Alright I am a commercial fisherman and have a need for a rifle that I can use to keep pest from stealing my gear, fish, or bait. Pest can range from birds to sea lions. This is 100% legal so please don't get off topic. They can cost me a lot of money per day in lost fish, $3k on a really bad day. But if that isn't bad enough they rip off all my gear to boot, this can add up to several hundred dollars a day too.
I have been using a 30-30 lever gun, and have tried ar-15's as well as other varmint calibers. I am looking for a semi auto for faster follow up shots though.
The range will be from 5 to 150yds while trolling or up to 300yds while net fishing.
My requirements are:
Corrosion Resistance: salt water environment with little day to day maintenance, once a week is all I can commit to cleaning it.
Muzzle Velocity: have to be able to get the bullet from point a to point b before the target drops off a wave or goes back under.
Punch: have enough energy to punch threw 6-12" of water to get to the target if needed. Some sea lions will swim around the boat a few inches under the water, or the crest of a wave will cover a target.
Capacity: 5 Rounds minimun, first round hits are rare off the boat (standing unsupported shooting off a pitching and rolling platform.)
Has to be able to be suppressed: I have a N-6 and would like what ever I choose to be able to use it.
I have tried using the 5.56 with limited success, it had the velocity and capacity, but was rather pitiful at penetrating the water, even a few inches. The 30-30 is marginal, but the only throw away (boat gun) I owned. I have also used a sks in 7.62 that was great but lacked the corrosion resistance.
calibers I have been thinking about:
243win (AR-10)
243 WSSM (New upper)
260 (AR-10)
300 Blackout (New upper)
308 (AR-10)
7.62x39 (MINI-30 Ranch Rifle)
The optic:
It has to go down to a true 1x or very close, a leupold 1.5-5x20 was too much distortion trying to shoot threw the rigging. So I was thinking either a 1-4 or a red dot with a magnifier.
Please provide some input on rifle, caliber, and optic. Your budget is $4k or less
Thanks
I have been using a 30-30 lever gun, and have tried ar-15's as well as other varmint calibers. I am looking for a semi auto for faster follow up shots though.
The range will be from 5 to 150yds while trolling or up to 300yds while net fishing.
My requirements are:
Corrosion Resistance: salt water environment with little day to day maintenance, once a week is all I can commit to cleaning it.
Muzzle Velocity: have to be able to get the bullet from point a to point b before the target drops off a wave or goes back under.
Punch: have enough energy to punch threw 6-12" of water to get to the target if needed. Some sea lions will swim around the boat a few inches under the water, or the crest of a wave will cover a target.
Capacity: 5 Rounds minimun, first round hits are rare off the boat (standing unsupported shooting off a pitching and rolling platform.)
Has to be able to be suppressed: I have a N-6 and would like what ever I choose to be able to use it.
I have tried using the 5.56 with limited success, it had the velocity and capacity, but was rather pitiful at penetrating the water, even a few inches. The 30-30 is marginal, but the only throw away (boat gun) I owned. I have also used a sks in 7.62 that was great but lacked the corrosion resistance.
calibers I have been thinking about:
243win (AR-10)
243 WSSM (New upper)
260 (AR-10)
300 Blackout (New upper)
308 (AR-10)
7.62x39 (MINI-30 Ranch Rifle)
The optic:
It has to go down to a true 1x or very close, a leupold 1.5-5x20 was too much distortion trying to shoot threw the rigging. So I was thinking either a 1-4 or a red dot with a magnifier.
Please provide some input on rifle, caliber, and optic. Your budget is $4k or less
Thanks
