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Best caliber for goats?

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kruzaroad View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kruzaroad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Nov 2024 at 12:55pm
At end of day it's what your comfortable with.
I'm not sure about up here but down south island Wanaka i think had shooting range that let you fire all manner of cal. Wasn't cheap but if there's something like that up these ways, you may be to get on a range and test fire a few differnt cal and see if any are more preferable to what you want.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Billbobnz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2024 at 8:15am
Just a thought, had a friend who used to (and probably still does) shoot a 22-250 for goats.

Was looking at this video last night

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=viatCbGtdZ8
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kruzaroad View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kruzaroad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2024 at 9:24am
And you do taxidermy bb!
I find the irony of that and that video hellishly amusing.
🤣🤣
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Billbobnz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2024 at 9:28am
Hahaha yep, but these are already stuffed at poit of impact hahaha
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RangerPete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2024 at 6:25pm
Billbob, I actually have a 22-250.
Can’t even compare the cost of ammo for a 22-250 to a .17HMR or a .22Mag 😳
I’ve been considering how cheaply I could reload for, and I think I can get it down to about $1.20 a round, so if I’m reloading it’s not much more than the rimfires.
A 223rem is another caliber I think would be great for goats, but if I’ve already got a 22-250 it’s hard to justify getting a 223 😂.
Only problem is my 22-250 has a beautiful, and heavy, laminated stock and a heavy bull barrel, not ideal for trapsing around the hills with.
Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RangerPete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2025 at 3:04pm
Update on the goat caliber saga...

I went south to a large property near Tamaranuie a few weekends ago to help them with some pest control, mostly rabbits, turkeys and goats.

I took my FX wildcat in .177 shooting KO slugs at 22FPE (Little Emma), and my .22LR shooting subsonics at about 90FPE, and my 22-250.
The owners were keen to fill their freezers so said any rabbits, turkeys or goats I got they would be interested in.
They also said if I find any deer I could take a few for my self, and some for them.

Using Little Emma I took a bunch of rabbits and 3 turkeys, most of which I gave to the farm owners.
Using my .22LR I took 5 goats. 4 of them were at about 30 to 50yards, and one was lying down at just over 100 yards.
Two of these were young and edible, so they went to the farm owners.
Unfortunately we never found any deer.

My little .22LR performed well out to 50yards, which is what I have it zeored at.
The 105yard shot required a lot of careful aiming, I was using a normal optical scope (no fancy digital, ballistic calculators) with a plain 30/30 reticle, so no hold over points. I knew that the drop at 100 was about 30cm so I needed to aim up above its back.
The shot was good, a touch lower on the chest then I would have liked, but still a dead goat, it is the black and white billy in the picture.

After the above discussions in this thread on the pros and cons of different calibers, many hours of youtube research, and that weekends goats at 30 to 50yards and the one at just over 100yards with subsonic .22LR, I've decided to look deeper into the reported virtues of the .17HMR, using the 20gr soft nose and hollow point bullets.

So I made some purchases, and last friday was rimfire range day
I upgraded the scope on my .22LR to a hawke Vantage with mil dots for hold over and zeored it at 50yards, and I sighted in the two .17HMR's that I have aquired, zeroing them at 100yards.

At a dollar a pop, they are not cheep to shoot, but I'm looking forward to getting to know them and seeing if I think I'm capable of using them for goats.
Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RangerPete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2025 at 3:07pm
As soon as the picture upload problems have been solved I'll upload the pics.
Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kruzaroad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2025 at 7:07am
Be a few long distance bunnies to i bet.
There was a guy down south whi use to buy goat skins for drum skins, bongo type. Indians have hit me up about goat meat for curry before, so you may be able to find a market for various goat bits to help cover ammo cost.
Gonna be fun gun and really open up the range you pest control at.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mintie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2025 at 10:22am
17hmr is fantastic, I would not be without one for my job as it just takes so much guess work out of the equation.

Get them well suppressed, the sonic crack without any muzzle boom is impossible for them to locate the source of the danger but they know the danger is there, prey is left totally disorientated without knowing where to go.

I have the Savage A17 and happily shoot Rabbits and Pukeko's out to 200+ meters
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RangerPete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2025 at 12:16pm
Kruza, I need to find some local Indian folk looking for goat meat. I should go ask at the local Indian restaurants.

Mintie, 200+ meters, thats impressive!
Do you use the 17gr Vmax frangible bullets or the 20grainers with more solid construction?
Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.
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