.223 Heavies for Groundhog Hunting??

[agreen60]

I have a Savage 12 223 7 twist and a Tikka T3 Varmint 8 twist that we want to do some longer range 600yd groundhog hunting with. My question is what bullets are you guys using for the longer range?? It seems that most of the heavies are for target, not varmint hunting. I would like to try the Berger 80.5 in both guns but that may be a while as I understand it will be QUITE sometime before they run them again. So what other choices are there?? Want something that provides a quick humane kill, with hopefully no crawl offs. Thanks for any help!

 

[potatoe]

I've never done a heavy 22 cal for ground hogs (but have thought about it a good bit) but if I did do one it was going to be centered around the 75gr. Amaxs and possibly the 80's. I know its not a varmint bullet by design but I've read a bunch about guys shooting groundhogs with them. Also FWIW it did kill a handful of groundhogs last year with the 162gr. amax and it performed very well just keep an eye on pass thru's.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

If you hit them with any bullet, they will die.

Focus on accuracy and reducing wind drift.

I think I'd load the 77 grain TMK or the 75 AMAX in your shoes.

 

[potatoe]

If you hit them with any bullet, they will die.

Focus on accuracy and reducing wind drift.

I think I'd load the 77 grain TMK or the 75 AMAX in your shoes.

Meh, I don't agree with that one. Plus I do not accept a hog that dies in his hole as a kill you have to be able to pick it up.

 

[Cold Bore]

If you hit them with any bullet, they will die.

Yeah..... but where, and how long after being shot?

If you are going to launch bullets at a living creature, you need to take the responsibility for a quick and humane death, not some horrible lingering event, deep in a hole.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

You have not been a farmer where these things did real damage have you?

Hit them right and they die quickly enough, even with a 22 LR. When it's your property and livelihood being damaged, you will care less about whether it takes a fraction of a second or a minute.

 

[Cyclops]

[ own a Savage Model 12 VLP DBM .233 1:7 twist 26" barrel.
I use it for FTR shooting from 300 to 1000 yards.
I load 24.7 gr Varget in to Norma cases with 80 gr A-Max projectiles with Winchester small rifle primers. Muzzel velocity 2840 fps.

I think this would deal with a ground hog.

 

[Cold Bore]

You have not been a farmer where these things did real damage have you?

When it's your property and livelihood being damaged, you will care less about whether it takes a fraction of a second or a minute.

Actually, yes, I have (and still am), so try again.

Groundhogs, deer, crows, geese, muskrats (and I've personally dealt with all of those "nuisance" animals on my property).... If I am killing any of them out of my field, my orchard or my pond, I owe it to them to be as humane as I can be.

 

[MrMajestic]

I run the 80 grian A-Max in a .223AI at 3050 fps. Much past 400 yards you really need to keep them in the CNS or boiler room to ensure humane kills. You will get crawlers if not. Don't misunderstand me I love the bullet and cartridge but understand it's limitations.

 

[Webster]

I have a Savage 12 223 7 twist and a Tikka T3 Varmint 8 twist that we want to do some longer range 600yd groundhog hunting with. My question is what bullets are you guys using for the longer range?? It seems that most of the heavies are for target, not varmint hunting. I would like to try the Berger 80.5 in both guns but that may be a while as I understand it will be QUITE sometime before they run them again. So what other choices are there?? Want something that provides a quick humane kill, with hopefully no crawl offs. Thanks for any help!

 

[Webster]

Any Sierra bullets called Blitz King or Hornady bullets called V-max expand very fast. The 75 GR bullets have very good ballistics at distance.

 

[Drop Port]

I run the 80 grian A-Max in a .223AI at 3050 fps. Much past 400 yards you really need to keep them in the CNS or boiler room to ensure humane kills. You will get crawlers if not. Don't misunderstand me I love the bullet and cartridge but understand it's limitations.

+1 600 yards is out there for the little 223 case. It's doable but don't expect too much from it. You have to hit them first, with an adequate bullet, for me that combo was a 75 a max.

 

[FN in MT]

I shot a few coyotes last year with 75/77 gr match slugs out of an AR platform and they ran off, far more than I cared for, before dying. Only one died on the spot. I'm in the "You OWE them a quick, humane death" camp when it comes to shooting at living tissue.

I've gone to the 75 gr A Max slugs, but haven't tried any on coyotes yet.

 

[Lapua40X]

You have not been a farmer where these things did real damage have you?

