Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
For a mid range varmint rig Id look at a 6mm with a 75ish grain bullet. Dasher and up. Fast twist. May even go up to the 47 case. I did for a little more range.
400 to 600 PD options?
- Thread starter Lefty2506
- Start date
When I saw the 75gr mentioned in earlier posts, I assumed that they were talking about a 75gr .224 (Amax, ELR, VLD ect). It didn't dawn on me that a 75gr .243 bullet may run fast enough that it "beats the wind" out to 600 yds to the point that there's no significant advantage to using a heavier pill. I haven't run any numbers in a ballistics calculator yet, but am I looking at using too heavy of a bullet for 600 yds if I'm shooting a 6XC or a 6x47?
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
Ya, Im a 6mm guy. The 22s are just too finicky.
1raggedhole
Silver $$ Contributor
I’m pushing the 87 vmax at nearly 3150 out of my 6BR. Very good in the wind, and makes a bloody mess out of the dogs
Man I promise a 55 grain Berger does it with ease. Done it many times. My longest hit was 853 yards and that was without walking bullets in. Not bragging cuz the bullet and gun did all the heavy lifting.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I thought the 70s and 75s were really pretty bad at 600 yards. I tested them. The 85 Sierra BTHP was pretty good... but those are no longer made.
Grafs has Peterson in 50/100/500 quantities
Peterson Brass 6x47 Lapua Unprimed Bulk Box of 500 - Graf & Sons
This is a Bulk package of Peterson Cartridge casings, they will not come in one of their plastic ammo boxes. Made in the U.S.A. Match-Grade is a standard that must be held throughout the entire process of manufacturing some of the most consistent, accurate, and durable brass rifle casings...
www.grafs.com
That said, I have a 6X47L and a 223AI. For pdogs, I would pick the latter.
Brass and bullets are cheaper, less powder- which increases barrel life and less heat, and velocity is higher for the BC.
You can put the 53 Vmax in it and shoot pdogs or put the 75 ELD in it and shoot out to 1K, or beyond.
6BRA with a 87gr Vmax
I shoot a 6 creedmoor on a tikka in a KRG bravo with 108 gr eldm. It works great, but when I rebarrel I will probably do a 6br or possibly dasher. Simply for barrel life and easy to tune.
I have a Savage 12 chambered in 223 that im using now for PDs and 7 AR uppers chambered in .223 Wylde, at least 2 of which will shoot 1/2 moa or better, and I'll be adding another that will be set up specifically for PDs out to 400 yds. If I want an overbore 22cal, I'll rebarrel the Savage which will probably happen if I ever wear that barrel out. I've gat 200 75gr Amax left, and it shoots them around 1/4 moa at almost 3000 fps despite having a 9 twist barrel. I've thought about bumping it to a 223 AI, but there's just not enough difference to make it worth throwing away all of my existing load data and starting over. Eventually, it will either wear out or I'll get tired of it, and I'll go to something with a lot more case capacity, but not right now. Right now, I really want a 6.5, but I'll settle for a 6mm because it checks a lot more boxes for how i will actually use it.
I should have been clearer. Was referring to the Berger 55 grain 20 caliber bullet.
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I have used 6BR for a number of years. I built a 6CM thinking I was gaining something, small bit, more recoil more powder.
I don’t know where everyone else hunts nor what time of year. Where I hunt, by noon any hope of getting on a dog after that is hopeless because of mirage.
If I stare at a hunk of cactus long enough in mirage I swear it runs around a fair bit.
Have not made it to the 1000 yard club yet, with in 3-5 a bunch.
Getting one spotted, then getting a spotter on the same one, then getting the SOB to hold still long enough to add dope and get wind reading is tough.
Using a match bullet, just make darn sure of what is behind your impact area. I have seen numerous caliber match bullets skip a longggg way.
I don’t know where everyone else hunts nor what time of year. Where I hunt, by noon any hope of getting on a dog after that is hopeless because of mirage.
If I stare at a hunk of cactus long enough in mirage I swear it runs around a fair bit.
Have not made it to the 1000 yard club yet, with in 3-5 a bunch.
Getting one spotted, then getting a spotter on the same one, then getting the SOB to hold still long enough to add dope and get wind reading is tough.
Using a match bullet, just make darn sure of what is behind your impact area. I have seen numerous caliber match bullets skip a longggg way.
The places I've hunted, the background is either a mountain side, or miles and miles of wide open prairie. If there's live stock or buildings anywhere in the area, we make it a priority to shoot away from them, or we find another spot.
I hear you on the mirage, and yeah, I'd swear that I've seen a cactus walk more than once.... The thing we have to be careful of are the owls because they really DO move, and look a LOT like a PD in those conditions.
I hear you on the mirage, and yeah, I'd swear that I've seen a cactus walk more than once.... The thing we have to be careful of are the owls because they really DO move, and look a LOT like a PD in those conditions.
