Opinions please on best .22 rimfire ammo for gophers at 75 to 150 yards

I have shot many hundreds of gophers with american eagle hollow points in my 10/22, it is my go to round. My experience with standard velocity non hollow points, is that they seem way more prone to ricochets. This is a concern for me as I do a lot of shooting in close proximity to livestock and buildings, it may not matter to you depending on where you're shooting.
 


Here is my 1st gun, it is a Model 310 Dad gave it to me in 1973, super accurate and in great shape. :)

So going to stay with HV HP zeroed at 75 yards, but will do some testing on what ammo the old girl likes best.

Thanks guys.
 
randyhub said:


Here is my 1st gun, it is a Model 310 Dad gave it to me in 1973, super accurate and in great shape. :)

So going to stay with HV HP zeroed at 75 yards, but will do some testing on what ammo the old girl likes best.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...


Ok Randy, the gauntlet has been dropped with that picture.
What scope is on that gun and what ammo you going to use?
Now we need to see carnage !!!
Get out there and show us what she can do !
Best Regards and Watch out for the Pink Mist... dont get it in your eyes either ;)
Rob
 
I've seen the most reliability with CCI in my Marlin 795. I use open sights on gophers at, usually, no more than 50yds since 22lr loses accuracy pretty fast, the varmints move quick, and I find it the most fun that way. In my opinion, if you're looking to precision shoot them, 22lr isn't accurate enough past 50yds and you should move to a Centerfire varmint rifle.
 
I have shot at a lot of gophers in relatives fields usually with their beat up rifles and I can say they buy what ever is cheapest. Take a few shots and see where it is hitting and adjust accordingly. I think everyone is over thinking gopher shooting. most shots are around maybe 50 feet. Now if you are wanting long range shooting that maybe a different story.

Gophers seem to have a range in mind where if you get to close they duck and cover. We would shoot a few in one section of the field then go shoot in an other. then back to the first. there was always some sticking their heads up. Or just sit down for a while and they would be back up.
 
I should have added 22lr only accurate enough at 50yds using open sights. My eyes anyway and centering on target. Calculating drop, stealth shooting at distance with gophers just isn't my bag.
 
Accuracy with a rim fire is not an issue out to 200M or a bit more but........It must be a quality rifle shooting quality ammo on a calm day to work.
I have 5 rim fire rifles that will shoot under 1" at 200 yards, but they want ammo they like to do so.
On the Stinger ammo in a match chamber.....do not do it!!! It is a good way to damage the leade area of your expensive match rifle.
I am doubtful that you even could chamber a Stinger in my Suhl, my M37 or my 40X. D.
 
randyhub said:


Here is my 1st gun, it is a Model 310 Dad gave it to me in 1973, super accurate and in great shape. :)

So going to stay with HV HP zeroed at 75 yards, but will do some testing on what ammo the old girl likes best.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

^very pretty rifle~looks like a terrific gopher gun!

wce323078 said:
I have shot at a lot of gophers in relatives fields usually with their beat up rifles and I can say they buy what ever is cheapest. Take a few shots and see where it is hitting and adjust accordingly. I think everyone is over thinking gopher shooting. most shots are around maybe 50 feet. Now if you are wanting long range shooting that maybe a different story.

Gophers seem to have a range in mind where if you get to close they duck and cover. We would shoot a few in one section of the field then go shoot in an other. then back to the first. there was always some sticking their heads up. Or just sit down for a while and they would be back up.
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^define "over thinking?" lol If you're enthusiastic about shooting them, I think some civilized discourse on the topic is kind of fun. I've shot them from 6 feet away with a .22, I've actually hit them at over 170 yards with a .22 (one afternoon, got about 6) and while laying prone and shooting them from about 50-90 yards might be the most fun for me...it's fun to shoot them at any distance. :) Some .22 ammo is SIGNIFICANTLY more effective than others, and speed is only one factor. I agree, they mostly have a "comfort zone" in terms of proximity/how close they'll let you get. However, we've had them not get out of the way of the truck when we've been inching our way through a bumpy pasture at about 2km/h. lol

Anyhow, for Ontarians like me, travelling out there to shoot gophers is still a pretty cool thing to do because I didn't grow up around them. Guys like me get to think about it all year and if possible, get a few days of actually shooting. Flying from Ontario to do just that and then talking to Alberta ranchers~yes...I get where you're coming from. For them, nothing but a .22 is ever required and adding any degree of "sport" to shooting gophers doesn't seem to make a heck of allot of sense. For them, kill as many as you can, as economically as you can..everything else comes second.
 
randyhub said:


Here is my 1st gun, it is a Model 310 Dad gave it to me in 1973, super accurate and in great shape. :)

So going to stay with HV HP zeroed at 75 yards, but will do some testing on what ammo the old girl likes best.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

The 310 is a very nice rifle. I had one last year but made the mistake of selling it. Just yesterday I was thinking I wished I still had it. I found one today at a gun show; it was in very good condition. The vendor gave me a good deal and I took it home.
 
Thank you, there are other fancier, nicer shooting guns, but this old girl has a long family journey and is still the apple of my eye. :)

Hopefully my son will appreciate her as much as my Dad and I.
 
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