Im looking for a good farm gun. i got a new job as a farm butcher and need something to put down cattle with. I've seen what the various rimfires have done and don't trust them. i know any 22 lr and put down a cow, however i hate it that one time when one gets back up. Also i could be doing some large thick headed bulls. I am looking for a marlin 336 a in 30-30 cheap, cheap ammo in canada and will put them down anytime. Does anone know if the 223 will put them down good? Any other suggestions on a rifle?
Farm gun Help?
- Thread starter B.A.M.F
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trstafford
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NASCAR_MAN
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How about a cheap 9mm pistol shooting FMJ? Seems to put the cows down for me.
FYI. I usualy shoot cows in the pasture after they have been mortally hurt from calving. I don't know if this may apply to you.
Also...this round will definetly work for Hogs and goats when shot in the head!
NASCAR
FYI. I usualy shoot cows in the pasture after they have been mortally hurt from calving. I don't know if this may apply to you.
Also...this round will definetly work for Hogs and goats when shot in the head!
NASCAR
Yes, the CZ 527 Carbine is a sweet rifle... the 7.62 x 39 cartridge is very similar to 30-30 but about 1/4th the price... think $5 / 20 rds vs $15-$20 /20rds. The CZ might be a little bit TOO nice for the task at hand... sounds like you're going to get this thing dirty. That CZ, while no doubt reliable, is a little too pricy for mucking about. I'd just get an SKS, probably. They're $200-300, reliable, and semi auto as well. Also, they are the cheapest and most practical gun I can think of that I'd want to take a cow out with from 7 yards... and not as Noisy and overkill as a Mosin or some other full powered rifle.
Otherise, a .357 or .44 mag revolver might work well if you're thinking handgun. Probably a ruger gp-100 or Redhawk. If I was going to shoot a cow, I'd personally use a long gun... but I'm not an experienced pro cow killer. The Marlin 1894 in 357 or .44 would save you a lot of money on ammo too (vs the 30/30), assuming you're not reloading yourself. I personally am a reloader, so a 336 in 30-30 is going to be my next farm gun.
Otherise, a .357 or .44 mag revolver might work well if you're thinking handgun. Probably a ruger gp-100 or Redhawk. If I was going to shoot a cow, I'd personally use a long gun... but I'm not an experienced pro cow killer. The Marlin 1894 in 357 or .44 would save you a lot of money on ammo too (vs the 30/30), assuming you're not reloading yourself. I personally am a reloader, so a 336 in 30-30 is going to be my next farm gun.
ThomasT
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B.A.M.F. it looks like from your post you are in Canada and i suppose handguns are out. A 22 will put down cattle. A 22 mag solid point will put down cattle better. A 223 FMJ will work best of the three.
An H&R handy rifle in 223 or 30-30 might be a good choice. My nod would be the 223 if the sole purpose is to put down cattle and you can get a standing shot. A solid FMJ should provide all the penetration anyone could want.
An H&R handy rifle in 223 or 30-30 might be a good choice. My nod would be the 223 if the sole purpose is to put down cattle and you can get a standing shot. A solid FMJ should provide all the penetration anyone could want.
Wolfgang2000
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The caliber is not as important the bullet path. Cow have very thick skulls. I've seen 125grn 357 mag, and 00 buck bounce off at point blank range. Yet if you shoot into the eye a 22 Lr or mag will work.
If you are determine to go through the top of the skull, a FMJ 38 spl will work, but I've seen it take 2 rounds. 357 mag 158 soft point work OK.
If you are determine to go through the top of the skull, a FMJ 38 spl will work, but I've seen it take 2 rounds. 357 mag 158 soft point work OK.
Gordon
Member
I slaughtered many farm animals.A .22mag is minimal but does work and is popular on ranches I have been on in the last 40 years.A .22hornet,.30 Carbine and .223 FMJ is about ideal. Most 30-30 and 7.62x39 shots are way overkill.
+1 on the .22 Hornet
A reload using a 50 grain softpoint or 52 grain Sierra Match hollowpoint will do the job effectively and the report will not be so loud as to upset nearby animals.
