What armament for prairie dogs?
- Thread starter jamesdmock
- Start date
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
When I used go on a long-distance varmint trip - I agonized over what to take. Seemed easy to justify the "need" to bring about 8 rifles ranging from rimfire to 6 BR. But even today - not much has really changed. The .223 is still great- despite the advent of, say, the .20 Practical or .22 Nosler and the use of calibers such as the 6BR over the .243 or .22/250. Personally - I REALLY like these newer calibers as they truly are better in most regards but you would have just as much fun with your old gear.
long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
High velocity and low recoil. 204 ruger is my pick. I ran 22-250, 243 and 223 for years. I finally saw the light about the twenties. Now, the 204 is my primary, 22-250 is second chair now.
I was pretty lucky in that I traveled ND and SD as an archery/firearms sales rep in the 80's/90's. Would plan my sales trips so that I would be near prime PD country 3 or 4 times each spring/summer. The most fun was right at the snow was leaving and the PD's would be walking out over the snow to get to any green grass where they would fill their bellies. When they were waddling back across that snow is when things took a horrific turn, LOL. THE bullets of that day for making pure gore were the Hornady SX and the Sierra Blitz in the .223 Rem. Out to 250yds, they would make a spray on the snow that most decent folks don't talk about in public. The bulk bullets from Win or Rem were plenty good enough to 300yds in the 22/250 or the Swift and they would hold together at high velocity en route to the target. Otherwise, I would use the Speer 53gr hollow point. It was as aerodynamic as a 4x8 sheet of plywood, but it would do some real ugly things to dogs out to 300yds. The sound of the impact of that bullet was memorable...WHOP!!!
Before I whipped out the big iron early in the year, I'd shoot up a couple of bricks of CCI Mini-Mag HP's on each trip in a Rem 513 target rifle with a 10X Weaver. That was reliable out to 100yds (it was a 1.5MOA setup or a bit better) and many were taken down out to 150yds if it wasn't real windy. You really had to square them solidly at much beyond 100yds or they'd run off wounded. Wounding critters just isn't my bag, so I was mighty selective about shots. The PD's were almost tame just as the snow was leaving the ground because they hadn't been shot at for several months. Sooo...definitely take a 22LR.
Before I whipped out the big iron early in the year, I'd shoot up a couple of bricks of CCI Mini-Mag HP's on each trip in a Rem 513 target rifle with a 10X Weaver. That was reliable out to 100yds (it was a 1.5MOA setup or a bit better) and many were taken down out to 150yds if it wasn't real windy. You really had to square them solidly at much beyond 100yds or they'd run off wounded. Wounding critters just isn't my bag, so I was mighty selective about shots. The PD's were almost tame just as the snow was leaving the ground because they hadn't been shot at for several months. Sooo...definitely take a 22LR.
Pics or it didn't happen, lol
DogBuster
Silver $$ Contributor
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Last time I went I took my 223a. And I was shooting the 50 tnt at 3850 and it was perfect in every way. Longest kills were 525 yards. I had three at that range and shot maybe 20 at 450ish.
Next trip I'm going to take my 6bra.
And my 243... but it's not done yet.
Next trip I'm going to take my 6bra.
And my 243... but it's not done yet.
Started long ago with a Remington 788 in .243 in Wyoming. We thought the bigger calibers was the way to go to fight the wind. Fast forward 40 + years and it's pretty much the .204's in 2 different chamberings.
2 20 Practicals , Savage FV Actions, Rifle Basix Triggers, Bell Carlson Stocks, Shilen select match grade barrels.
1 204 Cooper Phoenix .
1 204 Savage LRPV.
1 .223 Savage 10 LE2A , Choate Stock
1 243 Remington Varmint Special , Choat Ultimate Stock, Rock Creek Barrel 8.5/1.
The .223 and .243 doesn't get out much anymore.
The 20's are all 12 twist , we shoot the 32 grn V/ZMax's. They fight the wind pretty dang good. Speed KILLS !!!
