Nick,
Just purchased a new Roger 223 bolt action
(stainless steel, composite stock) before Thanks giving for $450. It came with a $50 rebate, and $50 value of scope mounting rings included. I added a $90 scope.
This markedly added to my current
forest land predator fire power (a
22 LR Remington semiautomatic with scope)
Yes, it was about $150 more than I wanted
to pay for a gun, but if your marriage is
so fragile that $150 over is going to make
or break it....you are skating on thin
ice and you may as well break through now.
(Ok it might not be a bad idea to spoil her
with a particularly nice Christmas gift to
protect yourself)
The gun is already starting to pay itself off
with the game bird predators that I had heretofore been unable to control, and now do.
In the long run this gun is not going to cost
me but pay me in saved game birds that I stock
for hunting purposes. It's a business expense,
and tax write off.
Having said all this.....your use of a gun
to shoot anything in the water is very risky
and highly frowned upon if not outright illegal.
The richochet is extremely variable and dangerous.
The higher powered guns obviously are going to
carry the higher risks.
My use of the 223 may not be a fair comparison with what you intend to do with yours.
Good luck.
Bullhead Bob