A .222 or .223 will do the job just as well but the report is at the upper level that nearby animals will tolerate.
Have you considered purchasing a compressed air bang stick instead?
This is generally the best choice for this kind of work and they cost less than a rifle with the exception of a single shot NEF or H&R break open single shot.
A reload using a 50 grain softpoint or 52 grain Sierra Match hollowpoint will do the job effectively and the report will not be so loud as to upset nearby animals.
A .222 or .223 will do the job just as well but the report is at the upper level that nearby animals will tolerate.
Have you considered purchasing a compressed air bang stick instead?
This is generally the best choice for this kind of work and they cost less than a rifle with the exception of a single shot NEF or H&R break open single shot.
Uncle Chan
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- Nov 3, 2007
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I do Cowboy Action Shooting and used a 45LC last time. It worked.
aka108
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you might want to look into a captive bolt gun if you are going to do a high number of kills. Used in commercial plants.
.22 LR high-velocity from a rifle is perfectly sufficient if you're doing it right. Draw an X between the eyes and the ears, aim at the centre, hold the muzzle about an inch away, and fire at a direct 90* angle to the plane of the forehead. This will put your round through the thinnest part of the skull and directly into the main blood vessels that feed the brain.
The cow should drop immediately. Though, she may twitch a bit. I was taught this in ag college, and have used it on our farm every time I've had to euthanize a cow, and it has always worked satisfactorily.
A cheap Stevens or Marlin (we use a beat up $50 Marlin Model 25 we got at a yardsale) should work great.
The cow should drop immediately. Though, she may twitch a bit. I was taught this in ag college, and have used it on our farm every time I've had to euthanize a cow, and it has always worked satisfactorily.
A cheap Stevens or Marlin (we use a beat up $50 Marlin Model 25 we got at a yardsale) should work great.
My grandfather used to use an old Winchester 1873 32-20 for putting down hogs and cattle. It worked like a charm. It got the job done efficiently without over penetration and the noise/muzzle blast was not offensive. I currently own a Marlin 1894CL 32-20 and it is my go-to gun for possums, coyotes, racoons etc. It is just a very useful cartridge for a farm or ranch. You might want to look into one.
woad_yurt
Member
SKS! Cheap gun, cheap ammo! Just a guess on my part as I never had to kill a cow but it seems that it would work.
Wow alot of those are good posts. Thank u all for ur opinions. Even though i hear that 7.62X39 is a great caliber and all i can't find ammo any where near my hometown in alberta. I also watched a guy i work with have to two shot a big bull today with a 7mm rem mag. Yikes? this pretty much is going to make me stay with the 30-30 or if i can find a 303 british on a used rack. If i didn't have to do bulls i would go to the 223 with all the positive feedback. once again thanks guys
jrfoxx
Member
That's probly what I'd go with due to price of gun and ammo, and reliability.Can't see why It wouldn't be perfectly effective too, but I've never had anything to do with farming/ranching so I have NO personal experiance with bulls/cows and the like.when it comes to killing animals, I'd rather overkill than have one suffer.
BAMF- If you order 7.62 x 39 off the internet, it's extremely cheap. $80 or so (US) will get you 500 rounds. You're gonna be spending more like a buck a round if you go the 30-30 route. Not that 30-30 isn't great... you just need to reload you own ammo.
If you get a levergun, get a .357 ($12-15/50) or .44 mag ($20-$25/50) and you'll save yourself a bundle compared to the 30-30 ($20/20).
If you get a levergun, get a .357 ($12-15/50) or .44 mag ($20-$25/50) and you'll save yourself a bundle compared to the 30-30 ($20/20).
Sagetown
Member
BAMF:If you're butchering these cattle. I'm assuming they will be penned in a head stall during the kill. In that case, a .22lr used as VAAROK explained, will take down the largest bulls, boar hogs,etc....... A good rugged single shot .22 is the safest, and will take a lot of abuse.
Now, if these cattle are out on the range when taken, a lever 30-30 is a good inexpensive rugged gun to haul around for the job. Been there, done that!
LG
dstorm1911
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