7 up close

[Kenneth66]

Got seven ground hogs today , took the 243 , 222 , and 17 HMR . The 17 was the only one got fired . Didn't see but two in the field and one ducked out with out giving me a shot and the other was only fifty yds or so and popped him in the head .
Six of the seven where head shots , but ranges where only 20-75 yds . Six of the seven came from one building , same side in a 4-5 yard area .
The range did nothing to test me or the 17 , but was fun none the less .
The one body shot was done because that one was standing and his head put the POI into the bottom of the corrugated siding of the building , so I shot him in the chest which put the POI into the railroad tie that the building set on . The others where shot peeping out from under the rail road tie .
It was odd , I'd shoot one then in a minute or two , there would be another looking out from under the tie .
Farmer is happy and so am I . So it was a good day . Kenneth

 

[MrMajestic]

Very nice! Close means you're stealthy!

 

[snert]

Those are all nice size chucks. Strange to see them all together in one spot. Nice shooting.

 

[Kenneth66]

Thanks to all , yes sir it was strange , three were about 6-8 inches apart when I walked up and got them .
Had really hoped for some field shots , this new mowed field ranged 380yds + in some places . My range finder must be limited to four hundred yds I guess , there where some places farther than 380 , but couldn't get a range on it . Kenneth

 

[jpx2rk]

Sounds like a good day. From my reading up on g hogs, I had the impression they would scatter out to some extent, and not group up like p dogs. Good shooting.

How much does your rifle/scope weigh? Just curious.

 

[snert]

I just shot 16...a bunch were together...odd...but most were yearlings and one old sow so that is normal

snert

 

[Kenneth66]

That's some day you had there snert . Supposed to be a hot one next couple weeks , ought to make for some good shooting . Will be lots of fields opening up . Kenneth

 

[snert]

Let us know how your next outing goes! It is that time of year and a bunch of us here live for this stuff!

 

[Webster]

Got seven ground hogs today , took the 243 , 222 , and 17 HMR . The 17 was the only one got fired . Didn't see but two in the field and one ducked out with out giving me a shot and the other was only fifty yds or so and popped him in the head .
Six of the seven where head shots , but ranges where only 20-75 yds . Six of the seven came from one building , same side in a 4-5 yard area .
The range did nothing to test me or the 17 , but was fun none the less .
The one body shot was done because that one was standing and his head put the POI into the bottom of the corrugated siding of the building , so I shot him in the chest which put the POI into the railroad tie that the building set on . The others where shot peeping out from under the rail road tie .
It was odd , I'd shoot one then in a minute or two , there would be another looking out from under the tie .
Farmer is happy and so am I . So it was a good day . Kenneth

Did you check them for ticks before putting them in your pickup?

 

[5spd]

Good day of shooting, nice bunch.

 

[Kenneth66]

No , didn't check them , have been bitten so many times it isn't funny . Work in power line right of ways and have had my share of the little buggers .
Getting back into the field has been an ongoing struggle for some time . Few weeks ago on a Friday I got up around five started loading some 222's , called the farmer , got the locations on the fields he just cut , sent the wife out to get us some breakfast vittles and the phone rang , my boss . Storm trouble in Richmond . So there went that weekend , the following weekend was more storms , did manage to get one day in last weekend on a new field . A lot of holes but only one poked it's head out , was only a eighty yard shot , popped him in the head with the 17 HMR . A lot of the problem was school is out and two bored youngsters where curious and kept riding their four wheeler along the edge of the field . When I shot here they came a flying , looked happier than me , LOL . Asked them if they had been getting any , they said no , but who knows . They went back up to the edge and before long another joined them pitching ball , it was about 7:30 so I hung it up.
Am going to call and see if has any thing new opened up this week . Got to go to the doctor , think I've damaged an old rotar cuff injury , arm and shoulder is giving me a fit . Will have to stick to the 17HMR or 222 .
The 222 s still not like I want it . Finished loading them last weekend , hope to get on the range with them sometime this weekend . Kenneth

 

[CaptainMal]

Good shooting with that 17. I have one and used to use it for groundhog in Pa. back in the 1990's. Now my wife uses it for prairie dogs. Looking to buy a good, cheap, used 223 for her now. I want my 17 back.

Keep on nailing them.

 

[Kenneth66]

Got two more today , 17 HMR , saw three but only had a shot at two. Both head shots . One was 78 long paces and the other 180 something . The long one may have been luck as it is zeroed about an inch high at 100 yds and I held top dead center of the head and hit just below the ear . Thought it would have dropped more than that .
I am terrible about forgetting my range finder . It was a hectic day and was in a hurry to get to the field and relax . Hopefully will get to put the 222 through the paces tomorrow on some paper and see what these new loads do . Kenneth

 

[snert]

Nice job! a hit and kill at 180 with a 17HMR is a "stars align" moment, especially on a g-hog. Nice work.

Let us know how the 222 works out for you...I plan to have my daughter on her duece tomorrow popping whistlepigs.

 

[Kenneth66]

Well it has puzzled me mind it has . Tried the 4166 using 4064 data as thier burn rate is side by side according to the chart I looked at . Acceptable , but nothing great .
Using Speer 52gr hp over 20gr 4198 , I got some three shot groups that ran between .25"-.75" at about two inches high at 100 yds . A week later tried again , groups were 3"-3.5" high and around 1.25" group horizontal and vertical was about .25" . The group could have been just a bad day for me to shoot , but the poi change , I don't get .
Tried same bullet on 4320 24.6gr stuffed with powder , and it shot about 1.5" with same poi .
Same bullet over Scott322 21.6 and got a three shot vertical .66" group , same poi .
It is a factory 700 with sporter barrel , considering going to a heavier barrel , but not quite convinced I'll be gaining a lot away from the bench . What do you think ?
How did the hunt go with the daughter ?
Kenneth

 

[snert]

Methiks if you have more Scots, use it. A factory sporter will shoot, but you are likely getting groups vertcal horizontal due to a sporter stock, or warming barrel, etc. Maybe bedding.

We went hunting, but it was abysmal. I thnk I swatted most of them on the farms I hunt. I did hit them hard and hosted other forum members/friends too.