Thermal

Maus1322 said:
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
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your current set up is fine. i also have a 223 / 556 with a 20 inch wilson combat super sniper barrel with a 1:8 twist, it loves the federal 53 grain v-max, i also havent shot past 200 yards in the dark.

being in an open area like you are where you can see 500 plus yards certainly gives you the advantage, you can spot them and change your position if you have to.

we had two coyotes completely ignore us and just bed down in an open field more than 500 yards away. we just snuck up close enough and shot both of them at just under 200 yards.

get a good scanner and you are good to go.
 
30 Hamr is a 223 case cut a little longer than 300 BO, uses a slower twist. Xcaliber and McGown make barrels for it, as well as Wilson. My BO carbine barrel is McGowan 1:10 twist. There is a thread on this site by Wilson about the 30 Hamr. I shoot cast as well in my BO - Hamr isn't very good for cast and it just isn't needed by me. Gkid used 223 on hog, took 3 hits to put it down, BO takes one good shot. I only shot 223 once, no real need for it.
Edit: sorry Hamr thread is here. https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7506626/wilson-combat-300-hamr#Post7506626
 
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Gman757 said:
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?
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I read what the post said and I know what the implications were. If anyone wants to offer their "between the lines" word by word psychoanalysis then have at it.

I stand by my reply.
 
Have you looked into Laser Guided Missiles to destroy and a Thermal Drone for recovery?

At 500+ yards, it can be a heat signature of just about anything, my rifle safety stays on until I feel I have 100% recognition with ZERO doubt left in my mind that it is fact a Coyote, and I use top of the line Thermal scopes.

Nebraska has Swift Fox, they are protected and you will be looking at some time behind bars if you get caught killing one! They can easily be mistaken for a coyote at times.

“Out to 500” could be more and could be less, you are asking for trouble IMO.
I have plenty of 10,000 acre ranches where I can see for miles day and night, if I don’t call them in close enough to verify 100% it’s a Coyote, I don’t shoot PERIOD!
 
If you've got coyotes bothering your herd during calving, and you are hunting at night with thermal, the shots will likely be pretty short. Its hard for coyotes to kill calves if they are a quarter mile or more away.
 
Now that all of the harassment has sorta faded out :D I'll put in my two bits worth (and put on my fire resistant suit): my thermal is mounted on a AR in 6.5 Grendel that I load 123 grain Hornady A-Max bullets for ( I stocked up a long time before they went out of production) and that's carrying a Dead Air Nomad suppressor. I hike down through my mom-in-law's sheep pasture in the dark and shoot whatever pops up, canine wise (and skunk wise. I hate skunks!). Last winter it was three coyotes and a fox (and a skunk at 150 yards). The cool part about spot and stalk hunting in the dark is that they don't see you coming until it's too late, as opposed to calling, where youi're making sure that they know where you are. If I were you I would also invest in a good thermal scanner or monocular too. Much easier to scan with one of those than with a rifle mounted thermal which tends to weigh approximately as much as a small child...
 
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