Thermal

M

Maus1322

New member
Good morning,

I am writing this to see what caliber you guys are using with your thermals for varmints? Where I'm from the plains of the Midwest my sets can have shooting opportunities over 500 yds easily. Im pondering on this because I have decided on the make of thermal and its going to be a gas gun due to the ease of followup opportunities vs a bolt gun.

I have a 223/556 ready with a nice Aero Precision builders kit and White oak armament 20 inch barrel. I could use this but im also thinking of a 6 ARC proof barrel combo to go with it. Any questions let me know.

Thanks
 
IMO, 223 is on the low side of "enough gun" for what you describe. If you're really set on a gasser, 6 ARC or 22 ARC would be my choice, with 22 being my preference.
But if you really want to flatten coyotes at long range, 22 Creedmoor in a bolt gun is where it's at.
 
Call me crazy. But, I think a 500 yard shot on a coyote at night is at best stupid, at worst irresponsible. Instead, learn how to be a better hunter and bring them in closer.

It drives me crazy when people drone on about long range hunting. All I hear is "I suck and don't know what I am talking about".

If they won't come in past 500 yards, you didn't do your job. No big deal. Accept it and move on.
 
dave3006 said:
Call me crazy. But, I think a 500 yard shot on a coyote at night is at best stupid, at worst irresponsible. Instead, learn how to be a better hunter and bring them in closer.

It drives me crazy when people drone on about long range hunting. All I hear is "I suck and don't know what I am talking about".

If they won't come in past 500 yards, you didn't do your job. No big deal. Accept it and move on.
Click to expand...
That seems a bit much. Anyone that has hunted coyotes a fair bit knows that sometimes they're just not going to cooperate. That doesn't mean you "suck" or need to work at being a "better hunter". Sometimes they don't give 2 craps, and no amount of better hunting is going to make them come in. Even the all-time greats don't call in every coyote they see.
 
Better get something in the 1280 resolution if you’re shooting 500+ to make sure you’re shooting at what you think you’re shooting at. And not saying a .223 wouldn’t kill at that distance, but you’re going to need some optimal conditions and shot placement with that round. 200yds for me is a poke down here and I still went with a .243.
 
I don’t care that people shoot long range. To each their own. It’s not my thing, but it doesn’t need to be. Honestly there’s not a lot of opportunities to shoot that far on most of my spots anyway.

I do have concerns with long range shooting at night with thermal though. I’ve not looked through a 1280, but if 500+ yards is a shot someone is going to take in the dark, I would hope that is the resolution being used at a minimum.
 
Good morning,

I am leaning towards upgrading to a 6 ARC. Thanks for your advice. I just wanted to see what people's thoughts were on here as it seemed to be a wealth of knowledge. However if you read my post I never said I would be shooting out too 500 yds I just said the opportunity was there.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I also created this account some time back but due to busy life stuff I have been gone until about a month ago.

With the calving season approaching I will be getting ready for whatever distance I need to be handling given the circumstances support it. Being last year was the first time I have had yote issues with my herd it has become a priority of mine to not make the same mistake twice.

Cheers
 
If you want to do the job right stop playing around with the man bun pip squeak cartridges and get a mans semi auto rifle.
SJC
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SupressYourself said:
That seems a bit much. Anyone that has hunted coyotes a fair bit knows that sometimes they're just not going to cooperate. That doesn't mean you "suck" or need to work at being a "better hunter". Sometimes they don't give 2 craps, and no amount of better hunting is going to make them come in. Even the all-time greats don't call in every coyote they see.
Click to expand...

You completely missed the point. A hunter doesn't suck because they can't get the coyote to come in closer than 500 yards. It happens. A so-called hunter sucks because they are so ignorant that they think shooting coyotes at 500 yards, at night, is a "thing".
 
Um.......You want a long range rig and you are opting for a gas gun for follow up shots at 500 yards at NIGHT ???

I am not doubting your shooting ability but if you plan to shoot running coyotes at 500 yards at night you might want a 20 round mag to go with that gas gun.

How about buying a new caller and work at becoming a more effective hunter and plan a strategy that doesn't include sitting in the dark and waiting for anything that moves out to 500 yards?
 
dave3006 said:
You completely missed the point. A hunter doesn't suck because they can't get the coyote to come in closer than 500 yards. It happens. A so-called hunter sucks because they are so ignorant that they think shooting coyotes at 500 yards, at night, is a "thing".
Click to expand...
Nope, I got that point too. I chose to let it go because IMO, the "ethics" around killing coyotes is very much a "to each, their own" situation.
 
You might look at 30 Hamr. 110gr bullets 2600 fps. I got a yote Fri night 150 yds, 300 BO with 110 gr vmax. (2400 fps). I used a Rattler 640 IR. Got a running shot, it (she) went legs up - didn't find a bullet hole but jaw blood says I hit something good. My thinking is they don't give a broadside shot at long ranges and head-on isn't much of a target. I'm good at max range of 200, limit is size of pasture. 30 Hamr should be good to 300.
 
Good morning,

First off thankyou again. I appreciate the comments. I am thinking there is a misunderstanding. I thought by mentioning 500 yds it would clarify I will be hunting open country and that was the end of it. I have never killed a coyote at 500 yds nor do I plan too.

I did not discuss my optic because I know what I want already. I was pretty sold on the ARC due to the ability to stay in the ar15 platform for weight savings. Gas gun due to this rifle being dedicated nighttime gun and ease of folloup shots compared to my experience with a bolt gun at night.

What is this 30 hammer (I reload)? Is it using those hammer bullets? I already use a 20 practical in ar 15 and love that wildcat round (minus blowing primer pockets on specific brands of brass).

I'm not too worried about the people nitpicking my first post I just hoped for more talk about calibers for night time hunting in open terrain and less about ethics. If I was worried about my ethics i'd....... nvm


Thanks,
 
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