Shaun_300 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Anyone kill any groundhogs this year? I think you call them woodchucks or gophers in the States. Was outside earlier to fill up my bird and saw one over on the side lawn about 60 yards away, have seen in a couple times this year but every time I do it runs under my snowmobile shed and I never get a chance to grab the gun. He was a little too brave tonight. It stayed on the lawn, I ran in and grabbed the 17 HMR and went out and smoked him. I tell you, if anyone is looking for a trapping gun that doesn't destroy pelts, I highly recommend the 17 HMR! I went over to see the damage and had to comb through his hair to find the bullet hole, and no exit wound.I guess a 17 grain bullet @ 2650FPS just disintegrates on impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Just dont see groundhogs here much, usually got a .22 with me most times. Normally thats all the firepower I need. Guess if I went out west for Prairie dogs Id go for a 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I shoot about a dozen a year. Up to 4 so far this year with the gun and one with the bow. I lay them out in our field for the Raptors and Vultures. Use a 22mag Rossi single shot 32gr V Max. Had one mounted a few years back because I never saw a Orange one. Now I see it all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Don't guess i have ever seen one around here. If i did would probably use the rock river with my 55 grain v max hand loads. Those work well on beaver headshots, imagine chucks not much different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Used to have a Terrier Collie mix, I sicked her on 'em, and when she either dug him out or just waited him out..... two chomps and he was going in two directions..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 My usual groundhog medicine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 12, 2016 Report Share Posted July 12, 2016 Been missing from here due to being busy. Haven't gone out as much as I'd like. Took some in spring but hay fields in the farm just recently have been mowed off to allow me to get after them. Had an issue of running out of my favorite BlackHills ammo that shoots groups the size of a US minted quarter at 200 yards. I've since got ahold of 250 more rounds and with the fields cut the count should climb if I can get out there. I'm only at 12 if you count one with dads deer rifle. All close so far. Farthest shot (last pic) was at 226 yards. Almost all have been juvenile chucks moving in from the surrounding area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted July 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 We are in the process of taking the hay off our fields now too. No more hiding from me now lol! I'm constantly looking out the window watching for them. Most of them hang out anywhere between 150 and 350 yards from my yard, that's where the .220 Swift comes in handy. It turns them poor suckers inside out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODH Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 Been missing from here due to being busy. Haven't gone out as much as I'd like. Took some in spring but hay fields in the farm just recently have been mowed off to allow me to get after them. Had an issue of running out of my favorite BlackHills ammo that shoots groups the size of a US minted quarter at 200 yards. I've since got ahold of 250 more rounds and with the fields cut the count should climb if I can get out there. I'm only at 12 if you count one with dads deer rifle. All close so far. Farthest shot (last pic) was at 226 yards. Almost all have been juvenile chucks moving in from the surrounding area. That a Savage? I had a model 12 in .22-250 awhile back. Sold it wish I hadn't. Its nothing to shoot 50 or more here in the farm fields of Ohio. Farthest shot ever was with my .22-250 at 400 steps. Once beans come up its wide open. By far though my .17 HMR is more deadly and cheaper to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 That a Savage? I had a model 12 in .22-250 awhile back. Sold it wish I hadn't. Its nothing to shoot 50 or more here in the farm fields of Ohio. Farthest shot ever was with my .22-250 at 400 steps. Once beans come up its wide open. By far though my .17 HMR is more deadly and cheaper to shoot Yea the laminated stock rifle is a Savage Model 12 chambered in 223Rem. I found it used years ago and had to have it. it's a dedicated chuck gun and paid for itself a while ago. I know I'm not at a 1000 chucks yet but it's in the hundreds. longest head shot i've made with it was somewhere close to 312 yards with the rangefinder. otherwise the farthest i've setup on one was 427 yards but here in the northeast at the foothills of the Adirondacks, it's tough to setup for a shot that far with the terrain. not flat for very long. thought about getting a 17HMR for some fields that are closer in proximity to some neighbors. 223Rem is a nice happy medium cost wise. the BlackHills ammo runs me about $0.70/rnd with tax, shipping, etc for under 1/2MOA accuracy. it'll be less than half that cost once I start reloading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 That is a sweet looking savage Dan, they are no doubt very accurate rifles. Is that a factory stock? Seems I am remembering that savage offered a stainless fluted varmint rifle with a laminated stock. it'll be less than half that cost once I start reloading. You will want to try these http://www.nosler.com/varmageddon-bullet/ . :yes: Running imr 4895 for my rock river varmint 20 inch, gun shoots better than I can, but will shoot less than 3/4 100 yard groups in my hands. Use both the tipped and hp 55 grainers with great results and accuracy. Actually had slightly better accuracy with 4198, but the rock river rifle would not cycle those loads no matter the charge I used. My dpms carbine would cycle them with 4198 fine though and would definitely be fine for a bolt rifle. Those varmageddons work nicely on beaver and yotes, hit a few crows and other vermin