I am fairly content with my home defense weapons collection with the exception of a long range rifle. I have shotguns, carbines, and pistols, but I don't have anything to drop zombies from 200 yards or more. I want to add a rifle to fill that niche. Based on accuracy, range, availibility, cost of ammo, cost of rifle, etc. I'm thinking a bolt 30.06 is the way to go.
I'd like to have some input and your suggestions. And please let's keep it reasonable. I can't go out and get a military 50 cal sniper rifle.
mosin-nagant 7.62x54... can befound for less then $150... rounds can be found everywhere... and it has been used for a sniper rifle for more then 50+ years...
__________________ 12-21-2012: Party like theres no tomorrow!!!
For zombies, I'd go for something that can send a light bullet at extreme velocities (near 4k, especially if handloaded), like the .243 or perhaps the 25-06. Hell, even the .22-250's 45gr bullet at 4000fps (cheap factory Remington UMC load) would work well for busting brains. Really, most smaller-caliber rounds can be loaded to send a light bullet at very fast velocities. Regardless of what you use, at 4000fps, you can set a 250yd zero, and aim for the bridge of the nose and always hit just above it, and out to about 300 yards it would still hit the base of the skull / top of the spine with the same POA.
Of course, the .223's availability and price give it some merit, though won't have the power or range (at least without adjusting / compensating to a greater degree).
However, for anything else, including shooting game from long distance (it was pointed out to me that if food becomes really scarce, the difference between eating and starving might mean making that 500yd shot on that deer you see in the distance, which is probably the most likely reason to make such a shot IMO), its hard to beat the .308 or even 7.62x54 for the combination of long-range power, and price. There are of course just about a million possibilies for high-powered rounds, especially if reloading.
If you are looking for something relatively easily available, I'd look into light .243 or even .22-250 factory loads, followed by .223 if you are more concerned about availity. For a more general purpose load, I'd just go to .30-06, .308, or 7.62x54 (this one for price).
*edit*
Though, for a single cartridge that can do light and fast, or heavier and mildly fast, the .25-06 is probably one of the more versatile for both zombie hunting, long-range game killing or man-stopping if needed.
Is that $150 price tag pre or post Obama nomination?
both... they dont change much in price because most people dont notice their potential as a "supremely viable" sniping platform. the younger generations dont remember them being the number one sniper rifle for two world wars and countless armies...
__________________ 12-21-2012: Party like theres no tomorrow!!!
Ok ok...I know I said I wanted to take out zombies in my original post. But we all know I meant bad guys. I love the 22lr. I've got a bunch of them. But remember we're looking at stopping big things at long range.
My CETME rifle. With her scope, she oughta be good for a few hundred yards, "minute of zombie".....
I got plenty ammo - there'd be a lot of headless zombies.
