Hey all you varmint hunters

G

Gossman Knives

Edged Toolmaker
Joined
Apr 9, 2004
Messages
9,402
How many varmint hunters are here on the forum? Here in the east we hunt groundhogs or some call them woodchucks. You guys in the west have prairie dogs and rockchucks. Let's talk about favorite varmint guns, loads and longest shots. I'm big on specialty handgun hunting. I have three TC Contenders and one TC Encore. I mainly use the 223 REM in the contender and the 243WIN in the Encore. 223 load I like is a Speer 52 gr hollow point and 243 I use 55gr Nosler ballistic tip or Seirra 60 gr hollow point. The longest handgun shot I made was 390 yd head shot resting on the hood of my truck. This year I've been using an Encore rifle chambered for the 22-250 REM. What a awesome round! I use Winchester factory 45gr hollow points at 4000fps. yesterday I nailed a hog in the neck at 450 yds off a Harris bipod. That's my longest shot so far. I'd like to here what you guys like and some of the shots you've made.
 
.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire. I have not yet shot at one with it, but zeroed at 100 yards, 3 inches high, should give me 3-400 yards. Only thing, don't shoot in a windy environment, this 17 grain bullet might make a U-turn! :barf:
 
MarkCid84, I've read some interesting articles about that caliber, let me know how effective it is. TC chambers it in there Encore and Contender barrels. :D
 
Does shooting coyotes with a 385 grain JHP from my .50AE Desert Eagle count as varmint-hunting?.:D.

I did knock one down at over 100 yards a few weeks ago.:).
 
The way I look at it varmints are fair game with any firearm. I've used just about everything in my arsenal. I usually stick with varmint bullets for safety. I have shot groundhogs with a TC contender 12" handgun chambered for the 358JDJ, which is a 444marlin necked down to 35 caliber and a 180 gr. speer soft point. Needless to say they were airborne :D
 
I love shooting the 223 & 22-250. In one 223 I have it shoots 45gr V-max bullets. My other 223 likes 55gr Hor squire point. My 22-250 likes 55gr V-max or 52gr sierra HP Match. I like shooting groundhogs, cyotes, or crows. I shoot mostly paper anymore, as it seems I never see anything to shoot when I have a gun with me. If you would like more info on my loads I'm using drop me an e-mail or a PM.
Danny
 
I mostly trap them around here, but every once in awhile one of them comes out when I can get a gun. Gotten everything from coyote (not in the trap) to possum, and racoons (most common)
Shoot with whatever is handy, a great plains rifle shooting a .530 ball over 70 grains of FFg blackpowder is pretty good medecine for a racoon :D Dang things are everywhere around here getting into the trash, tearing up the garden, getting into the haymow. Most of them are sick in one way or another :grumpy:
I'm looking into a .17HMR in which case I'd probably go out to my friends farm and look for some groundhogs. It looks like a fun 100 yard cartridge.
 
Off to Gadgets & Gear. ;)
 
I am not one for hunting the little critters myself, however if long range shots is the game we're talking I do have a little input. Most of the hunting I is for wild/ferrel hogs in places where they are considered pests. The longest shot I have ever made was right over 600 yards across a pasture with my Remmington Model 700 police in .300 ultramag. I was shooting some pretty hot custom loads in 168 grain BTHP that friend had given me. The bullet went through both soulder bones at that range. It is probably the best shot I've ever made, all I can say is thank god for Night Force scopes.
 
tonyccw said:
Can't legally shoot tree rats here in NYC. So it's .22CBs.
Click to expand...

It's funny how we come up with these names for NYC animals. I take it you're taking about squirrels. I call pigeons rats-with-wings. :D
 
Another one here! Mostly coyotes, but I'm not picky. I shoot anything from a .17HMR to my 7 Mag. I like the 7mm 139gr BTSP. It knocks em down pretty good at long range. I really want to find a .25-06 and try that out.

DAN, yes that .50 does count for varminting. That fires me up!
 
Tony, My record was in 1995 where I took down just about a hundred pigeons. I took down about three with CCI CB caps with 25 percent take-downs... A lot of lost feathers, but only 3 lethal hits. On the other hand, after weighing and sorting the 22 caliber pellets, the Benjamin Sheridan had a 95 percent lethal hit rate.
The CB cap is simply not accurate enough from even a match grade rifle to consistently hit inside a 2 square inch area at thirty yards. When it does hit center mass, it is always overpowered and presents a danger beyond the target.
 
Hey Rattler, I have a Remington 700 classic in 25 06 and it's a super varmint caliber which also can double as a deer antelope rifle. I load Sierra 75 gr hollow points and IMR 4350 powder. Muzzle velocity is about 3400 FPS and if sighted in right is good out to 500 yds. It absolutely devastates a hog. I hit one behind the ear at 185 yds. and completely removed the entire opposite side of his head. Ever hear of a 25 06 labotimy? :D
 
Thats what I'm talking about! :D

I really like the 7mm, but it is a little large for Varmints. I will be looking for a nice used .25-06, but if that fails, then I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and purchase a SS Sendero.
 
Although, I haven't done any hunting in years, I believe I have the perfect rifle for this situation. My Dad gave me his Remington 700 BDL(I believe it's the second year they made them) in 6mm Remington. When I got it, he had some old Weaver 10 X scope on it, for varmint hunting. Well, if any of you have ever looked through a straight 10x scope, you know they're great for long range, but worthless for closer shots. I took the old 10x Weaver off, and now it has a 4x12 Nikon Monarch scope on it. I also put in a Timken match trigger. Ya don't wanna wear gloves when shooting this rifle now! :)Much more versatile rifle now.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
I took down about three with CCI CB caps with 25 percent take-downs... A lot of lost feathers, but only 3 lethal hits. On the other hand, after weighing and sorting the 22 caliber pellets, the Benjamin Sheridan had a 95 percent lethal hit rate.
Click to expand...
Don't use CB's for pigeons (flying rats). Have my RWS Diana 94 using Beeman Crow pellets for that. Works good on crows and sterlings too.
MelancholyMutt said:
The CB cap is simply not accurate enough from even a match grade rifle to consistently hit inside a 2 square inch area at thirty yards. When it does hit center mass, it is always overpowered and presents a danger beyond the target.
Click to expand...
Went with the CB's for the squirrels (tree rats) since all my Beeman Kodiak .25 did was to make them do the pain dance, give them a huge headache, and cause a racket that alerted my neighbors. ;)

Have had really excellent results with my Henry Arms Lever 22 and a cheap BSA 7X scope.
 
When I was a kid, we'd use homemade slingshots(bottom of a wire coat hanger bent into a U, 4 rubber bands, and a piece of leather from the tongue of a shoe) for pigeons. You all are brave to try using air rifles and .22 Shorts. Seems like a good way to end up with ESU(NYPD SWAT) knocking(with a battering ram) at your door. :eek:
 
You guys sound like the ones to ask ...

I've got a .222 rifle which I use for rabbits and foxes. Any suggestions for ammo that is a good compromise for both. I don't eat the rabbits, just want to keep the numbers under control. I'm usually shooting between 50 and 100 metres on average.
 
gajinoz,
I would try Horandy v-max in 45gr or 50gr in 222. Sierra Blitz king in 50gr would also be a good one for you to try.
Danny
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top