with them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODH Posted July 14, 2016 Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 The model 12 I had was a black synthetic instead of laminate with 28 inch SS fluted bull barrel like yours. I now have another savage in .22-250 with a little shorter barrel but its a good varmit gun. Dp, u should come out here to shoot them in Ohio it's as flat as a table top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted July 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 When I was reloading for my .220 Swift the best loads I had were the 52gr Sierra HP boat tail match, with a max load of IMR3031 or IMR4064. Don't have a chronograph but I think the estimated speed in the manual was in the 4200fps range. They absolutely vaporize groundhogs, and anything else it hits. Killed a few coyotes and a skunk in in the 150-250 yard range. I really need to get that reloader out and dust it off. Had a blast doing it and I'm getting low on loads too. Plus I'd like to play with that 7mm-08 of mine, the way that thing shoots factory loads, it will be deadly once dialed in with some hand loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 14, 2016 Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 That is a sweet looking savage Dan, they are no doubt very accurate rifles. Is that a factory stock? Seems I am remembering that savage offered a stainless fluted varmint rifle with a laminated stock. You will want to try these http://www.nosler.com/varmageddon-bullet/ . :yes: Running imr 4895 for my rock river varmint 20 inch, gun shoots better than I can, but will shoot less than 3/4 100 yard groups in my hands. Use both the tipped and hp 55 grainers with great results and accuracy. Actually had slightly better accuracy with 4198, but the rock river rifle would not cycle those loads no matter the charge I used. My dpms carbine would cycle them with 4198 fine though and would definitely be fine for a bolt rifle. Those varmageddons work nicely on beaver and yotes, hit a few crows and other vermin with them too. The model 12 I had was a black synthetic instead of laminate with 28 inch SS fluted bull barrel like yours. I now have another savage in .22-250 with a little shorter barrel but its a good varmit gun. Dp' date=' u should come out here to shoot them in Ohio it's as flat as a table top[/quote'] I'd definitely keep my options open. I've got some 53gr Vmax bullets that I got with Cabelas bucks that were on sale a while back. my twist is 1 in 9" which might be fast for the 53gr but I'm sure I could get it to work. I've got all the components. just slowly working on getting the equipment. rifle is all stock, including the laminate thumbhole, with what I think is a 26" barrel. I don't think it's full contour but definitely far on the heavy side. haven't hunted Ohio yet for anything. close enough I'd drive out though. deer season is too late for chucks to make both work unless it was an early setup and scouting trip. a lot going on now but someday. even western ny is flatter than here with much less screwy wind and thermals! spinning turrets that much to really worry would require me upgrading the scope and probably throwing on 20 degree base or mounts too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 14, 2016 Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 When I was reloading for my .220 Swift the best loads I had were the 52gr Sierra HP boat tail match' date=' with a max load of IMR3031 or IMR4064. Don't have a chronograph but I think the estimated speed in the manual was in the 4200fps range. They absolutely vaporize groundhogs, and anything else it hits. Killed a few coyotes and a skunk in in the 150-250 yard range.I really need to get that reloader out and dust it off. Had a blast doing it and I'm getting low on loads too. Plus I'd like to play with that 7mm-08 of mine, the way that thing shoots factory loads, it will be deadly once dialed in with some hand loads.[/quote']220 swift is definitely a chuck slayer I'd think. 60gr max at I'm guessing something a little over 3100fps doesn't do to bad. last chuck I hit at around 200 yards I put a baseball sized hole through the middle of it. it was a young one too so that meant it about cut it in half. I have a pic but nothing I'd post on a public forum. you've got lots of energy from that 220 going that fast. 17HMR is nice to have though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 I'd definitely keep my options open. I've got some 53gr Vmax bullets that I got with Cabelas bucks that were on sale a while back. Used a few points for components here and there. Catch components on sale from time to time too. Picked up a box of 500 of the tipped varmageddons on sale for 55.99 back in April. Picked up some 55 grain sierra blitz on sale at the same time to give a try but not loaded any of those yet. The hp varmageddons work well in my rock river, loaded probably 400 rds of them and shot a couple hundred. Killed a variety of animals with them. Have a few boxes of them and hornady 55 grain soft points left. Think i may just like the tipped even better though. IMR powders were on sale last month $4 to 5 a lb off, made for the $20 hazmat fee to be a wash plus used a $20 off 150 bucks coupon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 220 swift is definitely a chuck slayer I'd think. 60gr max at I'm guessing something a little over 3100fps doesn't do to bad. last chuck I hit at around 200 yards I put a baseball sized hole through the middle of it. it was a young one too so that meant it about cut it in half. I have a pic but nothing I'd post on a public forum. you've got lots of energy from that 220 going that fast. 17HMR is nice to have though. Yep it does a good job. I had some pics somewhere, but yeah... pretty gruesome exit wounds, and eyeballs popped out of their sockets like you'd see in a cartoon. The coyote that got it had a hole through its side the size of a cantelope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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