Hunting House » Outdoor Hunting » Some questions re: new Rem 700 VSF
Some questions re: new Rem 700 VSF
Question:
New to hunting. I live in the Twin Cities and just bought a Remington 700 VSf in .22-250. I haven’t fired a single centerfire cartride from a rifle in my life before and was wondering about a few things I’m sure you folks know about. 1) This setup retails at Gander Mountain for $584 (w/o the fluting it’s $499). They threw in a Leupold 4-14x-40mm scope to make the whole rig an even thousand and the clerk said that the two would normally retail separately for close to $1500. I think the clerk was being honest and helpful – did I get gypped or is this fair? It’s not like I can drop a grand every day on a new hobby so I’d like to know. 2) Just on the outside chance that I tag along with friends from work for deer I’m wondering how ill-advised I’d be to take this rifle with. One because it’s kinda heavy – about 8 lbs. or so and, secondly, because the legal caliber here in MN is .243 and up. Not considering the fact that a park ranger might bust me is the difference in caliber that big of a deal? What *would* happen if I got caught? Is this just an all-out wrong thing to do regardless of whether the game warden caught me? Buying another rifle, however cheap, is out of the question. 3) I’m interested in shooting any of the following and related species: squirrels, crows, coyotes, groundhogs, etc. and to this end I bought a small game permit. However, I don’t intend to eat any of this though and instead leave the carcasses for the ants: Is this immoral considering I’m probably a suck-ass shot who’ll never hit a watermelon with a baseball bat anyway? 4) Over the last couple of weekends I’ve been going to two different wildlife management areas and I spent the better part of the days walking and walking and walking without finding a single living thing (except for the occasional birds) despite it being warm outside. I did,however, go with my son and spent all of that time goofing off and talking – did all the animals go into hybernation? Did they hear us and scrammed? Is there just nothing left because this land is just all hunted out? In the city I practically trip over all the damn squirrels! 5) If the store clerk told me that the scope was bore sighted this means what exactly? I’m guessing this means that the rifle will be so-so accurate but that it’s up to me to fine tune it. What’s the best way of doing this keeping in mind that indoors shooting ranges only go out to about 50 yds. and outdoors, well, it’s kinda cold out! 6) While I’m interested in handloading eventually is there any place anyone knows of that I can buy .22-250 ammo in bulk? The store only carries in 50 packs and they’re not cheap. Hey, thanks for any and all help! Ras in hoc nominem puellae fornicat Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> New to hunting. > I live in the Twin Cities and just bought a Remington 700 VSf in .22-250. I > haven’t fired a single centerfire cartride from a rifle in my life before > and was wondering about a few things I’m sure you folks know about. > 1) This setup retails at Gander Mountain for $584 (w/o the fluting it’s > $499). They threw in a Leupold 4-14x-40mm scope to make the whole rig an > even thousand and the clerk said that the two would normally retail > separately for close to $1500. I think the clerk was being honest and > helpful – did I get gypped or is this fair? It’s not like I can drop a grand > every day on a new hobby so I’d like to know.
I just purchased the exact same gun for my father (a Christmas gift) for $509 (w/0 any fluting). So, it sounds like you got a pretty decent deal on the rifle. As for the scope, I don’t know? I do know that Leupold scopes tend to be somewhat high priced (but good quality). > 2) Just on the outside chance that I tag along with friends from work for > deer I’m wondering how ill-advised I’d be to take this rifle with. One > because it’s kinda heavy – about 8 lbs. or so and, secondly, because the > legal caliber here in MN is .243 and up. Not considering the fact that a > park ranger might bust me is the difference in caliber that big of a deal? > What *would* happen if I got caught? Is this just an all-out wrong thing to > do regardless of whether the game warden caught me? Buying another rifle, > however cheap, is out of the question.
Not only is this illegal, but it is a bad idea to try to take dear with this rifle. Not saying that it could not be done. Just saying that you would be better served trying to take deer with a larger caliber gun. As for what happens if you get caught. I think generally you risk getting your weapon confiscated (along with any other gear you may have) as well as a fine. Not worth it IMHO. > 3) I’m interested in shooting any of the following and related species: > squirrels, crows, coyotes, groundhogs, etc. and to this end I bought a small > game permit. However, I don’t intend to eat any of this though and instead > leave the carcasses for the ants: Is this immoral considering I’m probably a > suck-ass shot who’ll never hit a watermelon with a baseball bat anyway?
I bought this gun for my father as he is wanting to shoot coyotes with it. And, I know that he (or I) will be leaving any kills for the ants. But then again, the land behind my parents house is waaaay overpopulated with coyotes and waaay underpopulated with quail, pheasant and rabbit. Hence, we have no love for the coyotes. The squirrels you can eat (if their is anything left after getting hit with a 22-250). > 4) Over the last couple of weekends I’ve been going to two different > wildlife management areas and I spent the better part of the days walking > and walking and walking without finding a single living thing (except for > the occasional birds) despite it being warm outside. I did,however, go with > my son and spent all of that time goofing off and talking – did all the > animals go into hybernation? Did they hear us and scrammed? Is there just > nothing left because this land is just all hunted out? In the city I > practically trip over all the damn squirrels!
Probably heard you and scrammed. Squirrels in the wild tend to be much more cautious than the city/town squirrels who are used to seeing people (and often fed by people). > 5) If the store clerk told me that the scope was bore sighted this means > what exactly? I’m guessing this means that the rifle will be so-so accurate > but that it’s up to me to fine tune it. What’s the best way of doing this > keeping in mind that indoors shooting ranges only go out to about 50 yds. > and outdoors, well, it’s kinda cold out!
Bore sighted means that the barrel and the scope are both "pointing" at the same thing. So, you guessed correctly. You will definitely need to fine tune it. > 6) While I’m interested in handloading eventually is there any place anyone > knows of that I can buy .22-250 ammo in bulk? The store only carries in 50 > packs and they’re not cheap.
Hmmm, not sure??? Hope this helps some. Greg — Gregory Whalin Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
– Well I think to start with , you don’t even go in the woods this year. 1. You don’t have your gun sighted in. you will miss everything you shoot at 2. You are not good enough with firearms to be even trying to hunt game. 3 You know nothing about hunting. This is not meant to put you down. Everyone has to start someplace. You have just tried to start at the end, instead of the beginning. You first need to get good with your rifle, and you need to learn the basics of hunting before traipsing out into the woods, with a loaded gun. The bare minimum is to take a hunter safety course, at least then you will know not to shoot yourself in the foot . Well maybe not , my brother is a hunter safety instructor and he shot his self in the foot. Your chances are less anyway if you take the course. Then you need to get with your friends and let them teach you the basics of hunting. You need to read everything you can about hunting and firearms. Most of all you need to practice, practice, practice with your rifle. I am wondering if you are for real or not, because of two things that was in your post. One the immoral act of leaving game, and second the fact you said you can buy 22-250’s in 50 round boxes. I have never seen 50 round boxes of 25-250’s, they always come in 20 round boxes. surely your not trying to pull our legs and are really a member of PETA Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/