prairie dog rifle

[jay]

Hey guys lookin at getting a new prairie dog rifle...what are you guys using and recommend. I know alot of guys are using 22-250's but think its a bit overkill for me. I have used a Savage 22lr semi-auto for years and worked great but I think I already shot the barrel out plus bulk ammo is a little wishy washy and the wind effects your shot significantly. Maybe a 22 mag or 17 with a bull barrel???

 

[Murdy]

Don't know much about prairie dogs, but I think the new .17 wsm is kind of neat:

http://www.guns.com/2013/02/01/the-savage-b-mag-in-17-wsm/

 

[tdcour]

I shoot a .223. I custom load a 45 grain vmax on most of my rounds but sxsp bullets are pretty good as well... I think I'm somewhere around 23 grains of powder but I would have to check on it. Mine shoots flat and fast, but like all light bullets you have to fight the wind.

 

[canvsbk]

I would look at the new .17wsm like murdy said. I use a .22-250 m70 stealth 2 for the longer stuff but intend to build a 6mm rem AI in the not too distant future. When the wind really gets serious I'll usually go to a .25-06.

 

[Drhorsepower]

I shoot a lot of prairie dogs. I guess depending on where you hunt will determine what caliber you might want. We shoot long range so a flat, accurate round is a must.

My rifles consist of .220 swift,

.243(slight overkill) 58. Gr.vmax

.17 Remington

.22 hornet( for closer shots)


I would love to add a .223rem, or 222 Remington. Along with a .204 ruger.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont shoot them much because we dont have them around here. I have used my 22-250 when I have shot them. If I was looking for a prarie dog gun I would seriously consider the .204 Ruger. The .17 WSM looks pretty neat too!

 

[Drhorsepower]

Another caliber that has peaked my interest lately is the .223 wssm. That thing flat spits them out there.

 

[packmule]

For blowing through that much ammo in a sitting it would be hard to argue against .223.

 

[xtreme]

I use the 22-250 with AMax 52gr at 3717fps for everthing from skunks to coyotes. I have a 243wssm and the 55gr bullet at over 4000fps is the most fun. Hunting groundhogs in Ky. we used the 220 swift I havent had one in a long time but I did like it, so I would take a good look at the 223wssm. I just dont understand the popularity of the 223 if the 22-250 is available. Homeland Security is using your tax dollars to dry up the supply of ammo so that is a consideration at this point. I was ahead with the ammo supply so for the time being I can shoot any gun I have as much as I want.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

No you did not burn out the barrel of your .22 LR it only takes 500,000 rounds yours is just dirty. Prairie Dogs .22 LR to 100 yds .17 HMR, 175 yds, .223 Rem 500 yds+. These will cover 99% of the shots on Praire Dogs. Easy to get ammo for.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There are several things to consider. First are there many houses around? Second..what ranges are you going to shoot. Using 22LR sounds to me like its 100 yds or less. One bad thing about 22LR is the rick-o-shay (using my favorite cartoon characters name!) factor which is large with the LR. It can be dangerous especially with houses around.

I use a .17HMR that is just deadly up to 150 yards. Its quiet and safe as the bullet just explodes when it hits anything. At longer ranges I use a .220 Ackley Improved Swift. If I had just one to choose from it would be the .17 ....hand down. Fairly cheap and very accurate.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I use a 22 hornet. I'm not sure on how the costs of ammo is lately but it works great and I can reach out there a bit further without much wind issues.

 

[wolftalonID]

Weatherby Vangaurd SUB MOA model in 223. Very nice and accurate.

Oh yeah.....and quiet!

 

[packmule]

There's a new .17 Winchester super mag that's came out this year that may be worth looking at. Since it's rimfire it's bound to be fairly cheap to feed.

 

[Catahoula12]

I'm with Colorado Cowboy. When I go prairie dog hunting I always take my .17 HMR. Savage 93 w/bull barrel and accutrigger. Tack driver out to approx. 185yards maybe slighty more if wind is dead. Have a Nikon buckmaster 14x scope on as well.. Fun gun to shoot with really no problem finding Hornady V-max rounds..

 

[Eric Bailey]

Do any of you guys eat the prairie dogs you shoot, or are you just solving a problem for ranchers? Maybe I've been reading too much Steven Rinella. That guy eats everything. If you do eat them, how are you cooking them?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You have got to be kidding...right? I'll eat P Dogs when you start eating coyotes. Sorry don't mean to be a smart alec, but they are really considered a pest around these parts. They carry and spread the plague and really dig up the fields.

Besides there really isn't a lot left to even think about adding to my dinner menu

 

[Eric Bailey]

Yeah, I know they're a pest and cause many a broken leg for cattle. I'm not saying pest control is a bad reason to shoot them. I know a lot of people eat squirrels and I was wondering if the same was true of prairie dogs. I've seen pictures people posted with the bed of their pickup trucks full of dead prairie dogs. I didn't know why they would bother tossing them in the truck if they weren't going to skin them or eat them.

I'm not going to start eating coyotes anytime soon.

 

[Drhorsepower]

Yeah, I know they're a pest and cause many a broken leg for cattle. I'm not saying pest control is a bad reason to shoot them. I know a lot of people eat squirrels and I was wondering if the same was true of prairie dogs. I've seen pictures people posted with the bed of their pickup trucks full of dead prairie dogs. I didn't know why they would bother tossing them in the truck if they weren't going to skin them or eat them.

I'm not going to start eating coyotes anytime soon.

There are a few reasons to pick them up, some ranchers will pay you for each one that you kill, another is sometimes there are prairie dog shoots/roundups where you need to bring in your dogs to win the competition.

 

[Caseyu]

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