PA Groundhog Season 2007

[chino1969]

chino69, see where you use a 17HMR on PA hogs. How do you like it? What kind of killing range do you get from it compared to say a 22LR or a 223?

See too where you’re using 87 Vmaxs. I used them with a 6BR earlier this season and found them to be too hard. Heck an 87 Vmax made a fairly neat set of holes through my Crony. Sold the 6BR & am back to a 14 twist 243AI with 65 Vmaxs for long range that kills great, but lacks the lazer like BC of the 87 Vmax. What’s your experiences? Been thinking that a fast twist 22BR and Amaxs may be the best long range ticket. But I hate the idea of ricochets and don't know how explosive or lethal Amaxs really are? You or anyone else make a goodly amount of kills with any 22 Amax bullets?

Tripcrow,
I love the .17 HMR. Most of my shots with it are offhand within 100yds. I have the Savage heavy barelled Model 93 and it is very accurate with Hornady ammo. This rifle points well, is quick, and is pefect for working along the edges of fields and treelines. I actually would rather use this than a .22 mag. I use a .223 Handi Rifle as a walk around rifle but it is much heavier. For longer shots I shoot a .243 A.I. with 87 grn. Hornady V-Maxes and it performs very accurately and deadly. The .243 A.I. drives them fast enough,approx. 3550 ft/s.+) to do a number on long range hogs. I have a 1-12" barrel for the .243 A.I. that I will use for 65 grn. to 80 grn. bullets next season. For .223's and my .22-250 A.I. I use 50 grn. & 55 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tips, Hornady V-Maxes, etc. with excellent kill results on groundhogs. The .223 and 55 grn. varmint bullets were really made for each other. I just shot a groundhog in my back yard in the back of his skull at 75 yds. with the .17 HMR and he twitched several times and stayed down. I really like this rifle and round!
Chino69

 

[chino1969]

It's now toward the end of August and my total hog count is 29 confirmed kills; I want one more to make it an even 30. My attention is now going to turn to crows and when I go to Vermont in November, I'll try for coyote again. I hope everyone is having a good season. I'm thinking about screwing a different barrel on my Savage switch barrel rig for the fall and winter. The barrel line up is: Douglas 1-10" .243 A.I. .270 n.d., Pac Nor Super Match 1-12" .243 A.I. 3 groove .270 n.d., Pac Nor Super Match 1-10" .308 .337 n.d., or a Pac Nor Super Match 1-12" .22-250 A.I. .250 n.d.. I've had very good results with Douglas barrels and have just broken in the Pac Nor 1-12" .243 A.I. with very promising results. Shilen now offers Savage pre fit barrels and I'm considering getting one in either a .22 BR or a 6mm BR.
Chino69

 

[NEF17]

Chino,
I shoot a NEF 17HMR Sportster,Bull-barrel). Has definietly put war on squirrels here in Md. Waiting on a Survivor 308 that I bought yesterday on Guns America. I am also considering the Ultra Varminter 223 w/ the fluted bull-barrel. From what I have heard these seem to shoot well also.

Once my Survivor arrives I am planning a swap-out and swing the Butt stock from the sportster whihc has a synthetic stock. Having picked up some tips on painting from various forums I am going to try my hand at a Marine-Tex and Spider webbing over the Blk synthetic.

BTW: How hard is it to gain permission to shoot G/Hogs in PA?
I am in Wash. Cnty, Md. and not far from Gettysburg area. Would really like to get back into busting hogs as I use to shoot 243 and 22-250 when I was quite a bit younger. Back than you could hunt almost any place around Frederick, Md. before it built up like D.C.!

What are the Reg's as far as carrying firearms into PA and do you need a license to varmint hunt?

Thanks,

NEF-17

 

[Gman]

Most farmers will let you hunt, after asking permission, of course. Depending on the size of farm, sometimes farmers only allow a chosen few to hunt on their property, as to keep it safe.,limiting hunters) Unfortunatly, you need a hunting license to hunt anything in PA. Personaly, I think it is a bunch of crap, and you must give your social security number when purchasing a hunting license, which I think is a violation of our rights.