Groundhog/Prairie dog rifle advice

[urbanrifleman]

My last 22-250 had three groundhog seasons on it and a Pdog hunt and it still shot pretty good at about 2000 rounds when I sold it. It was ready for a barrel, but used to shoot near 4000fps with Nosler BTs. But we used to shoot and shoot on hot days too. A pdog barrel does not have to win a benchrest competition. I cannot even imagine burning upa 223 barrel. I have seen 223s go 10,000 rounds. My Red Gun space gun has a Kreiger 1-7.7 and I have no idea how many rounds that thing has through it (maybe 10,000). My practice load for service rifle was a 55 grain with AA2015, same as I shoot now in my bench rifles. My Red Gun will still shoot 80s into 1/2" easy.

I mean considering all the action shooters, not to mention machine gun shooters using 223. I cannot imagine burning one up to where it won't shoot any more.

 

[22DASHER]

How? And please describe "burned up". I know guys who have been shooting service rifle barrels for years shooting hot loads and shooting rapids in practice you can go through a couple hundred rounds in a few hours several times a week.

When you get into the middle of an excellent PD town you’d understand how.

 

[urbanrifleman]

When you get into the middle of an excellent PD town you’d understand how.

I have been in several. I am still trying to figure out what "burned up" is. Define what you consider "burned up"? Most 223 loads won't get the barrel hot enough to where it will burn your hands if you shoot as fast as you can pull the bolt and load. No one shoots pdogs that fast unless, you are just blasting mounds with an AR15 from a mag.

 

[22DASHER]

I have been in several. I am still trying to figure out what "burned up" is. Define what you consider "burned up"? Most 223 loads won't get the barrel hot enough to where it will burn your hands if you shoot as fast as you can pull the bolt and load. No one shoots pdogs that fast unless, you are just blasting mounds with an AR15 from a mag.

Not sure why some things are so complicated for you. If you have a 1/2 MOA rifle that you go out with and you come back with a rifle that cannot keep things under 2 MOA, that’s burned up to me. But yes it would still “shoot” just not to my standards, I call that “burned up”.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Not sure why some things are so complicated for you. If you have a 1/2 MOA rifle that you go out with and you come back with a rifle that cannot keep things under 2 MOA, that’s burned up to me. But yes it would still “shoot” just not to my standards, I call that “burned up”.

Oh, that's not complicated. If I had a 223 burn up in 500 rounds to the point it wouldn't hold 2 MOA shooting it in a bolt gun, I would be sending it back.

 

[22DASHER]

Oh, that's not complicated. If I had a 223 burn up in 500 rounds to the point it wouldn't hold 2 MOA shooting it in a bolt gun, I would be sending it back.

Who said it was a bolt gun?

 

[urbanrifleman]

Who said it was a bolt gun?

Fair enough. I might suggest a chrome lined machine gun barrel next time!!!

 

[22DASHER]

Fair enough. I might suggest a chrome lined machine gun barrel next time!!!

I absolutely agree

 

[urbanrifleman]

I absolutely agree

Some of those things will really shoot too. Certainly good enough.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Some of those things will really shoot too. Certainly good enough.

I will always have a 223 with the 53 gr vmax in the truck, 204 0r 20 practical with the 39 gr Sierra. 3rd rifle 22-250 55gr tipped bullet.

 

[LittleLebowski]

22-250 would be my last choice in the p/dog fields......as mentioned..

noise & recoil along with heat will wear you down....your buddy sitting next to you ?

He'll get tired of it real fast too.......my p/dog rigs are Savage s/shots with Pac Nor tubes...

20VT..20PT...20-222....223AI..6BR......window gun ? 17M2 works great !

In a factory set up....Tikka or Savage or CZ would be my choices......in 223

I grew up in Wyoming on cattle ranch my family still owns. The 22-250 is everywhere In Wyoming, it is very popular there. I have never before reading this thread, heard of anyone complaining about the recoil and noise of a 22-250. Furthermore, if that bothers you, suppress it.

We like the 22-250 out in Wyoming because it shoots well, even with bulk ammo and with its speed, is of course well suited to the plains.

 

[Mikemci]

I didn't read the posts above so this may be repetitive. I have had very good luck with a Savage model 10 in .223. My best was a head shot at 390 yds. His head was all that was exposed.

 

[KenOath]

How bout 6br with twist for the 87gn VMax or 22br?
Good Barrel life and won’t heat up to fast..