Author Topic: Prairie Dog Shooting Rifles (Read 1851 times)

clyde72 · « **on:** December 06, 2004, 09:37:34 PM »

I am planning on going on a prairie dog shoot this coming June.

I am currenlty in the process of purchasing rifles for this.

I have a CZ 527 Varmint in .204 Ruger almost paid for (Thank God for my FLL's Layaway plan :wink: ) It will be getting a Swift 6-18 x 44 scope (already have it )

I'm thinking about a Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless in .223 Remington
and a Savage 112BVSS in .25-06 for the longer range shots.

Anyone have any beter suggestions? and why? and/or scope recomendations for the T3 or Savage?

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2004, 01:39:00 AM »

Perfect. Yours is a great setup.

josebd · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2004, 02:19:30 AM »

i have a remington 700 .223,savage 12fv .223,have shot prairie dogs out to 400 yards+,bullets ranging from 50 vmax to 60 vmax.

DWARREN123 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2004, 03:39:31 AM »

For 223 the CZ Varmint with Kevlar stock and a Bushnell Elite 4200 scope in whatever configuation you like.

Iowegan · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2004, 05:15:52 AM »

Don't forget the 22-250. Probably the best dog gun ever built. I take a 223 Rem in a Rem 700 and a 22-250 in a Win 70 when I go doggin'. I try to limit my rate of fire by having two guns available. When one gets hot, I'll pick up the other. I like to do a good bore cleaning every 20~30 rounds. That helps accuracy a lot.

Seems every time I go doggin', the wind is blowing. That will challenge the light bullets, especially in the 204. The 22-250 with 60 grainers seem to do pretty well as would the heavier 25-'06 bullets.

anweis · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2004, 09:10:15 AM »

All that expense for killing some animals that you will not eat?

Questor · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2004, 10:20:38 AM »

anweis:

Consider it to be similar to trapping a rat in your house. Most of us don't eat trapped rats, mice, flies, roaches, or other vermin. It is no different to the rancher who regards prairie dogs as pests that damage their range land. The poisons applied to control prairie dogs kill far more of them than shooting can.

josebd · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2004, 10:39:35 AM »

ahmen!!!! JUST GOT THROUGH SHOOTING ONE AT 370 YARDS,15 - 20 MPH RIGHT TO LEFT WIND.REMINGTON 700 BDL .223,55 VMAX,BLC2. STILL TORE HIM UP GOOD!

KN · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2004, 11:52:17 AM »

Your thinking is pretty good. My set ups are, 700VS Rem-22/250, Encore Hvy barrel-22/250, Contender Carbine-223, Contender Carbine-17HMR, Savage 110 tactical-25/06. if I cant hit them with any of these then I don't need to be shooting at them. KN

james · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2004, 12:15:10 PM »

I haven't shot a lot of p-dogs but my favorite is a Rem BDL. 223 with a 4 x 12 scope on it. It is the only rifle I have that I can watch the bullet impact the target. Even a 22-250 with the scope cranked up to 18 power has just enough recoil that I lose the sight picture. I like to use the .223 so I can watch the terminal effect of the bullet. Of course if the wind is blowing hard I may not see anything but a little dust so I go to a heavier caliber on windy days. I like your selection of rifles.
james

Vern Humphrey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2004, 01:07:55 PM »

Where are you located, James?

I live about 10 miles south of Mountain View.

Most of my varmit hunting is crows and coyotes -- and I use a .22 Hornet for that.

clyde72 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2004, 06:29:05 PM »

:-)
First of all thanks to all for replying!!

Quote from: Questor

anweis:

Consider it to be similar to trapping a rat in your house. Most of us don't eat trapped rats, mice, flies, roaches, or other vermin. It is no different to the rancher who regards prairie dogs as pests that damage their range land. The poisons applied to control prairie dogs kill far more of them than shooting can.

Ditto, prairie dogs are considered a pest just like rats or mice to these farmers (and the states) who allow us to shoot them. If the hunters do not control the population of these prairie dog towns they will have no choice but to poison them. What I have read says you cannot shoot out a prairie dog town but you can poison it out.

Also as to the expense the rifles and scopes are just the start you should plan on at 300 - 500 rounds of ammo per day (according to what I have read). A hunt is usually about $200 to $300 per day for the guide and his shooting benches and rights to hunt on the ranches.

However all experts seem to agree there is no better way to hoorne your rifle shooting skills than shooting prairie dogs. A prairie dog is about the same size as a 20 oz. coke bottle. Shooting that at 300 plus yards is a challenge to anyone I would think.