Hit them right and they die quickly enough, even with a 22 LR. When it's your property and livelihood being damaged, you will care less about whether it takes a fraction of a second or a minute.

It's interesting how we sometimes confuse hunting ethics with varmint depredation for agricultural protection. They are, as you point out, two very different subjects.
Nevertheless, when I'm given permission to hunt varmints on a privaely owned farm or ranch I do my best to make a clean kill - even with the .22LR.

 

[Brians356]

I have a Savage 12 223 7 twist and a Tikka T3 Varmint 8 twist that we want to do some longer range 600yd groundhog hunting with.

I'm thinking an ordinary 223 Rem pushing any 75-80 grain bullet, even of "varmint" construction, is never going to produce the kind of shock or destruction you seek at 600 yards - even assuming the shot placement is there. If humane kills on marmots at that distance is your primary objective, you're off on the wrong foot IMO with 223 Rem.

 

[Mozella]

I'm thinking an ordinary 223 Rem pushing any 75-80 grain bullet, even of "varmint" construction, is never going to produce the kind of shock or destruction you seek at 600 yards - even assuming the shot placement is there. If humane kills on marmots at that distance is your primary objective, you're off on the wrong foot IMO with 223 Rem.

I don't shoot varmints anymore, but I do shoot F/TR at 600 yards. My Berger VLD 80gr bullets have quite a bit of energy at 600 yards; i.e. 780.5 ft-lb with a velocity of 1829.8 fps. I pull targets from behind a huge berm because I'm pretty sure an 80gr bullet at that speed would kill me quite dead even though I'm quite a bit more massive than a marmot.

Of course, everyone prefers a clean kill and I'm no expert on shooting Gods furry little creatures. But one question comes to mind. Is it more humane to blow the leg off a prairie dog with a fast expanding .308 varmint bullet or shoot them in the head with a .223 target bullet?

 

[fredo]

I've killed more than a few 'chucks (and coyotes) with the 75Amax, but at significantly higher MV.
Even so, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your application.

Agree with Mr. Majestic above, on distance & energy limitations from your .223...

Have fun!

 

[drags]

I shoot the 80 gr. a-max for groundhogs my mv is 3174 fps using a 22x47 L this bullet is a killer, I have several kills out to 510 yards and many kills in the 300 to 350 yard range, all the chucks were DRT. Also shot one deer at about 110 yards it was DRT. I would not hesitate to use the 80 gr. a-max in you .223 with the 75 gr. being a second choice.
Joe

 

[WyleWD]

I have a Savage 12 223 7 twist and a Tikka T3 Varmint 8 twist that we want to do some longer range 600yd groundhog hunting with. My question is what bullets are you guys using for the longer range?? It seems that most of the heavies are for target, not varmint hunting. I would like to try the Berger 80.5 in both guns but that may be a while as I understand it will be QUITE sometime before they run them again. So what other choices are there?? Want something that provides a quick humane kill, with hopefully no crawl offs. Thanks for any help!

In my past experience with the 223 on groundhogs, I've seen more crawl offs with it over 300yds than any other rifle I use (22-250, 220 Swift, 243, and 6xc). The shots at 600yds and further that I've seen chucks anchored were made with a 6-250, 243, 6.5-06, and 6xc. Sure there are others, but those are the ones I've SEEN. Keep in mind that at the longer distances the DRT killzone becomes more difficult to hit. A gut shot wont get it done And the heavyweight bullets from a 223 are going to be dropping like a rock at those distances as is the energy the bullet is carrying making the area for a quick humane kill even more difficult to hit. My advice to you would be to shorten your range, or shoot a caliber with more umph. JME. WD

 

[SHootSTraight22]

I have a Savage 12 223 7 twist and a Tikka T3 Varmint 8 twist that we want to do some longer range 600yd groundhog hunting with. My question is what bullets are you guys using for the longer range?? It seems that most of the heavies are for target, not varmint hunting. I would like to try the Berger 80.5 in both guns but that may be a while as I understand it will be QUITE sometime before they run them again. So what other choices are there?? Want something that provides a quick humane kill, with hopefully no crawl offs. Thanks for any help!

Hey, don't forget you can anneal and soften any copper bullet jacket.. So if you need to soften up a heavier, slower bullet for hunting just anneal it.. Believe it or not it can also help enhance penetration in certain situations by allowing the jacket to peel or roll back reducing the meplat size, aiding it's momentum...