Bump a little more. If you are already chambering tight, things will likely get worse. Fouling, dust and heat can make things get sticky after several hours and dozens of rounds on the prairie.
First time, last minute Prarie dog trip. Questions.
- Thread starter 59f100292
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Be prepared for horrible heat, terrible temperatures - like over 90 F. Cool and clean everything periodically, including the chamber; I turn a 7mm brush with a strip of solvent dampened paper towel twisted around it, inside the chamber to clean it. Wipe off dust & crud from the bolt periodically, and lube lugs with grease. Develop a shooting cadence that will conserve ammo and prevent toasting out your barrel. When I use my .22-.250, its 1 minute between rounds, cool off barrel with wet paper towel, and quick clean @ 25 rounds. I have heard stories of barrels being "toasted out" during one long rodent engagement. Good idea to duplicate essential stuff for field and keep your home bench stuff intact. Move deliberately and thoughtfully. The rodents have horrible habits like cannibalism. consume crops, harbor disease/filth, and make hazardous holes. Shoot all of them!
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
Just saw an interesting comment else where on rounds fired. I did the math on what the gent said he shot, gave him a 10 hour day shooting.
According to his numbers and my math, he took a shot every 105 seconds for 10 hours
.........that is still a lot if it was two guys shooting!
According to his numbers and my math, he took a shot every 105 seconds for 10 hours
.........that is still a lot if it was two guys shooting!Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Double check your firearm and ammo packing. Had a guy show up with a 12ga scoped single shot and 500 rounds of 223. His kid grabbed shotgun instead of the single shot scoped 223(heavy barrel).
When we first started going we would shoot 3-400 rounds in a day. Multiple rifles, multiple calibers. Now we shoot in a week what we shot in a day or two. Now it's more quality verses quantity. As others have said it will be hot as h#$# so.plan.on shooting early and later in the day. Bring shade and an abundance of beverages.
And have a ball!
Randy
And have a ball!
Randy
Here’s THE REAL DEAL:
You will either
A) Not bring all that you’ll need
-or-
B) Bring way too much stuff
It’s OK. You’ll still have a great experience.
Make a list on paper or computer of everything you’re taking on the trip. While on the prairie, make a mental note of any “whoops, should have brought X.” After the trip, adjust your list. Your next poodle safari (yes you can’t stop after the first one) will go much smoother. My buddies and I maintain a communal list on an Excel spreadsheet. Guns and ammo are the easy stuff.
You will either
A) Not bring all that you’ll need
-or-
B) Bring way too much stuff
It’s OK. You’ll still have a great experience.
Make a list on paper or computer of everything you’re taking on the trip. While on the prairie, make a mental note of any “whoops, should have brought X.” After the trip, adjust your list. Your next poodle safari (yes you can’t stop after the first one) will go much smoother. My buddies and I maintain a communal list on an Excel spreadsheet. Guns and ammo are the easy stuff.
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There is a wealth of information in this thread.
Mention was made of bringing a GPS and I couldn't agree more.
Where I hunt there is no cell coverage and it can be a long hike to a travelled road if you get stuck or break down. So, I bought a Garmin In Reach this spring that give me the capability of texting via satellite. Also has the SOS function in case of a life threatening situation. I have a few local contact numbers in case of break down or getting stuck. A message to my contacts gives them my coordinates so they can find me.
Mention was made of bringing a GPS and I couldn't agree more.
Where I hunt there is no cell coverage and it can be a long hike to a travelled road if you get stuck or break down. So, I bought a Garmin In Reach this spring that give me the capability of texting via satellite. Also has the SOS function in case of a life threatening situation. I have a few local contact numbers in case of break down or getting stuck. A message to my contacts gives them my coordinates so they can find me.
I’ll have to bum a spare BCG and see if headspace checks.
here's my list. I'm headed out very soon, altho it will be really hot, what the heck. I bring plenty rifles 
22BR prob my fav.
