Noob Groundhog Hunting Hardware

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wrs840

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I'm researching on getting my first setup for practicing-up at groundhog slaying.

I'm thinking a Savage 12 FV in 223 would be good:

http://www.savagearms.com/12fv.htm

I live in farm-country in hilly western NC, so shots over 200 yards probably won't come up often. That, along with the fact that I don't handload, make the 223 seem possibly more logical for my circumstances than 22-250, plus I understand the 223 is considerably easier on the ears.

I already have a Redfield 3x-9x 40mm scope I could put on it that I hope may be OK for starts.

Your thoughts/criticisms/suggestions would be very helpful to me. Please give some guidance to a greenhorn.

Les
 
No I haven't, but I'm open to suggestions.

I also talked to my neighbor again this morning who shoots groundhogs and found that I heard backwards on the 223 being "easier on the ears". He keeps a 22-250 in his pasture truck, and says the 223 has a crack to it that grates on him like a .357 report, and the 223 is about the only rifle he shoots that make him wish he had earplugs in.

And I have another friend that is a 22-250 fan for groundhog shooting, so I was leaning that way now. But like I said, this is new to me. Why would a 204 Ruger be "better" for a 50 year old like me who will probably never hit a groundhog at 300 yards even if I was using naplam.

Thanks,
Les
 
Can't imagine a better rig for your situation..
Wear ear protection whenever possible!
I wish I would have worn it more.
 
and the 223 is about the only rifle he shoots that make him wish he had earplugs in.
Click to expand...

Interesting that he has enough sensitivity left to pick up the report, if he's spent his groundhog hunting time "wishing" instead of "having" he ear plugs in.

I don't mean any disrespect to the man, at all, but if he refuses to wear hearing protection while groundhog hunting then he's an ignorant moron.

Meaning no disrespect, you understand! ;)

I've known old shooters like that who think that wearing hearing protection while putting in an afternoon blasting at 'hogs is for sissies. "You get used to the noise," they'll say.

Try an explain about cumulative hearing damage and how it's just moronic to waste your body's non-renewable resources (like hearing) just to avoid the incredibly small inconvenience of putting in plugs -- and all they'll say is, "HUH?" "WHAT?" "SPEAK UP!"

-Sam
 
The .223 for groundhogs is more than enough, and good for some longer shots. I started out with a Ruger 10/22 and a Marlin .22 Magnum for groundhogs 8 or so years ago, killed more with the .22 Magnum than any other rifle I own. The 10/22 was for those days I felt like sneaking up on the groundhogs for some close quarter shots.

I used to love to sneak up on them, try and see just how close I could get. Might have to do that some this summer, haven't tried it in a while.
 
Nothing at all wrong with the .223, but I have a .17 fireball and I am pretty sure that it is my favorite.

Evan
 
Even the part about choosing .223 over .22-250?
Click to expand...
Yes Sir..
At ranges of <300yds. .22- 250 offers zero advantage over.223 on g-hog size game!
A huge advantage (for most) with .223/.204 class rounds,is seeing impact through the scope.Hard to do with a modest weight rifle in .22-250,.220 Swift etc.!
 
223's a good choice. There's plenty of good varmint cartridges / calibers to pick from. But the light recoil and overall accuracy / trajectory of 223 are ideal out to 250yrds IMO. You'll burn lot's more powder than needed in 22-250 shooting that short. And the Savage 12 FV is a great choice no matter what you pick.
 
The 223 will be a great cartridge for groundhogs under 200 yards. There is no need to go with anything more. There is a good selection of factory varmint loads available for the 223.
Rifle and scope sound good too.
 
223 works great:)

i have both cal's and the only thing 22-250 has over 223 is a little range, a lot of noise, and a really cool way of making them explode when hit.:what:

my 22-250 is heavy so i have it zeroed at 400 yd and use it when i want to sit in the corner of the 100 acre feild and shoot.

if i want to hunt around i use the lighter 223 zeroed at 200 yd.

good reasons to get both.:evil:
 
I have a 12FV in .223, it is an accurate rifle right out of the box.
As a ground hog gun it will excell, the .223 caliber is only a handicap if you are on the prairie making those longer shots but at sane distances out to 450 yds the .223 will hold its own to the 22-250 even with factory ammo. Hornady offers the 40 gr VMAX loadings, Winchester has some 40 gr FBHP at 3700 fps. either will "red mist" Chuckies head.

Standing off at 200 yds even if you miss the first shot you can see your own miss in that Redfeild 3X9 and be able to correct for the next shot, you can't do that with the 22-250. (too much recoil).

You will have made a good choice if you decide to go for the 12FV .223!
 
The 223 is just about perfect for your intended purposes. Cost being a consideration absent handloading. For a light handy walk around rifle I think it would be hard to beat a CZ 527. I have 5 CZ rifles...my latest, a CZ 527 22 Hornet, is pictured below. It appears to be about an inch longer than my (2) CZ 452's. For 200 yards or less the Hornet would be fine on groundhogs but anything bigger might result in too many runoffs.
 

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Thank you for all the replies

Well since first posted I bought a .17 HMR in a Savage 93R17 heavy barrel stainless with Laminated stock: this one: http://www.savagearms.com/93r17BTVS.htm

So... I'm rethinking my needs and considering adding a .243 instead of the .223 so I could also legally kill a deer with it in NC if the situation arose: potentially this one: http://www.savagearms.com/16fhsak.htm A local dealer has one of these he said he'd take $525 for, which seems really cheap, comparing it to internet pricing: ...so, I'd then have a little varmint gun and a big varmint (coyote/maybe deer/some longer groundhog shots) gun.

Does this logic make sense? Any downside to a .243 for my purposes? Any downside to a muzzle brake? (I understand it's designed to soften recoil but may make the gun report seem louder from where the shooter stands?) YES I'll be wearing earplugs...

Thanks again, sorry so many questions...

Regards,
Les
 
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I'm partial to the .22-250, shot many a whistle pig with them, awesome round...can't really say anymore!
The .223 is also a good g-hog buster, I really don't think your going to go wrong with either one of these choices.

If you want the ultimate bada$$ .22 caliber, then get the .22-250, if not try on the .223 or the .204 Ruger, I bet you can't tell a spit of difference between the three at the distances you say you'll be shooting.

BTW... how do you cook your whistle pigs? They are really very good if fixed right! ;)
I would stick to the Savages if you can!
 
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Hey... just about ANY higher speed cartridge will suffice for whistle pigs. And the only reason you might even consider 'high speed' being a necessary thing is for ease of aim!

It doesn't take much to turn off a ground hog.

The .243 will vaporize a ground hog given the right bullet.

You can also load different and go deer hunting!
 
if you're willing to move slightly away from factory stock...and the Savage is perfect for this...you might think about something chambered in .260 or 6.5x55mm.

it is a better all-around round than the .243 (especially as distance gets further) and is good to go for everything up to the big bears...and for that i'd want a .375 H&H Mag anyway
 
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