Last year I brought 4 rifles including a 22 mag for close shots. This year 5 rifles AR-15 fast twist 22/250 6/284 and 7mm wsm ( Braked) shooting the 120gr Nosler BT at about 3500 fps. None of the Prairie Dogs like the 7 mag. The other calibers sent the dogs flying ,the 7 mag sent the pieces flying.Shooting on a Crow Indian reservation out side of Billings, it was non stop shooting for 2 days. Average shot was 300 yds ,fired less than 10 rounds from 22 mag. Before I met up with my outfitter ,I drove down a random road and saw many dogs,found a rancher driving towards me. I asked he said "Apply common since shooting, but have at it and kill them all" dang what do I need an outfitter for next time ?
Montana Prairie Dog trip
- Thread starter Ironworker
- Start date
I did the same thing for my first PD shoot. Bought a 17 hmr and had an AR, 22-250 bolt gun and a 308 for the long range stuff. Think I shot maybe 100 RDS of 22-250 and 17 and 60 rounds of 308. The AR had probably 3500 RDS thru it. The barrel was smoking everyday. It was just a shooting gallery. Dogs popping up and triggers squeezing. Walking shots into prairie dogs due to high winds and light bullets. When I do it again, I won't take the AR. Only take bolt guns. Slower more precision shooting rather than volume shooting. Had a great time but wasted lots of ammo. Wasted may be a wrong word but lots of missed shots on dogs only to finally hit one with a walked in bullet. I would also load heavier bullets for the 223 / 22-250 bolt guns. Used 185s in the 308 and had alot of 1000 yd shots that heavy bullets were perfect for due to 20-30 mph winds. My outfitter since had all the prairie dogs in his guide area poisoned by farmers. Guess farmers weren't getting the dogs shot off fast enough so decided to use poison. Kinda sucks for us shooters. Had a great time with that outfitter.
What brand and model were your scopes ?
My AR has a 6 - 20 x 56 Springfield Armory AO scope.
22-250 has a Nikon 6.5 - 20 x 44 Monarch AO.
REM 308 has a 4.5 - 14 x 50 Leupold Mark IV.
HMR 17 has a BSA sweet 17 designed and calibrated for that 17 Cal out to 300 yards. It's not so precise so I had to put new turrets on it and set the marks myself. Once that was done it was really good out to 300.
22-250 has a Nikon 6.5 - 20 x 44 Monarch AO.
REM 308 has a 4.5 - 14 x 50 Leupold Mark IV.
HMR 17 has a BSA sweet 17 designed and calibrated for that 17 Cal out to 300 yards. It's not so precise so I had to put new turrets on it and set the marks myself. Once that was done it was really good out to 300.
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