So I've noticed in following alot of guys out west that are calling and just hunting in general that their are A LOT of wild cats, customs rifles, custom chambering ect. Like 10x more then here in the east. Like I've talk to some guys and having someone like a 6.5x284 ,22vartag, .20tacical, .17-223 is noting uncommon. Precision style rigs just seem standard as well. Meanwhile here in the east anything past say a stock rem 700 in 7mm-08 your just doing too much.
Any reason for that?
Thanks

Long distance requires accurate rifles. Some places you can see further than the gun can shoot, by miles and miles. That and by the time late season ELK hunting is over you better be able to hit that coyote forehead peeping over a far ridge.

That and the winters are long and cold. Boredom really sets in come January and ice fishing ain't popular. Lol

Rednecks and cowboys like guns! Cool guns have more bragging rights. Nothing for oil workers around here to tie up 10-12000 Ina rifle and thermal to shoot 5 coyote a winter. If it makes you feel better I pack a 223 with a Leupold scope. Im a trapper/snareman. Not much of a coyote caller. Most the coyote I shoot are out window of my feeding pickup. Didnt cost my 10000 k either.

I think the western shooters are more likely to be shooting at longer distances. This might make those shooters more interested in some of the cartridges that have a reputation for being more accurate at that those distances.

I have been to several gun shows in western states and did notice there seem to be more older rifles displayed compared to what I see in Missouri. I think the western shooters took their rifles seriously and were always looking for something better.

I have also attended gun shows in Dallas and Fort Worth where there was an amazing number of Winchester saddle guns and Colt revolvers. When I go to Iowa or Illinois, there are tons of Winchester Model 12 and other reliable shotguns from earlier days.

All the above are just my opinions. I think the type of terrain and game available in a region influences which type of weapon works well. There is the hunt for game or varmints and there is the hunt for the better or perfect gun or cartridge to take them.

I live in the east (wv) and own a bunch of wildcats, custom made rifles shoot better, only accurate rifles are interesting

Mostly it’s just fad.

Plenty of guys spending big money to shoot 10 coyotes a year nation wide.

The long distance thing is certainly a fad. The TV hunters and plethora of sniper movies have made it the cool thing to do.

Throw in the craze of PRS and other tacticool competition shooting.

What some don't realize a long range cartridge or gun doesn't overcome their own abilities but I guess u can still Bragg about how much your gun costs or how super cool ur cartridge is no matter what ur abilities are.

Well I mean even past the new stuff just seems you guys seem to half nicer stuff . I see your coyote rigs eveyone and then on FB and those would be considered like just way too over the top here . Even just your standard hunting rifle out west just on avenge seems to be of a better quality and fit.
Mean while here savage axis $30 barska 3-9

Seems to be almost a regional culture of a thing

Yep that goes two ways though

Nothing wrong with a good old .308 for longer distances.If Im just hunting woods country like my own property,,(150 yards or less) my 30/30 Marlin stacks em up.

I mean honestly most guys this way arnt shooting more then 100yd over a good plot so remember was at the range and the guy nexr to me sat down with a BEAUTIFUL 300 win mag. Got to talking before he shot and asked if he shot longer range . Because man. It was SET UP ! he said naw only about from here to there ( pointed at the 75yd berm) said he's sick of tracking deer and hogs though so he needed more gun. Just gave him that " go on naw" and went back to shooting

opening morning at 7:45, I took my first buck at a lazer ranged 403 yards, don't always shoot that far but its a good tool to have in your bag. takes a bit of learning and ya need to spend some cash but once you master it, you always have it. I struggled for 26 years to learn the craft but it was worth it.

Range is obvious but bag limits probably play a role as well. I understand some western game is lottery or one or two a season.
Here in the East in some areas you can shoot a doe a day all season long plus your season limit of bucks and a three month season.

So out west you may only get the one shot and you better make it count.

Sad to say here is often blast away and oh well there's always tomorrow.

I've stacked a few up with a 30-30, 06 etc. but I still like to fool around with stuff like a .20 Practical and other odd stuff.

Some of it is long range, some is that it is "cool" to have an oddball cartridge and brag it up. And some is that it is just plain fun to work up a load for a wildcat that no one else has and make it shoot minute of gnat.

That being said there is nothing wrong with a Savage Axis for most people (the Barska scope though...) they are generally an extremely accurate rifle for a budget gun, and reliable. Put a decent scope on them that will hold zero and do some practicing and they may not be a true long range rifle, but they are plenty accurate for shooting deer at 500 yards. Way more accurate than the majority of guns twice their price.

Not knocking that shot because I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that unless shooting off a very good rest but you can do that with an $800 gun in the old 270 if you have ability to make the shot. A one moa rig is plenty good enough for deer at 400 yards

I'm trying to get where your at. Haven't you made some 800+ yd kills with your rigs ?

I wanna be able to do that . Having the skill knowledge and equipment to put round exactly where it needs to be at distance and drop an animal in it's tracks is beyond attractive to me. Definitely seems to take more then just buying some random soft points and having pie plate accuracy.

Then again I'm also wanting to get into some traditional black powder stuff and do some spot and stalks.

Something about extremes lol

That definitely makes sense

wyoming




wyoming again



kansas



colorado



New Mexico

I don't fool with wildcats but I shoot my 270 and 300 win mag 4 and 500 yards time to time so that when the need arises, and when I have a good rest, and when the wind aint blowing, I can touch one off confident where it will land.