.22LR prairie dog platform

[FMFDevildoc]

Am I wasting my time and ammo? ha ha ha.

I am fully aprised of the ballistics and PBR of .22LR and have confirmed that realistically I can (and have) made prairie dog kills out to 150yds with light winds.

I have:
Ruger 10-22, been shooting best with CCI 40 grain
and just mounted Tasco "Silver Antler" 6x to 24x variable with mildots.

May need higher profile scope rings, at 70 clicks elevation holding at nearly bottom of vertical crosshair I can hit dog size targets at 200 yards with no or very light winds (after a shot or two to account for hold over, etc).

In closing - just looking for tips to improve this strategy while working out the "DOPE" of this new scope, possibly trying higher rings and getting used to a true reticle scope..... Just got out of the service and I am spoiled on these nice 3x / 4x ACOGS and fancy red dot and have the 'kentucky windage' to a science with a good red dot out to infinity...... sadly I sold my personal AR and Uncle Sam just wont let me take one home for some reason....

Am I the only obssessive, compulsive person out here trying to buck the system and high ammo prices by trying to turn a .22lr into a mid to long range prairie dog killer?

PS: Before my varmint shooting brethren attack; I have my eyes on a .22-250 that the tasco will go on, after I pay my bills and get caught up.

PSS: Check trading post I am selling a Polish Tantal AK74 5.45x39 with FIVE HUNDRED rounds ammo...... Cant complain about paying bills and not having toys until I sell another toy first, AK's are replacable, health care premiums are expensive and I will be able to get a .22-250 before the "Obammy is comin' lets' jack up the price crowd" anyways.

Best regards and good shooting.

PSSS: Shot three dogs' at 150-175 yard with the old 10-22 yesterday AND last time I fired the aforementioned AK I wasted two prairie dogs at 200+ yards open / iron sights with multiple witnesses..... who witnessed a mammalian explosion.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Rather than a 22-250, hows about a nice 22 magnum? That will put those pdogs down for sure.

Do a search on Mossberg 640KB "Chuckster". If you like what you learn, give me a shout. I'll give you first crack at it before I list it. Oldie but a goodie, 2 mags with it, grooved for scope and I'll toss in the old Weaver scope that sent many a chuck to Valhalla back in the Finger Lakes area of NY.

 

[stubbicatt]

No. You aren't alone. The landowner where we shoot prairie dogs has a 22 long rifle that he routinely kills them with at ranges in excess of 200 yards.

The only issue I have, personally, with the use of that round is that unlike centerfire cartridges that pretty much explode the prairie dogs, the 22 long rifle punches a hole in them, and they crawl off to die slow agonizing deaths in their burrows. It bothers me to see a critter suffer, even if it is "only" a prairie dog.

 

[mgkdrgn]

The only issue I have, personally, with the use of that round is that unlike centerfire cartridges that pretty much explode the prairie dogs, the 22 long rifle punches a hole in them, and they crawl off to die slow agonizing deaths in their burrows. It bothers me to see a critter suffer, even if it is "only" a prairie dog.

Agreed. One of the primary reasons I switched to 22Mag back in my woodchuck days. When I got a solid hit with that, they were always found right where they had been shot.

 

[krs]

FMFDevildoc,

I admire the spunk - it's the sort of thing I did when I was a lot younger and couldn't get enough of ridding the fields of the doggs

But these guys are right about the chances of just wounding the stupid things and that's not a right thing to be doing.

Have you thought about increasing your odds? I mean that if you have a regular area that you go to shoot them some sort of hide might let you get in closer. I know how cagey they can be, or that they've got some sort of radar that lets them know when to get back in their holes, but if you can fool them a little maybe using a .22lr would be even more fun for you and a cleaner end for them.

(I can almost see my dead father sitting up in his grave and saying "*** are you talking about?? Humane PRAIRIE DOG KILLING!!!??..... LOL! He'd think I'd gone to the 'fruits').

Stay upwind and good shooting!

 

[22-rimfire]

You would be far better off with a 17HMR for ranges over 100 yds on those little dogs. You would probably have more fun too. Costs more to shoot of course. The 22WMR is not quite as accurate as the 17HMR in most rifles, but it is a good choice over the 17 HMR if you shoot things larger than prarie dogs due to bullet weight. These rimfires cost more due to bullet construction primarily.

I hunted groundhogs with a 22 rifle for a year or so when I was a kid. Moved to centerfire after that. I found that the only way to kill them before they got into their dens was to head shoot them. That limited the range to about 75 yds from a practical perspective for me.

 

[krs]

He's got his eye on a 22-250 and that will be the answer. Using small bullets in that caliber is some of the most awesome fun you can have with your pants on

 

[Kernel]

I read an article a few years ago, maybe it was in Precision Shooting, about using .22 LR for PD. Said a lot of guys did it. Often taking a .22 as a second rifle to plink with while their main rifle was cooling down or to use after they'd shot up all their centerfire ammo.

I also remember them mentioning that Winchester Power Points were like the universal PD rimfire ammo. Everyone used it due to it's price (when bought in bulk, barely more expensive than the cheap promotional stuff), performance (non finicky, hollow point, copper plated, high velocity, full 40 gr bullet), and accuracy.

There are lots of ammo choices that can beat Power Points in any one of those categories. But none I know of do all three so well.

 

[Bill B.]

May need higher profile scope rings, at 70 clicks elevation holding at nearly bottom of vertical crosshair I can hit dog size targets at 200 yards with no or very light winds (after a shot or two to account for hold over, etc).

You may wish to look at Burris Signature Rings that have the inserts. This will help out on the elevation adj. as you should be pretty well out of adj. at 200 yards if you are not already out.

 

[FMFDevildoc]

I am looking at the Signature series rings possibly, to raise the scope a little.

I went and shot a few prairie dogs today, and figured out I have a few problems:

A) Ranging / using mil dots for hold over
B) **NEED** to use better ammo like CCI velocitor, etc...
C) Gail force winds in Northern New Mexico / Southern Colorado
D) Steadying scope - acquiring targets... need a bipod!

Thanks for the feedback; hopefully with the rings and practice I can get over hold over and work out the "DOPE", sadly CCI is getting pricey - many local ammo vendors are still playing the "Obama's fault" scam for price gouging... ha ha

And finally - I simply must accept the gail force winds here in northern NM and Colorado...

Any suggestions for a good bi pod that is compatible with Ruger 10-22?
Im looking around online, and looking to mount one for <60 bucks.

PS: 22-250 is about 4 months out, then I can get my tru glo red dot back on the ruger for winter rabbit; plus 22-250 will be nice for getting some winter coyote pelts..

Thanks again - 'Doc'

 

[rangerruck]

.... then limit your shots to 150 yds. and switch to the 17 mach 2 anyway...
a laser shot to 150 yds, it only drops about 4 to 5 inches, from a 100 yd zero.

 

[TomADC]

I agree with the above except I went with 17HMR, that said 17 mach HM-2 ammo is way cheaper, but my Savage 93R17 FV is a tack driver out to 150 depending on the wind. I put 25 shots back to back at 100 yds that could be covered with a quarter and I'm a old guy with poor eyesight.

 

[Dr_2_B]

pretty good shootin

 

[lefteyedom]

22lr are really great training rifles. Few things are as much fun a pushing the outer limits a cartridge. Like drive a old car quickly is more fun than driving a new faster car at the same speed.

 

[TomADC]

I also have a Savage MK II FV in 22LR only had it out once & range time was limited, I think it will shot as well as the 17 cal used in above photo.
If it has to be a 22 LR don't sell the Savage short, get the heay barrel and accu-trigger you won't be disappointed.