Long-range Bullet for Woodchucks?

[Forum Boss]

gdragon34 writes:

Has anyone tried any of the long range bullets on woodchucks? Are they effective or should I stick with the 75 and 87 gr. V-max's?
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SnakeEye replies:

Yes, they work but they don't kill instantly everytime. Go for 75 or 87 vmaxs. They will flat smack a groundpig.
SnakeEye
www.varmintsforfun.com
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HBC
Ballistics Editor replies

If you an 8" or 9" twist, the 105 grain Hornady A-Max should work well.
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6brguy replies:

ditto on the 105 amax-works great way out there-terminal performance is excellent-i have scored many triples and doubles on p-dogs out to 600+ -my-2-dave

 

[gdragon34]

To answer my own question for anyone else wanting to know. I loaded up some 107SMK's to be shot about 2815 fps.

Groundhog #1 was hit well from the side at 44 yards and went down. About a minute later it started trotting quickly towards it's hole when a 2nd shot to the lower rear of the skull stopped it.

Groundhog #2 was a little smaller girl. I hit her in the chest at 250 yards and she was able to RUN 10-15 feet before dropping.

I will be loading up dome 87 V-maxes this afternoon to tweak at the range tomorrow.

 

[Cheechako]

I contimue to be amazed at the number of guys who use competition bullets for live varmint shooting. C'mon guys, they're not made for that! Many years ago when I was a kid just starting out, bullets came in one or two brands and weights and you were forced to use them for everything from Rhinos to Prairie Dogs. Results at either end of the spectrum left a lot to be desired and sometimes they didn't even perform in the middle either. Today, shooters and hunters are spoiled with the selection of components and yet they still insist in using bullets where they were never intended to be used. Is a box or two of Hornady V Max or Sierra Blitz Kings going to bust your budget? JMHO

Ray

 

[mbianchini]

I use the long range bullets i.e. VLD for woodchuck hunting here in PA with great results. My favorite is the Horandy 105 gr. A-Max piped by a 27" Shilen out of my 243 Ackley Imp. Driving them around 3290 fps. Also had great success on PA whitetails.

Many pictures of successful hunts at this link. http://www.pbase.com/m16800/toys

Good Shooting!!

 

[mikeinct]

Matt u the man..I checked out your web site..Washington county ?? is Mc Murry Pa in washington county?? I hunt there once a year w my buddy john he lives there..Great area..I can't wait to get back there...mike in ct...

 

[mbianchini]

mikeinct

Yes McMurray is in Washington County, PA. The pictures that I have on the site were taken about 20 minutes south in Taylorstown, PA off Green Cove Rd. Some of the finest Woodchuck hunting in Pa.

 

[Northman]

mbianchi: Is that a Shehane tracker on both your rifles? Im thinking of getting that stock, but I want to be able to use a bipod when Im out walking. How does the bi-pod fit? Its not a harris is it?

 

[mbianchini]

The stock I have on my 243 Ackley hunting gun,.271)N.K. Shilen 8" twist 26” Remington Varmint taper
Leupold 8.5x25x50 is a Bill Shehane Tracker Varmint which the forend is 2.5"s wide and only comes back 6"s and tapers in to a beavertail for offhand shooting and works great with a bi-pod. The bi-pod is a Harris BR model. The rest of the body of the stock is slimmer and the bottom of the buttstock has the Tracker flat, just like the competition models.
I have shot many woodchucks here in PA with this outfit with great results. It's is my favorite hog hunting stock.

http://www.pbase.com/m16800/image/19909293