Bottom Fodder
Silver $$ Contributor
So me not being a PD Hunter or ever seen one how big of a target we talking about, is most any hit fatal and from what I’ve read your hunting in the wide open with nothing to block the wind, just trying to learn just in case I get a chance to go. Not trying to hijack thread
They are about the size of a fox squirrel, or typical 17 oz water bottle. At least that's the size of most of the ones that I've shot, or shot at.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I've seen some of the best shooters in the world shoot at dogs. When you are at 1000 yards on the prairie, one puff of wind while the bullet is in flight can make you miss. One quarter inch left or right and you miss.
And If a person shooting a varmint bullet at that distance the bullet will have slowed down so much by the time it gets to a thousand yards it will barely be moving. It will certainly be subsonic.
Last edited:
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
My progression through rifles on prairie dogs has been 243 bolt action, then 223 bolt action, then 223 AR15,
then 22-250 bolt action, and finally 6BR bolt action single shot.
I recommend, and have settled on the Berger 88 gr varmint bullet at a little over 3100 fps. It will reach out to the range the OP wants. A 6BRa or a 6 Dasher would run a bit faster. I wanted to stick with a varmint bullet to ensure expansion as much as possible.
I always shoot from a bench, and highly recommend a Kestrel 5700 elite running Applied Ballistics and ranging binoculars. The bolt guns are much easier to use on the bench than an AR, and for longer shots, there is no need for a repeater.
then 22-250 bolt action, and finally 6BR bolt action single shot.
I recommend, and have settled on the Berger 88 gr varmint bullet at a little over 3100 fps. It will reach out to the range the OP wants. A 6BRa or a 6 Dasher would run a bit faster. I wanted to stick with a varmint bullet to ensure expansion as much as possible.
I always shoot from a bench, and highly recommend a Kestrel 5700 elite running Applied Ballistics and ranging binoculars. The bolt guns are much easier to use on the bench than an AR, and for longer shots, there is no need for a repeater.
Most of our PD shooting so far has been done "spot and stalk" style, and we're shooting off of tripods. I've shot some prone, and some from a plastic table with a rest, but even late in the season, I can shoot at least 2x more if I'm on foot than if I'm sitting down or laying on the ground in one spot. In this application, I have been running a reduced load from my Savage that uses a 50gr Vmax and around 8 gr of Green dot to produce around 2,000 fps and easily achieves sub MOA accuracy. Its doesn't give the spectacular visual effects, but it does fine out to around 200 yds, but its best at 150yds and under. The best part about it is that the barrel NEVER gets hot, no matter how much I'm shooting. I also run a "normal" load of 50gr or 53gr Vmax that I'll use out to around 300 yds. It makes for a tough shot from a tripod. So long as the wind isn't blowing me all over the place, I can average around 50%. I normally try to shoot with the wind beyond 200 yds because its nearly impossible for me to hold on target otherwise.
What I'm looking for here is a rifle that I'd use either later in the day when we're tired of walking, or late in the season when you can't hardly get within 200 yds to begin with. Based on the information everyone has provided, I pulled up a ballistics app and plugged in a (6mm) 105gr ELD at 3100 fps and compared it to a (.224) 75gr ELD at 2950 which is about what I get from my Savage. At 700 yds (my farthest hit so far, which was with my 6.5 Grendel upper) the 6mm is dropping 9" less and has about 6" less wind drift. Even when I back up to 500 yds, it's still a noticeable amount but it's not a HUGE improvement. In fact, if I had to give up my Savage in order to get a rifle in 6XC, it doesn't seem like it would be worth the cost, especially when I factor in the cost of new dies, new brass, and the enviable cost of components that I'd burn through doing load development. However, it does seem like a 6XC would make for a GREAT 2nd bolt gun to have. Shoot 5 to 10 rounds of .223 then switch to the 6XC and do the same. Basically, swap back and forth to keep them cool (and accurate). Short of doing that, it seems like I should just stick with my .223 load, at least until I wear the barrel out.
What I'm looking for here is a rifle that I'd use either later in the day when we're tired of walking, or late in the season when you can't hardly get within 200 yds to begin with. Based on the information everyone has provided, I pulled up a ballistics app and plugged in a (6mm) 105gr ELD at 3100 fps and compared it to a (.224) 75gr ELD at 2950 which is about what I get from my Savage. At 700 yds (my farthest hit so far, which was with my 6.5 Grendel upper) the 6mm is dropping 9" less and has about 6" less wind drift. Even when I back up to 500 yds, it's still a noticeable amount but it's not a HUGE improvement. In fact, if I had to give up my Savage in order to get a rifle in 6XC, it doesn't seem like it would be worth the cost, especially when I factor in the cost of new dies, new brass, and the enviable cost of components that I'd burn through doing load development. However, it does seem like a 6XC would make for a GREAT 2nd bolt gun to have. Shoot 5 to 10 rounds of .223 then switch to the 6XC and do the same. Basically, swap back and forth to keep them cool (and accurate). Short of doing that, it seems like I should just stick with my .223 load, at least until I wear the barrel out.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.