Rifle and scope for magpies

its not easy

Guys any advice on a good rifle and scope for shooting rabbits and magpies. I already have a marlin .223 with a 12x56 Schmidt bender scope for foxing.

Erk

Either a .22lr or a .17hmr would be in my favour? If shooting past alot 80-100 yards alot i'd choose the .17hmr due to it being flat. Scope then wouldn't need a major expensive one. I have a Hawke Sidewinder 4-16x50 on mine and does the job to 200 yards when the weather is on my side. I wouldn't bother spend over €300 on one for them calibers tbh. That's just my opinions other lads have better experiences and will help you im sure

its not easy

Cheers Erk

juice1304

I'd go with a cz .22 cheap as chips ammo and very quiet with a mod and subs. And a 3-9 or 3-12 mag scope you really don't need anything else for hunting.

garv123

since you have a .223 you could get a .22lr, You are fairly limited to under 100 yards with it unless you put a lot of rounds on paper and know the drop past 100 because it begins to drop like a stone.
Some of the lads on here can shot out past 100 with it but they have a lot of practice done with it at all the ranges.

The hmr will be flat shooting if you 0 at 100 out to 150 yards you can almost just point and pull.

Longranger

I have a CZ 455 hmr thumbhole with a Hawke endurance 30 3-12x50 on it and it can comfortably take magpies at 200 yards plus. Once you have it set up properly you'll be grand. I wouldn't even look at a .22lr for magpies after using it.

garv123

Longranger wrote: »

I have a CZ 455 thumbhole with a Hawke endurance 30 3-12x50 on it and it can comfortably take magpies at 200 yards plus. Once you have it set up properly you'll be grand. I wouldn't even look at a .22lr for magpies after using it.

they are weary critters to get near. I probably wouldnt be able to get within 70 yards of one to shoot with a .22.

its not easy

Thanks guys. Leaning towards a cz .22lr

ormondprop

The advantages of a .22 are that the ammo is between 1/2 -1/3 the price of bigger rimfires and its silent

Advantages of .22 mag or .17 hmr is it has longer range and faster shot

For magpies or greycrows i'd pick a .17 or .22mag, they are hard buggers to get close to so the extra range will be very useful, also you only ever get 1 shot at them so the silence of a .22 with subs isn't much of an advantage, and realistically your not going to be firing too many shots at them so the extra cost of ammo shouldn't be too much of a disadvantage, the extra speed is handy too as i have often fired at mags and greys with subs at over 100m and they'd have moved by the time the bullet strikes

As for rifle and scope i'd go for a cz and a 4-16x50 hawke sidewinder or similar scope.

Or use your budget to buy loads of american eagle hollow points for your .223 and just use that

kay 9

Or if ya want to make it really interesting maybe try a .204:D pretty much flat to 350yds +/- a couple inches. Be real good fun popping the buggers at them ranges and see them go pooffff.. in the scope;) Just seen you have a .223, sorry. Still worth considering the .204 instead though to cover both.

pugw

Id stick with the .223 and use cheap ammo only thing is you'd have to be even more careful of your backstop! I had a .22 and I wouldnt recommend for magpies they are so hard to get near that the .17hmr would be a better option, you only get a quck chance so the point and aim advantage of the hmr would be a big help! Plus if your shot isnt perfect the balistic tip should still ensure a clean kill.

juice1304

I would disagree with the comments saying it's hard to hit anything past 100y with a .22:rolleyes: because it's not you can take rabbits out to 150 no problem at all.;)