Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

[jonaddis84]

I get an awesome deal on Bushmasters through work so Ive had my eye on the Predator with the 20" fluted barrel. I really like the looks of it and the trigger feels great to me for a factory trigger. This will be my first black gun btw.

Ill top it with Burris XTR super high tactical rings and a Nikon M223 3-12x40 (I also get stellar deals on Nikon).

I was bored yesterday at work so I mounted everything up and it just felt perfect, and seems like it should be a tack driver. But wanted to see what anyone else had to say about this rifle?

If someone does have this and has a pet load for it that would be nice to hear about as well. I shoot 55gn Vmax' out of my 22-250 Rem 700 so if those shot well that would be a plus. But Id also like to have a "heavy" load to take advantage of the 1in8 twist on that barrel.

 

[widnerkj]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

I bet that you will be very happy with this setup, then eventually tire of the trigger, and have to tune tweak everything. First black rifles are sort of a gateway drug.

I'm a prick I apologize, you'll love this setup. and then modify it like a high school kid with a jap tuner car. (seriously)

 

[jonaddis84]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

Im hoping that doesnt end up being the case...hoping...

Ive never been able to get into the tactical side of these guns even though I have buddies with them and what not. I just want something cheaper to shoot than my 308, and something that will be a great varmint gun.

My buddy is a SOT dealer, so when I get the itch for black guns I just go shoot one of his 6 M16's or 2 G36's or 4 MP5's haha.

 

[widnerkj]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

I'm not saying you are gonna hang 5lbs of crap off it just because you can. I'm just saying you are gonna tinker. Simply because it only requires a screwdriver and a hammer to get at it. Don't dread it, and enjoy the black rifle bug. I'm giving you 6 months till you buy a trigger for it.

Can we start a hide pool for this?

 

[Ark. Trapper]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

If he shoots alot I only give him 4 months! Haha. Congrats on the new shooter jonaddis84.

 

[jwb47]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

I have a bushmaster v-match with a 20 inch barrel and a 2 stage trigger . after I get a good zero I will switch to life size wild game targets since this will tell me if I am capable of seeing and hitting my intended target in the field and the limits of my range under field conditions . using sierra 60 grain varminters i can put rounds in the head of a gopher target at 200 yds all day long with boring regularity and get consistent hits on the body out past 300 yds . I use a 3x10 power scope since for me I dont want to have to fool with adjusting parallex when trying to get on target.
I predict you will be thrilled with your new set up. good luck and keep us posted

 

[BCP]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

That bushy upper is a good upper, 55 vmax is a great varmint bullet out of pretty much any 223 twist. You'll be happy with it.

 

[dlc356]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

If you don't, PM me for my address and you can send it to me. I'll pay for the shipping too.

I think you'll enjoy the hell out of it. BTW, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to post pics of a new rifle...

 

[J-Ham]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

Like everyone else has said, this platform would be just fine for you. And I bet you will customize it - it's just way to easy!

 

[Prairie Dog Dundee]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

You will like the rig. I got into precision shooting hunting Prairie Dogs, hence the moniker. While I use bolt rifles my RRA 24" Varminter has sent hundreds and hundreds of the little fuzz butts to the grass land in the sky. I use the trigger that came with the rifle and it will shoot a 55 grain Nosler BT over 26 grains of W748 using win brass and Remington 7 1/2 primers in Winchester cases in 3/4" at 100 yards very regularly. I own 9 different rifles in 223 or 5.56 and this load is in the top few for accuracy in all of them. Your scope may be a bit low in magnification for some shots but will be fine for most. My RRA has a 6.5-20 Leupold VXIII and I keep it on 12-14X for most shooting. However, there are some long shots and times when the PD are in the tall grass that more magnification is needed. Have fun.

 

[jonaddis84]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

I guess I shouldve been more clear. Im shopping, havent purchased yet so sorry no pics yet. If I get bored at work again Ill mount everything back up and take a good picture of the setup.

I guess if the 12x isnt powerful enough Ill have to use my 308 with the 24x on it for the longer shots. Or the 22-250.

Thanks for all the replies guys, keeping my confidence up in this setup for sure. I looked at a RRA upper with the hogue overmolded tube and 20" bbl today, but I dont get any discount on those, and it was $600 just for the upper! I can get the Bushy complete for just over $700

 

[M21guy]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

When I had a similar rifle I used a 24x variable scope. I liked it. It is good to see them ears just over the grass line when popping of burrowing critters.

