Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Prairie dog 223 help

A few more notes:

The main reason I like lighter-recoiling rifles for shooting PD�s is I can watch where my bullets hit through the scope, rather than depending on a spotter. A spotter isn�t usually nearly as good as doing it yourself, because (1) they�re usually using binoculars without as much magnification as the rifle�s scope, and (2) they�re not directly behind the bullet�s flight, like the shooter. Both result in less accurate spotting of the bullet�s impact. Plus, what they call �six inches right� may not be what you think is six inches right.

The .223 has several advantages as the primary PD round, including adequate ballistics for typical ranges, plus plenty of brass and bullets. But I prefer the .204 Ruger because with 40-grain bullets it shoots a little flatter and drifts less in the wind than the .223, due to the higher BC of .204 40�s (especially the V-Max, my favorite, though any of the plastic-tipped 40�s are good). And when the wind�s not blowing very hard, 32-grain bullets shoot flatter and provide more �lift� to the dogs they hit. I�ve owned four .204�s now and all have shot 32�s and 40�s to the same place at 100 yards, so the two bullets can be used interchangeably in different conditions.

As for smaller rounds, the .17 Fireball is also great out to 300-350 on calmer days, and the .17 HMR is a great PD round for starting on a town, since the report is so mild it doesn�t spook nearby dogs like a centerfire. But it ain�t much use on towns that have been recently shot already.

That�s where a small centerfire like the .17 or .22 Hornet works great. I�ve used both and really like the .17 Hornet these days, but the .22 Hornet with plastic-tipped 40�s is about as good, especially with a scope with a multi-dot reticle. My Ruger 1B gets around 3100 with 40 plastic-tips, which turns it into a 250-300 yard round on calm days�and the .22 Hornet doesn�t eat barrels like the bigger .22 centerfires. (Have tried 30-35 grain bullets at higher velocities, but they just don�t hang with the 40 plastic-tips even at 150-200 yards, whether in wind-drift, trajectory or impact on dogs.)

I also bring along a rifle chambered for a bigger round for after the dogs within 400 yards are killed or down their holes, either a bigger .224 with a 1-8 or 1-9 twist for heavier bullets, or a 6mm or 6.5mm. I can often spot my own shots even with these rifles, because they�re all much heavier than my .204, and at 500+ yards the rifle usually comes down out of recoil by the time the bullet gets there. However, even though these are more effective at longer ranges, the usual result is what some shooters call �expensive dogs,� because the hits-per-round goes down considerably except on abnormally calm days. But hitting a few way out there is often worth it�.

A +1 for the .204�you got me talked into it and it is a definite fave�I recommended the 223 for all the obvious reasons to the OP.

If hes not a hard core shooter/handloader and doesn't already have 1000 rounds of .204 loaded ( like some folks we know ) it will be easier to find and accumulate.

The wind bucking ability of a 40 grain .204 is surprising...

Yeah, especially the 40 V-Max, as I noted--and luckily I've got a pile of .204 brass (which ain't going to be turned into .22-204's). But the difference ain't enough for somebody just starting out to worry about.

One interesting thing about 6mm varmint bullets is that the lightweights such as the 55 Ballistic Tip sometimes have higher BC's than the same weight .224. This is because the 1-12 or 1-14 twist in many .224's won't stabilize a really long 55, and the 1-9 or 1-10 twist in typical 6mm's will. The 55 BT at 4000+ is a hell of a long-range PD bullet on calmer days.

Much appreciated all!

So the question remains - what would you do?

Pick up a new 204Ruger Predator to accompany the 223 American and use the 2 aforementioned Bushnell scopes (4200 4-16x40 & 3200 5-15x40) or stick with just the 223 American and buy a scope with quality turrets/reticle (thinking still SS 3-9x42)?

I don't have the budget to buy two rifles and two new scopes and compnents to load ammo (in addition to the ammo for the 6.5CM and 17hmr) for this trip.

Thanks,

David

3x9 is good!

Yeah, a good 3-9x is a lot more effective for most PD shooting than many people would believe, and the 3-9x SS on the .223 would work really well.

And after you burn out the .223 barrel you can screw on a .204....

So you would buy the new scope and only take 1 small bore centerfire?

David

Not me! Id take a schittload of small bore center fires , but you said this was a first for you and you don't have a schittload to take�so yes�the .223 would be the go to gun for me ( as it was when I started PDs�)

OK, sounds like a consensus.

Need to stock up on components and start loading while I have time...

I appreciate the help.

Thanks,

David

Have fun!

THAT's funny right there.....especially when SOME folks we know bring that much FACTORY ammo!

Nope. Borrow more rifles.