I camp out "there" and ride a mtn bike some. shooting : I walk + shoot prone vs shoot from a truck...
I keep a pelican case or 2 ready to go, so alot of my stuff is stashed in em. you're gonna love it, PD shootin!
22BR prob my fav.I camp out "there" and ride a mtn bike some. shooting : I walk + shoot prone vs shoot from a truck...
I keep a pelican case or 2 ready to go, so alot of my stuff is stashed in em. you're gonna love it, PD shootin!
SBS
Gold $$ Contributor
Hard to have an exact routine, depends on load, air temperature and wind. I feel my barrel often and when too hot to comfortably hold, I change rifles or just let it cool. Pretty easy to torch the throat with calibers that have a high ratio of powder to bore diameter. I single load which helps slow the rate of fire.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
If your shots will be inside the 500 yards or so - I'd load up much lighter bullets for your 6XC, such as 75 V-Max. If you shoot a 6 PPC or lighter target rifle - even 62 to 70 grain hollow point target bullets you might have will do fine - though without the "air time" you get with varmint bullets. Not being able to see your hits due to the recoil of the heavier bullets then requires a spotter to watch your shots. When the shooting is hot and heavy - no one wants to spot for long - so having the lighter bullets is a big deal. Do take those heavy bullets along for the shots waaay out there. You will be glad you did. Just be sure of your backstop or lack of need for one. I'd leave the 22/250 as it gets way too hot too fast and won't do anything your 6xc can do. Instead of that - buy or borrow an heavy-barreled .223 for most of your shooting while your 6xc is cooling. You will get 20 shots out of your .223 for every 10 in the 6xc before cooling, depending on how fast you are shooting. Consider a .17HMR or other rimfire for short range within a few hundred yards. Above all - go to the range and shoot your loads at 100 yard intervals out to much farther than you think you will shoot, then you can extrapolate that into 25 yard increments past 350 yards or so. When you shoot past 400 or so yards- the bullet really starts dropping so you really need to know your impact levels. Be sure to note for temperature effect for every 10 degrees past 300 because 50 degree temp swings will keep you making incremental adjustments to compensate. Another reason not to take "max" loads unless you have tried them in hot weather. Take a big umbrella to position over your bench or tripod. You'll be glad you did. Take extra batteries for your range finder. If the critters show - you will have a lot of fun if you have lots of ammo, liquids, and shade. Be sure to take a tow-strap for the vehicle and beg or borrow a sat-phone from anyone you know of that has one or will rent you one. Have fun!
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
In my rifles, I shoot mostly moly bullets and will shoot up to 200 rounds in a rifle, then run bore cleaner and bronze brush (about 15 strokes), then run a chamber brush and give a dozen twists to maintain the carbon ring ahead of the chamber. When not shooting moly bullets, I cut that in half. In the A/R's, I follow this by spraying carbon blaster through the upper, disassemble the bolt, clean, lube and back together. We are talking like five minutes for a bolt gun and ten for an A/R, tops. In the evening, I give it another cleaning and let the solvent soak a bit. That has worked well for many years. As for your pace of shooting - that will depend on whether you have multiple guns to rotate and how many critters there are. Pretty common to shoot around 300 or 400 rounds per day. If, as you say, most shooting will be inside 500 yards - maybe 2/3 of that would likely be with your rimfire and .223. Frankly - it could all be done without your 6xc, though you will almost certainly have opportunity for further shots. Your pace with the 6xc can be as fast as you can shoot 10 or 12 rounds - but your cooling period will be longer than if you are shooting like one every minute or more. If the pace is slow - like a shot every for or five minutes - you really don't have to stop and cool much at all - though when the air temp really gets up (like 90+), that too will dictate how much to cool. A wet towel helps tremendously. Stop shooting when your barrel is too hot to hold onto comfortably.
