Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 223 or 22-250 prairie dog rifle question- heavy bbl needed?

I am going to do some prairie dog gunning this summer. I have never gone and dont know what i need for a rifle. Is a heavy barrel rifle needed? I have located a 223 tikka T3 Lite for a decent price but not sure if the sporter weight barrel would heat up to quickly? is a 22-250 helpful as well?

I'd definitely go with the .223. The 22-250 has quite a bit more recoil, and heats up the barrel faster than the .223. I like a heavy barrel because it's easier to steady when using shooting bags, and takes longer for the barrel to heat up.

A 50-55gr bullet in the 223 will buck the wind nicely. The 40gr bullets at faster velocities tend to have a little less recoil and let you see the prairie dogs explode clearly in the scope.
.223 ammo is also very economical compared to the 22-250.

Take a very close look at the Howa heavy barrel .223, they are deadly accurate and extremely affordable.

I agree with Sako, 223 is the way to go on P Dogs for all the reasons said. I also like a heavy barrel on mine for the steadyness of the rig. You can shoot several hundred shots in one sit if your on a good town so recoil and cost can all play in. I shoot the Barnes 36gr VG at about 3800 fps with A 26" heavy barrel. It will smoke those dogs and it's easy to shoot for long sessions.

My varmint rifle is a 20" BB AR wearing a Nikon 4x12 P223

Nearly zero recoil over a bipod and since I'm not working the bolt I stay on the trigger

55 grn VMax over a stout dose of Varget

Can't really add much to this discussion. HBs are preferable, especially if you only have one rifle to take. I have taken several rifles to use in a single session, including my old .243 Model 70 Sporter Varmint loaded with 58 grain V Max's, a couple of ARs in 223, and my Ruger 77 Hawkeye sporter, all equipped with different optics.

In a populated PD town, having a gun or two to rotate allows cooling of others, variety, and practice at multiple ranges. I've even taken larger caliber hunting rifles and handguns to rotate in for a few shots for practice.

Just something to consider if you have more than a couple of rifles. Fun stuff.

A heavy barrel does heat up slower but it also cools down slower.
Without a good bit of self discipline you can burn out a barrel on one trip. A 22-250 will reach out further than a 223 but loading for the 223 would be cheaper. After my first couple of trips, I started to take one of each. A two gun battery is the way to go. As far as bullets, go with the cheapest (non fmj) bulk bullets you can buy. I've found the difference in accuracy is pretty minor but difference between 1000 Hornadys or Core Lokts and 1000 SMKs will buy a lot of gas or powder.

Maybe put a heavy barrel varmint upper on my AR and pick up a 223 or 22-250 bolt. That way I have 2 rifles to switch from.

Now that I think about it maybe a bolt in 22-250 makes sense if I have a heavy upper in 223.

any experience with the sps varmint in 22-250? I think tikka has a varmint model in 250 as well but it's a bit more $. I suppose the t3 lite in 250 is an option but again it is a sporter barrel. Any problems with the t3 lite in 250?

If all I was going to shoot were prairie dogs, I would get not one, but several heavy barrels. If I were to shoot gophers while walking in the field, I would have several standard barrels.

Since I do both, I have both. 2 guns is not enough and I wouldn't stop short of at least 5 222 mags...

Get a 223 or another upper for your AR, and something like a 17 HMR for a secondary.

The 22-250 is too big and ridiculous for extended p-dogs pursuits. Too much muzzle blast, too much recoil, too much of everything.

Also, figure out how much ammo you think you will shoot, and bring triple that number. That way you might have enough.

A couple HB 223's, some 22Lr's like a Ruger target 10-22, ruger mkII pistols, etc... Rotate them out so you don't overheat them. A 22-250 is great for long shots on yotes when you aren't concerned about saving the pelts, but for a high population prarie dog town or sage rats, I'd pick a 223 rem hands down over the bigger 22-250.. Take tons of ammo like prarie goat said.

My dedicated prairie dog battery includes 17 HMR, 22 LR, 22 Mag, 204 Ruger, 223, 22-250, and my 243. I've picked up a 223 WSSM and a 243 WSSM, too, that I hope to work into the rotation this summer.

Depending upon what the wind is doing, I'll take a different set of rifles. Having said that, the major rifles I use are the 17 HMR, 204 Ruger and 22-250, a short, medium and long range set of rifles for any occasion.

Steve, Watch out for Shrap! If I were going to invest in PD rifles I would get a H.B. 204, a standard wt. bolt gun 223, an Anchutz 22 LR (or Hummer!) and a mystery gun (DB 12/410/20 ga, 38 spcl revolver, good air gun ect.). All scoped as follows, 12x Leupold on the 204, 8x on the 223, 2x7 rimfire on the Annie, air gun scope. Also take an extra BG 3x9 and extra mounts for the CF's and the rimfires) and a BUNCH of money for ammo! You don't need a 20x scope as when it gets past 10 AM there is too much mirage to use it. 12-14x is max. Have fun-Muddy PS take some 8x bino's and extra camera battery's and chip

just to add...I've gone thru 500 plus rounds in an afternoon on sage rats...few trips to Montana shooting p/dogs outside of Billings, went thru 400 to 500 rounds in an afternoon...

but that was due to stretching out my ammo for several days, even tho I was reloading a couple hundred rounds in the evening at my buddies place...

so the main thing is to have enough ammo... if you handload, the 223 is the most economical...

and on a trip like that I am traveling light with 5 rifles along... and each one sees action.. I set up with 3 off the hood of the 4Runner and rotate each every 15 shots, to keep the barrels from heating up too much...

Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated. I can see how this could be fun and expensive.

Any of you guys have experience with a cz527 varmint? Good bad or ugly?

Good, but the mag sticking out causes more grief than you'd expect. I'll echo these other guys...if its a dedicated PD trifle a heavy barrel ( preferably fluted)would get the nod. Also a tighter twist if you can get it..1 in 9 or so. This allows you to shoot heavier bullets if you choose, and extends your range a tad, especially in the wind.I use a lot of 68 gr. match HPBT bullets in the PD killing fields.

I hate to re-read that twice.

OK...I fixt it!

GFY

For starters on your first trip the 223 ..And then just let it snowball from there... You will figure out pretty quick what you n�e in the future...