Cartridges for Groundhog Hunting

[maddysdad]

it seams that the faster a bullet goes and the bigger a case is the acuacy of said case goes down .now we are talking about hitting a chuck in the chest that is for all it is in size of say 3 inches wide and maybe 5 inches high.my ppc in 6 mm has a1/4 inch 5 shot group at 100 yards and that on a good day makes it a 300 yard gun.energy on target is ample for this load.what arte you guys getting in groups for your bigger casesas far as 3 shot or 5 shot goers.aslso what do you concider the max range for your rifles that you have shot chucks at.

 

[snert]

Friend shoots a 220 Redline, getting 4000 fps with a 75 grain bullet. 1/4 inch. Solid kills at 750 with so little wind deflection its a hoot

 

[mikecr]

You should think in terms of cold bore accuracy, and field practicality.
And pick a reasonable range limit,, like 600yds.

I've hunted mostly with 6BR/95 VLDs, but my favorite GH cartridge overall is 223Rem/50gr Jayners.

 

[357Mag]

it seams that the faster a bullet goes and the bigger a case is the acuacy of said case goes down .now we are talking about hitting a chuck in the chest that is for all it is in size of say 3 inches wide and maybe 5 inches high.my ppc in 6 mm has a1/4 inch 5 shot group at 100 yards and that on a good day makes it a 300 yard gun.energy on target is ample for this load.what arte you guys getting in groups for your bigger casesas far as 3 shot or 5 shot goers.aslso what do you concider the max range for your rifles that you have shot chucks at.

Maddysdad -

Howdy !

IMHO - there are multiple considerations that can contribute to one's ability to put a clean kill on " Soybeanus Digestus " @ distance.

Besides accuracy potential of the rifle & its cartridges, there's other stuff like ambient weather conditions, the shooter's diligence as regards good gun handling practices, how well supported the rifle's shooting position is, shooter's ability to estimate or else validate range to the target animal; quality of the re-loads or factory ammunition used; and so forth.

It's fer sher one shouldn't try for a humane kill on a groundhog when knowing the energy delivery " system " they have at-hand is marginal for the task..... given the range of the shot being considered.

I don't agree that accuracy goes down as case capacity goes up.... for any calibre.

For " one shot - one kill ", it's not immediately a smallness of group question.
A shooter has to put that one shot ( using adequate energy and a properly designed/constructed bullet ) onto the animal at a reasonably well understood distance.
For example... use the wrong amount of hold off or scope dial-in to compensate for windage, and the shooter can miss or make a poorly placed hit even with a small grouping gun; N' est-ce pas ?

I use 450ft lb as a guide for the minimum threshold of energy I want to use; when shooting groundhog. It's just a guide, no matter the calibre, bullet wt, case powder capaci

 

[357Mag]

Maddy's --

Oops... transmission error !

To continue the above msg.....

" ...no matter the calibre, bullet wt, case powder capacity, barrel length and twist; etc al. "

There's a lot of satisfaction to be had, in figuring out the " mix " of factors that contribute to a proper ballistic solution; for the challenges presented by groundhogs.

Embrace the challenges !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Gary in MD]

While a speedster won’t beat a PPC at a bench rest competition, the bigger cases can surely supply enough accuracy for varmint hunting. Speed flattens trajectory and supplies the “POP” out past a couple hundred yards. Rifles shooting fast bullets can be quite accurate, of course that rifle barrel won’t last as long but who cares. Give me a Swift, 22-250 or big 6mm any day of the week.
This Swift is accurate enough for a head shot on this young whistle pig at about 250 yards, he was peeking out of the grass next to his hole.

 

[6MMsteve]

While a speedster won’t beat a PPC at a bench rest competition, the bigger cases can surely supply enough accuracy for varmint hunting. Speed flattens trajectory and supplies the “POP” out past a couple hundred yards. Rifles shooting fast bullets can be quite accurate, of course that rifle barrel won’t last as long but who cares. Give me a Swift, 22-250 or big 6mm any day of the week.
This Swift is accurate enough for a head shot on this young whistle pig at about 250 yards, he was peeking out of the grass next to his hole.
View attachment 1421033

the 220 swift makes for some gorry pig hits and nice reports and the flag raise at the end

 

[K22]

Some Background First:

Since I retired, I have 1,954 confirmed hogs down. Prior to that I didn't keep any records. I've been varmint hunting now for about 50 years.

I've used a few different calibers over my varmint hunting lifetime, i.e., 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22 250, and 243 Win. For the last several years I have almost exclusively used 223 Rem bolt rifles. Because of changes in farming practices and overdevelopment in the areas where I hunt, safe shooting opportunities are limited to about 300 yards.