And of course according to people I know who have done it. Its a lot of fun! :grin:

I choose the CZ 527 in .204 ruger over the .22-250 after reading many reviews of this amazing new cartridge and seeing the field test of it on the Out Door Channel (shooting prairie dogs in Casper, WY). Like the .223 you can see the results of your shot in the scope. Very little recoil and it is very flat shooting.

Again thanks for the replys

RonO777 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2004, 06:29:28 PM »

Im going this spring before it gets to hot. The rifles Im going to take are a NEF 223, Weatherby Vanguard 22-250 and a Remington 600 in 243. We will also have a 17 an a 22lr.
Im still thinking about loading up some 90 grain tnt hp's for my 270 barrel for my NEF just to try out. I normally dont take more than 4 shots before I switch rilfes. The only one that has a bull barrel is the 223 and the sporter barrels heat up really quick.

Ron

Questor · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2004, 12:38:58 AM »

Ron077:

If the 90 grain bullets are too light for good grouping in your rifle, try the Hornady Vmax 110 grain bullets. They have worked well for me.

james · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2004, 06:43:24 AM »

Vern Humphrey
I hang my hat in Jonesboro, AR at the moment. I'll send you a pm so we won't take up this space jawing.
James

Vern Humphrey · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2004, 08:29:31 AM »

James -- got it. A reply is going to your home email address.

By the way, came out of the house this morning and there was a flock of 22 turkeys just across the drive -- about 50 feet from the front steps.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 09, 2004, 06:53:54 PM »

Somebody made a statement about the ethics of killing an animal you don't eat. Normally I agree. Watched a show the other night about some guy who hired a bunch of people to tree a mountain lion in Idaho so he could shoot it from 25 feet. Thought to myself that there was little harm letting the cat live and a lot of arrogance killing it. The camera shot of the live cat was a whole lot more interesting than looking at the dead cat as the hired help carried it out of the woods.

On the other hand this morning I had breakfast with my cousin who is a rancher in the West. For him prairie dogs are a real problem. Dangerous to horses and riders alike. Not much good for stock. He told me that he really appreciated folks hunting prairie dogs on his ranch. He was pleased with the work of one of his nephews who recently shot 54 in about 3 hours.

He pointed out that as a result of humans overkilling predators (mostly through the use of pesticides), humans have created a situation where praire dog populations just explode if not kept in some semblence of check by hunters.

Course, my cousin is just an old cowboy, but he sure knows his ecology.

jmartinson · « **Reply #17 on:** December 09, 2004, 07:41:54 PM »

Quote from: josebd

i have a remington 700 .223,savage 12fv .223,have shot prairie dogs out to 400 yards+,bullets ranging from 50 vmax to 60 vmax.

what model of 700 is that? is a stock ADL accuracte enough to take pd's that far out? academy has em for $338 right now, which is the cheapest 223 (short of a NEF handi rifle) i've been able to find.

i'm not having much luck finding used rifles anywhere.

thanks,
jacob

josebd · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2004, 01:28:16 AM »

its a bdl varmint barrel,with a 18power scope. looking for a good used one? make offer!

Broken-arrow · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2004, 01:45:26 AM »

Take your deer rifle and loads too. While your varmint rig is cooling off take a few shots to get familiar with it. If you can hit a prairie dog at 300yds with your '06,or what-ever, a deer should be easy :grin:

jmartinson · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2004, 08:20:45 AM »

Quote from: josebd

its a bdl varmint barrel,with a 18power scope. looking for a good used one? make offer!

What kind of scope is it? Would you consider selling the rifle without the scope? Where in TX are you?

I looked on Remington's sight and didn't see a BDL w/varmint barrel offered in their current lineup. What model is it?

Thanks!

-Jacob

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 10, 2004, 10:28:31 AM »

Quote

What I have read says you cannot shoot out a prairie dog town but you can poison it out.

Offering to shoot PDs also offers a safer choice for the predators. The farmers gotta be careful when using poisons. Remember, you poison a predator's possible food chain, you can poison the predators too (hawks, eagles, coyotes, owls and what have you). Thats how one can possibly get into deep you-know-what with Wildlife Dpts. and environmentalists. Patriot

Buckfever · « **Reply #22 on:** December 10, 2004, 03:14:13 PM »

A elderly cowboy who lives WY. said that Prairie Dogs carry ticks, lice, the Plague and provide great places for Rattle snakes. He said they have more now than any other time he has been hunting their. By the way he takes a folding chair, ammo, gun, and yes an old ironing board and "goes where they live." Thought that he was very colorful, 82 years old! He uses a new 17hmr, use to use a 223. He says it works further than he can currently see!! What a character!! Buckfever

goose7856 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2004, 01:01:51 PM »

JW, and i will show my ignorance on this topic (dont know much about PD hunting), but why do you need more than one gun.....??

