Vartarg first blood

[snert]

On vacation in Central New York. Got out today shooting woodchucks. We got 9. I ran out of time in prep, so my come ups were off. But so far am pleased. Took 4 with the VT, from 120-300 yards. Missed a few due to me not doing the job. My range finder crapped out, so that tossed in a variable to.

The swift shot well too. Several taken at 450-500. I like the 55 grain VMAX more than the 50. Hits harder

This was a nice shake out tour in our rented hertz Ford Transit 2500. We put a platform in it and our mattress, as well as an ac unit. Kinda a conservative take on a hippie van!

Next stop is old Rhinebeck Aerodromes and then the beach in CT.

Next week we head for Oklahoma and prairie dogs

Photos to follow when I have my computer.

Snert

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Safe travels, stay between the ditches.

 

[17VLD]

Awesome Snert,the more you shoot the VarTarg the more you will like it.
Dad took my brother and I to Rhinebeck many times when we were little,not sure I appreciated it as much as I should have.For some reason though when I’m on the flight simulator I always seem to wind up flying the Sopwith Pup

 

[Gary in MD]

Sounds like an awesome trip, keep us posted! Pics too!

 

[snert]

Will do. OT, but Rhinebeck was the first date for me and the now Mrs.Snert. I had a buddy who was one of the airshow pilots. He would take me up as his bomb dropper in the melodrama show on Sunday's. Dropping fake bombs at a plywood clad VW Thing on the grass runway to save Trudy Trulove from the grips of the black Baron was a hoot. Never hit it, but it was fun anyhow.

 

[snert]

UPDATE:

Teaser....

Hunted groundhogs in CNY two days. Day one was slow, but it was very rewarding because I spent about 6 hours with a good friend who I only see a couple times a year. We took 9 total. Most shots were between 350 and 475. My Swift really woke up with 55 gr VMAX. Blooded the VT with some shorter shots. A bald eagle ate most of that groundhog before moving on and the turkey vultures arrived, leaving nothing but a string of gut. Kinda reminded me of politicians...

Yesterday was windy. 12-25 mph winds but beautiful weather. I shot alone, and Mrs. Snert did some spotting for me. I shot from 230 to 730 pm. I'll reveal the total confirmed taken in a later post when I can get photos up. It was an outrageously successful day. The VT owns everything under 250 yards and the Swift went on out to 350 ish. Wind was tough on the 34 grain Dogtown bullet in the VT. But WOW does it do a number on chuck heads!

I'll try to post photos later from my laptop. We are off to the airshow, then the beach. Loving the " hippie mobile" van life.

 

[Gary in MD]

More info on your Swift please
Powder used? Velocities if you have run over the chrono? I definitely agree that the 55 hits harder than the 50, more carnage on varmints larger than prairie dogs.
Gary

 

[Bill K]

Have a safe and fun trip. Looking forward to the upcoming photos.

 

[JSH]

Sounds like your doing good buddy!
I think those big HP’s get caught up in the wind………..I shot some in a cross wind with the 20VT, seemed pretty erratic. Buddy has them screaming out of a long barrel 20P, not as bad but my 17Remington with 25 grain Vmax had way less issues in the wind.

Look forward to more of your trip.

 

[snert]

UPDATE:
Well, let's see how this goes.

Day 1 of CNY groundhog hunt looked a bit like this:



The view from a groundhog perspective:

 

[snert]

This is my Swift: An Arisaka, heavily modified in the 1950's, re-barreled last year by Hart Rifle Barrels, wearing a Leupold 6.5-20. 26 inches, 12 twist, 40 gr. H380 and 55 Vmax. Shots this day went to 475.

 

[snert]

The first groundhog to fall to the Vartarg at 180 yards was promptly eaten by a visiting bald eagle, who left the remains for the local vultures who swooped in like frat boys to a keg. When I looked later the only thing left was a string of gut. Reminded me of a taxpayer at during a session of congress.