I am wanting to go for a week out West for some first time PDog Shooting as well. Id rather not pay a guide. I would rather nicely gift a rancher for the hospitality of shooting on his ranch. Not sure the best state to travel to either. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or care to offer a contact? Thanks A Bunch!!
Sincerely Angela-"Going In Circles" as towhere to go and who to contact!
Sincerely Angela-"Going In Circles" as towhere to go and who to contact!
Hey, you do not need a guide. But you'll have to do some work before. Check out Molt MT, Acton, MT, Wood SD, Dickinson ND
Be in contact w USFS, BLM and all other agencies. Drive out early and make contact.
They may well have lists of ranchers who want PD's gone.
Once you are out there, stop by cafes etc. and say hello to ranchers.
Send em coffee or whiskey the next year. Like you'd want to be treated.
The golden rule lives on in the west.
Respect, authenticity and understanding are key. They have alot more to lose than you (or I) have to offer.
You could leave a gate open, start a brush fire, shoot cattle, make a mess of trails.
Trust me, ranchers are doing us all a favor, letting a stranger on their land - that makes them a living.
Honor that. Build on it year after year and you'll be on your way. You may find that shooting is just a path to understanding a way of life understood in the western US.
Be in contact w USFS, BLM and all other agencies. Drive out early and make contact.
They may well have lists of ranchers who want PD's gone.
Once you are out there, stop by cafes etc. and say hello to ranchers.
Send em coffee or whiskey the next year. Like you'd want to be treated.
The golden rule lives on in the west.
Respect, authenticity and understanding are key. They have alot more to lose than you (or I) have to offer.
You could leave a gate open, start a brush fire, shoot cattle, make a mess of trails.
Trust me, ranchers are doing us all a favor, letting a stranger on their land - that makes them a living.
Honor that. Build on it year after year and you'll be on your way. You may find that shooting is just a path to understanding a way of life understood in the western US.
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Never shot a PD. I would think a hole in it's tiny body would be lethal. You don't have blow them into pieces.
Be prepared for wind. Windburn is almost as bad as sunburn. Wear Long sleeves and keep your ears shaded. Temp swings are common.
Set up on a dog town. Start on the left and work right or vice versa. Don’t “dance” all over the place. A good spotter is priceless. Work together on finding dogs and use water tanks, oil pumpers, utility poles or what ever to give directions to locate the next target. Your spotter needs to right behind you and same for you. Double ear protection. Foam for inside and hearing protection with sound amplification so you don’t have to yell.
Be respectful and kind to everyone they have a different life than others and they all know each other and word travels fast. Everyone I’ve ever known are wonderful folks and will do anything for you.
Doggin takes some work. It’s not sitting on the beach having a martini.
HAVE FUN! This trip will be a wonderful experience.
Set up on a dog town. Start on the left and work right or vice versa. Don’t “dance” all over the place. A good spotter is priceless. Work together on finding dogs and use water tanks, oil pumpers, utility poles or what ever to give directions to locate the next target. Your spotter needs to right behind you and same for you. Double ear protection. Foam for inside and hearing protection with sound amplification so you don’t have to yell.
Be respectful and kind to everyone they have a different life than others and they all know each other and word travels fast. Everyone I’ve ever known are wonderful folks and will do anything for you.
Doggin takes some work. It’s not sitting on the beach having a martini.
HAVE FUN! This trip will be a wonderful experience.
Angela,
You have asked this exact same question multiple times. Almost cut-n-paste verbatim. Many members here have given you pointers but I guess you aren’t satisfied with the reality that shooting prairie dogs requires either a paid guide or a LOT of prior footwork.
To make things absolutely clear:
NO PRAIRIE DOG SHOOTER IS GOING TO OFFER UP A HARD-EARNED HONEY HOLE SO SOMEONE ELSE CAN SHOOT ALL THE DOGS. AINT HAPPENING.
Either pay a guide or spend days, weeks or months in scouting. It’s an either/or scenario.
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Now on another thread here.
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