Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 300 yd p.d. rifle

I started shooting prairie dogs in 1949 with a 22 RF rifle. Since then I have used 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Fireball, 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 WMR, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 243 Win , and some big game rifles to shoot p dogs. But if I could have only one rifle , it would be chambered for the 204 Ruger. But I do have a CZ Varmint 17 Hornet rifle on order. Any small bore center fire rifle with a good scope that will shoot 1/2 inch five shot 100 yard groups is fun for shooting p dogs at 300 yards when one knows how to hold into the wind.

We don't get much range up this way 100 to 150 yards are a long shot but for coyotes I like my cz 527 American with a Nikon M233 scope it pull 3/4 groups at 100 yds

I have a CZ 527 American in .223 - not the varmint model - and it shoots amazingly well. It makes for a great, light walking around varmint rifle. That's why I'd like to get a Varmint model in .17 Hornet. I'd be very happy if it shot as well as that lightweight CZ.

Maybe it's age or perhaps I am capable of learning. For whatever reason I am gravitating toward smaller rounds in my dotage (61).

Several years back I bought a 700 Classic in .221 Fireball. This rifle is wonderfully accurate, easy to tote around and has plenty of thump when need arises. Not sure if it is the shootability (is that a word?) or what, but nowdays I get a bigger kick out of stuffing my pockets full of rounds and setting off on foot in search of varmints of opportunity than I do sitting at a bench, big boomer in the bags and spotting scope stuck to my eye.

I can see a .17 Hornet, probably a single shot, in my future.

Don't not look at a CZ in 22 Hornet. Mine shoots a 40 gr Vmax at north of 3200 fps and that is across two Oehler chronographs. Accurate as hell too.

Standard 223 would be fine at 300 yds I like 50 gr for the wind.
20 tac ....just shoot the fur..

That's fun ain't it

Using the 223, with a stiff charge of H 322 or H 4198, with a 53 grain V Max, I have been impressed on how flat shooting it is..

its easily a 300 to 400 yd prairie dog set up....

I had a 17 AI put together a few years ago, no problem getting to 300 on up to 400 with good results.

Last week I sited I my new CZ Mdl 527 Varmint 17 Hornet rifle w/ Leopold 4-12 X 40 MM AO scope using Hornady 20 Gr ammo. Whats not to like about a rifle that shoots sub 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards off a bench rest ? I ll be shooting five of ten boxes of Hornady ammo at prairie dogs before I start reloading ammo. I have a number of varmint rifles but this spring the 17 Hornet will be the one I use the most. In the past I have said when you come out to prairie dog country you would be well equipped with a 17 HMR and .204 Ruger varmint rifle but I may be adding the 17 Hornet. Prairie dogs get muzzle blast smart so I like low muzzle blast and recoil rifles.

+1 - you wont regret it

+2 20VT

I gotta agree with this, much wisdomo...

The .223 probably is the most logical solution for somebody who wants only one prairie dog rifle. Or two in the same chambering--which isn't a bad idea.

But that's sort of like saying the .30-06 is the most logical all-around big game cartridge for the Lower 48. But it's not the rifle loony answer, because it's too boring.

.20 Vartarg.

Tony.

I just wish we had PD's around to shoot.

So many great choices the 223 is probably one of the best out there.
If you're into reloading one of my favorites is the 19 Calhoon created by James Calhoon from Montana, 22 hornet necked down to 19 caliber. Calhoon offers a good selection including 27, 32, 36, and 40 grain bullets. The 27 grain flies about 3,600 fps and the 32 grainer about 3,300 fps, very accurate cool shooting P-dog cartridge. He does a 19/223 that's a real screamer too.

Here ya go for cheap......





Tula Steel Cases ( range pick up)
Rem 6 1/2 primers
14 Grains of Blue Dot ( 500 cases per 1 pound of powder)
Win 46 grain HP ( purchased back when, for $122.00 for 2,000....3000 fps)


Recent Dissatisfied Customers: April 8, 2014 Klamath County OR

100 Yds:





175 to 200 yards or so:





Equipment:

Model 70 Featherweight in 223, 3 x 9 Weaver
Toyota Mobile Shooting Rest...

For PD's to 300yds, either one. You can kill prairie dogs with most anything, but there's killing and then there's gutpiling, then there's explosive launching. My shooting partner killed one at 230yd with a 17M2, but it just fell over. I've shot truckloads of them with 22Mag at 50 and 75yds and they gutpile ok, but at 240yds again they just fall over. Nothing to see. The 17Ah is great at close range but not real exciting at 250 or so. I've killed more truckloads with the 221FB out to about 200 and it worked fine, but I like bigger explosions. You can blow the crap out of them with larger cased rounds like 22-250, but the gun gets hot much quicker and you need to have at least a couple backup guns if there are lots of targets.

For what you're wanting the 223 case is a good choice. Enough powder for enough velocity to make them explode at closer range, and gutpile nicely out at 300. But not so much powder as to make the gun heat up or foul real quick. In 223 I shoot 50's and some 40's......mine are 14twist and even at 223 velocity the long Sierra 55Blitzking is very accurate. With a 6/223 I'd shoot 55's-60's.....the Sierra 60HP is explosive and very acccurate and should be cheaper than the plastic tipped bullets.

Fast twist 1-10 and faster twist in a 223 barrel are used to shoot the heavy 60 and above grain bullets . The bullet drop of the heavy bullets would be more than a 53 grain V Max at 300 yards but would be better for 600 yards shots. I do not have reloading data about the 6X45 MM round . But either rifle that shoot 1/2 inch 100 yard groups are good for 300 Yd p dog shooting. If you are only going to shoot p dogs , get an accurate 204 Ruger rifle .