Loading for prairie Dog Trip

[kbbgood]

I am loading for a prairie Dog trip and have to say I ave a bunch to load. I am trying to load 500 rounds per gun, and I have 4 guns to take. The thing is I have so many different kinds of cases, should I get rid of them and get new brass, all of the same kind. That would be a big deal for me. Cost a bunch.

 

[lrgoodger]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Reasonably uniform loads even with different brass should have you hitting dogs out to 400 - 500 yards with a good gun. If you are going for 800+, they better be VERY uniform.

 

[CatShooter]

I am loading for a prairie Dog trip and have to say I ave a bunch to load. I am trying to load 500 rounds per gun, and I have 4 guns to take. The thing is I have so many different kinds of cases, should I get rid of them and get new brass, all of the same kind. That would be a big deal for me. Cost a bunch.

What guns and what calibres?

 

[Waskawood]

Loadem, chootem, and have fun. If ya miss a few, oh well so do the rest of us. When you have more money then start upgrading you stuff, until then enjoy the moment.

 

[4xforfun]

WOW!!! 2000 rounds on a dog hunt!!!!! I went through nearly 600 in a day and 1/2 and was tired of shooting. Now to be honest, I was limiting my shots...nothing UNDER 400 yards. Lots of 500 to 800 shots, and as far out as 1500, so my kill ratio was comparatively low to my partners, who sat in the middle of the dog towns and shot off of rotating benches. I set up on the hills away from the towns.

But holy crap....2000 rounds...you must have a GREAT bunch of towns to shoot and be totally hard core!!!

Good on you!!!.........Can I come?? ;D

 

[vervi1jw]

I did a similar thing my first time out west. I took 5 guns. Used 2 on the praire dogs and I only used the other one a 22lr to let my .204 cool down. My 260AI got taken out for some plain old LR target shooting and that was it. For speeds sake, I used a powder thrower to load my 204. I weighed every 10th throw and the ammo turned out fairly uniform and accurate. Between 4 of us we brought way too many rifles. The first thing we all were regretting was bring so many rifles!

 

[4xforfun]

I brought 4...

200 rounds for my 6-47L....1 K bench stock
200 rounds for my 6.5WSSM....1K bench stock
200 fire forming rounds for my dasher....1K bench stock
40 rounds for my 338 EDGE Mc Millan A5.

No regrets at all!!

Brought home just enough ammo for self defence purposes if things got rough on the way home!!

 

[pdog2062]

we always go to shoot,if we hit anything it's a bonus,ha ha.

 

[DaveWhite]

I am loading for a prairie Dog trip and have to say I ave a bunch to load. I am trying to load 500 rounds per gun, and I have 4 guns to take. The thing is I have so many different kinds of cases, should I get rid of them and get new brass, all of the same kind. That would be a big deal for me. Cost a bunch.

that sounds like a great trip. makes a lot of sense to try to limit the calibers to the extent possible, so that you can load with a progressive press. If you use a Dillon and have your toolheads set up right, you could make due with less brass and reload each evening (not much to do except drink in the evenings in most PD areas...)

I always dreamed of taking 5 guns with 300 rounds each and components to allow 500 shots per day on a 5 day hunt.

Great plan, but has never come to pass (yet). Definitely on the bucket list... ;D

 

[Stimpylu32]

On my 2nd trip to the Ok panhandle I took 5 rifles and 2500 rounds of ammo , we started shooting on turs. morning and by sat. afternoon I was headed to wallyworld for more 223's . The town we were shooting on had 17 shooters for 4 days and never put a dint in the dog numbers .

Also the temps were in the mid to upper 90's so rifles needed to cool a lot , 22lr , 5mm rf , 224 GNR , 223 and 22/250 , with the 224 & 223 getting the bulk of the work . Needless to say it was a real HOOT and have been doing it every year or two for over 10 years now .

stimpy

PS - the little suckers are real dumb so it you miss they just stand and wait for you to shoot again ! ;D ;D ;D

 

[gotcha]

Again, what cartridges are we talking about? .223 wouldn't be a problem w/ mixed brass but others could be more sensitive.

 

[Rustystud]

I once went to Kansas PD shooting in 1982. I took 4000 rounds .223 loaded with Hornady 50 gr SX bullets, 4000 rounds of .243 Win with 60 grain Earp bullets and 5000 rounds 22LR in PMC Zappers. I hunted for 14 days and brought home about 300 .243s. Great hunt, I estimate 90% kill ratio to shells fires. Came home with 4 tomato stakes.
The 4 others on this shoot shot almost as much as I did. Those were the good ole days. Been PD shooting 4 times since and never fired more than 1000 rounds during the whole trip.
Nat Lambeth

 

[searcher]

I'd use the brass you have. Maybe shoot ten or 15 of each brass brand over the chrono and at a target to see what you can expect in deviation from the brass you "normally" shoot with those rifles. That way, when you run out of one brand of brass, you might find it good to make a simple click or two on the scope to adjust the next brass brand to impact the same spot - if it is off a bit. The velocity readings will tell you whether you might want to add or back off a few tenths on the powder to keep your optimum velocity. You can write the scope settings on the top of each box of ammo. I primarily use cheap but accurate flat-base bullets for the "close range" critters and more expensive, heavier boat-tails for the long rangers. A few clicks on the scope gets me set for the change quickly. Have fun!!!