Prairie Dog Cartridge

[Coyotefurharvester]

NOAA weather app on your phone, for wind direction and speed overlayed on dog town photo. Dial for the wind speed estimate, most days that will be a hit/near miss on the 300yd and overs. A click or 2 and you hitting. Hard case for the rifle, ammo in a cooler, packed correctly.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Lotsa good info I wish I had years ago.
First morning we are all wound up and ready to go, so there earlier than need be.
The rest of the time, eat breakfast BS with friends, take off. Start about 0930 maybe. Shoot till noon unless there are a lot of volunteers. Go eat lunch, go back to the room and wash the dust off a bit, maybe take a nap. Grab a snack and head back out, stay as long as decent light allows.

Past few years I have arrived between 0800-1200. I go do my driving around to get it out of my system. Lol, sounds kind of funny saying that after 7-8 hours of hard driving.

Some ranches we shoot it takes 1 1/2 hrs to get to, we bring lunch, drinks. Groceries if the rancher needs them.

 

[ebb]

One of the members here used to live close by and owns property in Wyoming, and has been doing summers out there , or used to. Snert mentioned a 17 rim fire, and it made me remember how many dogs Donny killed with a 22LR. Maybe take one of those so you have something for close shots while the barrel on the main rifle is cooling down?

 

[stacy]

It’s just hard to beat a 223 for what it is with 50-55gr bullets my favorite is the 53gr V-max of course out of a Hart 1/12

 

[markT]

223 Remington. Then find powder primer and bullets. 50 gr Vmax or 53 gr Vmax. Action: Rem 700 Remage bbl / barrel: 12 TW / 26". Or just buy a factory Savage single shot model 12 with bull bbl. Buy a Choate Sniper or Varmint Stock or a heavier stock so you can "stay in the scope." Easier on your body also.

 

[JSH]

A buddy is working on an adjustable cheek piece for the Choate stocks. I know some folks do t like them, but they have served me well for the purpose intended.
Bigger optics and tubes, combined with full bull barrels have forced me to use some fairly high set ups. I have tried a few ideas. On about half my rigs after doing any kind of semi permanent mod, the pad has to come off or pull the action out of the stock.
Taking the pad off, then requires a fair bit of time, then putting it back on as well.
His prototype is still being tweaked. Should be able to just drop the riser down to clean, but completely removing the riser should be fairly easy and straightforward. The base can stay on.
He is getting measurements on several stock designs other than the Choate also.

 

[drover]

For PD's I am a fan of the 223 loaded with a 40 gr V-Max or Nosler BT at 3750 fps. It is an easily attainable speed with many powders and both give great accuracy and splatter results.

I shot 50 gr bullets for a lot of years but after switching to the 40's there are no discernible differences in field use between the 40's and 50's. The 40's give slightly less recoil which lets you see hits/misses easier and if you do a 300 - 400 round day they are a bit less tiring also.

While it is fun to take long pokes at PD's the truth is that most shooting takes place within the 100 - 300 yard range.

good luck and good shooting

drover

 

[Bottom Fodder]

“While it is fun to take long pokes at PD's the truth is that most shooting takes place within the 100 - 300 yard range.”
Im glad you said that, always wonder what the norm would be if I ever got to go

 

[LAH]

You can kill a bunch of dogs in side 300.

 

[JSH]

I won’t say much about distance. It all depends on where your at and how you can set up.
A lot of folks say just move closer, what if you can’t?
I have some private and public that I hunt on, rules are all pretty much the same. If it’s not a know road/ two track, don’t make one!
Year before last, went by a national grasslands pasture, two trucks sitting out in the middle. I walked the 1/2 mile out and told them the fine for driving out there and other repercussions could be ugly. They basically told me to take a hike.
I went back by about an hour later. Now cows were on the backside of where they were shooting.
Didn’t bother me one bit to make a phone call and give pasture # and license plate along with latitude and longitude.
I had visit later that day after a phone call was answered.
The clowns got mouthy with the ranger. Said they didn’t want to shoot that far or couldn’t. Then found saw they had been shooting at bottles as well. Truck guns and gear impounded. Mandatory court appearance with a lawyer, could loose privileges in numerous states. This was on Federal ground not state, ignorance of laws and rules doesn’t make you innocent.

Majority of folks do not realize how delicate the prairie system is. Tracks from a vehicle can stay for days to years. Then when some see a set of tracks that means it is ok for them to drive there too.

So that is why I won’t get into distance.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

When its good I can kill hundreds with 17hmr. When its a low reproduction year and it's late season shots start at 300 and I never get out anything but 204 and 6 creed.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I need to revisit the 6bra with the Sierra 85 and 87 vmax.