Someone you know has to have a 223 or 222 lying around,,,,

While there is a lot of wisdom given here.... I sometimes walk a different path....I prefer the 40 grainers myself... but if you can find them, the Non Lead bullets are as long as heavier bullets, but are lighter than the 40s...so they have a good long range potential...( although I would say that 80% plus of both prairie dogs and sage rats I shoot are within 200 yds or less)...

I also prefer to use faster powders.... for economy, lower barrel heat allowing you to shoot longer before having to let the barrel cool down, which also makes the barrel last longer in the long run...

About the slowest powder I prefer to use for varmints is 4198...and RL 7....

most of my varmint loads for prairie dogs or sage rats is SR 4759, my beloved Blue Dot... but H 110 and 4227 and even 2400 isn't bad...400 to 500 rounds out of a pound of powder is easier on the wallet, which just makes me able to load more bullets instead of saving any big bucks...

and the wisest things said about optics, is the better the optics, the less the eye strain on a long day of shooting...

I've had to cut days short with shooting time still available, because I had a head ache from scope squint for 5 hours, that even a hand full of aspirin or tylenol wouldn't put a dent in....

doesn't happen with good optics.....

no one mentioned a good old 22 Long Rifle either....I prefer to have one along, for those time when something pops up real close to your shooting position.. ( my shooting bench is the hood of my 4 Runner).... I have several which I love each... but a 10/22 with a 1 to 4 scope on top... or a Model 94/22 in 22 Long Rifle, with a 6 power Weaver on top...propped up against the tire or brush guard, quick to pick up and put into action...

as far as Blue Dot or SR 4759 loads... with a regular ADL Rem for instance, with a sporter barrel.....not only can I see the shots in the scope reticle...not losing sight picture... but I can shoot that one rifle all afternoon, averaging 3 or 4 shots every two minutes and it not heat up enough for me to have to let it cool... if It does, a few moments blasting away with the 22 LR, and the 223 is cooled enough to be put back in action...

and if a barrel gums up enough, I carry a Bore Snake, and a quick run thru the barrel and I am out of the pits and back on the track....

and as Ingwe said.. any varmint shooter with experience has 1000 plus rounds READY TO GO.. as any given time...

heck not even counting the 3000 rounds I have ready to go NOW.. for next season, I have 2500 Plastic Tipped 40 grainers to reload, along with 1800 or more 53 V Maxes.... 16 lbs of H 322, 20 pounds of SR 4759, 12 pounds of 4198, and 10 to 12 pounds of Blue Dot to load this winter, getting ready for next years season....

with 9 223s and 5 22.250s sitting in the gun cabinet, 5 22 LRs, 2 22Mags, and 3 17 HMRs ( with about a lowly 1000 or so rounds of ammo for that....


Its an addiction, what can I say...

I grew up in prairie dog country and started shooting them in 1949 with a 22 RF rifle. I started looking the perfect p dog rifle some years ago and have shot p dogs with 17 HM2, 17 HMR, 17 Hornet, 17 Fireball , 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22 LR RF 22 WMR RF, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift,243 Win, and a few big game rifles . I reload ammo for each of the center fire rifles. The 40 grain bullet is good for the 223 Rem but I have also used a 52 grain . Since getting a 204 Ruger rifle I have not shot the 223s very much. I like 6-18 X AO scopes on my p dog rifles. A good p dog rifle is one that will shoot sub 1/2 inch five shot 100 yard groups. In the spring when there are a lot of close in shots I use the 17 RF rifles. I then move up to the more power full 17s and 204 rifles as the dumb ones are shot off. By late fall I ll take out the 22-250, 220, and 243 rifles. The 223 Rem and 204 Ruger cartridges are fine for p dog shooting but if you come in the spring a 17 RF or 17 Hornet is handy to also have.

I have used from 22 hornet to 25/308. And always have a 223 but since to 20 cal came about. For the hand loader it is tough to beat the 20 tac as the perfict all around p dog cal. Although I would never go without a 22/250 or swift. And never leave the hornet behind. A sako 222 always makes the trip also..

Slacker..

Picked up the new American yesterday - it's a surprisingly well made solid POS! Found a 2.5-10x56 Trijicon in the back of the safe from when my primary varmint hunting was night shooting hogs. The Trijicon is top heavy and klunky on this rifle, but might not be to bad for bench shooting.

Haven't had the chance to shoot it yet, been monsoon conditions here all day. I did pick up some factory Winchester 68grn BTHP's and some American Eagle 50grn hollow points at Academy today so I'll have something to shoot in it tomorrow or Monday. Time to start accumulating brass, bullets, powder, primers, etc....

David

I've used that very scope for PD shooting, and it worked pretty darn well off a bench.

hmmm


If I can get away with using the Trijicon that may leave a hole in the budget for another rifle....

204Ruger?

David

Well, uh, YEAH! As a matter of fact I had the Trijicon on a .204....