Well after missing a few days of deer gun because I didnt want to sit in a downpour with a wood stock rifle and sitting in the stand last night in a random downpour and now having to disasemble my Marlin 1895 because its soaked I am looking at other options for a deer rifle. Must be a straight wall cartridge. I am exploring the following options and also have some questions. I am also open to other recommendations on caliber and rifle.
1) If I am hunting in rain and snow should I go with a stainless or cerekoted setup over blued? I have even thought about swapping the 223rem barrel with a 350 legend barrel and painting the receiver and barrel to help make it all weather.
2) Should I invest in a neoprene scope cover for my scopes if hunting in rain? I was worried about my Leupold getting soaked last night.
3) Longer or shorter barrel for hunting? My shots can go from 30yards-300yards. I am kind of leaning toward a shorter barrel but will that effect velocity and accuracy if I am hunting fields and shooting 300yards?
4) Ruger American Go Wild in 450BM. The Ruger Americans just feel so cheap to me compared to an Axis. The 450BM seems like a great long distance straight wall cartridge but I have heard of issues with bullets fragmenting when they hit bone. It seems the only bullet available is a Hornady BT.
5) What advantages does the Savage 110 have over an Axis?
6) I currently have a Vortex Crossfire 4-12 on the 223 I am debating on using as a donor. I only have experience with the Crossfire's on woodchuck guns that dont have any recoil and they arent used in low light. How do the Crossfires do on heavy recoil guns and low light?
1) If I am hunting in rain and snow should I go with a stainless or cerekoted setup over blued? I have even thought about swapping the 223rem barrel with a 350 legend barrel and painting the receiver and barrel to help make it all weather.
2) Should I invest in a neoprene scope cover for my scopes if hunting in rain? I was worried about my Leupold getting soaked last night.
3) Longer or shorter barrel for hunting? My shots can go from 30yards-300yards. I am kind of leaning toward a shorter barrel but will that effect velocity and accuracy if I am hunting fields and shooting 300yards?
4) Ruger American Go Wild in 450BM. The Ruger Americans just feel so cheap to me compared to an Axis. The 450BM seems like a great long distance straight wall cartridge but I have heard of issues with bullets fragmenting when they hit bone. It seems the only bullet available is a Hornady BT.
5) What advantages does the Savage 110 have over an Axis?
6) I currently have a Vortex Crossfire 4-12 on the 223 I am debating on using as a donor. I only have experience with the Crossfire's on woodchuck guns that dont have any recoil and they arent used in low light. How do the Crossfires do on heavy recoil guns and low light?