 

[markT]

From the OP:
“I am wanting to build something based around the .223 simply because of the affordability of 1000 pieces of once fired processed Lake City brass. I have never gone prairie dog hunting or high volume varmint hunting, so I want to make sure I bring plenty of ammo and I don't care if I burn up a barrel in one trip as long as I have a good time! I have bee”

 

[ggshoots]

Great info on this subject. I also plan on going prairie dog hunting next year for the first time. No shortage of cartridges for the application so really appreciate the info about the actual hunt.
I have a cartridge I built this year shooting 40gr Vmax and 13gr of powder. Accurate out to 400yds but really falls off after that. 3200fps, wind is a definite influencer though. 222, 222mag, 223 223AI, 22-250, 243, 243AI, just to name a few others.
I agree that 223 would be a great cartridge. I like my 223AI as I have 223 loads that are also super accurate in it so very fun to fireform. I do Ackleys mainly for case life and a slight increase in speed but that's negligible.
The Vmax bullets are about the cheapest I have found to shoot with good accuracy depending on the rifle and seem to be liked on this thread.

 

[dusterdave173]

Its all about getting that first time behind you--after that you will be a Much better PD shooter--less about what rifles etc than being smart on comfort, hydration, good optics and otherwise prepared to be out in the sun/wind all day long.
as to distance--it can vary so much--after some close in it usually turns into longer --inside 350 or so anybody with any rifle can whack them--as the day goes along it tends to get longer. The "bragging" shots are pure fun--Nothing wrong with going for that first 500, 600, and beyond. Yup it takes a few rounds watching the dirt to nail them out there but when you do it is a Blast!
Just Go--However you can--It is the most fun with a rifle you can ever have.
Don't put it off--Just Go!

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

I have an opportunity to go prairie dog hunting with a buddy next year in Montana. I currently don't have a suitable rifle for high volume blasting, so I would plan to build a rifle for the job. I am wanting to build something based around the .223 simply because of the affordability of 1000 pieces of once fired processed Lake City brass. I have never gone prairie dog hunting or high volume varmint hunting, so I want to make sure I bring plenty of ammo and I don't care if I burn up a barrel in one trip as long as I have a good time! I have been debating on 3 potential cartridges, 20 Practical, 223 Remington, and 6x45 (6mm-223) with 55-65gr bullets. Ballistically the 20 with 39/40gr bullets and the 223 with 50-55gr bullets are very similar and I don't see an advantage to either option, however I have no real world experience with either cartridge for varminting. Running the numbers, the 6x45 isn't as flat shooting and drifts a little more in the wind, but I have access to old 6mm benchrest barrels so that is attractive but not a huge selling point. Any input or opinions on these cartridges for prairie dogs would be appreciated. Thank you!

223 ackley
1-12 53vmax
1-7 75,80, 88 ELDMs longshot
Or
20-223 Ackley
1-10 40vmax
1-9 55berger

You won't ever have to worry about brass work and you'll have a surplus of brass for life

 

[urbanrifleman]

223 ackley
1-12 53vmax
1-7 75,80, 88 ELDMs longshot
Or
20-223 Ackley
1-10 40vmax
1-9 55berger

You won't ever have to worry about brass work and you'll have a surplus of brass for life

@dusterdave173 shot the 53 VMAX and 75 ELDM from the same 1-7 223 ISSF barrel.

The 223 Ackley has a 60 freebore. Which would be ideal for the 53 vmax and 75 ELDM.

Velocity from my fiance's 223 Ackley for a 53 in her 8 would be right about 3650 fps. 75 ELDM is right at 3350 fps.

 

[Charles]

I've been shooting prairie dogs for over 60 years. Shot several 100,000 rounds.
Hit a fair number of the critters. Used many different weapons and cartridges.
We're I in your position I would go with 20practical 11 twist and 40 vmax bullets.
If I was forced to use a 223 I would use 40 or 50 grain bullets from a 12 twist barrel. There are a lot of ways to enjoy the sport. I like to sit at a bench and shoot out to 400 yards or so. Fast and flat is your friend! 40 grain vmax in 20 caliber is capable of much farther. Not so with the 223. Heavy for caliber bullets in a 223 do not interest me. I won't shoot prairie dogs with 50 cents apiece bullets out of a 22 caliber rifle. If I do want to show off I have numerous rifles that can shoot fast and flat much farther.

I agree with hotshot have the vartarg and a bunch of others the practical is a lot of fun

 

[JSH]

A buddy is working on an adjustable cheek piece for the Choate stocks. I know some folks do t like them, but they have served me well for the purpose intended.
Bigger optics and tubes, combined with full bull barrels have forced me to use some fairly high set ups. I have tried a few ideas. On about half my rigs after doing any kind of semi permanent mod, the pad has to come off or pull the action out of the stock.
Taking the pad off, then requires a fair bit of time, then putting it back on as well.
His prototype is still being tweaked. Should be able to just drop the riser down to clean, but completely removing the riser should be fairly easy and straightforward. The base can stay on.
He is getting measurements on several stock designs other than the Choate also.

The adjustable cheek piece is coming around.
Dunno who is following this thread.
As of now it is for a Choate stock.
However it can be reconfigured easily to work with others, with dimension change.
It will require 1 screw into the top of the comb of the stock.
Is anyone interested at all let me know.

 

[long40shot]

I need to revisit the 6bra with the Sierra 85 and 87 vmax.

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How do you like the Masterpiece Chassis?