School me on bolt action handguns

[Weston]

So I think I've decided that I want a bolt action handgun, I roll my own so caliber is not really an issue, but I am not familiar at all on what type of action to look for xp100 striker, something else? I'm also unsure how the velocities are or what type of maximum effective range I should expect compared to a similar caliber rifle, the primary purpose of this gun will be to carry backpacking in the off season setting trail cameras and fixing fences, I'm sick of only having my glock on me and missing chances at lions or even coyotes more than 40 or so yards out. However I am also not opposed to using it to hunt coues whitetail, and anyone that knows coues know that the further you can shoot the better, I currently use a .338 LM for my long range big game hunting but carrying a 16 pound gun on backpacking trips sure gets old. So I guess I'm a complete newbie and just need some advice as to realistic distances I could shoot supported with one of these, and a recommendation on caliber (so far I'm thinking a 22-250 might be the way to go) as far as price goes, I would like to be in at around 1000 scoped but I could go higher if needed.

 

[Ernie]

If looking at Coues deer as your largest game, then I would see 6mm as a minimum (like a 6XC) and 7mm as a maximum.
I would consider 7mm for the higher BC bullets (less wind drift especially).
I tend to find myself using 6.5-284, 6.5 SAUM, 6.5WSM.
in 7mm 284 Win, 7 SAUM, 7 WSM, 7 Dakota, and 7 LRM.
For the cartridges I have mentioned in a XP, the price is way over $1000.

Depends on the distances you intend to shoot/hunt at, and what game you are considering.

Not a Striker fan myself, but you can put one together cheaper than a XP for sure.

Another great hunting rig is the MOA Maximum.
MOA Corporation Homepage
I have MOA's in 6-284, 6.5x47, 6.5-284, 284 Win, and 7mm Mag Imp.
Lot cheaper than putting a custom XP together.

I use rifle scopes on my specialty pistols.

You might be able to find one of the rear-grip XP-100R's in 22-250.

What distances do you want to be able to hit steel or paper at?
What distances do you want to be able to kill varmints at?
What distances do you want to be able to kill big game at?

So I think I've decided that I want a bolt action handgun, I roll my own so caliber is not really an issue, but I am not familiar at all on what type of action to look for xp100 striker, something else? I'm also unsure how the velocities are or what type of maximum effective range I should expect compared to a similar caliber rifle, the primary purpose of this gun will be to carry backpacking in the off season setting trail cameras and fixing fences, I'm sick of only having my glock on me and missing chances at lions or even coyotes more than 40 or so yards out. However I am also not opposed to using it to hunt coues whitetail, and anyone that knows coues know that the further you can shoot the better, I currently use a .338 LM for my long range big game hunting but carrying a 16 pound gun on backpacking trips sure gets old. So I guess I'm a complete newbie and just need some advice as to realistic distances I could shoot supported with one of these, and a recommendation on caliber (so far I'm thinking a 22-250 might be the way to go) as far as price goes, I would like to be in at around 1000 scoped but I could go higher if needed.

 

[Weston]

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. Paper or steel is kind of a non issue for me, and varmints are also (with the exception of the occasional coyote or bobcat) I guess the big thing is the lions and like I said coues deer would be a plus I have killed my fair share of coues deer including a few with a .22-250 and it was medicine on them out to about 300 yards, I have only been able to kill one out of the last 4 lions I have seen because I rarely have a rifle with me when I see them. I would absolutely love a gun I could shoot 400 yards with and still carry some Kenetic energy however for some reason I am under the impression that that will be pretty hard to do accurately out of such a short barrel, I am a big fan of the 6.5x284, but again I was under the impression that caliber needed a long bbl. I'll take a look at those MOA handguns that you linked to me, thank you

 

[RT2506]

For the money you want to put in to it and for back packing I would suggest a T/C Encore in 243 Win as the lightest caliber. Optimum for me would be a 260 Remington or a 7mm-08 for your stated use. You can either use a sling or my preference a bandolier style shoulder holster to carry it. You can use your back pack as a shooting rest in the field.

Any of the XPs are going to be over $1000 and that does not include the scope. By the way they don't make Xps or Strikers anymore so it is find one used if you can.

By the way you are not going to be able to make 300 and 400 yards shots with any pistol unless you practice, practice, practice, practice. Did I mention you will also need to practice.

 

[Ernie]

The Encore is definitely an option for 400 yard hunting.
In a 15" MOA Maximum, my 6.5-284 with a 130 Berger is around 2700 fps.
IF the barrel is an inch to 3 inches longer, even more so.
If you like the 6.5-284, get the SP of your choice in that chambering with a (1-8 twist) barrel length from 15-17 inches and you will be good to go for killing cougars or coues out to 400 yards.

 

[Ernie]

Let me add to RT's comments.
Practice, practice, practice from field shooting positions in both bad and good conditions to learn your limits/capabilities.

 

[Rupe]

I am a fan of the Striker. I bought a uses one in .308win The great thing about a Striker is you can change calibers in 10 min. by changing the barrel and setting the head space. I picked up a .243win barrel used, cut it down to 16.5" crowned it, head spaced it and now I have 2 barrels for it. The Striker also has a magizine and you can carry upto 1 or 2 more rounds in it depending on the caliber.
Now for the really good part!
I bought my Striker for $425. extra .243 barrel $65. Scoped it with a new Nikon Monark 3 rifle scope 4-16x42 sf mildot for $449. So I have basicly 2 handguns for $979. Plus I bought a Savage barrel nut wrench, action wrench, and a barrel vise and a set of go no go headspace gauges which is good for both the.barrels I have plus a couple more calibers which I want
to get.
So you see the Striker is a very handy specialty pistol. It is very accurate and can do everything you want it to do! You can almost always find a used one online. With all the crap Obama has started the price has gone up on them, but if you keep an eye peeled I think you can find one at a reasonable price.

I agree with the above statements on practice practice practice. 300 Yards is pretty easy but past that you really need to burn some powder.
Good luck and welcome to the specialty handgun club!
Rupe

 

[Weston]

Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it, I think its fairly to myself and others that I need to do quite a bit more research before I make a purchase, so I will continue to do research and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

Again I really appreciate the time and effort you guys have put in to offer advice it is very helpful for a topic that I am a complete novice ingun)

 

[Rupe]

If you would like to talk about the striker feel free to pm me and I will give you my phone number. I don't claim to know it all about them, but I can sure tell you what my experance with it.
Rupe

 

[bowstryder]

A little late to the thread but I as far as xp100r's go. I found one for $700 with the 12x burris in .260 rem. It was well used but still rang steel at 300 with great consistency. I am a personal fan of the internal mag, but I use it for varmints so it's nice to just crank the bolt and pull the trigger repeatedly.
The bad, in the condition it was in, I decided to have it freshened up quite a bit so the total investment goes WELL above the 1k mark you mentioned earlier. As far as your caliber choice. I think the -250 is very marginal where cats linger. JMO though.

 

[LouBoyd]

By the way you are not going to be able to make 300 and 400 yards shots with any pistol unless you practice, practice, practice, practice. Did I mention you will also need to practice.

If you can make shots with a rifle at 300 to 400 yards what's so difficult with a pistol? Shooting offhand isn't a requirement. Using a pistol with a scope and bipod can be as accurate as a rifle. For moderate to long range, wind deflection uncertainty is most likely to to be the limiting factor on accuracy with a rifle or pistol. It's certainly a good idea to practice with a pistol or a rifle especially to learn how to dope wind.