Gun nuts...

[DieAz]

http://www.nz-fallow.co.nz/gallery/

another deer

[DieAz]

http://www.deergeneticsnz.co.nz/
more

I think I'm gonna have to sneak into NZ and go hunting with my .50 cal. muzzleloader.

[Vulcan]

Are you absolutely sure that rimfire ammo is forbidden for small game too?   That sort of regulation makes no sense at all.   Centerfire ammo has far greater range, and is thus much more dangerous than rimfire ammo.   That hunting is even allowed in your National Parks is exceptional.   No hunting of any kind is allowed in any of our National Parks or National Monuments.   And PETA is now trying to get fishing banned from them also.

You have to remember that rabbits, possum, deer, pig, and goat are all introduced species here that damage native flora and fauna. As such they're all considered pests. So hunting is not only allowed, but hunting permits are free as you are doing our conversation department a favour.


DieAz: re the noise, it's more out of consideration to the farmer to be honest  .

[Toad]

After a bit of googling for NZ deer, wild boar and wild goat hunts I think I have an idea of what you'll be after. Nothing is all that large; deer look to be about US Midwest whitetail size, boar ~ 300 lbs, goats not much different than ours.

Given your desire for something relatively light, I'd say .243 Winchester was a great suggestion out to about 250-300 yards on these animals. It shouldn't be hard to find a good .243 bolt that will be a tack driver. It's an accurate cartridge and a well made gun will have more capability than most shooters. Were I buying one today, I'd probably go with a Savage Weather Warrior

User adjustabale AccuTrigger, stainless barreled action, free floating and button rifled barrel, hinged floorplate, and swivel studs. Drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Black synthetic with positive checkering, dual pillar bedding.

For the bunnies, nothing is more fun than a good, accurate .22 LR. You can get a flatter trajectory with the .17 HMR but the ammo is WAY more expensive than .22LR and in truth the .17 is more than you need for bunny. I might suggest a Marlin 39A lever gun; I have never shot a more accurate-out-of-the-box .22 in a reasonable price range and I've shot 3 or 4 Marlins at random. They were all great. About $450 here in the US.

[Vulcan]

So generally it looks like I'd be up for two guns then

I'm thinking then maybe this: http://www.guncity.co.nz/243-stevens-model-scoped-package-xidp160585.html  and paying more for a better scope.

Although I still have urges for this: http://www.guncity.co.nz/stevens-39x40-scoped-you-choose-the-calibre-xidp160643.html

[LTARGlok]

So generally it looks like I'd be up for two guns then

Well, I think that it is more that you need two different calibers.

There are single shot rifles were you can easily change caliber by simply replacing the barrel of the gun.  Harrington and Richardson's Ultra Varmint is available in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, 223 Remington, and 243 Winchester.   Just change out the barrel, and you have a new caliber to shoot.   I know a fellow that has one in 223 Remington, and it is quite accurate.

See this web page:

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/hunter.aspx

Thompson Center also has their Contender and Encore rifles, which can again support multiple calibers with just a quick switch of the barrel.   See this web page for info:

http://www.tcarms.com/

Harrington Richardson requires that any extra barrels be hand fitted at their factory to your specific gun, however.   With the Thompson Center rifles, you can simply buy another barrel, and swap it out yourself.   No factory work is required.

[Reschke]

Vulcan,

If you absolutely need a scope don't go cheap. For $629 USD to $798 NZD seems like a really good deal IF the optics are decent. From what I have seen and read about your area it does appear to be wet quite a bit so you will want some very good optics that will resist fogging and moisture buildup.

[Reschke]

140471 - BSA Deer Hunter 3-9X40 - Not the scope I would recommend for any firearm. Unless it was for a kid to learn with and even then I have a hard time putting someone with super cheap optics. BSA does make some decent scopes but this isn't one of them.

This one isn't a bad scope to have for starting out. http://www.guncity.co.nz/bushnell-banner-39x40-vari-power-dusk-dawn-xidp137878.html

This one is a favorite of mine and I have mounted it on several scoped rifles in the last 3 years for a few people. It is more expensive but its not nearly as pricey as my Swarovski AV3-10x42.
http://www.guncity.co.nz/leupold-vxia-39x40mm-gloss-xidp109156.html

Although I still have urges for this: http://www.guncity.co.nz/stevens-39x40-scoped-you-choose-the-calibre-xidp160643.html

[Coshy]

Last year I bought this : http://www.savagearms.com/110gxp3.htm

I think I paid around $750 total (case, cleaning kit, 2 boxes of overpriced ammo).

The scope is a Simmons 3-9x40. Not top of the line I'm sure, but out to 200 yards I can put 5 shots in a group the size of a quarter.

[DieAz]

DieAz: re the noise, it's more out of consideration to the farmer to be honest   .

check your laws to see if a silencer or muffler is allowed.
it will cut down on the boom dramatically.
although the crack of the sonic barrier being broken will still be heard all the way down range.

[-tronski-]

My grandfather used to hunt wild pigs with his SMLE up the Kaimai ranges (near the Bay of Plenty)...thats probably a little too much mana for what you want Vulcan

 Tronsky

[Excel1]

vulcan

if you are shooting as a guest on private land and the noise a .22 or centrefire rifle makes is a concern then consider using a suppressor. there is no stigma attached to using them and they are as common as heck these days. personaly i dont care much for them as they add weight and usually ruin the balance of a rifle. besides, i shoot on my own property and i don't mind the muzzle blast anyhow, and if others in the vicinity do then that's their problem.

if you buy a .22 and think that you may want to use a suppressor at some stage it's usually a good idea to buy one with the muzzle already threaded (many new .22's are) to take an inexspensive muzzle can suppressor which are resonably effective with sub sonic ammo. or you could really dig in to your piggy bank and get the fully suppressed savage .22 . with the reputation that savage have i would think it would be very accurate as well as being very quite.. probably make less noise than your air rifle when using subsonic ammo.

Features: Barrel machined and Ported to be just over minimum legal length. Exterior finish Black Milspec.Stock - Wood Blue - monte carlo style. Suppressor Tube 304L Seamless Stainless. Internal components 100% Stainless. 10 Shot Magazine. Supplied with 4 x 32 Scope and Simmons Rings


as toad already mentioned the savage weather warrier is a good rifle and would be my pick for value for money and quality in a centrefire bolt action rifle. and there is a fully suppressed version of it as well.

"Barrel shortened approx 18''. FULL Overbarrel suppressor. 304L Seamless Stainless Steel. Integral muzzle break. 304 L Stainless Asymmetrically formed baffles. Available in 7mm08, 223 and 308"

http://www.sportwaysgunshed.co.nz/index.php

[forHIM]

I'd recommend the TC Arms Encore / Contender with multiple barrels.  Since you are used to single shots with the Air Rifle moving to a centerfire that is single shot won't be much of a shooting methodology change and it has the added benefit of being able to swap calibers with the change of a barrel.  Not sure what your countries regulations about own firearms are or if multiple barrels would be considered multiple guns (thus potentially needing multiple permits).

[Maverick]

The TC system, particularly the Encore, is a good option and has many calibers to choose from. Keep in mind that each barrel is not cheap and you need to check with your own laws to see if the receiver is the "gun" or each barrel is. I like the TC system but it will make the .22 rather heavy compared to a dedicated .22 rifle and it's also a single shot only option.

[Vulcan]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's been quite helpful.