Small Bullets (.224) and BIG game

Brings a up different question. No votes for the mini-Howa in .223?

I’m not a fan of the Howa bolt throw angle after hunting with tikkas. Also not a fan of the Howa two stage trigger and not a fan of you cycle the Howa action that two stage can become a heavy single stage. For me the tikka is worth the extra $200 over the Howa plus I can rebarrel it myself
 
I’m not a fan of the Howa bolt throw angle after hunting with tikkas. Also not a fan of the Howa two stage trigger and not a fan of you cycle the Howa action that two stage can become a heavy single stage. For me the tikka is worth the extra $200 over the Howa plus I can rebarrel it myself
I've not shot any Howas, but have a Mark V 6 lug. I want a company .223 and I'm trying to figure out where my price point is.
 
I've not shot any Howas, but have a Mark V 6 lug. I want a company .223 and I'm trying to figure out where my price point is.
Not sure if they’re still out there, but you could find the blued Tikkas that weren’t threaded for cheap online. I just went with a stainless 20” threaded and have not regretted it.
 
This thread has inspired me to start looking for another rifle “for the kids”
About time for Junior to learn how to shoot a .338 RUM.

Just put together a .223 Tikka in a KRG X-Ray chassis with, naturally, a Trijicon Credo HX on top. Plan to run it with my DeadAir Nomad screwed on. Just as @Potsie said, a suppressed .223 bolt gun is the most fun you can have with your pants on.

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I could put up a few pictures...you guys have seen a lot of them.

They work well if you pick your shots, like you should do with every other chambering you choose to use.
Like anything else in this world. Use them within the envelope.

The .243 has been a laser for MD for us given the terrain.
 

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I read all the info out there and listened to the podcats etc. I was skeptical, but the logic rang true, knowing that we all kill plenty of animals with arrows. So I tried it... I have been extremely impressed, and it has really changed my perspective after many years of hunting with a 270 and 300 win mag. My goal is to become a better marksman, and always kill an animal as quickly and as ethically as possible. Small calibers have really helped me in both these areas.
 
My son shot a whitetail doe with a 77tmk out of a 223 this past Saturday, 100 yards or so, doe weighed 99 pounds on the hoof. Right behind the shoulder, she went about 20 yards. Not a drop of blood, no exit. It killed her just fine, but in our extremely thick cactus and thorn scrub brush down here finding an animal that is not leaking can be very difficult. In more open country I’d have no issue using that combo again.
If I ever move back east and hunt the tickets I grew up hunting I think I'd go with a 6.8spc. I used one of those a lot when I was younger and it left a better blood trail.
 
Brings a up different question. No votes for the mini-Howa in .223?

Or go straight to the Seekins?
I have two Howa Minis, one 20" 6ARC and a 22" 223AI, love them both. Neither have the dreaded heavy trigger if cycling the bolt fast and both are very accurate. Just finished up fire-forming Lapua brass in the AI with 50gr Barnes VG that shot into .5". Have a load worked up with the 35HH in the 223AI clipping along at 4200fps for predators. Think a 63gr Absolute Hammer would be the ticket for deer and antelope. Need minimum .24 caliber in Washington, but surprisingly can use a .380 Auto if it has a 4" barrel???
 
The Eskimos up where I moose hunt weapon of choice is a ar. It’s pretty amazing how far bullets have coming watching the rum grow in popularity to what people are packing now
 
I’ve switched to shooting smaller cartridges anymore I don’t even enjoy shooting my 6.5 prc much anymore.
Ive gone the other way, carry my 300wsm most nights now, only because anything can pop up, and here we can shoot animals at will legaly. Last two been foxes.
 

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