Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 17hmr, 17wsm, 223, 222, 204 ???

Now that deer and elk season is almost behind me in Oregon except for specialty tags. I start thinking 🤔 with joy about shooting sage rats “Belding Squirrels” in Late April. I have a few favorites calibers above that are always seeing field time. I’m curious what others are using as their Faithful Go 2 Dog Slappers in other states. Anyone still a lover of the 222 Rem as I am?

I am a long-time hunter/shooter and only started shooting prairie dogs two years ago. I started with what I had, a .222, .221 Fireball, and a .22 magnum. Have since added a .17 HMR, .17 Hornet and a .204, all of them with heavy varmit barrels. The .17 Hornet is probably my favorite with the .17 HMR and .204 close seconds. My wife doesn't hunt but she does enjoy shooting prairie dogs. The .17 HMR is her gun.

Beaver10: I shot Ground Squirrels a "lot" last year. I am adding up the calibers and did them in with at least 5 different rimfire calibers (17 Mach2, 17 HMR, 17 WSM, 22 L.R. and 22 Magnum) along with at least 12 different centerfire calibers (from 17 Fireball, 17 Hornet and 17 Remington on up through 220 Swift and 243 Winchester!).
Sadly I did NOT choose to use any of my 222 Remington Rifles this year - but I did use one of my 221 Remington Fireball Rifles, some of my 223 Remingtons and one of my 222 Remington Magnum Varminters!
As far as "faithfuls" (or favorites?) I would go with the 17 Mach2 in the rimfire category and the 17 Remington Fireball in the centerfire category.
The 17 Hornet I shot some Gophers with this year was not mine but that of a visiting friend from Iowa.
It was a Ruger 77/17 Hornet in the Varmint/Target configuration - that indeed was a Ground Squirrel killing machine with its Weaver 4 to 16 power variable scope on it!
I hope to have my own Ruger 77/17 Hornet "online" by spring.
Yeah I am looking forward to this coming years Ground Squirrel season!
Somebody has been "Hunting" Ground Squirrels in my back yard, as of yesterday - it was a Badger (I am sure!) that dug up a hibernating Ground Squirrel and made a mess of fresh dirt on top of the snow there.
I haven't seen much Badger activity of late (I am not sure if they hibernate or not?) but its been VERY warm the last two days and this "enlarged" Ground Squirrel hole is proof pretty positive that a Badger has been "Hunting" them.
Come on spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Boltgunjim: I to just LOVE the 204 Ruger caliber for Colony Varmint Hunting!
A few years ago I bought another 204 Ruger Rifle specifically for Hunting Ground Squirrels with on the ranches where I can use centerfire Rifles.
It is a Remington XR-100 in the aforementioned 204 Ruger caliber - it is all factory stock and I have a Weaver V-16 (4 to 16 power) variable on it with the fine crosshairs and fine dot reticle.
Ground Squirrels are difficult to laser rangefind but I have shot them and then walked out to their bodies and lasered back to my shooting platform and I have indeed killed some of these diminutive Varmints out just past 300 yards!
By the way I use the 32 grain Sierra Blitz-King bullets in this Rifle and that bullet (at that speed!) just explodes Ground Squirrels.
I have also used my 204's on Prairie Dogs, and thats impressive as well.
Long live the 204 Ruger.
You and your wife have a great Prairie Dog season next year.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The Deuce is my favorite...but on windy long range days nothing beats the .204 with 40 grainers!

P/dogs in my parts.......

17M2

20 Vartarg

20-222

20 Practical

223 AI

6BR

Boltgunjim: I too have a wife that loves to shoot any rifle without recoil. I’m trying to convince myself I need a Kimber of Oregon in 22 hornet. I guess I don’t need but want one. Thanks for sharing.

Tikkanut: Interesting calibers. I imagine you’re killing out past 600 yards with a few. I’m not familiar with the 20-222 or your 20 Practcal. Either similar to Tac 20? Curiousity killed the cat and pdogs.

Ingwe: Thruth be told, I came across my first 222 by accident. I bought a scoped Sako Vixen that was advertised as a 223. Once the Sako was delivered and scope removed I realized it was a triple deuce. Quick Google search about the round and my Love Affair started. I own 4 now. The Vixen, Remington 700 BDL Varmint Special mfg in 1987, Winchester 70 HV with a stainless fluted barrel mfg in 1997-98 and a custom build Sako with a Lilja barrel. Definitely my favorite caliber. Thanks for sharing!

Varmintguy: WOW! Super selection of dog shooter for sure. I too have a couple of 204’s. Sadly, a couple years ago I bought a new Kimber model 84M Varmint SS. It shot great 3 shot strings, then flyers galore. Changed loads and still flyers after 3 rounds. I talked to a few smith’s and consensus was a bad barrel. Recommendation, send it off to have it Cryo Froze to stabilize the metal, crazy talk to me, or have it rebarreled...I went with rebarreling. I’ve had several rifles built using Lilja barrels, all with great performance. This time around I wanted to try a local Oregon barrel maker PAC-NOR. I went with a 26” super match fluted barrel. Very happy now! Thank you for sharing your selection.

.204 Ruger. I love mine. Probably the funnest round out there to shoot.

My shooting pard lusted after one of those in a Deuce for so long....we could NOT find one...so I "Built" one for him...

He has put it to good use....247 Lazered Yards, 45 gr. TSX...

Beauty!!!!! The deer also.

20-222......222 Rem case necked down to 20 cal........easy 600 yd dog gun...23/H322

20 Practical..223 necked down to 20 cal.........600 yd +.......moly 40 V max in my 20 cals....26/H4895

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/20caliber/

Tikkanut, did some Google work last night on your calibers....20 Practical is ringing my fancy bell. What barrel length would you suggest? More research on my part and a call to PAC-NOR for a barrel price, etc. Need a winter project. Thanks!

Mine are all Pac Nor tubes.........if you do a 20 PT.....do at least 11 twist.......

dies are easy.....Redding 223 bushing dies with .227-.228" bushings.....204R Forster BR seater

my 20-222 is a 9 twist...original chamber was a 20BR.......for 55 Bergers..

A finished tube is $450 ish.....SS SM......plus set up fee....usually $150ish

I use Salvage actions..just build pre fit barrels & set em up myself...

never had a bad Pac Nor tube in nearly 20 yrs.....

20PT will exceed the 204R velocities easily......safely.......40 gr V max

barrel length ?

minimum 26".......

I don't carry mine.......so I build em 28"

Duece-20..........18# single shot Salvage.........

My 20 Practical has a Ruger Varmint Contour but is only 20 inches...

I mainly shoot 32 V Max and done... favorite bullet when you can find them..

24 grain NTX Hornady.. Lead free bullets..

you can really rocket them...

Tikkanut, 27” Barrel. All over it now with your info....PAC-NOR didn’t do me wrong on my rebarreled Kimber 84M Varmint 204 and super customer service ta-boot.