Bighorn in the Bighorns . . .

[RGRobinett]

A couple of weeks ago, retired bench-rest competitor, and long-time pal, Tom and yours truly got together for a repeat "bucket list" X-out - his third rockchuck hunt/shoot: the hunting involves locating the critters, then, it's shooting . . . Tom chose to carry two rifles: 1) 22/250, based upon a Hell Betty action (private labeled Defiance Tenacity, sold by Ragged Hole Barrels), featuring a 24" Krieger 1:10" twist barrel, and Leupold 8.5-25x, firing 56.6gr bullets at a little over 3700fps (RL-17); 2) Bighorn Origin (Zermatt Arms), barreld with a Krieger 1:10" twist, 6mm Creedmoor, also @ 24", 95gr BT, via H-100V, at something over 3200fps, sighted with a Swarovski 3.5-18 optic.

On the second day, we visited a colony which we had located three years ago, so, we decided that another visit was in order. The decision proved worthwhile. Until the wind "came up", despite the predominantly full value zeyphers, Tom scored consistent kills out to 518yd - the majority of his shots were ranged from 380 to 500yd. Inside 500, the wind calls were manageable, and Tom garnered a respectable hit ratio: another great shoot, at 8890ft. This pair were dispatched, at about a 45 minute interval, from 457yd, using the Bighorn/6 Creedmoor - jeeez, I hated chambering for that! RG

 

[Dgd6mm]

Awesome and congratulations on the success and having the opportunity to make memories that will last.

 

[stevebridson301]

Congratulations to you on your success

 

[drags]

A couple of weeks ago, retired bench-rest competitor, and long-time pal, Tom and yours truly got together for a repeat "bucket list" X-out - his third rockchuck hunt/shoot: the hunting involves locating the critters, then, it's shooting . . . Tom chose to carry two rifles: 1) 22/250, based upon a Hell Betty action (private labeled Defiance Tenacity, sold by Ragged Hole Barrels), featuring a 24" Krieger 1:10" twist barrel, and Leupold 8.5-25x, firing 56.6gr bullets at a little over 3700fps (RL-17); 2) Bighorn Origin (Zermatt Arms), barreld with a Krieger 1:10" twist, 6mm Creedmoor, also @ 24", 95gr BT, via H-100V, at something over 3200fps, sighted with a Swarovski 3.5-18 optic.

On the second day, we visited a colony which we had located three years ago, so, we decided that another visit was in order. The decision proved worthwhile. Until the wind "came up", despite the predominantly full value zeyphers, Tom scored consistent kills out to 518yd - the majority of his shots reanged from 380 to 500yd. Inside 500, the wind calls were manageable, and Tom garnered a respectable hit ratio: another great shoot, at 8890ft. This pair were dispatched, at about a 45 minute interval, from 457yd, using the Bighorn/6 Creedmoor - jeeez, I hated chambering for that! RG
View attachment 1262291

Do these hunts require a lot of walking and would like to now your hunting methods.
Thanks
Drags

 

[RGRobinett]

Locating chucks requires a fair amount of cruising two-track, rock infested trails, looking for likely
locations, then, glassing: if we locate an active colony, we set up and shoot a few (relative to observed population), then, move on. If we were able to walk, the shootin' would be AWESOME . . . we stay within about 1/4 mile of the truck. In our experince, except in broad terms - "yeah, they're everywhere up there" - the locals keep pretty mum. These - all males - were terminated using my old .220Ackley Imp. Swift, and 52gr FB - from chip-shot distance ( just short of 300yd.), over about a one hour interval, during our third AM outing. Yet another great day. On an initial trip, without specific knowledge, you may invest several days locating chucks - that's what we did. Some chuck infested locations are crawling with humans, so we just move on! RG

 

[drags]

Locating chucks requires a fair amount of cruising two-track, rock infested trails, looking for likely
locations, then, glassing: if we locate an active colony, we set up and shoot a few (relative to observed population), then, move on. If we were able to walk, the shootin' would be AWESOME . . . we stay within about 1/4 mile of the truck. In our experince, except in broad terms - "yeah, they're everywhere up there" - the locals keep pretty mum. These - all males - were terminated using my old .220Ackley Imp. Swift, and 52gr FB - from chip-shot distance ( just short of 300yd.), over about a one hour interval, during our third AM outing. Yet another great day. On an initial trip, without specific knowledge, you may invest several days locating chucks - that's what we did. Some chuck infested locations are crawling with humans, so we just move on! RG

