So I found some private land to hunt p dogs but I saving to buy a scope. So will 22 lr work on prarie dogs. I know it works on other furry critters just wasn't sure how tough p dogs are ?
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So I found some private land to hunt p dogs but I saving to buy a scope. So will 22 lr work on prarie dogs. I know it works on other furry critters just wasn't sure how tough p dogs are ?
Never had any problem whacking them with 22.
High center mass hits often result in back flips.
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The only issue with 22, is availability. What kind of scope you looking for? i have a container full.
I've killed hundreds, if not over a thousand prairie dogs with a ruger 10/22. You don't get the explosions, the rolls, the flying limbs etc. but well placed shots drop them where they stand/crouch. Gut shots get a resounding THWAAAPP! But they usually make it back to their hole in that case unless you hit the spine. Then it is fun to watch them crawl back in front wheel drive as you finish them off.
I was thinking of a vortex viper 6x24x50. But what do you have ? Sounds like maybe I will go whack so dogs soon then.
.22 and .17HMR is all I've hunted p-dogs with.
;), make the drive, kazoo sell you lots of stuff you didn't know you needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2XS
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Where I go I can only use .22 or .17. For the past year I've used nothing but .22 sub sonics through my suppressor. I regularly get them out to about 250yds, but honestly they only drop where they stand about 50% of the time. Where I go I am keeping them off of a specific piece of property for the owner so we're not totally concerned about blowing them to smithereens. Not a big deal if they go back into the hole and bleed out.
22 just limits your range but if it is private land that is not shot much it shouldn't matter.
Longest Pdog I've dropped with a 22 LR was at about 150 yards. That was the exception. Most times it had to be under 100 yards and a head shot with HP 22 LR ammo. However, if you can get your hands on some Remington Viper ammo, I've flipped many a Pdog and bunny right out of their holes! At average cotton tail distances, (25-75 yards), the 22 LR works very well, albeit boring.
Now, if you can use 17 HMR, you'll notice longer ranges, and nice bleed outs from quarter sized exit wounds. I blew up a cotton tail once with a 17 HMR at about 75 yards, and even got my first jack rabbit with a 17 HMR headshot at 150 yards. Dropped right where he stood.
Worse part of all rimfire rounds are how easily they are affected by the wind. Big time. Yes, I've seen a friend hit a Pdog with a 17 HMR at 206 yards in 10+ MPH winds, but that too was the exception, not the norm.
That being said, the 22 LR is fun to shoot, doesn't scare the Pdogs as much as centerfire calibers, affording you more follow up shots, and I too, still love the "Thwapp" upon impact!
[Bunny]
I've got a cheap Guide Gear 6.5-20x50 you can have while you're saving up for a real scope, if you take me hunting with you ;)
22lr is boring but it will kill them. If you want to up the fun factor and range, there are several hot rod .17 caliber center fires that will put a smile on your face, especially when they are suppressed. I run a .17 Fireball, .17 Rem., and a .17/204 although the .17/204 doesn't get much action because I don't want to cut into it's life as a coyote killin' machine. But, the .17 Fireball is a running a 20 gr. V-max at about 4000fps, the .17 Rem is running a 25 gr. hp at about 4000 fps, and the .17/204 runs a 30 gr. hp at about 4000fps. That'll leave a mark...I used to have a .17 hmr, but even it got boring once I rounded up the little bullet spittin' center fires.
I can't wait to take out my 17 Hornet.
17 HMR is the king of rimfires. Jump up to centerfire and nothing makes varmints go BOOM at 100 yards like 223.
much to learn grasshopper. Have you witnessed what a .243 running 55 gr b-tips at about 4000 fps does? Several calibers perform much much better than the lowly .223. 22-250, 220 swift. Heck, even the .204 does everything that a .223 can do on prairie dogs.
Actually, I've shot them with 7.62x39, 5.56, .308, 30-06, and 22-250. At longer distances I agree that the bigger calibers are a better choice, but at 100 yards, the 223 blows em up just fine, and for much cheaper, thank you very much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRnCO
I like my 204 better than the 223.
I like my 22-250 better than 223 too, but not at closer ranges. I mean seriously, the photos speak for themselves. How much more can I blow them up? Well, I guess I could try a 50 cal. @100 yards, but we digress...
[sorry]
Quote:
Originally Posted by newracer
50 cal.... Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckaroobonsai
Or we could try to aim that golf ball cannon :D
Put that rabbit head picture back up.
I usually shoot my 17 HMR out to about 200 then take out the 204. The one thing I do like better about the 223 is it is an AR so follow up shot are a lot quicker.
Some 204 carnage, all closer to 200 than 100 yards.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7758.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7757.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7756.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7749.jpg
Flattened this one out like a bear rug.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7750.jpg
My boys shooting their 17 HMRs
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...0/IMG_7755.jpg
I didn't want another flood of PM's telling me they're not in season, despite my disclaimer...
[Coffee]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Should we post the gummy bears? [LOL]Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckaroobonsai
Actually, the 50 bmg will not blow them up more than any of the many smaller calibers when using bullets designed for rapid expansion/fragmentation for the simple reason that the bullet from the 50 bmg is unable to transfer it's energy into such a small/soft target. I know, because I've done it. But to say that a .223 hits harder than a 22-250 when both are using bullets designed for rapid expansion/fragmentation is silly since the 22-250 is carrying more speed hence it is simply carrying more energy. One tends to believe that the larger calibers will blow them up even more so, BUT once you get over a 6mm/.243 caliber, there are no longer bullets designed for rapid expansion/fragmentation. Instead the larger caliber bullets are designed for deep penetration and controlled expansion, and when they hit a small soft target they simply don't expend their energy quickly enough to compare to the bullets that are designed for the job. I had the pleasure to shoot with a guy that owned and operated a gun shop. When he came he brought an arsenal with him including about everything from the .17h2 to the 50 bmg with other calibers such as 6mmppc and 338 edge. The 6mmppc was probably the one caliber that was most impressive of them all, as far as given aerials. But in the end, the 50 bmg did deliver one aerial that was above and beyond all I've ever witnessed, but it wasn't because of the hit on the target, but instead the shot hit low into the mound and launched the prairie dog all of 15', some thought it was higher than that. Killed it dead without even breaking the skin on it. Over time, I've learned that shooting high volume is much more fun with the tiny .17 calibers, especially with them suppressed. Flat shooting, low recoil, quiet, and not burning up my powder supply. After a day of firing a few hundreds rounds, I'm ready for more.
Huh? I never said the 223 hits harder than the 22-250. I'm saying the 223 blows em up just fine at 100 yards that you don't need to go any bigger unless you really wanted to. No arms, no legs, no head. You know, blown up.
I say use whatever the hell makes you happy and gets the job done. Then there is no right or wrong answer. That being said, I'm done hijacking this poor guys thread.
[Beer]