long range ground hog in pa.

[maddysdad]

what are they shooting as far as rifles and cartriges go for this sport of long range ground hog hunting in pa?i have seen that use to use the big magnums.thanks for your time.
gary

 

[dedogs]

What do you consider long range? dedogs

 

[msinc]

I don't know about these days, but when I lived up there {late 70's early 80's} there was a high number of very serious gentlemen that hunted woodchucks. Just about all of them had Winchester high walls with Unertl scopes. The two most popular calibers back then was the .222 and the 22-250 and an occasional Swift. They all shot reloads, in fact, factory ammo was blasphemy!!! Opening day {really just the first warm spring day of the year} found them in a large field with a blanket to lay on and prone shoot, a cooler with lunch and sometimes some sort of shade.

 

[1K6BRA]

I’ve hunted Chuck’s here in PA for 40 years.An accurate 220 swift up to 500 yards or so and a 6.5 x 2 84 with a good 140 grain slug for the ones way out yonder. You’ll never leave home wondering if you have enough gun by using either.

 

[varmintshooter]

I shoot between 200- 400 a year out to 650 yds but don't normally go bigger than 223AI. I think a 20 vt is a great ghog cartridge. I have kills out to 512 yds with mine but it is starting to run out of steam at that distance. If you want to shoot out to 800 yds or more then a bigger gun is needed.

 

[284winner]

Not sure about PA but in WV and OH we use what we hunt deer with. Seems to work best because knowing how the deer gun shoots at ranges from 300-1000 helps. With my 6.5-284 or 284 is what I use for ground hogs. Most shots are 500-800 with 800-1100 being occasional. Most of our deer shots are under 400 but on occasion, the power line or clearcut logging areas offer close to half mile shots at undisturbed deer. Weather and conditions permitted will end up with a shot opportunity.

 

[drags]

I use a 22x47 Lapua for long range groundhogs shooting the 80 gr. Hornady A-max at about 3200 FPS, my longest kill was 568 yards with this set up. For 300 yards and in I use a 222. 223 and 22-250 with 50 to 55 gr. bullets. In the 59 years I have hunted groundhogs I have used .17 Rem. 204 Ruger 22 Hornet 222 Rem. 223. Rem 22-250 220 Swift 6 mm Rem. 6.5x06 264 Win. 270 Win.7mm TCU 7mm Rem. Mag. 7x300 WBY Mag. I only hunt in SW Pa. in about a 15 mile radius of my house and usually go out in just the morning and hunt form the first cutting to Labor day. The rifles I use the most are the 22x47 Lapua and a .223 Tikka shooting the Sierra 69 gr. tipped matchking. In our area years ago there were many dedicated groundhog hunters but not so today.
drags

 

[maddysdad]

the people i am refering to shoot or have shot the 1000 yard bench rest shoots up north in pa.i have read about them useing there big guns in 30 and 7 mm cal. in the magnums these guns weight any where from 16.5 lbs to i think 50 ,lbs or so.
gary b

 

[mikeinct]

I use mostly an eclectic array From the Tac 20, 22-250, 6mmbr & My fav the 243Win..Honorable mention goes to my Vintage Sako 270 win sporter..For some reason that rifle shoots smaller groups w the 110 varmint bullet...But loads of fun walking around...Mike in Ct who hunts in Pa.

 

[dkhunt14]

For the 1000 yard and farther shots, most use a big 6.5 and up. I have killed to 1550 with a big 30 magnum. Matt

 

[Ken]

For prairie dogs in the more western states we use 22-250, 6BR,243, 223 AI. No use getting a bruised shoulder and kicked out of the sight picture. I have a documented kill at 1100+ yds

 

[Steve Ladino]

what are they shooting as far as rifles and cartriges go for this sport of long range ground hog hunting in pa?i have seen that use to use the big magnums.thanks for your time.
gary

You are not questioning the competitive sport of long range bench rest "Groundhog Matches" are You ? You say Hunting but it seems like your questions might be along the lines of competitive sport shooting too.

 

[jwink]

I was shooting a .222 rem and then I found this site...…….. I now shoot the most expensive woodchucks that God has created with custom .22-250AI. All just so I can shoot my uncle's farm, 650 yds. max. Sure wish they tasted better.

 

[GT Accuracy]

I have hunted all over NE PA for my entire life. I was lucky enough to live in a very rural area with plenty of "redneck" things to do. I have shot them with 20 VT, 20-221FB IMP, 17 Hornet, 22 BR, 22 Dasher, 6mm AI, 6.5x284, 25-06, 300 WSM Varminter, and I am sure I am missing a few.

All of this said - for pa chucks - a 10 Twist 6mm AI with 87 Vmax is all you will need. I have several kills over 800 and my longest in PA is 976. 87 V-Max anchored him.

 

[maddysdad]

i am just looking into this long range hog hunting.i read some articles about it years ago.i am 65 years old.i hunt with a 22 br all shilen rifle now but was interested in what they use now.the big mags were the rage then from what i see.thank you all for your thoughts on this.i like reading about this stuff.i also would some time try the groundhog shoots up in south fork pa.
gary b

 

[K22]

I'm an avid ghog hunter, spend at least 30 to 40 days in the field during the spring/summer but I'm not a "long range" shooter since I hunt off a shooting sticks and like to move around a lot, i.e. stalk so my limit is about 250 yards with my 223's. This covers about 95% of my shooting opportunities at the farms were I hunt.

However, the one fellow I know who is a long range shooter if you consider 400 to 600 yards "long range' uses a custom 22 250 heavy barrel and shoots off a portable bench. I've witnessed him shoot them in the 500 yards range quite regularly.

 

[6MMsteve]

220 swift.... 650yds or a 243 would good to 1200yrds.... swift is my favo hog smacker

 

[Bojo]

I was shooting a .222 rem and then I found this site...…….. I now shoot the most expensive woodchucks that God has created with custom .22-250AI. All just so I can shoot my uncle's farm, 650 yds. max. Sure wish they tasted better.

Shoot a couple of young ones before memorial day ish. They are still small and tender, and normal primarily flea and tick free still. Skin them in field place in a plastic bag in a cooler. Cook them up as u would a rabbit.

 

[Drop Port]

Whatever is accurate enough to hit them with, for me that's been 6br, 6.5x47, 6.5x284, 300WSM, 300 Win, 264 Win, 338 Norma and a few others. For shorter distance I like the old 222 Vixen. or and a 22rf.

 

[CT10ring]

Whatever is accurate enough to hit them with, for me that's been 6br, 6.5x47, 6.5x284, 300WSM, 300 Win, 264 Win, 338 Norma and a few others. For shorter distance I like the old 222 Vixen. or and a 22rf.

Well you have plenty calibers. Like the 222 vixens, too.