30 caliber Groundhog Swatter.

[mikeinct]

A friends son stopped by today. He asked about a 300 Win Mag. Barreled to shoot light bullets at groundhogs. I played around with 30 caliber Varmint projectiles. Mixed results on my part. I love the 243 Win for GH's. I thought a fellow here from Virgina? Built the first groundhog devastator rifle. Anyone else know of this project, or links to similar ? Thanks in advance, mike in ct.

 

[17VLD]

Are you thinking about Richard from Microfit stocks? IIRC he built a 15 twist 300WSM and launched groundhogs at 1000 yards with 125bts. A quick search of the net should show his trick rifle and the details
Matt

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Franklin's 4000 FPS 30-Cal Varminter Is a Hit with Hunters « Daily Bulletin

Richard Franklin (Richard's Custom Rifles) has pioneered the use of lightweight (110-130 grain) 30-caliber bullets in a new generation of hyper-velocity varmint rifles. Richard's new trademark cartridge is the 300 Varminter. Using 30 barrels with the 300 WSM case, Richard's maxi varminter...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Jboog250]

I'm working on a similar project as Richard Franklin but I'm using the 300 WM. Its showing alot of promise.

 

[ISS]

What Jboog250 posted, but a full-tilt 300NMI, 9" twist and the 240 Sierras at 3000+/-fps.

I'd be curious to know what the holdover would be with those 125's...

 

[mikeinct]

groundhog devastator rifle, yep...not for serious long range...my best guess is 400 meters using the 130 grain slug.. that combo rocked in an old 30-06....

 

[X Count]

Try some nosler 110gr varmageddon's. May not have the greatest BC but you can push them fast and they are very fragile.

 

[mauser284]

To me that seems the opposite of smart and wise to kill ground hogs even at a 1000 yards. First where is this happy nesting paradise you speak of where there are so many ground hogs at 1000 yards to shoot at? Myy father in law operating from a wheel chair would often kill 240 or more ground hogs each year. It is hard to get 1000 yards shots in a lot of places and even hard to get enough varmints that are not prarie dogs in one place where 1000 yard shots and endless populations of ground hogs coexist at the same point in time and space routinely enough to build a rifle just for that task! Groundhogs are not particularly hard to kill. Their shy skidish nature and propensity for water and deep ditches and thick grass are what limit shooting from a fixed location not normaly a range limitation. It takes a lot of food to support a large population.

It seems to me that 1/4 bore, 6mm, and 6.5mm would make a lot more sense. Trying to turn a 300WM into a 30BR seems a bit much and sure seems like a bit much seems like a 308 or 30-06 could do the job just fine. It has been a mad minute but I think you can push a 130gr or 140gr. Barnes TTSX out of a 30-06 at something stupid fast like 3400+ from a barrel like 24 inches long. Using something 130-140gr. from Berger or the like would do better down range and not need to burn magnum levels of powder to get the job done.

Doing 30-06AI or 280AI with a light weight bullet would do the deed.

The slow twist makes no sense for a varmint gun. The slow twist in the 30BR is an attempt at reducing dispersion since the 30BR is used for SCORE and AG shooting and the size of the dispersion cone of the bullet and thus rifle can make or break who wins. In varmint hunting that is not a game changer so their is little to be had from under twisting a bullet. Also keep in mind that 30BR is used at 300 yards and less not 1000 yards on game.

Outside of BR the only place people openly talk about dispersion in at Machine Gun school!

For the record if you exclude the early days of some .22 centerfire varmint cartridges exploding their bullets because bullet construction was not up to scratch yet what most people worry about with fast twist rates is an increase in down range dispersion. If your winning and losing on the podium with groups @ or under 1/4 MOA dispersion is real and flat based bullets seem to be more affected than boat tails. The shape of the rifling and crown on the muzzle play into this as well. Forms of rifling like 5R but not limited to just "5R" reduce dispersion or can. 5R can also reduce damage to the base of the bullet.


Sorry for opening up a huge can of worms! I am getting my underware my Mom made me from M60 barrel change mittens. Some guys like underware made from pancho liners but I like those asbestous mittens!

 

[jghoghunter]

To me that seems the opposite of smart and wise to kill ground hogs even at a 1000 yards. First where is this happy nesting paradise you speak of where there are so many ground hogs at 1000 yards to shoot at? Myy father in law operating from a wheel chair would often kill 240 or more ground hogs each year. It is hard to get 1000 yards shots in a lot of places and even hard to get enough varmints that are not prarie dogs in one place where 1000 yard shots and endless populations of ground hogs coexist at the same point in time and space routinely enough to build a rifle just for that task! Groundhogs are not particularly hard to kill. Their shy skidish nature and propensity for water and deep ditches and thick grass are what limit shooting from a fixed location not normaly a range limitation. It takes a lot of food to support a large population.

It seems to me that 1/4 bore, 6mm, and 6.5mm would make a lot more sense. Trying to turn a 300WM into a 30BR seems a bit much and sure seems like a bit much seems like a 308 or 30-06 could do the job just fine. It has been a mad minute but I think you can push a 130gr or 140gr. Barnes TTSX out of a 30-06 at something stupid fast like 3400+ from a barrel like 24 inches long. Using something 130-140gr. from Berger or the like would do better down range and not need to burn magnum levels of powder to get the job done.

Doing 30-06AI or 280AI with a light weight bullet would do the deed.

The slow twist makes no sense for a varmint gun. The slow twist in the 30BR is an attempt at reducing dispersion since the 30BR is used for SCORE and AG shooting and the size of the dispersion cone of the bullet and thus rifle can make or break who wins. In varmint hunting that is not a game changer so their is little to be had from under twisting a bullet. Also keep in mind that 30BR is used at 300 yards and less not 1000 yards on game.

Outside of BR the only place people openly talk about dispersion in at Machine Gun school!

For the record if you exclude the early days of some .22 centerfire varmint cartridges exploding their bullets because bullet construction was not up to scratch yet what most people worry about with fast twist rates is an increase in down range dispersion. If your winning and losing on the podium with groups @ or under 1/4 MOA dispersion is real and flat based bullets seem to be more affected than boat tails. The shape of the rifling and crown on the muzzle play into this as well. Forms of rifling like 5R but not limited to just "5R" reduce dispersion or can. 5R can also reduce damage to the base of the bullet.


Sorry for opening up a huge can of worms! I am getting my underware my Mom made me from M60 barrel change mittens. Some guys like underware made from pancho liners but I like those asbestous mittens! View attachment 1682734

I agree with what you are saying when talking about the 30br etc. But if the guy want to build one for that specific purpose thats up to him. You put thought into your reply but you know nothing about what Richard Franklin did or the results that he achieved. He used the slow twist bbls. and pushed a 125 gr ballistic tip to 4000+fps. out of a 300 short mag case. I followed his work for a while and it worked fantastically. I decided that it wasn't for me for the same reason you mention. Where I live there wasn't enough opportunities to stretch it out and use it to its potential. I eventually built a 220 weatherby rocket shooting 50 ballistic tips at 4100fps. Half the powder same amount fun.