Heavy bullets for Prairie dogs

[rmeyerwy]

Use what you are comfortable with. If you are not using varmint bullets, watch the ricchochet's, nothing will ruin a day faster than hitting something you are not supposed to. Its not always about shooting 100s of rounds, take your time, make the shot count. It is alot of fun to see the pieces going different directions and hear the "pop" when you connect....

 

[JSH]

Anyone tried the Sierra TMk’s?
I got some 69’s to try as they fly so darn well out of my Badrock rifle.

 

[Heman]

Last time I went pdog hunting (05) I used 75gr Amax and 168gr Amax for the longer shots in my AR15 and 10. What I noticed is anything past 250yds the varmint bullets didn't do anymore damage than the heavier bullets. Inside 250 the varmint bullets detonated.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Keep those cards and letters coming, I think a lot of people are some good info from this thread I know I am

 

[Hotshot]

Last time I went pdog hunting (05) I used 75gr Amax and 168gr Amax for the longer shots in my AR15 and 10. What I noticed is anything past 250yds the varmint bullets didn't do anymore damage than the heavier bullets. Inside 250 the varmint bullets detonated.

Amax are not varmint bullets.

 

[Heman]

Amax are not varmint bullets.

Yes I know they are not. I used the 60gr Vmax and the 125gr TNT for the shorter ranges. Notice in previous posts I said I used the 75s and 168s for the longer shots. The Varmint bullets (now mentioned) were used for the shorter stuff.

 

[searcher]

Most of your hits will be inside 400 yards. I really really recommend you go with a lighter bullet - and make it a dedicated varmint bullet. For a BR I’ll stick with 65 grain or lighter. You’ll thank me later.

I agree with this. The lighter bullets are the way to go for most shooting. That said, I tend to use the 75 VMAX a lot. Easy to tune compared the 87 and noticeably better in the wind than the 60-class bullets. Anyway - I use a brake on my 6BR. That makes it real nice...

 

[powderbrake]

I like the 6 mm 88gr Berger Varmint bullet for PD's. High BC.
It reaches out and touches them. I agree a lighter bullet will do well out to 400 yards, but I have been shooting dogs for many years, and I like to test myself against the ones that are farther out there. As I get older, and I had to switch from right hand shooting to left hand because of problems with my right eye, the PD's have begun to win. I still go every year, because it is so much fun.

 

[Webster]

I may get a chance to go on a PD hunt, but the gun I would us is a 6br. With a 1-8 twist that I shoot SMK 107 in. I hate to have to redo my load to go one time. I figure these heavy target bullets are not to do much damage for a fast kill. How bad of an ideal would it be to use them. I’m totally clueless when it comes to PD hunting
thanks

Any bullet going threw their little body will kill them. Some guys think they have to blow them up in pieces. If would kill a deer it would certainly kill a little PD.

 

[searcher]

Any bullet going threw their little body will kill them. Some guys think they have to blow them up in pieces. If would kill a deer it would certainly kill a little PD.

Getting eaten alive would be a bad way to go compared to getting blown up in 20 pieces. My group of hunting buddies place heavy penalty points on wounded critters making it to the den - where that is most likely what awaits them. You get a lot of that with the target and big game bullets on small critters. Blowing them up to bits is ethical, if not a display of a doubtless kill. But you are right, the large bullets will eventually kill them. I, for one, do strive to blow them up when I can. It is not all about celebrating colorful morbidity.

 

[JSH]

Sorry, I am about accuracy first, it must have good splat factor as well.
FYI, one can get good “lift” with match bullets. Find them laying flat facing you and go for the nose. Even a low hit will toss them.

 

[urbanrifleman]

If you actually look at the ballistic coefficients your infinitely better going with a .22 than any of the 6 mm offerings.

The 75 ELDM out of any cartridge that can get it above 3200 feet per second seems to work incredibly well on pdogs, And these days is by far the most popular of the varmint bullet choices that I'm finding from my customers.

You can easily run the 75 ELDM at 3350 from a 22 XC. If you look at the ballistic coefficient it exceeds just about anything offered in a 6 mm and you could always go lighter for short range. You could always go to the 88 ELDM for longer ranges if you felt that was necessary because it actually has the same ballistic coefficient as a Berger 105 hybrid.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The 75 ELDM is actually almost exactly the same as the VMAX offerings except the shape is slightly different. The vmax offerings have more of a blunt nose which forces more of the lead forward to create a deeper hollow point and a more dramatic effect. But actually if you section them there's not a whole lot of difference. Very subtle.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Again this thread has brought up some good/interesting point. I for one have learned a lot about something I knew very little about hopefully others have too
keep it coming

 

[searcher]

Sorry, I am about accuracy first, it must have good splat factor as well.
FYI, one can get good “lift” with match bullets. Find them laying flat facing you and go for the nose. Even a low hit will toss them.

The best way me and my buddies have found to "lift" a ground squirrel or small P.D. is when they are broadside, laying down. Hit them as low as you can with a 50-grain Varmint Grenade (or 62 if in 6mm). like a bomb went off underneath them. I agree with the accuracy first - if you can't hit them - performance matters little anyway.

 

[searcher]

I like the 6 mm 88gr Berger Varmint bullet for PD's. High BC.
It reaches out and touches them. I agree a lighter bullet will do well out to 400 yards, but I have been shooting dogs for many years, and I like to test myself against the ones that are farther out there. As I get older, and I had to switch from right hand shooting to left hand because of problems with my right eye, the PD's have begun to win. I still go every year, because it is so much fun.

If you really want to test the wind - try a .17 HMR once the wind really picks up. We have contests in high winds just to see if anyone in the group can whack them at 300 in a 20+ wind. Man - talk about Kentucky windage! We don't go further than that as the bullets lose killing power quickly beyond that range.

 

[searcher]

If you actually look at the ballistic coefficients your infinitely better going with a .22 than any of the 6 mm offerings.

The 75 ELDM out of any cartridge that can get it above 3200 feet per second seems to work incredibly well on pdogs, And these days is by far the most popular of the varmint bullet choices that I'm finding from my customers.

You can easily run the 75 ELDM at 3350 from a 22 XC. If you look at the ballistic coefficient it exceeds just about anything offered in a 6 mm and you could always go lighter for short range. You could always go to the 88 ELDM for longer ranges if you felt that was necessary because it actually has the same ballistic coefficient as a Berger 105 hybrid.

View attachment 1467273

Yes, even full metal jackets will kill with the hydrostatic shock when it is a good body hit.

 

[swd]

If you actually look at the ballistic coefficients your infinitely better going with a .22 than any of the 6 mm offerings.

The 75 ELDM out of any cartridge that can get it above 3200 feet per second seems to work incredibly well on pdogs, And these days is by far the most popular of the varmint bullet choices that I'm finding from my customers.

You can easily run the 75 ELDM at 3350 from a 22 XC. If you look at the ballistic coefficient it exceeds just about anything offered in a 6 mm and you could always go lighter for short range. You could always go to the 88 ELDM for longer ranges if you felt that was necessary because it actually has the same ballistic coefficient as a Berger 105 hybrid.

View attachment 1467273

How well does the 22 ELDM shoot out of a 6BR?

 

[itchyTF]

It will probably make it out the barrel.

 

[urbanrifleman]

How well does the 22 ELDM shoot out of a 6BR?

Did you mean 22 BR?