I need a P-Dog Gun.

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Aaryq

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Howdy, folks.
I'm looking for a new prairie dog gun. I haven't decided if I want .22WMR, .17HMR. I have until spring of 2009 to buy the gun, glass, and accessories so I'll have a bit of time to save up for it (but I don't want to go completely crazy on the price either). I want to get something that I can spend some time getting a part here and there to give it a "custom" look/feel to it. I'd prefer a semi-auto but a bolt action will do.

I'm sure you'll probably have me clarify some foggy (because I typically forget stuff) so I'll try to answer them so you can help me find what I'm looking for.
 
What kind of range are you looking at for Prairie dogs? 200yds? 500yds?
 
Probably not over 200. I'm not sure what the upper limits of the .17HMR and the .22WMR are. I want to push it to the edge.
 


Why not consider a .22 Hornet, .223 Remington or a .22-250? Take up reloading and the rounds will be less expensive the the rimfires - and reach further.
​
 
Because I'll be working on a .223 as a seperate project. I want this to be a rimfire project with the 2 calibers I listed.
 
I just got back from a great p-dog hunt. We hit many towns over a 3 day period and found most shooting to be 200yds and over. Those dogs are smarter than people think and unless your the first guy to shoot a the town, after the first couple of shots everything under 200 is either dead or gone. Just some thoughts...
 
A .17HMR zeroed at 100 yards will drop 8.5 inches by the time it gets to 200. I'd say that 200 is about as far as you can take the .17. Due to crappy BCs of most 22WMR's, I'd say that the 22 is completely out of steam at 200.
 
I'm a fan of the .22-250 for this application. Of course along the bike baths here in Denver some of the Prairie Dogs are so close they'd be an easy shot w/ a handgun.

I can just imagine trying to explain why I did it to an LEO!

Have fun,
DFW1911
 
BC You're limiting the responces to 17HMR or 22WMR - This is a no brainer...unless you want to be shooting a mortar...get the .17HMR! BUT only if you must because I don't think either will do the job a .204 or.223

Ballistics Comparison:
Muzzle 50 Yards 100 Yards 150 Yards 200 Yards
.17 HMR, 17-Gr. V-Max
Velocity (fps) 2550 2212 1902 1621 1380
Energy (ft-lbs) 245 185 136 99 72
Trajectory (Inches) -1.3 0.1 0.0 -2.6 -8.0

Muzzle 50 Yards 100 Yards 150 Yards
.22 WMR, 40-Gr. Solid
Velocity (fps) 1910 1600 1330 1140
Energy (ft-lbs) 324 225 155 115
Trajectory (Inches) -1.3 .07 0.0 -5.2

ballistics data courtesy hornady
 
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.17 Hummer if shooting short-ish ranges out to 100-125 yards (without breaking the bank grab a Savage, Marlin, or CZ).

Centerfire if trying to shoot long range out to 200 yards or more (.223, .22-250, .22 hornet, .221 fireball, .218 bee, .17 rem fireball, .17 remington, .204 ruger, .222 rem). May as well do it right and grab a .204 or .22-250 if shooting long ranges.

Better yet, get one of each.
 
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I'm a fan of the .22-250 for this application. Of course along the bike baths here in Denver some of the Prairie Dogs are so close they'd be an easy shot w/ a handgun.
Click to expand...

No joke. I could probably KICK some of them. My drive to work is a two-lane road through some fields... I must have seen three dozen dead in the road over the eight mile drive.

Even if you TRY to miss them, sometimes they'll still gravitate toward your tires... These city dogs seem S_T_U_P_I_D.

I'd suggest .204 Ruger. Even at 35gr, there's something somewhat magical that occurs when that tiny bullet travels through a prairie dog at 4,000 fps.
 
if you want a cool little round, and want to stay with a 177 caliber, i would suggest the new 17 fireball, by remington. i know its not a rimfire, but a rimfire will not humanly kill a p dog out to 200 yards. they work excellent withint 75 yards though. many a coyot have been taken out to 75 and even 00 yards with a 22 rimfire. but anything past that any your dreaming.
 
So if you didn't have the choice of 22-250, .204 Ruger, .177 BB Gun, and the other calibers I didn't name but you did, and you could only choose .17HMR or .22WMR, and assuming that I'll be working at distances no greater than 125-175 yards, what would you recommend?

I want to use one of the 2 calibers I named. Not the other calibers. Let's try to keep it on track. I'm looking for help on deciding the actual gun, glass, and other aftermarket goodies.
 
I have a lot of fun dinging coffee cans @ 200 yds with a 22lr. I don't think it would do much more than annoy a p-dog. A 22WMR has a bit more personality but not enough accuracy for a clean shot.
 
my brother just got a marlin 17hmr, the stainless bull barrel carbon fiber stocked one. with a 4-12 bushnell 3200 it'll put three shots in one hole at a hundred yards. It's extremely handy and easy to shoot.
 
At 200 yards, get a centerfire. Try .22-250, .223, .243, etc. It might sometimes turn them into red mist, but better than a slow death IMO
 
With P-dogs I start with a .22 lr and move up as they move out to .22 WMR and top it off with .223.
Some guys I shoot with like the .204, but think the barrels need to last longer.
 
Because I'll be working on a .223 as a seperate project. I want this to be a rimfire project with the 2 calibers I listed.
Click to expand...

Even .223 is a mediocre dog cartridge; Past 300 yards, you need more. When you get serious about slayin' em, you'll be into .22-250 at a minimum. Lot's of us have taken to using .24 and .25 caliber to make those 500+ yard shots. My next one is a 6mm-06 improved 28" bull barrel on a Rem. 700. 70 grainers at 4000+ should be just the ticket :evil:
 
I had the same decision to make but I was more converned with closer ranges so I went with the 22WMR. From what I have found, the 22WMR is good out to about 100yds and the .17HMR out to ~150-175 so if I was looking for a rifle to fill the role you want I would go with the .17 due to its superior performance mast 100yds. I believe that is the point where the .17 takes the advantage in energy.
 
a 17 hmr, is fine out to 200 yds, if the wind is 10 mph or less. However, I would wait, and get a 5mm rimfire. it has the trajectory of the 17, but still almost 200 lbs of energy at 200 yds, plenty to whack a pdog. Now then, right now, you would have to find a used old remmy, and use the new rounds that are made for them. But CZ, savage, Taurus, T/C, and rossi have allready committed to make new rifles for them. Centurion is allready making a hotter , faster round, that is out right now. Currently it is a 30 grainer, going about 2400 fps, or slightly less.
They are working on a 32 or 35 grainer, doing 2500 fps. With it's higher b.c., it will get out to 200 yards easy, with less drift than a 17, and plenty of whacking power.

by the way, I really like the idea of the 17 fireball!!!! 4000 fps, with a 25 grain rocket, will take you out to 300 yds.
 
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