No issues with using a centerfire where I shoot them. I sniped a couple of dozen with the 17Hornet yesterday. I just park the vehicle, and sit next to it with a bipod on the rifle, and they ignore us as long as we are 150 yards or more away.
Gophers
- Thread starter SUPER TENERE
- Start date
No issues with using a centerfire where I shoot them. I sniped a couple of dozen with the 17Hornet yesterday. I just park the vehicle, and sit next to it with a bipod on the rifle, and they ignore us as long as we are 150 yards or more away.
You like the 17 hornet? Pretty devastating little gopher caliber? I'm on the fence and can't decide if I need one or not. How would you compare noise level to a 22-250 or 223? Got any 17 hornet vs gopher pics to share?
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
You guys are driving me Nucking Futs 
I gotta get out there sooner for a Western Road Trip with more clinics. My September trip to MB and AB might be too late after you gopher slayers get through!
Ha ha ha ha ha
Enjoy! Life is too short!
A picture of our Eastern gophers (woodchucks or earth pigs)
Almost made it back down into the hole after I lit him up. 50 grain VMax out of a .22-250 Remmy M700 (.223 LTR barrel 9" re-chambered to .22-250).
Cheers,
Barney
I gotta get out there sooner for a Western Road Trip with more clinics. My September trip to MB and AB might be too late after you gopher slayers get through!
Ha ha ha ha ha
Enjoy! Life is too short!
A picture of our Eastern gophers (woodchucks or earth pigs)
Almost made it back down into the hole after I lit him up. 50 grain VMax out of a .22-250 Remmy M700 (.223 LTR barrel 9" re-chambered to .22-250).
Cheers,
Barney
I used my .17Hornet on about, hmmm, maybe around 50 gophers last year? I ended up using my .22lr most of the time last year as the patches we were in were usually quite small. The .17H is probably my favorite round for the little ground-dwellers. You don't get the massive 10ft flying gopher shots like you do with the .22-250, but it opens them up quite nicely. Also, a 1lb of powder will reload ~700 rounds! On the downside reloading the tiny little cartridge with tiny little bullets is finnicky.
The noise is there, but it's no where near as loud as the .22-250. To me it sounds like an HMR, just turned up a notch. There's a crack, but it's not ear piercing and it really just sounds like a loud rimfire, to me anyways.
If you love shooting gophers as much as I do then I say go for it! You have a .22-250 for when you want to reach out further, or cause a little more carnage, so get the .17 for the closer stuff while the barrel cools on the other rifles!
You guys are driving me Nucking Futs
I gotta get out there sooner for a Western Road Trip with more clinics. My September trip to MB and AB might be too late after you gopher slayers get through!
Ha ha ha ha ha
Enjoy! Life is too short!
A picture of our Eastern gophers (woodchucks or earth pigs)
Almost made it back down into the hole after I lit him up. 50 grain VMax out of a .22-250 Remmy M700 (.223 LTR barrel 9" re-chambered to .22-250).
Cheers,
Barney
Nice groundhog Barney! Didn't realize you're a fellow groundhog slayer!
I picked-up some .223 brass from you a 2-3 years back, it's been helping to knock-over groundhogs every since! As for the gophers~worth the trip, but the cost of centerfire ammo in the req. qty. scared me into getting a good 22 and 17HMR set-up for this spring. Shipping them out to Alberta in a few weeks.
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
.22LRGuy...
For the past couple of trips out west (when I do my clinics there), I've brought only a .22LR. Always a good time. Did not need the .223, too much boom/noise (nice theatrics though). And I don't want to fret over the brass pickup and all that fun.
Enjoy!
Barney
For the past couple of trips out west (when I do my clinics there), I've brought only a .22LR. Always a good time. Did not need the .223, too much boom/noise (nice theatrics though). And I don't want to fret over the brass pickup and all that fun.
Enjoy!
Barney
I wasn't referring to the noise irritating the gophers but the ranchers and farmers living close by.
The farmers and ranchers aren't bothered by the noise, in fact they probably smile every time they hear a gun going off knowing that the gopher population is being reduced.
Indeed. It's only when I connect with my "heavy artillery" Albertan buddy out there that I feel gun envy. lol I'm already getting razzed about bringing "pea shooters" when he'll be showing-up with .223, .308, 7.62x39 etc. All good though, I have a thick skin.
Whatever the case, I have quite a bit of trigger time with both rimfires, especially the 22. It has an upgraded trigger, a decent scope, and ammo modified with a Waltz die for maximum effect. I'm reasonably sure the gophers are in trouble.
Whatever the case, I have quite a bit of trigger time with both rimfires, especially the 22. It has an upgraded trigger, a decent scope, and ammo modified with a Waltz die for maximum effect. I'm reasonably sure the gophers are in trouble.
.22LRGuy...
For the past couple of trips out west (when I do my clinics there), I've brought only a .22LR. Always a good time. Did not need the .223, too much boom/noise (nice theatrics though). And I don't want to fret over the brass pickup and all that fun.
Enjoy!
Barney
I beg to differ.
I read that and wondered too. Here in Ontario, it may be a 1-5 shots per farm proposition for groundhogs so it's likely you'd never hear a complaint.....but if it were a gopher shoot? The farmers tell me they rarely even hear the .223, wonder if they'll say the same thing when I'm running my new .243 this summer.
Hunter1970
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- in the shadows behind you
'was back in the flat lands on the weekend, the little ones were up and swarming everywhere. I ran through just over two bricks of 22 on Friday alone. Carnage... It looks like it's going to be a bumper year for them.
i think it really depends on the land owners/farm houses in the area. Every area will be different. for me, I talk to them first and ask if they mind, even though I already have permission to shoot on the land, its not hard to let them know what to expect while your out there. if they have any concerns (might scare the cows, etc.) then I shoot rimfire and I'm happy about it. if they say go ahead, then i shoot whatever i feel like taking that day. Either way, i'm shooting gophers, so its all good.
The beg to differ comment is correct My dog is terrified of guns and gun shots. If we are not here he will tear the outside of house apart of he can't get in. If kids are out on horses I need to know so I can make some changes. There are lots of people that do not have a appreciation for shooting and therefore do not like shooting let alone the sound. I once caught a guy traveling on gravel road shooting gophers out of my pasture. Not good for him. He is just lucky I did not take it further.
Spotted a gopher right where I was working in a neighbor's pasture. Then checked another spot he recommended on my way home and saw several, but had no gun with me
Was gonna head out today but it began raining.
So next week will be sure to have a gun in the truck with me.
My old gopher shooting buddy (near Lethbridge) has had a month of shooting so far, I am getting pretty anxious about getting started.
Was gonna head out today but it began raining.
So next week will be sure to have a gun in the truck with me.
My old gopher shooting buddy (near Lethbridge) has had a month of shooting so far, I am getting pretty anxious about getting started.
