PD SAFARI 2025

[ricco1949]

Heading out tomorrow morning on 2025 PD SAFARI....9 or 10 days of shooting.....524 miles to destination Dakota Country.

Different truck this year....900# 6x6 Polaris squats the 150 Ford pretty good. Quite a difference from my old 350 Ford Super Duty.

Will be posting daily memos on the trip....

 

[5spd]

Spring over shocks would make a big difference with the 6x6.
Have fun pdogging

 

[ricco1949]

Spring over shocks would make a big difference with the 6x6.
Have fun pdogging

10-4. I'll look into them when I get back. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Alguapo]

Just got back. We had a great time. Enjoy !!!

 

[ALK]

I think I would go with air bags. Have fun in Dakota.

 

[gtbcolo]

Enjoy your 9-10 days in paradise Check out the air bags, they're a good option.

 

[ricco1949]

Thursday, 6/5

Got an early 5:30 PM start...."Runnin' along like and old shoe".



Crossed the Missouri and entered prairie dog country at 2:30.

Arrived at destination at 3:30 after about 5 pit stops and an hour buying groceries in Mandan and a time change.


Truck ran great, even with 900 pound load in box. 17 MPG with little to no wind to contend with...a big improvement over last years 40+ MPH head wind and 13 MPG in the old diesel.

Rain upon arrival so no shooting the afternoon shift today.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I need 10 ply tires where I shoot in Montana or too many cut tires.

 

[Just Say Moe]

10 days! How much ammo do you take? The sun and my shooting bench seat wear me out in 4!

 

[ricco1949]

10 days! How much ammo do you take? The sun and my shooting bench seat wear me out in 4!

2400 rounds....1200-20 VT and 1200-222.

Left 223 at home this year.

Changed bullets from 40 VM to 50 VM on 223 but couldn't find a good tune for it in the limited time I had. It was two grouping and/or spitting one bullet. I didn't want to load up 500+ of an inferior load.

 

[ricco1949]

I need 10 ply tires where I shoot in Montana or too many cut tires.

First time I went PDn I didn't know to avoid the cactus. I came out the next morning and had three flat tires on my truck.

I walked down to a service station and told him my plight. Guy laughed and gave me 20# propane tank of air and said to put enough air in each tire to get to the station.

He put slime in each tire and I was good to go.

I've always bought 10 ply tires since with no issues and my ATVs all have slime in them.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Even the gravel roads in Montana have rocks that will cut "P" tires. South Dakota just newer tires will get you down and back roads. Wet is a whole different matter. Imagine ND more like Montana, except the oil roads are likely well maintained.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

While shooting PD's in MT a few years ago, the word "gumbo" gave new meaning to the word "mud".

 

[5spd]

Glad the ride was good.
On my truck's I went to 10 ply tires from p rated eons ago like others, 2 to 3 flats due to sage brush, cactus, rocks eating them.

 

[ricco1949]

Friday 6/6, Day 1 shooting.

Favorite town was already being shot when we arrived in PM...darn...but that'll happen when you shoot "gentlemen's hours"....PM till dusk.

Went to another close by which is a mile string of towns anchored by a big 1/2 section+ town.


Results: 169/201 with 3 doubles. Shooting partner, Terry, near the same.



Day started slow but finished strong. Last hour was two boxes and high % count. Shot from 2:30-8:00PM.

Started with Savage 222 but Rifle Basics II trigger malfunctioned @ 67 rounds. Thought it was dirty, bought some lighter fluid to flush it ....but turned out to be sear screw loosened even with thread locker. Added some Blue Loctite, reset and good to go.

Finished day with Rem 700 20 VT....much better, Jewell trigger @ 2 oz. Less report than 222.....even suppressed. Shot without ear protection much of the day.

Most shots were 100-200 however made a few in 300-400 range at end of day with near zero wind.


Crop duster on way home. Terry got video but too big to post. He flew by us down right of way fence line with wing tip less than 50' away. Neat vid wish I could post it.

Late dinner and in bed @ midnight.

 

[itchyTF]

Friday 6/6, Day 1 shooting.

Favorite town was already being shot when we arrived in PM...darn...but that'll happen when you shoot "gentlemen's hours"....PM till dusk.

Went to another close by which is a mile string of towns anchored by a big 1/2 section+ town.


Results: 169/201 with 3 doubles. Shooting partner, Terry, near the same.

View attachment 1667537

Day started slow but finished strong. Last hour was two boxes and high % count. Shot from 2:30-8:00PM.

Started with Savage 222 but Rifle Basics II trigger malfunctioned @ 67 rounds. Thought it was dirty, bought some lighter fluid to flush it ....but turned out to be sear screw loosened even with thread locker. Added some Blue Loctite, reset and good to go.

Finished day with Rem 700 20 VT....much better, Jewell trigger @ 2 oz. Less report than 222.....even suppressed. Shot without ear protection much of the day.

Most shots were 100-200 however made a few in 300-400 range at end of day with near zero wind.

View attachment 1667542
Crop duster on way home. Terry got video but too big to post. He flew by us down right of way fence line with wing tip less than 50' away. Neat vid wish I could post it.

Late dinner and in bed @ midnight.

Put it on youtube and provide link.

 

[L.Sherm]

While shooting PD's in MT a few years ago, the word "gumbo" gave new meaning to the word "mud".

Theres a saying around here on the east side when it rains get off the praire. One year during hunting season in the Breaks it poured one day and guys tried to get there campers out what a disaster a bunch drug all the Plumbing out from underneath them. One guy the only way get got his truck out was chained up all 4 tires.

 

[ricco1949]

Put it on youtube and provide link.

Sorry don't know how to do that.

 

[ricco1949]

Theres a saying around here on the east side when it rains get off the praire. One year during hunting season in the Breaks it poured one day and guys tried to get there campers out what a disaster a bunch drug all the Plumbing out from underneath them. One guy the only way get got his truck out was chained up all 4 tires.

Got caught in high country cabin camp in an 18 inch dump of light snow on opening day of Wyoming antelope season in the 90's. Rancher said to try to get out.

Driving was not too bad but we had to unload atv's and pull empty trailer up steep hills and reload. Made it out many miles till we met a hill we couldn't make.... As we dropped in elevation the snow was melting and road was gumbo under the snow.

As fate would have it there was a ranch nearby and we told them our plight. Rancher loaned us chains for front wheels and said to leave them at the school at main road...different era. As we departed I asked the rancher how you go in this stuff...he said "you don't".

Never got to hunt that season since our licenses were only for that high country camp.

 

[ricco1949]

Saturday, June 7
2nd Day Shooting

Went to my favorite town. It's a nearly a section On Google Earth.

20-30 MPH wind...not good. Had to shoot into or with it for best results. First 30 minutes was slow since I knew it was shot by others on Friday. About a quarter mile into the town things picked up. Fridays shooters only had a pickup and I think they only worked off main two track.

I only shot about 100 acres of the town. Lots of pups.
2nd photo has 12 carcasses in it around two mounds....true carnage.

Daily results: 2:30-8:15 shooting, 95% of shots between 100-200, tried a couple longer 300-400 at the end to no avail.

20 VT: 200/218

222: 46/58

Total: 246/278 including 15-2x, 1-3x confirmed

Tried to get to 250 PDs but threatening rain and wind roared back up near dusk after a one hour lull.

Prairie is unusually green for this time of year. Area had 7 inches of rain in recent storm.



Packed up and home by 9:30 and in bed by 11:00.