Furthermore, due to terrain and tick infestations, bipods will not work since they limit my field of view and I need to keep from sitting or lying prone on the ground to avoid the ticks. Many years ago, I switched to homemade shooting cross sticks. To enhance performance, I incorporated a lightweight, easily portable sportsman's chair to sit on and shoot off. With two feet flat on the ground, elbows on the knees I can achieve a very solid position. When I'm in the "zone" I can hold 1 moa off the sticks my declining skills due to aging notwithstanding.

Answer to Your Question:

For me, I consider 1/2 to 5/8" moa (off the bench with front and rear rests) the desirable accuracy standard for eastern ground hog hunting. All my varmint rifles are capable of this standard with tailored reloads, some are sub 1/2 moa.

That doesn't mean I can shoot to that level of precision off the sticks. While I try to shoot 2 times a week at the range off the sticks, it took some time, effort, and technique development to become proficient with the sticks. Almost all my range time is spent shooting off the sticks. I'm always measuring and testing myself.

There are many factors besides the capability of the rifle to making a humane shot. First, the wind, mirage, and stability of the field position. Second, the shooter's ability to accurately estimate the range of the shot. Today, range finders have solved a lot of that latter issue. Third, is the hunter's ability to shoot accurately under field conditions at the maximum range intended to take a shot. Also, varmints move around, the height of the hay doesn't always give you a nice clean profile shot like a target on the range. Standing hogs tend to bob up and down requiring timing the shot which can lead to jerking the trigger. Add in the heat and humidity - these are the realities of varmint hunting - it ain't target shooting!

I use a 3 x 5 target area as my "red zone". If I can hit that, under field conditions I can almost always anchor the hog. Yearlings and pups obviously are more challenging due to their small vital area. After many years of hunting and range practice, my maximum effective range for a high probability mortal hit off the sticks is about 275 yards give or take which covers the vast majority of my shot opportunities.

I suggest that any new varmint hunting make a field target and set it at varying distances and determine if one can hit it. A 3 x 5 card posted on brown cardboard works nicely. It may be sobering to see what you really are capable of in the field.

 

[freebird22/250]

Get you a nice accurate bolt gun in 22-250 Rem. and never look back!

 

[Gary in MD]

Here’s a fun target, he is about 3 - 3 1/2” wide by 8” tall. About the size of a fat dog or young ground hog. I down loaded these years ago, (probably from the old varmint hunter site) I forgot that I had them.
Tack this up on a breezey day, walk back a couple hundred yards to the other side of the pasture and see how you make out. No range finder, no flags…. lol
It can be a humbling experience.

 

[6MMsteve]

to 500 yds a 22 250 will take care of all hogs with 52 or 55 gr bullets and out further 650 is pushing with light bullets, but it can be done

 

[Richard Jones]

While a speedster won’t beat a PPC at a bench rest competition, the bigger cases can surely supply enough accuracy for varmint hunting. Speed flattens trajectory and supplies the “POP” out past a couple hundred yards. Rifles shooting fast bullets can be quite accurate, of course that rifle barrel won’t last as long but who cares. Give me a Swift, 22-250 or big 6mm any day of the week.
This Swift is accurate enough for a head shot on this young whistle pig at about 250 yards, he was peeking out of the grass next to his hole.
View attachment 1421033

That's a pretty rifle.

 

[Richard Jones]

You should think in terms of cold bore accuracy, and field practicality.
And pick a reasonable range limit,, like 600yds.

I've hunted mostly with 6BR/95 VLDs, but my favorite GH cartridge overall is 223Rem/50gr Jayners.

Jayners?

 

[Charlie-NY]

I started groundhog hunting with a 22-250. It worked great at the moderate ranges that I was hunting. As my range increased, I moved to a 6mmAI. Eventually, I was invited to hunt on a series of farms in central PA. Some of these farms had many groundhogs and plenty of longrange potential. I moved up to a 22-243AI 8 twist and a heavy 6.5x284.

Overall, my all-time favorite was the 22-243AI shooting 75gr A-Max (moly) bullets at 3,670 ft/sec. It was astoundingly accurate and dropped 3 rounds into .625" @ 600yds (once lol). I took many hogs between 600yds and 1,000yds. The 75gr A-Max annihilated grounds at all distances. I think the rifle/cartridge was capable of going farther but shot opportunities that exceeded 1,000yds just didn't exist in the farmland where I was hunting.

