langenc
Member
trueg50-the chuck will not eat the peas in one night. They are diurnal.
best 22LR for woodchuck?
- Thread starter trueg50
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well, an update, well he may not be nocturnal, but while I went away to my girlfriends for the night, the next day the pea plants were gone, The only trail was small depressions from hit feet, he just got on the mount, and walked along as he ate. My father and dog keep a close eye on him, so I assume he ate them some time around dusk, or before 6:00AM.
Yesterday night I had a clear perfect shot at him, be was about 40 feet from his hole, but my neighbors who live about 100 yards away (don't worry, they aren't any where near down range) had some company over, so I spared him. Tonight he will not be so lucky if he tries that again.
I checked the garden this morning and now a row of string beans is gone. However they have all been "trimmed" down so that only one inch is left, but that one inch still has leaves on it. I don't know if deer or woodchuck are to blame for this, but I do know that that woodchuck may be forced to give up his ghost soon.
I checked for velocitors at my local gunshop, but they don't carry them. Though I nearly bought a nearly perfect condition universal M1 carbine for $449. I have some Aguila SSS, but they keyhole pretty badly in my 10/22. Tonight I will try some CCI stingers, I am currently using Remington golden bullets that may be iffy for accuracy and power, not to mention reliability.
Yesterday night I had a clear perfect shot at him, be was about 40 feet from his hole, but my neighbors who live about 100 yards away (don't worry, they aren't any where near down range) had some company over, so I spared him. Tonight he will not be so lucky if he tries that again.
I checked the garden this morning and now a row of string beans is gone. However they have all been "trimmed" down so that only one inch is left, but that one inch still has leaves on it. I don't know if deer or woodchuck are to blame for this, but I do know that that woodchuck may be forced to give up his ghost soon.
I checked for velocitors at my local gunshop, but they don't carry them. Though I nearly bought a nearly perfect condition universal M1 carbine for $449. I have some Aguila SSS, but they keyhole pretty badly in my 10/22. Tonight I will try some CCI stingers, I am currently using Remington golden bullets that may be iffy for accuracy and power, not to mention reliability.
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Selfdfenz
Member
trueg50
Due to time and circumstance, the noise that comes with more power is a non-starter when you have a pest managment project like this one. Been there, done that.
I don't recall what kind of rifle you plan to use but for a 40 to 50 foot shot you might want to spend the $ for a box of CCI Subsonics.
Pluses:
They have a very consistent point of aim in several of my rifles.
They are pretty quiet compared to HV ammo. (louder than CCI Longs, much more quiet than my Hornet or 223)
The hollow point they have is about the largest I've seen and they hit with authority.
100 round box will allow for some testing and practice with plenty left over to get the job done.
If you have any kind of rifle at all you should be able to get a head shot at 40feet which will quietly and efficiently correct Mr. Groundhog's pea-eating ways very effectively. I had a similar problem myself lately and CCI Subs took care of matters. I keep a rifle setup for them now just for this kind of project.
Let us know how it turns out.
S-
Due to time and circumstance, the noise that comes with more power is a non-starter when you have a pest managment project like this one. Been there, done that.
I don't recall what kind of rifle you plan to use but for a 40 to 50 foot shot you might want to spend the $ for a box of CCI Subsonics.
Pluses:
They have a very consistent point of aim in several of my rifles.
They are pretty quiet compared to HV ammo. (louder than CCI Longs, much more quiet than my Hornet or 223)
The hollow point they have is about the largest I've seen and they hit with authority.
100 round box will allow for some testing and practice with plenty left over to get the job done.
If you have any kind of rifle at all you should be able to get a head shot at 40feet which will quietly and efficiently correct Mr. Groundhog's pea-eating ways very effectively. I had a similar problem myself lately and CCI Subs took care of matters. I keep a rifle setup for them now just for this kind of project.
Let us know how it turns out.
S-
IMHO, there is a strategy in harvesting groundhogs that works in conjunction with the .22LR selection. These are curious critters. Jays Sporting Good (a sports shop in Clare, MI) used to sell swinging, armor-plate steel, silhouette targets of groundhogs. They were life-size.
