Gophers!
- Thread starter kjohn
- Start date
Just got back from a day of shooting gophers in SW Manitoba. The gophers where we went were just insane. We shot for 7 hours straight without a break. I used up a brick and a half of 22 shells, and two boxes of 17 hmr. The 17 hmr was interesting to use, but completely overkill. First gopher I shot, and he was standing, his head and shoulders separated from his body and flew 5-10 feet in the air. The kills were definitely more humane, no wiggling gopher after its shot, but the level of noise, cost of shells, and lack of need to shoot 100 yard shots rendered it pretty much a novelty for this outing. I was using a CZ452 American, which is my favorite bolt action 22. Its just so light, streamlined, accurate and easy to operate, and with a bit of luck hits out at 75-100 yards with cheap ammo. A few far shots that make you feel like a champ, and others at closer range with multiple misses that leave you embarrassed. The 17 hmr is a used Savage A17 I picked up here on the exchange. I outfitted it with a BSA Sweet 17 scope and I was pretty happy with the cheap optics. The odd jam or failure to pick up a fresh round, and slow to reload the 10 round magazine. Trigger is a rough compared to a CZ, but you quickly get used to it. I bought a Butler Creek 25 round mag that would have been easier to reload, but it sticks down so far as to be nuisance when trying to rest the rifle on something to steady your shot.
We shot mostly in a concentrated area around a cattle dugout, and with four of us shooting for 7 hours, I doubt we put a serious hurt on the population despite shooting, and I am guessing, thousands. So many young gophers, and didn't shoot that many full grown adults. Craziest gopher infestation I've ever seen.
We shot mostly in a concentrated area around a cattle dugout, and with four of us shooting for 7 hours, I doubt we put a serious hurt on the population despite shooting, and I am guessing, thousands. So many young gophers, and didn't shoot that many full grown adults. Craziest gopher infestation I've ever seen.
Plenty of the groundhogs here, plugged 3 of them today. They are such a pest. It would seem a soft nosed 3006 projectile pretty much blows them in half
Look at what a 338 Lapua Is capable of.
And this is what a 308 can do.
But I really enjoyed my 22-250, it got the job done with minimal holdover, everything was dead within 420 yards.
Attachments
I deliberately omitted the blown in half by 30 06 picture but since it appears we are doing show and tell, here ya go
I have not shot a chuck with my 50 bmg, but I suppose if one presents itself I will be sure to report back.
Those poor cute little gophers took a beating, for sure. The groundhogs look slightly wounded as well.
I agree about the .17hmr. I shot so many gophers at 10-30 yards, it wasn't funny. I used Winchester Western, Federal bulk, and 555's, all hollow point. The little ones especially were torn to pieces with the .22. The big ones, at maybe 40-50 yards, just a "pluckkk" and they fall over.
The last evening I shot, I drove into a patch of wild mustard, got out, sat in my little chair and started blazing away. Each place I stopped would be another 10 or 20 gophers, mostly little ones.
Next year, there might not be as many where I was shooting, as the farmer said he was going to have to use poison.
I agree about the .17hmr. I shot so many gophers at 10-30 yards, it wasn't funny. I used Winchester Western, Federal bulk, and 555's, all hollow point. The little ones especially were torn to pieces with the .22. The big ones, at maybe 40-50 yards, just a "pluckkk" and they fall over.
The last evening I shot, I drove into a patch of wild mustard, got out, sat in my little chair and started blazing away. Each place I stopped would be another 10 or 20 gophers, mostly little ones.
Next year, there might not be as many where I was shooting, as the farmer said he was going to have to use poison.
I went out once really early and used my CZ Varmint Kevlar .223. Results were spectacular and I didn't have to keep relocating as I could shoot well beyond .22LR ranges. There weren't many out at that point in the spring so we're going back next weekend. Probably just use a regular old .22 to keep costs down.
Got back on Sunday from gopher safari in Alta and Sask. Shot a total of 6 days. Dusted 4500ish gophers. Used 22WMR, 22LR, 17HMR, and 17M2.( Is that a cache?)
