 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Growing up, the best three guns around the farm were...
1.) 22 LR Rifles.
2.) .30-06 Bolt Guns.
3.) 12 Ga. / 8 Ga. shotties.

what was the reason for the 8 ga.? i understand it's a larger caliber, yada, yada, yada. were there things out there that the 8 ga could take care of that the 12 ga. couldn't? or was it a preference thing? i have zero experience w/ an 8 ga. don't know that i've ever seen one.

Payload.

Yup. Other than payload, there's not much that a 12 Ga can't handle... It's just that in my hometown rural area there's still plenty of them around.

I haven't shot it since I was just a kid though. Let's just say that an 8 Guage will make you have an 'aversion to' or even somewhat of a hatred of shotguns.

Those guns could do just about anything you wanted - if you dared to use them.

The most commonly used guns were the 22 & 30-06 though...

Posted: 6/5/2008 8:57:38 PM EDT

[#44]

22lr
30-30
12ga (birdshot, 00buck, rocksalt)

Barring zombies or the equivilant, you'll never NEED anything else.

Posted: 6/5/2008 11:46:59 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
A friend of mine just sold me an M1 he had carried for years, he was a big fan of the 32-20, and felt the M1 was a close match, and the magazine made it easier to unload and load when getting in and out of vehicles (a requirement where he lives). He has now pretty much switched over to .22 Mag, with an SKS for anything that needs a bigger round.

Michael

I grew up on a rural property and would have to put my vote in for the .30 carbine........357 power, good close in and 'yotes out to 150 would be my choice

Posted: 6/6/2008 1:26:23 AM EDT

[#46]

Elmer Keith is probably turning over in his grave right now with the lack of .44mag popularity.

Posted: 6/6/2008 3:12:46 AM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:
Elmer Keith is probably turning over in his grave right now with the lack of .44mag popularity.

+1

I like both my M1 carbine and Ruger .44 carbine on the ranch.
Both are easy to carry around in the brush.
Hard to choose a favorite, so I alternate

Posted: 6/6/2008 5:43:19 PM EDT

[#48]

I like my loop lever .44 Winchester a lot!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rural Calibers (guns that are useful around working farm)

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