Brid Depredation

sweetwater · 02-21-2007, 10:09 AM

Greetings All! New to the forum and wanted to get some expert opinions. I have a catfish farm, and the cormorants are eating me out of house and home!
My Shotgun with 3.5" shells was getting the job done, then they got wise so I moved to a .17 HMR with a tripod and have been pretty consistent at 150 yards. Now they are wising up to that.

So I need a highly accurate, small caliber rifle for shots in the 200-400 yard range for a target smaller than a canada goose. Can I some sugggestions on calber, round specifics, make of gun, etc?
Was considering a .22/250 or .223 (ruger mini 14).

Sometime I shoot from a vehicle, sometime from the back of a 4 wheeler, but never from a blind, so range always seems to be different, so I assume I need a very flat tragectory bullet.

Thanks in advance for your help.

frozentorso · 02-22-2007, 12:32 AM

.22-250 or .223 both would be good rounds. Stay away from the mini 14 past 100 yards. Savage and Howa both make excellent rifles around $400, about the same as a Mini 14. .22-250 shoots a little flatter. .223 a little cheaper. Both versatile rounds.

Lng Rng · 02-22-2007, 01:02 AM

Or possibly a .204 ruger

toolman · 02-22-2007, 03:23 AM

Unless you are going with an AR-15 platform, I'd stick with a bolt gun in .223. The ammo is cheap and deadly on varmints out to 500-600 yds if you do your homework. I would suggest the new Savage single shot(can't remember the mod. nmbr.). If you are on a tight budget, the NEF Handi-Rifle is a good choice as well.

samuel · 02-22-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetwater

Greetings All! New to the forum and wanted to get some expert opinions. I have a catfish farm, and the cormorants are eating me out of house and home!
My Shotgun with 3.5" shells was getting the job done, then they got wise so I moved to a .17 HMR with a tripod and have been pretty consistent at 150 yards. Now they are wising up to that.

So I need a highly accurate, small caliber rifle for shots in the 200-400 yard range for a target smaller than a canada goose. Can I some sugggestions on calber, round specifics, make of gun, etc?
Was considering a .22/250 or .223 (ruger mini 14).

Sometime I shoot from a vehicle, sometime from the back of a 4 wheeler, but never from a blind, so range always seems to be different, so I assume I need a very flat tragectory bullet.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Went to the wicopedia free encyclopedia and looked cormorants up.They say they are an endangered species.This may not be the case for you as there are 36 variety,s and it could be legal to shoot them,but if they are under endangered species act I would advise checking.That is one law that can be big trouble.On both that and the cormorant web site they state they are susceptible to predators.I wonder if staking mans best friend might help.Maybe if you have fence the dog could run loose.As to firearms,I would love to help you with one of my .22-250,s but I live 1,000 miles away.Have you thought of finding varmint hunters in your area that would act responsibly and help you.Riccochets from varmint bullets such as Hornady vmax and such are of little danger. samuel.

.22guy · 02-22-2007, 12:51 PM

Sounds like a Savage bolt is in order. Let us know what you get.

ash · 02-22-2007, 04:17 PM

If you got the money to spend take a look at the alexander arm's 6.5 Grendel.
If not I recommend a 22/250.

reloader · 02-25-2007, 08:27 AM

i would go with a savage i have a stevens made by savage i got it for 200 bucks... i hold a 1/2 group with my stevens 223 at 200yrds and still have no problem killin them groundhogs at 400yrds .... id go with the 223

jwhunter · 02-26-2007, 05:45 PM

Most of these guys are right, they are all great rounds but you cant go wrong with the .223. The price of ammo is significantly cheaper than the other calibers. That means you can shoot alot of comorants. Look into Black hills ammo decent price and excellent accuracy.

Moss500Bantam · 02-26-2007, 07:02 PM

Proceed with caution. As nasty as they are, they are federally protected. Permitting in special circumstances can be has to take some out, but it's the typical buerocratic red tape fiasco you would expect from the feds and locals combining talents.

frozentorso · 02-26-2007, 07:48 PM

I looked up the species today and they are some ugly mothers!

