dbHunterNY Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 so i hunt woodchucks off my dad's farm to keep the field damage to a minimum. shots can be far, but getting within 200 yards or so is definitely feasible. some fields have houses close enough that i've been thinking about the sound of my .223 Rem carrying and being a somewhat of nuisance. what quieter alternative caliber would you choose to smack woodchucks out to 200+ yards? i don't mean to make things challenging so much as being productive. i don't hand load ammo. 204 Ruger, 22 swift, 22 hornet, 17hmr, 17 hornet, 22lr, 22 WMR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Buy a can for the 223. I have no idea what the laws are in your state but if they are now legal here after getting the permit, surely they are legal in any other state besides cali. Load them light, subsonic if you can and still hit 200 yards, and a can and shoot that thing out of your window. All of those rounds are going to put off a decent report, unless you do the 22lr subsonic. Im sure with enough range time you could hit out to 200 yards with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 If its out in the country where fields are 200 yards and rifles are allowed, then the .223 should not be too much of a nuisance and would not expect complaints, suppose you could ask next door neighbors if it bothers them? Dunno that the lighter rounds would be so great at 200, any wind and you are gonna have issues. Would probably stick with the .223 if it were me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Y'all are going backwards, anytime you have an excuse to get a new rifle, you need a new rifle! Tuff decision Dan, lots of good calibers for the job, take a good look at the availability and cost of ammo for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoobee Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I agree also, that the 223 is ideal for this application. Another option is trapping with baiting, but then you need to buy a bunch of traps, which originally would cost less than the rifle, but if you already have the rifle then you already made the purchase. The best bait is normally bacon. Critters cant resist it either, just like us. Although we like ours fried, they like theirs sushi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Some of the rounds are going to be a problem to find, just like the old 17 Rem like my buddy has. I've read the 17 hornet is one wicked round too, but again, may have problems finding a good round for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Buy a can for the 223. I have no idea what the laws are in your state but if they are now legal here after getting the permit, surely they are legal in any other state besides cali. Load them light, subsonic if you can and still hit 200 yards, and a can and shoot that thing out of your window. All of those rounds are going to put off a decent report, unless you do the 22lr subsonic. Im sure with enough range time you could hit out to 200 yards with it. don't have the means to handload otherwise i would. also i only wish cans/silencers were legal. i'd register it and go so far as to call the warden to let them know when and where i'm using it. unfortunately NY would think i'm a bad guy if i used a can. sure would make the country side a little more peaceful. Y'all are going backwards, anytime you have an excuse to get a new rifle, you need a new rifle! Tuff decision Dan, lots of good calibers for the job, take a good look at the availability and cost of ammo for sure. darn straight! i think 22lr, 22wmr, and 17 hmr are your most available rounds... as of right now the 17 hmr is pretty high on the list. 22lr just doesn't have enough i think at that distance unless it's head shots only. I agree also, that the 223 is ideal for this application. Another option is trapping with baiting, but then you need to buy a bunch of traps, which originally would cost less than the rifle, but if you already have the rifle then you already made the purchase. The best bait is normally bacon. Critters cant resist it either, just like us. Although we like ours fried, they like theirs sushi. i'd be a lot more work and a lot of bacon and traps. primarily the issue is that i can't get back frequent enough to check them. if i put the trap out, i can't rely on others to check them either. don't like the possibility of an animal starving to death or simply from being out in the heat and elements, even if it is a woodchuck. If its out in the country where fields are 200 yards and rifles are allowed, then the .223 should not be too much of a nuisance and would not expect complaints, suppose you could ask next door neighbors if it bothers them? Dunno that the lighter rounds would be so great at 200, any wind and you are gonna have issues. Would probably stick with the .223 if it were me. yea one new neighbor expressed some concern. legally my position and where my bullets go are far enough away that he doesn't have say, but i still want to be respectful. if i know there are better feasible options out there i'll do it to keep the peace. basically my 223 is ideal... for me. if i can see a chuck's portrait sticking out of the hole within 300 yards or so it better hope i'm out of bullets. without doing more research i'm still positive some other alternatives given are significantly quieter than my 223. a high pitched crack doesn't carry as much as a lower frequency boom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 What about the .300 whisper or .300 AAC Blackout? They are suppsoed to be quieter rounds and good for loger ranges from what I have read and heard. An excuse to buy a new AR or a new upper at least. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 What about the .300 whisper or .300 AAC Blackout? They are suppsoed to be quieter rounds and good for loger ranges from what I have read and heard. An excuse to buy a new AR or a new upper at least. Archerjg I thought about those two, good rounds but setup and ammo is gonna be costly. I always wanted one though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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