 

[mikecr]

Jayners?

I think ~70s FB BR bullets. Very consistent and accurate from a 14tw Cooper.

 

[6MMsteve]

I started groundhog hunting with a 22-250. It worked great at the moderate ranges that I was hunting. As my range increased, I moved to a 6mmAI. Eventually, I was invited to hunt on a series of farms in central PA. Some of these farms had many groundhogs and plenty of longrange potential. I moved up to a 22-243AI 8 twist and a heavy 6.5x284.

Overall, my all-time favorite was the 22-243AI shooting 75gr A-Max (moly) bullets at 3,670 ft/sec. It was astoundingly accurate and dropped 3 rounds into .625" @ 600yds (once lol). I took many hogs between 600yds and 1,000yds. The 75gr A-Max annihilated grounds at all distances. I think the rifle/cartridge was capable of going farther but shot opportunities that exceeded 1,000yds just didn't exist in the farmland where I was hunting.

you was a studman back in the day Charlie..the dang coyotes killed most of the groundpigs down here in Ky, it's hard to find them

 

[Charlie-NY]

you was a studman back in the day Charlie..the dang coyotes killed most of the groundpigs down here in Ky, it's hard to find them

I watched the groundhog population in central PA drop, slow & steady, over a 10yr period. I never knew what to attribute it too, but it certainly wasn't hunting. Some of the locals thought it was coyotes, others thought pneumonia, while others thought it was part of a natural cycle. Hogs were hard to locate even in ideal environments but I loved the walking and took what I could get in the later years. I built a .223 on a Rem model 7 action just for walking around. I took a number of hogs under 400yds with the 50gr Z-Max bullet.

Of all the hunting that I've done in, around and out of the country, PA groundhog hunting provided the most enjoyment for me. I hunted once/wk during the spring, summer and early fall, every year.

 

[AckleymanII]

243 Win
80g Sierra blitz BT
IMR 4064
3400 fps
12" Twist, short freebore, 12T

6 Rem
80g Sierra blitz bt
IMR 4064, fed 210
3500
12T short freebore

6 Rem AI
80g Sierra Blitz BT
R#19
26", 14T .020 freebore
3800

Bug holes abound with all the above, and chucks are flying like they have shot out of a circus cannon!

 

[TRSR8]

I watched the groundhog population in central PA drop, slow & steady, over a 10yr period. I never knew what to attribute it too, but it certainly wasn't hunting. Some of the locals thought it was coyotes, others thought pneumonia, while others thought it was part of a natural cycle. Hogs were hard to locate even in ideal environments but I loved the walking and took what I could get in the later years. I built a .223 on a Rem model 7 action just for walking around. I took a number of hogs under 400yds with the 50gr Z-Max bullet.

Of all the hunting that I've done in, around and out of the country, PA groundhog hunting provided the most enjoyment for me. I hunted once/wk during the spring, summer and early fall, every year.

Same thing here in CNY….heard every story under the sun and then a shooter/ veterinarian told me that a big strain of hepatitis was the culprit, although the last couple years they seem to be making a good comeback. Seems a ton of’em live under Amish guy’s barns………damn.

 

[K22]

I watched the groundhog population in central PA drop, slow & steady, over a 10yr period. I never knew what to attribute it too, but it certainly wasn't hunting. Some of the locals thought it was coyotes, others thought pneumonia, while others thought it was part of a natural cycle. Hogs were hard to locate even in ideal environments but I loved the walking and took what I could get in the later years. I built a .223 on a Rem model 7 action just for walking around. I took a number of hogs under 400yds with the 50gr Z-Max bullet.

Of all the hunting that I've done in, around and out of the country, PA groundhog hunting provided the most enjoyment for me. I hunted once/wk during the spring, summer and early fall, every year.

I also have a Rem 223 Model 7, with a 20" Douglas Match barrel, one contour heavier than the original factory barrel. I added a B&C Medalists stock and with tailored reloads it's a 1/2 moa rifle. It's my walking around rifle too.

The farms where I hunt in eastern PA, the hogs have moved into the tree lines. The days on long rolling hay fields are gone so the hogs cannot get established in the fields due to constant crop rotation. Furthermore, they are planting in alternating strips of corn, hay, wheat, soybeans, etc. and with the rolling terrain it makes it difficult to obtain shot opportunities.

In the old days, I'd see 12 to 15 each hunting trip. Now I'm lucky to see more than 3 if that. For example, in 2022, I got 41 hogs in 29 hunting tips. Still, I enjoy being out in the field on a summer evening.