Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help me decide my groundhog gun!

So I admit, I overthink things. I have been trying to figure out what groundhog gun to get. I am in central Pa, so long shots (400+) are definately an option. I want quiet, fast enough to shoot at least 350 yards, but low enough recoil to spot my shots. A silencer may be an option. I am thinking suppressed 204 ruger, maybe 17 hornet,... I also considered a 20 vartarg, but seems like limited budget options. I can prob swing 800 right now without the glass. So seems like if I want a silencer it leaves me with very little for the rifle. I want something that won't hurt your ears if you take a quick shot without taking time to put in your earplugs. I know, bad idea but sometimes you don't have time. I wish the 17 fireballs were not so expensive, or wish there was an easy and economical way to build one...

.204

Watch for a Remington 700 or Model 7 in a .17 Remington or .17 Fireball to come up for sale. They actually come up quite often and are usually reasonably priced- I've seen them in the $500-$700 range several times... or you could always pick up a Remington ADL or Ruger in .223 ... should easily fit into your budget if you are patient on shopping, but by time you add in threading the muzzle for suppressor and the cost of the suppressor and tax stamp, you're crowding yourself pretty tight with your budget requirements.... and you haven' t included the cost of a scope yet...

Bob

Went to an auction this week that had a 17 rem, believe it went for 1300

When I shot chucks in Pa. and West Va.. I used rifles from the .22. Lr up to my .300... My favorite was a heavy barreled 700 in .22-250.. Or a good Swift!!

Another vote for .204

For what you described, there are multiple options, but if it were me, 204 Ruger.

It must not get windy in PA. Oh the life it must be...

^^^^^ This would be my choice too ^^^^^

I have a Ruger M77 Mk II VT .204 Ruger on consignment sale at my LGS. Very low shot count, in excellent condition. PM if interested, I can get you in touch with them.

30 years ago lived in NE PA, about 15 miles south of Jim Borden's shop. One of the guys in our fire company had Jim build him a custom .300 Win Mag for ground hogs.

A

And again........ .204

As Poobs said. Either the 204 or a .233 and stuff it with 55 grain NBTs at about 3200

204 with a 39 grain Blitzking.

I would not overlook the mild manners and pinpoint accuracy of the 222 Rem on varmints. Easy on bores, hard on groundhogs.

I have shot alot of prairie dogs, way over 350yds with a .204 with satisfaction. However, I felt the 204 on coyotes was a bit "light in the britches". I've shot Rock Chucks ( Marmots) out to 250 very readily. But 400yds is a ways out there and for big groundhogs ( I've killed some big marmots) I'm thinking you will wound alot with a fringe hit from the 204. If you want to reach way on out there, I suggest a fast twist 22-250 and the excellent 68gr Hornady OTM on up. A 22-250 Ackley will be a sweety, or a heavy 220 Swift, or even 6mm Remington. Have fun though!

Things must be different where you are than they are here in NY where I shoot chucks. I often use a .22-250 or .243 with my brother as spotter and vice versa. Even with those, very often you can't see the bullet strike. Sometimes if the ground is extraordinarily dry and the hay has just been mowed you can but if the grass is a little longer and the ground a little damp not too often.

I posted this on the other thread - just my opinion and experience.


I am partial to the 223 Rem., I have had three 204's and never found that it did anything special over the 223.
I have never shot a groundhog but I have sent a lot of their Western cousins rockchucks to the big pasture in the sky. using the 223 with 40 gr Nosler ballistic tips.

The 204 with 40 gr bullets @ 3750 fps and the 223 @ 3750 fps will have the same recoil since they both use virtually the same amount of powder to achieve 3750 fps, any difference in recoil between the two is a figment of imagination.Either cartridge with 40 gr bullets will allow you to see hits from 100 yds and out, if you aren't seeing hits using either of these then your gun handling technique needs work.

204 -
Using a one inch high zero @ 200 yards the 204 with 40 gr bullets will be +0.3 inch @ 200 yds, minus 4.7 @ 300 yds, minus 15.3 @ 400 yds.
204 with 40 gr bullets 10 mph wind drift @ 100 yds 1.0 inch, 200 yds will be 4.2 inches, @ 300 yds 10.1 inches, 400 yds will be19.3 inches.
Energy @ 100 yds - 965.7 ft bs, 200 yds 734.2 ft lbs, 300 yds 550.9 ft lbs, 400 yds 405.6 ft lbs.

223 -
Using a one inch high zero @ 200 yds the 223 with 40 gr bullets will be + 0.2 inch, minus 5.0 inch @ 300 yds, minus 16.3 inch @ 400 yds.
223 with 40 gr bullets 10 mph crosswind @ 100 yds will be 1.1 inch drift, @ 200 yds 4.6 inch drift, @ 300 yds 11.1 inch drift, @ 400yds 21.4 inch drift.
Energy@ 100 yds - 945.1 ft lbs, 200 yds 701.6 ft lbs, 300 yds 512,4 ft lbs, 400 yds 365.6 ft lbs

As you can see their is not enough difference to sneeze at between them as far as drop, drift and energy.

The 223 has a wider variety of bullets, a wider selection and more availability of brass but both cartridges will do the job, the 204 will have less barrel life if that is a concern since you are burning the same amount of powder through a smaller hole, although I doubt that will be a factor in shooting groundhogs unlilke where it comes into play when doing high volume shooting like PD's and ground squirrels.

Find a rifle that suits you in either chambering and go forth and slay critters.

drover

By spot your shots are you talking see your bullet hit the chuck or spot your misses so you can correct your hold ?

6BR without a doubt