Prairie Dog Rifle Question

[dusterdave173]

Ok so I went on my first PD shoot this summer--Most fun I have ever had with a rifle! My long shots were right at 500 yds with a Savage BVSS 223 with 50g Vmax--MOST of my hits were well short of that --I was pretty good out to 350 but the longer shots were a struggle- LOTS to learn-Ok so my rifle is a 1 in 9 twist--I kept thinking just get heavier bullet for longer shots but the 9 has its limits--So been thinking about getting another Savage in 7 twist and going to a bullet with Much better BC for the longer shots--I get another rifle so I can swap out to cool barrels--Can use one for closer and one for the longer shots--I mean--If I re barrel the one I have I will spend about half what it would be to get another rifle --I have the Luck to be a couple of miles from a real sweet custom shop DNA Shooting in Locust NC--Sean builds "race" rifles that are just stunning and can custom chamber etc all the good stuff but it is all just way more than I need to spend for just a couple of trips , maybe even one a summer
Does another factory rifle with a 7 twist and a great heavier projectile sound like a plan?
Or just don't worry about missing--keep on blasting--and just do my best with what I have?
I would step up if I could go more often but I am in NC and PD's are a LONG way off
Thanks!

 

[urbanrifleman]

If you want I'll make you a barrel. I would suggest a 223 wylde chamber in 8 twist. You could still shoot the 50 grain bullets on shorter shots and then you could go to the 75 grain Hornady ELDM for longer shots. This is the most popular bullet among my p dog shooter customers. Very high ballistic coefficient and blows up good.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The 223 Ackley is even better.

 

[swimster]

I agree with the above. I have several PD rifles from 20 Br up to 6 Brx. My 8 twist 223 Ai is probably my favorite. It shoots 75g Elds at 3050. Works great out to 600.

 

[jepp2]

I was pretty good out to 350 but the longer shots were a struggle-

Knowing more about your misses would help. Were they mostly due to:
- bullet drop due to distance?
- wind drift?
- basic rifle accuracy?

The reason I ask, I shoot a lot of prairie dogs each year. My goal is elimination of prairie dogs, not bragging about shot distance. So I always take the closest best shot available. I find that out to 350, if the conditions are good (minimal wind) I can maintain a high hit percentage. Beyond that, my hits drop off quickly so I don't take many shots. I range every dog before I shoot, so I know the distance on most. Some are tough to get a good laser on.

If a mature pd measures about 3" x 8". At 400 yards, your rifle better be capable of close to 0.5 MOA or it will probably be a miss. I don't tend to use my most accurate rifles on my pd hunts. Barrel life is too short. Add in wind drift. Heavier bullets are slower and not that much more resistant to wind drift. Reading the wind accurately is more important.

I know lots of folks switch rifle when the barrels heat up. I'm not one of those. I get used to a rifle and know my holds for the shots so I stay with it, until I switch for the trip. Just something to consider.

 

[sw282]

Knowing more about your misses would help. Were they mostly due to:
- bullet drop due to distance?
- wind drift?
- basic rifle accuracy?

The reason I ask, I shoot a lot of prairie dogs each year. My goal is elimination of prairie dogs, not bragging about shot distance. So I always take the closest best shot available. I find that out to 350, if the conditions are good (minimal wind) I can maintain a high hit percentage. Beyond that, my hits drop off quickly so I don't take many shots. I range every dog before I shoot, so I know the distance on most. Some are tough to get a good laser on.

If a mature pd measures about 3" x 8". At 400 yards, your rifle better be capable of close to 0.5 MOA or it will probably be a miss. I don't tend to use my most accurate rifles on my pd hunts. Barrel life is too short. Add in wind drift. Heavier bullets are slower and not that much more resistant to wind drift. Reading the wind accurately is more important.

I know lots of folks switch rifle when the barrels heat up. I'm not one of those. I get used to a rifle and know my holds for the shots so I stay with it, until I switch for the trip. Just something to consider.

Well said Jepp! l'm there for the ACTION. l want to see them P O P. That takes speed and relatively close shots inside 300yds. 40gr or less for 22cals. 3700fps plus.

 

[jpx2rk]

IF you enjoy the longer shots on the pdogs, then you might consider going with a larger caliber, larger bullet to buck the wind and hopefully keep the speed up. I've shot a couple pdogs at 500+ yds with 223, they just fall over dead with a hole 'em. While it's a dead pdog at 500 yds, no red mist or flying body parts makes the shot a bit disappointing IMO. I go for the red mist and body parts.

 

[17cal Fan]

Been going pdogging for years. We go to private land to help real people. 350 is a long shot but when we move the trucks it's because we've run out of visible easily reachable dogs. Trips are expensive enough without wasting components and time. Spot on Jepp2.

 

[Richard Jones]

If you're set on another Savage, I'd just buy an action or a complete used rifle somewhere and get a prefit. "Build it yourself" with a MUCH better barrel. You can sell off the unfired factory barrel to recoup some $$.