I had my Ruger 10/22 HB zeroed at 225 yards, using a 4X target-turreted scope. This rig, with Remington Thunderbolts, consistently was grouping in the 2" range at 225 yards (off the bench). I would set the steel target a few yards from the groundhogs' entrances. Then, I would insert the 10-round magazine and plink the steel silhouette 2 or 3 times. As I sat there waiting, the groundhogs almost always would start to pop out and look to see what was causing the noise.
As the groundhogs came out and stood on rear legs to look, I would take my shot. I save the most important for last. The silhouette looked real (shape). I placed it between the collective entrances and the sun. As the sun provided (I believe) some hindrance to see if the target was real, fellow groundhog, or if it was something else. When they would stand up, I would take a head-shot or neck-shot. The rationale for shooting to the head or neck was two-fold: 1) I would hit or I would miss…small target, and 2) if hit, it would be fatal because all tissue therein is vital, period. A body-shot may or may not be fatal. I never had to make 2 shots on these groundhogs. All dropped where they stood.
I usually either sat at the picnic table, under a tree and behind the grapevine. This way, sitting and waiting for hours on end was comfortable. Sometimes I would stalk closer, 150 to 175 yards, and wait. Having the target turrets, and a cheat-sheet for the trajectory really helped. In closing, the Thunderbolts worked incredibly well, provinding complete penetration each and every time, and rendering "instant results".
I had my Ruger 10/22 HB zeroed at 225 yards, using a 4X target-turreted scope. This rig, with Remington Thunderbolts, consistently was grouping in the 2" range at 225 yards (off the bench). I would set the steel target a few yards from the groundhogs' entrances. Then, I would insert the 10-round magazine and plink the steel silhouette 2 or 3 times. As I sat there waiting, the groundhogs almost always would start to pop out and look to see what was causing the noise.
As the groundhogs came out and stood on rear legs to look, I would take my shot. I save the most important for last. The silhouette looked real (shape). I placed it between the collective entrances and the sun. As the sun provided (I believe) some hindrance to see if the target was real, fellow groundhog, or if it was something else. When they would stand up, I would take a head-shot or neck-shot. The rationale for shooting to the head or neck was two-fold: 1) I would hit or I would miss…small target, and 2) if hit, it would be fatal because all tissue therein is vital, period. A body-shot may or may not be fatal. I never had to make 2 shots on these groundhogs. All dropped where they stood.
I usually either sat at the picnic table, under a tree and behind the grapevine. This way, sitting and waiting for hours on end was comfortable. Sometimes I would stalk closer, 150 to 175 yards, and wait. Having the target turrets, and a cheat-sheet for the trajectory really helped. In closing, the Thunderbolts worked incredibly well, provinding complete penetration each and every time, and rendering "instant results".
good Idea.
currently, what I do is since with iron sights, left, right is very easy, while elevation is difficult, I aim for his head while he is on all fours and side ways to me, that way it is 1) if I hit him it is in the head and he is a goner instantly. 2) a miss is a miss and he is unharmed. 3) I do feel a little guilty shooting him, so I consider it more "sporting" if I take a shot at him when he is in the garden and he is positioned the way I previously stated.
currently, what I do is since with iron sights, left, right is very easy, while elevation is difficult, I aim for his head while he is on all fours and side ways to me, that way it is 1) if I hit him it is in the head and he is a goner instantly. 2) a miss is a miss and he is unharmed. 3) I do feel a little guilty shooting him, so I consider it more "sporting" if I take a shot at him when he is in the garden and he is positioned the way I previously stated.
Bottom Gun
Member
Winchester Power Points are the best .22 HP's I have used. They are a true 40 grain HP which chronograph at 1280. They have a very large cavity and expand well. They hit hard and are also quite accurate.
MarineTech
Member
Well, there are certainly enough suggestions for a woodchuck..... But what about for an Overly Dramatic Gopher
I'm sorry... Couldn't help myself. Had to be done.
I'm sorry... Couldn't help myself. Had to be done.
