i have read that there are a group of groundhog hunters that ahoot to these distances.some use magnums and some use standard and wildcat cartriges.to any one out ther that does this shooting could you descibe your rifle and what you shoot,
Maddys -
Howdy !
I have perhaps mentioned previously, that I use 450ft lb as the minimum delivered level of energy that I'd like to put on a groundhog @ distance. Again, it is a guide.
You can put that much on a .224gr 55gr varmint bullet out to 500, using something like a .22-250 and a 26" barrel + appropriate load, or say a .220Swift w/ a 24" or longer barrel ( example ). Of course, for out farther still....you would be aided by even more barrel length ( .224" calibre ) , and likely a tad more case capacity.... to shoot a heavier; higher BC bullet. These would help keep energy levels up there, to cover the distance; w/o having to push the cartridge' load too hard. A boat tail bullet, would be a sensible choice.
You could use a .224" cal cartridge on groundhogs even out to 1,000yd. Cases like my " .22-35 Remington " shooting a 75gr VLD from a 1-8 29", or others like a .22-250AI or say a ".22 Creedmoor " in an appropriately set-up rifle could certainly accomplish the task. I have read of some killing groundhogs w/
.224" cal rifles out to 1,200yd+. In the Midwest, " wind " during groundhog shooting Spring - Summer is usually not as big an issue, as it might be for a Western Rockchuck or PD shooter.
In 6mm cal, many think the equation becomes a little easier, and the potential bullet candidates for shots to 400, 600, 1,000yd etc abound in this calibre; too. Again, a boat tail bullet, for use @ those longer ranges.
I myself assembled a dual-role' varmint/target rifle, with the idea of being able to cover 1,000yd in either discipline. My wildcat " DEEP 6 " holds charges like 41.3gr RL-23, 42.4gr RL-25; and 44.4gr RL-26
( example ) under a 95 T-Mk; and FED Large Mafgnum Rifle Match. My rifle has a 29" 1-8 6mm barrel, and can generate 450+ ft lb @ 1,000.... using a variety of loads. My sense of it is..... one could use a 6mm like
6XC or 6 Creedmoor in a properly sorted out rifle; to get the job done. One does not have to have .243Win level case capacity necessarily; to get the job done. On balance, IMHO - you can get the example energy level I mention using a 6mm with a cartridge being a little less " frenetic " in it's interior ballistics than one in .224" cal. But hey, that's just me.
In .25" calibre, I have done math for a 450 ft lb minimum energy combo for out to 1,000yd; just as an exercise. To do it using an example straight .250-3000; the barrel length would need to be fairly long; likely
31'' or more ( if memory serves ) along w/ something like a 110VLD. You could get the expansion ratio of such a gun to approach some really great numbers, which would bode well for barrel life. The larger bore diam can cause load pressures to drop a bit, when comparing the same case capacity in .224" cal and 6mm cases to a .25" cal derivative.
The 450 ft lb energy level is just a guide. With that level of energy delivered by a suitable bullet, and given a properly located hit on the animal; a successful outcome should be no problem.
With regards,
357Mag