magnums for groundhog hunting

[rmr]

when i first got into shooting PD's in my youth, i decided to use my dads' elk rifle (7mmRemMag) as an experiment. at the time, i didn't know that 160gn nosler partitions would just punch holes. My dad was *pissed* that i was using his elk ammo on PD's :-D . some years later, i built a 7STW on a hall E action for LR PD's, i had much the same experience with 175g bergers and found out that i really didn't like extreme range PD shooting. a 3x5 playing card size animal at 800yds is tough target, and spotting hits was difficult at best. it wasn't my game, and my LR gun became a 243AI. I've rarely shot past 600 on PD's since.

However, I *do* have a 375JRS that has some Lehigh controlled expansion loaded up to warp speed..33-3400? for coyote. yet untested. :-D

 

[MrMajestic]

I don't have a problem with killing them with what ever but please be aware of what lies beyond, especially with tough bullets designed for big game and target. I have a friend that has a friend, he was actually with him, that shot a chuck into the side of a hill and hit a woman on the other side of the hill, could not see them, as she was watching a kids soccer game! This was with a .222 although bullet not known, in populated areas risks abound. BTW, he lost his rifle and hunting privileges courtesy of the PAGC...
At one of the ranges that I am a life member of has an Amish school about a mile away and directly in line with the rifle range, Google Earth confirmed. No 50's allowed however I cringe when sniper wannabe's shoot their .338 LM's at a whopping 200 yard max range...

 

[aer21]

Anyone use the light 7mm bullets? I have a heavy 28 Nosler that hasn’t performed to expectations with the 195 Bergers that I’m thinking about turning into high speed chuck duty. I have a box of 100gr sierra hp I’m going to try. I thought I had a box of 7mm vmax somewhere also but not finding them at the moment.

 

[steve123]

Anyone use the light 7mm bullets? I have a heavy 28 Nosler that hasn’t performed to expectations with the 190 Bergers that I’m thinking about turning into high speed chuck duty. I have a box of 100gr sierra hp I’m going to try. I thought I had a box of 7mm vmax somewhere also but not finding them at the moment.

I've used them/100's on PD's in my 7mag and they were explosive.

 

[MrMajestic]

I have used the 7mm 120 gr. V-Max in my RSAUM, 3750 fps w/RL17. Sorry, no photos...

 

[dragman]

It's all about distance, and practice for Deer.

I use a lot of different things but the 300WSM has to be a favorite, sure at 150 yards it's just overkill lol. My reason is because those little baby guns don't work for a mile away. And once you get past 700 it's hard to catch splash with little calibers. If your trying to shoot Groundhogs, coyote's and stuff at 2000 yards you need enough to get there and get the job done.

 

[Darwin]

I have used the 7mm 120 gr. V-Max in my RSAUM, 3750 fps w/RL17. Sorry, no photos...

What twist?

 

[MrMajestic]

What twist?

28" 9tw and fresh, nothing lost yet...

 

[JEFFPPC]

Anyone use the light 7mm bullets? I have a heavy 28 Nosler that hasn’t performed to expectations with the 190 Bergers that I’m thinking about turning into high speed chuck duty. I have a box of 100gr sierra hp I’m going to try. I thought I had a box of 7mm vmax somewhere also but not finding them at the moment.

Every 7mm I have owned loves 120 Hornaday HP. Give them a try.

 

[K22]

I don't have a problem with killing them with what ever but please be aware of what lies beyond, especially with tough bullets designed for big game and target. I have a friend that has a friend, he was actually with him, that shot a chuck into the side of a hill and hit a woman on the other side of the hill, could not see them, as she was watching a kids soccer game! This was with a .222 although bullet not known, in populated areas risks abound. BTW, he lost his rifle and hunting privileges courtesy of the PAGC...
At one of the ranges that I am a life member of has an Amish school about a mile away and directly in line with the rifle range, Google Earth confirmed. No 50's allowed however I cringe when sniper wannabe's shoot their .338 LM's at a whopping 200 yard max range...

First rule of making a shot in the field - do I have an adequate back stop.

In the case you mentioned did the bullet ricochet along side of the hill? I can see a sky line shot which never should be taken going places you don't want. If the hog was on the side of a hill and open space beyond I can see how this could happen. There's one farm I hunt were the hogs have their holes along side of a hill. However when you get an angle on them for a shot there is only open space behind - obviously a shot that should never be attempted.

At one of the clubs where I belong in a populated are we were ordered by a Judge to install barriers to prevent elevating a firearm above the backstop bunker. Prior to this modification someone put a run in a house in back of the club. Thankfully no one was harmed. But one more incident and the club is toast.

 

[MrMajestic]

K, I was told it was at 90 degrees to the hill and lots of hill beyond. Rock and tough bullet I surmise. Very strange but as OJ said, "it happens"...

 

[K22]

K, I was told it was at 90 degrees to the hill and lots of hill beyond. Rock and tough bullet I surmise. Very strange but as OJ said, "it happens"...

About 10 years ago while hunting ghogs with a 223, I had a .224 Speer TNT bullet ricochet as evidenced by the sound I heard it make - this was the only time it ever happen to me in about 50+ years of hunting. I missed the hog at 200 or so yards.

Stop using this bullet and went back to Sierra 50 and 55 blitz bullets - then eventually switching to Nosler 50 and 55's. Not condemning the TNT, perhaps it was just a freakish event but it was enough for me to stop using them. There was adequate back stop for the shot so no harm was done but it scared the s*** of out me.