Ohhh man, that is too funny, MarineTech!!
Well the woodchuck has been dealt with.. though not by me.
I was watching him last night, near my garden, which half of is surrounded by tall weeds followed by a stone wall. I walk away and come back 15 minutes later, and there is a coyote standing right where the woodchuck was. I think he got him, considering the woodchuck was about 30 feet from his hole at the time. I wanted to take a shot at the coyote, but this was the first time I had seen one so I was worried it was a neighbor hood dog on the loose (although I have never seen a dog like this before). I grabbed my dads S&W .357 but by the time I got it and looked out side it was gone.
The animal was about 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall, bushy tail, and was a tan ish with pointy ears and a long jaw. Does this sound like a coyote or a red fox?
hmmm, maybe I should change this to "bes 22lr for coyote"? actually I would never use that for a coyote, so no worries.
Well the woodchuck has been dealt with.. though not by me.
I was watching him last night, near my garden, which half of is surrounded by tall weeds followed by a stone wall. I walk away and come back 15 minutes later, and there is a coyote standing right where the woodchuck was. I think he got him, considering the woodchuck was about 30 feet from his hole at the time. I wanted to take a shot at the coyote, but this was the first time I had seen one so I was worried it was a neighbor hood dog on the loose (although I have never seen a dog like this before). I grabbed my dads S&W .357 but by the time I got it and looked out side it was gone.
The animal was about 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall, bushy tail, and was a tan ish with pointy ears and a long jaw. Does this sound like a coyote or a red fox?
hmmm, maybe I should change this to "bes 22lr for coyote"? actually I would never use that for a coyote, so no worries.
grafsk8er
Member
i remember when i was younger, i used to watch my grandpa take woodchucks out to 100 yards and a some with a 22lr. they were all headshots, and he dropped them right there. but he is a pretty accomplished marksman as he was expert in every category of guns in the air force.
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I've never killed a woodchuck. And with that in mind the most effective killing round I've ever used in a .22LR is the good old 40 gr Winchester power point.
A friend once killed a whole herd of 30+ LB wild piglets with these out of a M-97T Marlin all body shots all killed quite quickly.
I've been told the 40gr Win Power point was designed to kill larger varmints in Australia. I don't know if that is true or not but they are good hunting bullets.
A friend once killed a whole herd of 30+ LB wild piglets with these out of a M-97T Marlin all body shots all killed quite quickly.
I've been told the 40gr Win Power point was designed to kill larger varmints in Australia. I don't know if that is true or not but they are good hunting bullets.
twoblink
Member
Chucky's are tough.. so 75yards get to the point where it might get tough for anything but a headshot.
.17HMR?
Otherwise, a bolt action like a 77/22..
.17HMR?
Otherwise, a bolt action like a 77/22..
22-rimfire
Member
Put a 4x scope on your rifle, sight it in, and a whole new world will open up to you with regard to effectively killing groundhogs with head shots at moderate ranges.
outdoorfan
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No doubt the Velocitor is the way to go. It carries way more energy downrange than any of the 31 grain "high-speed" stuff (Stingers, Quickshock, etc.). I've chronoed Stingers and Velocitors at 100 yards. They are the same velocity at that distance, except that one is 40 grains and the other is 31. Velocitor=bigger hammer. WW power point is a good choice also. I was going to mention the SSS for pure penetration capabilities, but unfortunately they keyhole in some guns. (Sounds like yours does that).
Good luck!
Good luck!
well, I am sort of siding with the SSS just for that reason outdoorfan. It's keyholing is so violent that I am thinking that it will do more damage than my remmy golden bullets. I shot red squirrels with the HP and SSS and the SSS do much more impressive damage. instead of a clean .22 in, ~.30-40 out, they just hit almost straight in, and exit violently sideways and have caused 100% instant kills on the red squirrels versus about 50% with the HP's. Has anyone tried the Aquila interceptors? they sound like lots of fun as well!
Still waiting for him to come out, I have a feeling it will be very soon.
Still waiting for him to come out, I have a feeling it will be very soon.
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