Are solids legal in NZ for hunting? I am goin in a couple of months and thought of taking some solids for little guys like the Opposum.

You can use solids,but why?? I take it you want the possum fur?? just use a 22 or 12ga

Well I am going to be hunting with a 338 WM which is like my right arm and thought Accubonds would be a bit much. I don't want to bring a second gun, but maybe the outfitter would loan me a 22, eh.

Given that possums are nocturnal and often found in trees I'd be surprised if you found an outfitter willing to let you use a 338WM on possums....

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Well I am going to be hunting with a 338 WM which is like my right arm and thought Accubonds would be a bit much.

Believe me mate the 338 Win Mag does not have enough power to down a Possum. You would be better served by a 416, the Rigby is to be preffered over the Remington, or a 458 Win Mag.
A double is better than a magazine rifle in the event that you are called upon to stop a charging buck. Avoid New Zealand during April it's the Possums mating season at which time the bucks behaviour is erratic. The buggars will have you in a flash.

Best to play safe and go for firepower.Do you have access to a .50 Browning ? Sometimes you get a flock of possums marauding the neighbourhood and a rifle just doesnt have the reload capacity. Tracers are good too , since you will be nightshooting , and maybe a WW11 searchlight fitted to the front of the 4wd for spotting the little buggers.

Many is the time I have returned from a possum hunt shattered due to the stress of it , takes ages to recover , but the councilling is beginning to help , and the drugs seem to have stopped the cold sweats and nightmares to some extent.

I'm sure your outfitter will a 22/12ga you can use,who are you hunting with?? and for what?? You should take one of these too when you are down here,338WM will be big enough to kill one.

NitroX - is that you mate ????

TP, I am hunting with Gerald Telford. Tahr, Chamios, Feral goats, Arapawa sheep and boar. Just thought it would be nice to hunt some small game also.

I think shooting possums in trees with solids from a .338 would be quite dangerous and irresponsible.

***

Muzza

Ha ha.

The hair colour looks closer to yours.

OK - serious now ...

Any hunting guide that caters to overseas customers will have a.22 rifle and a shotgun available specifically for hunting possums . Since they dont occur in many other parts of the world - at least where you can hunt them - and there is an endless supply of them here most guides are real happy to throw in a possum hunt as part of the package.

Using your cannon to blast a tree-bound possum is pretty dangerous to say the least , and the noise wouldnt help the possums to stick around either . Safety is paramount when night shooting so you have to be safe at all times - a .22 rifle or shotgun is far safer then a centrefire magnum due to the shorter range of the projectile . And possums arent hard to kill , but shot placement is important tho.

You will enjoy possum shooting , its a national sport here , behind rugby and slagging australians.....