 

[dusterdave173]

Thanks for the help
Jepp2 I am like you after 350 it was really challenging--I wish I could hope for shots inside that range but with our guy --there were plenty of dogs but after a little shooting it seemed all the shots were out there range wise.
If I thought I could just stay inside 350 i would be fine like I am --It is just with all the reading you get to thinking I need this and I need that etc
Maybe I just need a different experience--Thing is I can only go once or twice a year
Thinking a new quality barrel is my best bet

 

[Cemetery21]

My vote is for a second or fourth rifle. For close to 40 years I've taken four to try to get more life out of good barrels. Way long dogs are not my thing. 400 rounds a day with high hit percentages are more interesting to me than ranging and spotters and 6mm+ boomers. I've hit a few at 500+ but they were on the rare occasion that the wind died.
To each his own. I know guys who only go in hot weather when the dogs stay out beyond 500. They like the challenge.

 

[hfinkle]

I went with a 22BR and won't go back. 40gr vmax kills them to 600 with no problem.

 

[AndrewB]

I fit in the "one rifle for up to 400 yards and a different rifle after that" camp. You go out, set up, kill the closer ones and then start killing the far ones. I shoot a 12 twist 22br with 53gr vmax. That is my favorite. Past 400 or so, I go to a 22-250 8 twist with 75 eld or a 6mm creedmoor 8 twist with a 108 eld. Not a 223 fan for this - does not have the speed to shoot flat enough for my preferences.

Also, I always go with at least 2 rifles. Rifles break and if it happens with only 1, you just traveled a long way for nothing.

Put a compensator on them so you can spot the hits and misses. It really helps .

YMMV

 

[pdog2225]

Ok so I went on my first PD shoot this summer--Most fun I have ever had with a rifle! My long shots were right at 500 yds with a Savage BVSS 223 with 50g Vmax--MOST of my hits were well short of that --I was pretty good out to 350 but the longer shots were a struggle- LOTS to learn-Ok so my rifle is a 1 in 9 twist--I kept thinking just get heavier bullet for longer shots but the 9 has its limits--So been thinking about getting another Savage in 7 twist and going to a bullet with Much better BC for the longer shots--I get another rifle so I can swap out to cool barrels--Can use one for closer and one for the longer shots--I mean--If I re barrel the one I have I will spend about half what it would be to get another rifle --I have the Luck to be a couple of miles from a real sweet custom shop DNA Shooting in Locust NC--Sean builds "race" rifles that are just stunning and can custom chamber etc all the good stuff but it is all just way more than I need to spend for just a couple of trips , maybe even one a summer
Does another factory rifle with a 7 twist and a great heavier projectile sound like a plan?
Or just don't worry about missing--keep on blasting--and just do my best with what I have?
I would step up if I could go more often but I am in NC and PD's are a LONG way off
Thanks!

Dusterdave173, your comment: "and just do my best with what I have" caught my eye. So I would suggest using what you have and trying/learning how to shoot it at longer ranges. First off you have a great rifle there in the 223 BVSS. That rifle is throated for an 80 grain matchking bullet and the 9 twist WILL stabilize it just fine. You can shoot bullet weights from the 35gr vmax to the 80gr smk in it. The longer bullets shoot best if single loaded so that mag length is not an issue. For critters I prefer the tipped bullets, they will come apart at some very long ranges. Here is my loads for the bvss, all are published loads.

69gr (smk) sierra matchking
26.0grs accurate arms 2230
coal; bvss 2.358"

77tmk (tipped match king)
24.8grs varget
coal; bvss 2.410"

80grs smk
24.6grs varget
coal; bvss 2.515"
At the two ranges I frequent there are now 5 shooters using these loads in their bvss 223s. pdog2225

 

[JSH]

6BR with what it likes in a Vmax. Good barrel life, nice selection of projectiles, easy to work with.

IMHO a 223 runs out of too much “steam” past 350. Yes I have I shot some 69,75,77’s just didn’t t give results I liked.
Built a 22 BR, boringly accurate with 40’s,50’s and 53’s.
A 20BR is waiting on me still. Purpose built for 55’s.

 

[dusterdave173]

PDOG2225
Thanks for that info--I have been told over and over 69 SMK was the limit--funny it is listed in the Savage instruction book as the accurate round for my rifle--even Joe at Blue Collar said nope nothing heavier in a 9.
Now I have some hope--I will be working up those loads asap--we will just see what happens.
Thanks to all here for taking the time to chime in ! I really appreciate it
I have it nailing with 53g Vmax but my skills were falling short after about 350. I have all winter and the range is just 7 miles from the house

 

[linedrive301ft]

Dave, I do know that the 9tw Sav. will shoot the 77's. Run them fast. Don't give up on the 53's. They will run for you out to 500 yds. I believe a good range of the PD will result in quality hits.

 

[dusterdave173]

First Time
Will not be the last!

 

[North Fork]

Just get a 220 swift

 

[Hammer]

Just get a 220 swift

I used to spend five days around the Fourth of July every year shooting prairie dogs.

Would take twenty rifles ranging from a 14 caliber to the 460 Weatherby (for the charging bull prairie dogs and for excavating) and 5,000 rounds of ammunition. And of course a 32 ACP KelTec.

North Fork is right. Just take a dozen 220 Swifts.


side note... Some brides do not consider a five-day prairie dog shoot 30 miles outside of Malta, Montana, a "Honey Moon".