View attachment 1262773

Thanks Randy, If you don't mind could you give us some details on the 220 swift AI.
Thanks
Drags

 

[RGRobinett]

The 220 Swift AI, is just a plain factory Rem SS 700 V, which I obtained & re-chambered in Feb., 2004, just days after receiving the Swift AI reamer. I had purchased [the reamer] intending to barrel a Lilja barrel which I already had (that GREAT BBL went on my son-in-laws 700 Rem - the second use of the 220 Swift AI reamer).

I knew of this rifle, because, pal, Mike B., had lapped the lugs, and bedded it for the original owner, who shot a couple of boxes of factory ammo through it. When Mike called, and advised that the rifle was for sale - at a give away $$ - I went over and bought it.

The barrel was removed, "set-back" a little over the neck-length, plus enough to "time" the factory lettering, and assure a new neck/throat, per the reamer (.252' neck diameter/0.035" free-bore 1*:30 Min.). Then, the reamer run-in and head spaced a "little short" of the "GO" gauge - P.O. Ackley"s "crush-fit" on the new, sized brass.

The barrel, for a factory offering, is exceptionally good - when sparkling clean, consistently delivering <.25" 100 yd 5-shot groups (ooops - had to shorten that distance by one 0!). The standard load has been a whopping amount of Win.760, driving a 52gr FB at 4040fps, per the Oehler chronograph.

Notably, with the Win.760, following 12-15 shots, there is enough carbon in the throat, that the groups open to the 1/2" area, and remain there until 'de-carbonated'. Disappointing as that is, coyotes and chucks don't argue much - my intent for this cartridge never was for high volume shooting.

For this trip, I installed a new Sightron SIII 10-50x56, featuring the target dot reticle - for hold-off in the stronger winds, MOA hold-off hashes would have been nice!
Most shooting, on this adventure, found it set between 12-15x. This scope, for it's price-point (<$1K) is very nice, it stood up to pre-trip testing, & infield work quite well. RG

 

[drags]

Thanks Randy for the reply. The 220 Swift AI certainty has the cool factor x 2. I really enjoyed reading your post on rock chuck hunting. I would like to hunt rock chucks in the Bighorns but at 79 and a half with bad legs and back it might not happen.
Drags

 

[RGRobinett]

Thanks Randy for the reply. The 220 Swift AI certainty has the cool factor x 2. I really enjoyed reading your post on rock chuck hunting. I would like to hunt rock chucks in the Bighorns but at 79 and a half with bad legs and back it might not happen.
Drags

Roger "the cool factor"! The real Swift was just too plane jane, and I wanted to add to my AI family of reamers/cartridges. Of them all, the Ackleized 220 Swift delivers the smallest return - but that reamer certainly doesn't hurt a good barrel!
By noon, even with a nice blanket, or, shooting mat, both Tom & I had endured enough snuggling into painful prone positions . . . often the dreaded downhill lie, with the chucks above . . . yeah, like a LOT of stuff, ya gotta endure some discomfort . . . still, I think Tom wants to go again! From my perspective, "spotting" provides just as much enjoyment as shooting. RG

 

[drags]

Roger "the cool factor" the real Swift was just too plane jane, and I wanted to add to my AI family of reamers/cartridges. Of them all, the Ackleized 220 Swift delivers the smallest return - but that reamer certainly doesn't hurt a good barrel!
By noon, even with a nice blanket, or, shooting mat, both Tom & I had endured enough snuggling into painful prone positions . . . often the dreaded downhill lie, with the chucks above . . . yeah, like a LOT of stuff, ya gotta endure some discomfort . . . still, I think Tom wants to go again! From my perspective, "spotting" provides just as much enjoyment as shooting. RG

I agree on the spotting in the past we hunted whitetails in Penna, long range and the spotting was just as much fun as shooting maybe more. The only thing that if you spotted for someone shooting a deer inside 600 yards those big magnums hit the deer so hard you felt sorry for the deer. In those days we used 7x300 Wby, 300 Wby, 300 Wby Imp. 30-378 Wby's ect. Your posts are great!
Drags