NorCalAshnjikov · 03-07-2007, 06:52 AM

Is covering your pond out of the question (too big)?
Have you thought about hiring/buying a Hawk?

at4rxj · 03-07-2007, 10:20 AM

I vote to go with a varmint style ar-15, but second the above choices if you're on a budget.

02-21-2007, 10:09 AM	#1
sweetwater Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Albany, GA Posts: 0	Brid Depredation - Need a rifle, HELP! Greetings All! New to the forum and wanted to get some expert opinions. I have a catfish farm, and the cormorants are eating me out of house and home! My Shotgun with 3.5" shells was getting the job done, then they got wise so I moved to a .17 HMR with a tripod and have been pretty consistent at 150 yards. Now they are wising up to that. So I need a highly accurate, small caliber rifle for shots in the 200-400 yard range for a target smaller than a canada goose. Can I some sugggestions on calber, round specifics, make of gun, etc? Was considering a .22/250 or .223 (ruger mini 14). Sometime I shoot from a vehicle, sometime from the back of a 4 wheeler, but never from a blind, so range always seems to be different, so I assume I need a very flat tragectory bullet. Thanks in advance for your help.

02-22-2007, 12:32 AM	#2
frozentorso Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North East Texas Posts: 593	.22-250 or .223 both would be good rounds. Stay away from the mini 14 past 100 yards. Savage and Howa both make excellent rifles around $400, about the same as a Mini 14. .22-250 shoots a little flatter. .223 a little cheaper. Both versatile rounds. __________________ "I'm your huckleberry. Thats just my game!"

02-22-2007, 03:23 AM	#4
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,865 Blog Entries: 24	Unless you are going with an AR-15 platform, I'd stick with a bolt gun in .223. The ammo is cheap and deadly on varmints out to 500-600 yds if you do your homework. I would suggest the new Savage single shot(can't remember the mod. nmbr.). If you are on a tight budget, the NEF Handi-Rifle is a good choice as well. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

02-22-2007, 12:51 PM	#6
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,259	Sounds like a Savage bolt is in order. Let us know what you get. __________________ My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban as soon as I take office.

02-26-2007, 07:48 PM	#11
frozentorso Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North East Texas Posts: 593	I looked up the species today and they are some ugly mothers! __________________ "I'm your huckleberry. Thats just my game!"

02-22-2007, 01:02 AM	#3
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 962	Or possibly a .204 ruger

02-22-2007, 04:17 PM	#7
ash Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: En route Posts: 934 Images: 3	If you got the money to spend take a look at the alexander arm's 6.5 Grendel. If not I recommend a 22/250.

02-25-2007, 08:27 AM	#8
reloader Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Middleburg Posts: 27	i would go with a savage i have a stevens made by savage i got it for 200 bucks... i hold a 1/2 group with my stevens 223 at 200yrds and still have no problem killin them groundhogs at 400yrds .... id go with the 223

02-26-2007, 05:45 PM	#9
jwhunter Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 61	Most of these guys are right, they are all great rounds but you cant go wrong with the .223. The price of ammo is significantly cheaper than the other calibers. That means you can shoot alot of comorants. Look into Black hills ammo decent price and excellent accuracy.

02-26-2007, 07:02 PM	#10
Moss500Bantam Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 257	Proceed with caution. As nasty as they are, they are federally protected. Permitting in special circumstances can be has to take some out, but it's the typical buerocratic red tape fiasco you would expect from the feds and locals combining talents.

03-07-2007, 06:52 AM	#12
NorCalAshnjikov Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 688 Images: 1	Is covering your pond out of the question (too big)? Have you thought about hiring/buying a Hawk?

03-07-2007, 10:20 AM	#13
at4rxj Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 872 Images: 10	I vote to go with a varmint style ar-15, but second the above choices if you're on a budget.