 

[BCP]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

If you're looking for a cheap varmint variable scope get a nikon, that's what my 20" bull 223 has on it and for 269$ I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[uscbigdawg]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

My varmint upper is a 20" (no need for a 24" as you don't give up that much velocity), SS 1:12 and I shot 52gr.'s. Laser beam!

Rich

 

[2clicks]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

55gr vmax
Winchester brass and primers.
25grs Winchester 748
Mag length

I have the Bushmaster Varminter this is a great rifle the predators longer sibling. I'd be happy with the 20". The trigger is fine by me and I've never had the desire to modify anything on the rifle. Probably because I doubt any mods will improve accuracy. So I'm saving my loot for other things I have an older Nikon 6X24 Monarch on it. It's perfect for me as I occasionally get out to 600. (Even though the scope doesn't track for sh--) Yes you will love this rifle even if you don't change a thing on it. If I'm not mistaken the chamber and trigger are identical to their DCM rifle. Check it out below before it gets deleted.

Here's a short video of a 4 shot group might take a second to view as you'll see no need to improve this other than the fact it's not centered... it's been at least 2 yrs I'm pretty sure the top hole is actually 2 shot's, it still shoots great.
http://s1114.photobucket.com/albums/k528/xring243/?action=view&current=bushmastertarget.mp4

 

[2clicks]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

One quick thing you might not know about, maybe you won't care... I think in order to get the proper eye relief on any longer bodied scope with a flat top AR you'll need to get a rail extension to get the scope away from my your eye an inch or two. Note the front scope ring in relation to the free float tube. I think there are better choices available now but that Yankee Hill works for me.

 

[cobrasan]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2clicks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One quick thing you might not know about, maybe you won't care... I think in order to get the proper eye relief on any longer bodied scope with a flat top AR you'll need to get a rail extension to get the scope away from my your eye an inch or two. Note the front scope ring in relation to the free float tube. I think there are better choices available now but that Yankee Hill works for me. </div></div> I agree, my scope sits further back than yours(probably 1.5 to 2") and I have to crank my neck to get proper eye relief. I have an extra rail extension lying around I will try tomorrow.

 

[VKC]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

sounds like a nice setup, but would probably go with higher mag scope if you want to hunt prairie dogs at distance.

 

[AK10mm]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cobrasan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2clicks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One quick thing you might not know about, maybe you won't care... I think in order to get the proper eye relief on any longer bodied scope with a flat top AR you'll need to get a rail extension to get the scope away from my your eye an inch or two. Note the front scope ring in relation to the free float tube. I think there are better choices available now but that Yankee Hill works for me. </div></div> I agree, my scope sits further back than yours(probably 1.5 to 2") and I have to crank my neck to get proper eye relief. I have an extra rail extension lying around I will try tomorrow. </div></div>I use a RRA Scout Rail
with Low Rings on a 3-18X42 IOR and cheekweld is perfect.Plenty of clearance on the Bell.Stock triggers on almost all AR's suck,you might want to change that

 

[2clicks]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

Yeah I here the fella's talking about their Geissele triggers and all at the NRA accross the course matches. I can still clean a 200 & 300 yrd rapid fire target with the one they have on the Bushmaster DCM rifle which is the very one they use on the Predator & Varminter. I guess it kinda sucks but then again so do I when I cross fire. Bwahahahahaaa.... I really need to look into that RRA Scout Rail thanks for the FYI.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I looked at a RRA upper with the hogue overmolded tube and 20" bbl today</div></div>
I have the hogue overmolded tube on one of my competition guns. Although I like it because I get consistent grip when my hands are sweaty, after really sucking the rifle into my shoulder for 25-40 long range steel targets, I find that the tube loosens up and I have to twist it back on. And that is with lock-tite on the threads.

Also, just to reiterate, the first EBR is the gateway drug to building a super EBR. I have competed in 3-gun and multigun since 2000 and have had 4 different rifles. Stock Bushymaster 20", 16" shorty for those really close matches where distance is not happening, 18" custom (built by my dad), and a fully tricked 18" with parts I won at matches. The only part I bought on this rifle is the scope (which I took off my previous competition rifle).

I do have a YHM scope mount that will allow a bit of forward mounting surface to move the scope away from your eye. I need to sell it, just too lazy to actually list it anywhere right now.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

Is it just me or is there an assload of people skirting around Lowlight's rules lately?!?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ogreshooter posts=17</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I need to sell it, just too lazy to actually list it anywhere right now.

</div></div>

If that's not fishing for a buyer I don't know what is....

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Re: Will I be happy with this prarie dog/coyote setup?

HAHN makes precision scope mounting rails that are great--
last 1 i got from BROWNELL'S