I can't go that far--a mild mannered, not-so-loud .22 centerfire would be handy for groundhogs without scaring the neighbors.
Does such a thing as a not-so-loud centerfire exist? .17HMR is very useful around neighbors. 30-06 does nice work on deer and elk.
I used the 17 HMR a few years ago on groundhogs and I didn't feel it had enough to get the job done. You really needed a head shot or neck shot to drop a big groundhog.