If you cant kill it with a .204, then you probably shouldnt be shooting at it.....a PD is pretty small creature, it sounds like a 90 or 100 grain bullet would be a little overkill.....why not shoot 50 grain bullets out of a .204 or .220 swift??

I would think the latter 2 choices would allow more long range shooting than a .223, simply based on bullet weight and velocity......??

Thanx, sry if I am totally wrong??!!

josebd · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2004, 03:34:05 PM »

because the barrel can heat up real quick shooting them,especially if its a big town!!

tominboise · « **Reply #25 on:** December 11, 2004, 06:38:51 PM »

Yup, my current battery is a 10/22 for close up, a Rem 700 .221 Fireball (40 gr vmax) for medium, a Weatherby SVM .223 (50 gr vmax) for medium-long, and a Tikka .22-250 ( 55 gr b tip) for long. I might even throw in my .240 Wby with 75 gr Vmax for really long.

Gotta cycle thru the rifles to save on barrel heat..............
:wink:

clyde72 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:07:16 PM »

Quote

JW, and i will show my ignorance on this topic (dont know much about PD hunting), but why do you need more than one gun.....??

If you cant kill it with a .204, then you probably shouldnt be shooting at it.....a PD is pretty small creature, it sounds like a 90 or 100 grain bullet would be a little overkill.....why not shoot 50 grain bullets out of a .204 or .220 swift??

When you shoot as much as you do on a prairie dog hunt (500 rounds a day is not uncommon) your rifle barrel will heat up. Since you will more that likely be paying $200 to $300 per day to shoot, you can twiddle your thumbs and count your lost cash or take 2 or 3 rifles. Shoot one while the other(s) cool. Then you don't burn up your barrel.

The .204 V-max Hornday bullet is only made in 32 grain and 40 grain. Berger I think makes a 50 grain but it is quite a bit more expensive and I like the V-max.

The .220 swift is a great varmint gun (and the first to break 4000 fps), but is known to be a big barrel burner under normal use. (That's what I've been told anyway correct me if I'm wrong)

A heavier bullet (planning on 90 grains for my .25-06) is a little more resistant to wind on the longer shots. Varmint Hunters Association has a 500 yd, 1000 yd, 1500 yd, and 2000 yd. club hope to get into at least the 500 yd club :grin:

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 12, 2004, 10:36:00 PM »

Quote

...but is known to be a big barrel burner under normal use.

It depends on what one would call "normal" use. Sure, as I always say, if you shoot and shoot and shoot that speeder for extended periods, yes it is a barrel burner. BUT, if you take good care of it, clean it so often if it's a busy day, let the barrel cool, it is no more a Barrel Burner than a 30-06. BB problems come mostly from people who are quite disregarding of their gun's limits, so to speak. Just like a car engine overheats when overworked....welllll? Would you let it cool, to prevent irreversible (and costly) damage, or get to where YOU want to first, and settle with what happens later (heh heh, if you get there!)? Smart choice if you let it cool, and I commend whoever chooses that answer. Secondly, don't let it overheat in the first place!!! That is the best and only remedy out there. So show the same for your guns; DON'T overwork 'em! Having a gun battery is best way to go when there are many 'dogs out there and you want your money's worth out of the day.

Patriot

P.S.

Quote

Varmint Hunters Association has a 500 yd, 1000 yd, 1500 yd, and 2000 yd. club hope to get into at least the 500 yd club

Gosh, that sure is a long way. I'll bet it would be fun trying to shoot at 2000yds... Are you sure of that figure? Sure seems to be a loooooong shot, and I don't quite know the sane reason of having a target at that range. :?

clyde72 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 13, 2004, 06:16:41 PM »

Quote

Quote:
Varmint Hunters Association has a 500 yd, 1000 yd, 1500 yd, and 2000 yd. club hope to get into at least the 500 yd club

Gosh, that sure is a long way. I'll bet it would be fun trying to shoot at 2000yds... Are you sure of that figure? Sure seems to be a loooooong shot, and I don't quite know the sane reason of having a target at that range.

Well yes believe it or not. here is the link to apply for membership into the club:
http://www.varminthunter.org/downrange.shtml

The quarterly magazine list many 500 yd members and several 1000 yd. members as you might guess the 1500 and 2000 yd names are few.