My BAT SV 20 VT in McM, wearing a 6-18 Leupold VX2 on McFadden Tripod. 34 gr Dogtown in LC brass at 3750 fps with AA2200


This is me (front) and my friend of over 25 years, brother in Jesus, and neophyte groundhog blaster, Brett.

 

[snert]

Here are results at the pointy end: Note that the 34 gr DT really opens up on a groundhog pup. Several "snertings" were reported!

 

[snert]

On the second day (shooting from the white rolled bales) several fields were in view and all shooting was from 100-330 yards. Winds were strong at times, so the swift took all the long shots, the VT at 200 and under. Photos are of closer hits with the VT. I cleaned off one field where multiple groundhogs were taken within feet of each other. At the conclusion of this tome, I will post a photo of total taken. But here are a couple more documentary photos:



The above photo includes my first double ever.

And this one needs a dentist for sure...

 

[snert]

I hesitate to even put this photo out because I am sure skeptics will call Bullpoop, but it happened, and Mrs. Snert was there to witness. All "confirmed" were either confirmed by seeing the bullet hit, hearing the loud PLOOP" combined with the "never saw that one again" observation, or seeing a tail wiggle, a leg kick or a n observed body. The closer ones were picked up. The longer ones were left.

On one other occasion in the past, myself and two other shooters combined over 8 hours on one farm, shooting from one place and took 26.

On this day, from 230PM to 730 PM I shot from one place and each time I had a confirmed kill I hit the button on the clicker. I also had 3 additional "maybe's" that I did not record because though the shot felt good (Swift) the recoil took away the "for certain" and there was not a promising PLOOP, and grass kept me from seeing any motion of a tail wiggle etc.

Here is what the clicker said at the end of the night:

 

[snert]

Off topic a bit, but I should comment that this is the first week of a month long vacation. We rented a Hertz Transit 2500 with unlimited miles, built a hasty platform in the back, tossed in our mattress, loaded on a stand-up AC unit, our gear and headed to NY and to CT. We will head to Ohio, Oklahoma, Colorado before we return to NY for Groundhog Part 2 in late July. Here are a couple OT photos of the gracious and lovely Mrs. Snert and yours truly at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck NY, and at Hammonasset beach in CT. We had our first date 37 years ago at the airshow where I back-seated with a buddy who was a pilot there in the mid 1980's. I went on to marry that beautiful gal pictured and we returned this week to celebrate 35 years married. I done good. She is the best.

 

[snert]

And finally, you know you have been having fun when your groundhog ammo looks like this...



So, after two days of shooting, we left NY 33 groundhogs fewer than when we arrived. Life is good.

I will post again when I have footage from the PD fields out west. Now, off to refill my ammo boxes!

 

[snert]

I might also add that I had the pleasure of meeting forum member Jelenko @jelenko in NY. We had PM'd and he was kind enough to provide some boxed unobtainium to me at a terrific price. Though our meeting was brief, I was moved that he would drive a half hour to meet me after the airshow. A public THANK YOU to Frank, who is a gentleman.

My Lil' Snert will certainly benefit because she can now load the 500 168 MK I had ready for her to practice with.

 

[jelenko]

I might also add that I had the pleasure of meeting forum member Jelenko @jelenko in NY. We had PM'd and he was kind enough to provide some boxed unobtainium to me at a terrific price. Though our meeting was brief, I was moved that he would drive a half hour to meet me after the airshow. A public THANK YOU to Frank, who is a gentleman.

My Lil' Snert will certainly benefit because she can now load the 500 168 MK I had ready for her to practice with.

Snert - It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife. I'm glad those things will be put to good use!

 

[JSH]

Quite the adventure for sure. I would be lying if I said I am a little jealous, am a lot jealous;-).

I have met several folks from this board and others over the years. Visits usually were brief. One of my closest friends was met on a board 25 years ago. We hit it off from day one and spoke weekly to daily depending on time of year. Only took us 14 years to meet face to face.

Looks like a grand time. I am interested in your travel set up and details.
Be safe in your travels.