Good for P Dogs?

[Totosdad]

I want to try P Dog hunting, was wondering if I have what I need.

I plan on using a 17hmr, 223 w/53 grain V Max, and a 243 with 75 grain V Max.

Any help or criticism will be appreciated

 

[pdog2062]

You about have it covered,after over 40 years of prairie dog shooting I have narrowed down the rifles I carry to several 223s with different twists and barrel lengths

 

[Big_Daddy]

I shoot a 223 with 53gr V-Max's.
It is the only bullet I shoot for PD's.

 

[rmr]

yep... all good with what you have.

the 17 is good up to 125y.
223 is your workhorse.
243 is the drama queen at short ranges, and long range choice.

if you don't already have one, buy a laser rangefinder. it is *invaluable* at distances over 300y. also, buy/take the best binoculars that you can afford with you. "best" being the highest quality optics. think Lieca/Swarovski etc. you can't shoot em if you can't find em'

 

[TheOtherZilla]

You're covered. Brings LOTS of 17HMR.

 

[VaniB]

Sounds like it's bad for prairie dogs.
But good for you.

Yep, that's a nice little spectrum you have; close shots to far away shots. But for good acrobatics I'd rely less on the 17HMR ....though it will surely kill and do it cheap.

 

[sw282]

On my very first Prairie Dog shoot l took 2 Model 70 Winchesters, a 222Rem sporter and 243 Win HV. l shot the 243 a little bit and the 222 ALOT.. I came home with 243 ammo and brass. 222Rem with ALL brass... 243 was good for about 10-15rds before l started FLINCHING... l don't think I EVER flinched with the 222.. lf l could have just ONE gun for prairie dogs it would be a 222Rem with 40gr VAMX @3500fps l feel the 222Rem is more accurate than a 223 with less recoil. Field performance is virtually the SAME

 

[1raggedhole]

I want to try P Dog hunting, was wondering if I have what I need.

I plan on using a 17hmr, 223 w/53 grain V Max, and a 243 with 75 grain V Max.

Any help or criticism will be appreciated

Perfect and +1 on the rangefinder. Not all dogs are same size in first half of the year, so it is very difficult to range them based on size. Bring some shade too.

 

[SmokinJoe]

If you wanted to add anything SAAMI, I would recommend a 221 Fireball w/40 gr plastic tipped bullets and AA1680. Good to 300/350 and pretty flat, too. You want to shoot the smallest cartridge that gets the results you are looking for which will give you more shots before the barrel gets too hot. If you want something a little more exotic for volume shooting, it is hard to beat the 20VT. It's all fun, wish you the best.

 

[sscoyote]

My 9T Hart-barreled 26" 223 AI AR shooting the 53 V-Max is probably the best setup I've ever used for a bench rifle over the 40 years I've been addicted to shooting them. It's not used often for this application as it was built for sniping coyotes, but when it gets used for that occasionally it still amazes me how far out I get some fair acrobatics.

Take that 17 HMR put a tall Harris on it, grab a soft-sided stadium seat strapped around your waist, and walk the towns you'll most likely shoot a lot more if your mobile than from a bench from one spot.

 

[drover]

I want to try P Dog hunting, was wondering if I have what I need.

I plan on using a 17hmr, 223 w/53 grain V Max, and a 243 with 75 grain V Max.

Any help or criticism will be appreciated

You have excellent coverage but I will throw in my .02 cents.

I do use the 17 HMR for short range PD's (out to 125 yds) although in my estimation it is a bit short on power for making instant kills. It just does not put them down instantly in every case and I hate to see any animal needlessly suffer. The 17 HMR is perfect for ground squirrels but IMO it is a bit light for PD's.

If you have an opportunity try the 40 gr V-Max in your 223, they can be driven to 3750 - 3800 fps and impact results with them are spectacular, plus they have a lower level of recoil making it easier to see hits/misses. Those velocities can easily be attained with numerous powders and accuracy is outstanding, that combination makes the 223 into a viable 350 - 400 yard rifle.

Years ago I settled on a pair on 223's for PD's, one in a sporter contour and the other in a varmint contour. I use the sporter rifle for a walking varminter or as a backup while the varmint contour is cooling. I use the same load combo in both of them so I do not have to refamiliarize myself with drop and drift when switching rifles. I could easily get by with these two rifles for all of my PD / Varmint shooting.

The 243 with 75 Gr V-Max will be explosive but I doubt that it will be used much because of the recoil and not being able to spot your own hittes/misses. Fun for a few shots but too much "boom and beller" for constant use.

