Where do I go from here - new load development??

[searcher]

If you will be happy being able to hit the PD's out to 300-400 yards, I'd just re-shoot some groups in that 39-40 grn range. If they still prove to be the best, I'd opt for the lower end of the good-shooting powder range (39-39.5) unless you are doing your load development in hot weather. It likely will be hot where you go, and you want your load to be approximately 1/2 grain lower in weight than where your most accurate range is when you are testing. The heat will raise your pressures -and your velocity. What kind of trigger do you have? If it is not capable of adjusting down to about two pounds or less - you would be well-served to yank the trigger and get a Jewell HVR or other good trigger. It will allow you to close those groups up more than you might think if you are currently running a heavier trigger. That higher-powered glass will help too. Take a few sand bags to put on your shooting table to anchor it down and not allow it to move when the wind starts blowing. On that seating depth, a lot of light varmint bullets do pretty well jumping and taking closer to the lands can be very counterproductive, contrary to the opinion of many. I hope you find a bunch of those dogs!

 

[Wild Thing]

If you will be happy being able to hit the PD's out to 300-400 yards, I'd just re-shoot some groups in that 39-40 grn range. If they still prove to be the best, I'd opt for the lower end of the good-shooting powder range (39-39.5) unless you are doing your load development in hot weather. It likely will be hot where you go, and you want your load to be approximately 1/2 grain lower in weight than where your most accurate range is when you are testing. The heat will raise your pressures -and your velocity. What kind of trigger do you have? If it is not capable of adjusting down to about two pounds or less - you would be well-served to yank the trigger and get a Jewell HVR or other good trigger. It will allow you to close those groups up more than you might think if you are currently running a heavier trigger. That higher-powered glass will help too. Take a few sand bags to put on your shooting table to anchor it down and not allow it to move when the wind starts blowing. On that seating depth, a lot of light varmint bullets do pretty well jumping and taking closer to the lands can be very counterproductive, contrary to the opinion of many. I hope you find a bunch of those dogs!

Already loaded up some ammo yesterday for this rifle so I won't be doing any more testing on it until after the Prairie Dog trip. I did get the new scope mounted on it last night so I just need to go out today and zero it.

It has the stock Rem 700 trigger on it but I tweaked it down to 2.0# several years ago and it has a nice crisp pull. I have installed aftermarket triggers on a couple of other rifles (Timney & Triggertech) but I am really happy with the stock trigger on this 22-250.

Had not thought about taking extra sand bags to stabilize the shooting bench out west. Will definitely take some along. Thanks for the tip.

I am guessing the weather here while working up my load (mid 80's to mid 90's) has been very similar to what we will have in S.D. this week so I can't imagine seeing any pressure differences? Time will tell I guess.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Keep ammo in the shade or a cooler, damp rag on the barrel and don't let a round cook in the chamber while looking or spotting the next dog. 3 shots and a cool down for the 250's. Center mass, enjoy the mist.

 

[DLT]

Keep ammo in the shade or a cooler, damp rag on the barrel and don't let a round cook in the chamber while looking or spotting the next dog. 3 shots and a cool down for the 250's. Center mass, enjoy the mist.

He’s right, I have never been but know a few who have. Heard some wild horror stories with a 22/250 shooting prairie dogs

 

[Wild Thing]

Just got back from my S. Dakota prairie dog hunt and wanted to update my progress:


The new scope, rail and rings all arrived by Saturday so I mounted the scope that evening.... The scope sits a little higher than I liked, even with the low height rings but it really wasn't an issue.


Sunday morning I was back out on my range getting it zeroed...


Found paper right away at 100 yards and a couple groups later I had it zeroed.




I took 4 rifles, including a 22 Mag, 17 HMR and my new (to me) Savage 204. Never fired either of the rimfires as targets under 200 yards were very few and far between...


We hunted one dog town in the morning and a different one in the afternoon on both days...

 

[Wild Thing]

Had to be careful not to shoot one of the legs out from under my shade canopy but I managed...


I was hesitant to buy one of these before I left but I am very happy that I did. It was likely 15-20 degrees cooler under the tent and it kept me as well as my rifles and ammo cool in the 92 degree weather...


Neither of my buddies had a shade canopy and it was pretty warm for them...


The 22-250 proved to be very accurate and I shot quite a few dogs between 350-400 yards. It is a light weight sporter barrel so it heated up pretty fast. I probably only fired about 75 rounds from it as I found that the bull barrel Savage 204 stayed much cooler and I was able to shoot it more. I fired a little over 200 rounds through the .204.

I might add that I took the advice of @Fclassfool and did more shooting and less cleaning. I did clean the barrel on the 22-250 after Day 1 but I never cleaned the .204 at all and it remained very accurate even after 200 rounds down the barrel. Good advice.

I missed a lot of prairie dogs for sure but I also had some good strings of consecutive kills. The vast majority of our shooting was probably 225-375 yards. I had one double (2 dogs for one shot), I flipped maybe at least 10 of them. My best runs were 9 out of 10 and 18 out of 20 - I was just on a roll at that point. Overall, we had a great time and are already making plans to go back again next year.

Thanks again for the help on getting ready for my hunt.