2 20 Practicals , Savage FV Actions, Rifle Basix Triggers, Bell Carlson Stocks, Shilen select match grade barrels.
1 204 Cooper Phoenix .
1 204 Savage LRPV.
1 .223 Savage 10 LE2A , Choate Stock
1 243 Remington Varmint Special , Choat Ultimate Stock, Rock Creek Barrel 8.5/1.
The .223 and .243 doesn't get out much anymore.
The 20's are all 12 twist , we shoot the 32 grn V/ZMax's. They fight the wind pretty dang good. Speed KILLS !!!
Rich Lee
rich lee
All of my dog guns are savage target actions , two with Jim Hart barrels and the wifes 22-250 has a douglas barrel and with timney drop in triggers for the savageand custom stocks . My main prarie dog gun is a 6br with a 1 and 14 twist that I shoot 55 grain nosler varmagedon in and I was shooting the plastic tipped bullets but this summer am going to be shooting varmagedon hollow points in 55 grain. I also have a .222 with a 1 and 14 twist Hart barrel that likes 40 grain nosler varmagedon pills.I use Reloader 7 in the .222 , varget in the 22-250 and 8208xbr in the 6br.I did have a .223 and another 6br but gave those guns to two of my grandsons as well as enough equipment to get each one of them started reloading. My wife has two twin grandsons thet I am going to teach to reload and shoot. I have promised my two prarie dog guns to them when Im through with them. They are 8 and almost 9 and have told them when they are 10 grandma and papa will take them dog hunting and I will let them make some shots. They already help papa deprime brass as well as their 7 year old sister. I believe every kid should learn gun safty and learn how to reload.Just me.I don't know why anyone takes anything else!
Several outings for my partner and I last few years.
Only one to N/S Dakota.
This year a new to me 6mm Remington 700, 223 ar that goes every time, rem 700 20 practical i havent shot yet.
Almost forgot the 243 wssm stepchildren, 1 bolt, 1 dtech upper.
Anyone used a 6.5?
Will a 95 vmax splat at 2750 fps? Maybe try it on some apples first.
Only one to N/S Dakota.
This year a new to me 6mm Remington 700, 223 ar that goes every time, rem 700 20 practical i havent shot yet.
Almost forgot the 243 wssm stepchildren, 1 bolt, 1 dtech upper.
Anyone used a 6.5?
Will a 95 vmax splat at 2750 fps? Maybe try it on some apples first.
20 cal guy here....40 gr V max.......223 AI also w/53 gr V max
pic....Vartarg.....so pleasant to shoot
Is this a Savage 10 FPLE2A in .223 that you have rebarreled ? Shank size ? If it is I have the same rifle that has been very good to me. Thinking about a rebarrel on mine.
20 cal guy here....40 gr V max.......223 AI also w/53 gr V max
pic....Vartarg.....so pleasant to shoot
DogBuster
Silver $$ Contributor
This is an older Accue trigger solid bottom s/shot..small shank
Original barrel chamber was 204R.....Pac Nor mfg.....sent it back in 2007
had it rechambered to 20 VT...its 12 twist...sweet cartridge....H322 & 40 V's (sometimes 32's)
pic.....Vartarg on the hay wagon.......
Original barrel chamber was 204R.....Pac Nor mfg.....sent it back in 2007
had it rechambered to 20 VT...its 12 twist...sweet cartridge....H322 & 40 V's (sometimes 32's)
pic.....Vartarg on the hay wagon.......
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
What armament for prairie dogs?
50 BMG! Close is close enough at ANY distance.
Use to pop ground squirrels with a Savage 110 V in .223. Out to say 300 + yards? A REAL FUN shooter.
No more places to shoot now.
50 BMG! Close is close enough at ANY distance.
Use to pop ground squirrels with a Savage 110 V in .223. Out to say 300 + yards? A REAL FUN shooter.
No more places to shoot now.
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