Enjoy your trip and I hope the shooting is great.

drover

 

[Tommie]

I want to try P Dog hunting, was wondering if I have what I need.

I plan on using a 17hmr, 223 w/53 grain V Max, and a 243 with 75 grain V Max.

Any help or criticism will be appreciated

Great combo. Have fun and take lots of pictures.

 

[mac86951]

I think you've got it; though I've always wondered how a 7.92x94 would do.

-Mac

 

[jepp2]

Any help or criticism will be appreciated

I think you will find the hardest thing is finding decent towns that haven't been shot a lot. This can take time and you can spend trips finding good locations. Some scouting can be done from home, if you take the initiative.

Expect to shoot in windy conditions, always good to practice this before you go.

You didn't share a lot of your approach, so it is kind of hard to suggest upgrades.

- Having a stable shooting platform that is easily/quickly portable is a big plus
- If you go during the heat of summer it can get blistering hot and the dogs tend to go down when you are banging on them when it is hot.
- If you find a good spot, keeping your barrel cool enough is a challenge. If you don't have a way to keep the sun off it, cooling is even more challenging.
- Always be mindful that rattlesnakes like to use prairie dog burrows

 

[Cemetery21]

Long sleeves, wide brim hat and sunscreen for 10-12 hours in the sun.

 

[JSH]

I can’t say enough about covering up. I just got two hooded fishing shirts. They are light weight and breath. I flat roasted my left arm and the back of my neck again last year. You will think your “ok” until bedtime.

Dunno where your going, and it makes no difference there will be sun and wind.

A good shooting platform is a must. Each person will have their likes and dislikes. I will not lay on the ground myself, things that will bite ya,prick ya or stick ya. I have dropped a fair bit on shooting platforms and am hesitant to say one is better than the other.

I don’t walk much if any. We had a load of fun last year on a town that was uneducated as it was about 450 yards off the road. I would guess most never even noticed it when driving by. We shot on it the better part of the day.
As mentioned good binos are a great help when spotting which is almost as much fun as shooting, you get to see all of the acrobatics.
With that being said a heavy rifle and good glass will give you the best of both worlds. Turn the X down to scan, then back to your best X to shoot and watch the show.
My buddies poked fun at my 204 and 17 Remington. They weigh from 26-34 pounds before I add any more. There is a T slot on both and I can hang a piece of 1/2” flatbar that weighs other 7lbs on either.
I had been out of pdog shooting for a number of years. The first year back into it, by the next year I had built three more rifles and bought four more for future use.

You have been warned, you poor soul.

 

[Rich Lee]

I shoot prarie dogs here in northeast colo. every year for the last 16 years and when working I went out usually one of my days off now am retired so go out sometimes twice a week if not more. I use a shooting bench that rotates 360 degrees have an umbrella I put over my bench wear a wide brimmed hat good ear protection a good range finder good luapold binocs and for my guns I use a 6br loded with 55 grain vamagedon bullets by nosler , a .222 loaded with Hornaday 40 grain v-max and a 22.250 loaded with 50 grain v-max all built on savage target actions. The .222 and 6br have jim Hart made and installed barrels and the 22.250 has a douglas barell . They all have benchrest 3 inch wide forarms and I shoot off a Sinclair rest and a proctor rear bag and use a battery air pump with a piece of hose that I keep in a cooler with an ice pack when im noy-t using it and cool my barell after every 5 or 6 shots. and don't forget your sunscreen and lots of liquid that I keep in my yeti roady 20. Also have saw people with a 204 have very good luck. Think a 20 var targ may be my next build.

 

[Damon555]

I think you will find the hardest thing is finding decent towns that haven't been shot a lot.

Expect to shoot in windy conditions, always good to practice this before you go.

These are 2 of the reasons that I shoot the heck out of my 6XC on our prairie dog trips. Many of the towns that we shoot are hit pretty hard by shooters each year. This creates the opportunity (necessity?) for some very long shots.....anything close to easily accessible by anyone in a car or truck will be very spooky. But the critters that are harder to get to aren't nearly as skittish. My brother and I love the long shots.....probably most of our shooting is done at 500+ yards. We still frequent the easily accessible areas but we are equipped for very long shots which put dogs in range for us that most people can't even begin to get close too. Our selection includes but is not limited to 204 ruger, 223, 223 AI, 6xc and 6.5 Creed.....I started doing this when not many folks did....now there's a lot more competition for good shooting spots.......we never changed but our preferences for calibers have as the ranges started stretching out..

 

[Totosdad]

Thank you all, this should be interesting.....lol

 

[Rustytigwire]

6mm remington
223 ar
20 practical is next addition