I struggle with this concept of "overkill". If you are at the range is it overkill to poke a hole in the paper with anything bigger than a pointy stick? To me this is simply another version of target shooting. 'Cept the targets move and turn color when hit. Kinda like the shoot n see targets......
I struggle with this concept of "overkill". If you are at the range is it overkill to poke a hole in the paper with anything bigger than a pointy stick? To me this is simply another version of target shooting. 'Cept the targets move and turn color when hit. Kinda like the shoot n see targets......
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Over-kill..... over 50 yrs ago I was with my old man and a buddy of his, they were set up an a hillside with their 30-06 hunting rifles shooting gophers. A fish cop showed up and I can still remember his rather indignant attitude over his "officious sensibilities" that they were overguned. My old mans reply was "we don't have to walk downrange to know if we hit one...fish cop never said another word, just left the field.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Finally some dead gopher pics! I was wondering if I was going to be let down but you guys delivered! Thanks!
DAMN...I need to get out west EVERY year. This every OTHER year thing sucks.
Good to hear the numbers are there, we struggled last spring on our longest scheduled trip ever. Probably shot 100-150 a day vs. the nearly countless #s the trip before. We only stopped when we were simply too tired to carry on, not because we ran out of targets. lol That said, we found that sometimes...they'd be out in numbers fairly late in the day..but not normally. Made it easy to pack it up, and wonder how cold we could get the beer when we got back. lol
As for overkill=hardly. lol I prefer 22LR for gophers when there are big #s. I love the opportunity to get good with my favorite caliber, and a gun I love. I make my own 22LR hollow points...so the effect can be very HMR like. Exceedingly rare to get a crawler, they go down hard when hit with my modified CCI Blazer. You can hear the loud "slap" sound from quite some distance too, even in the wind. They fold, about 1/4 of the time there are flying parts. I've shot lots with 12ga target loads on every trip too, but have also taken out gophers using 17HMR, .223, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor and 45/70. One can't be too careful when there are charging gophers. lol They're the ultimate, reactive target. Most spectacular hits were with the .223 using 55gr. V-Max hand loads. Talk about air time..and nothing but furry goo hits the ground.
Same with groundhogs, though where I hunt them...there is a .275" caliber restriction. I've shot them with 17HMR, 22WMR, 17 Hornet, 204R, .223, .243, .270, 20ga and 12ga. I've seen .223 literally cut them in half, I've seen .243 hits where you had to search for the wounds. Depends on the bullets, distance, where the bullet makes contact, etc. Just sold my .223, and am running my 17 Hornet again this year. So effective, zero recoil, low report, etc. Greatest distance so far 198 yards, and it dropped on the spot. Instant sleeping pill. Still, a busy day on those can be 4-5 groundhogs. My nephew and I have shot close to 1,000 gophers in a single day. Love it all...but this time of year, I wish I had shares in WestJet.
Good to hear the numbers are there, we struggled last spring on our longest scheduled trip ever. Probably shot 100-150 a day vs. the nearly countless #s the trip before. We only stopped when we were simply too tired to carry on, not because we ran out of targets. lol That said, we found that sometimes...they'd be out in numbers fairly late in the day..but not normally. Made it easy to pack it up, and wonder how cold we could get the beer when we got back. lol
As for overkill=hardly. lol I prefer 22LR for gophers when there are big #s. I love the opportunity to get good with my favorite caliber, and a gun I love. I make my own 22LR hollow points...so the effect can be very HMR like. Exceedingly rare to get a crawler, they go down hard when hit with my modified CCI Blazer. You can hear the loud "slap" sound from quite some distance too, even in the wind. They fold, about 1/4 of the time there are flying parts. I've shot lots with 12ga target loads on every trip too, but have also taken out gophers using 17HMR, .223, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor and 45/70. One can't be too careful when there are charging gophers. lol They're the ultimate, reactive target. Most spectacular hits were with the .223 using 55gr. V-Max hand loads. Talk about air time..and nothing but furry goo hits the ground.
Same with groundhogs, though where I hunt them...there is a .275" caliber restriction. I've shot them with 17HMR, 22WMR, 17 Hornet, 204R, .223, .243, .270, 20ga and 12ga. I've seen .223 literally cut them in half, I've seen .243 hits where you had to search for the wounds. Depends on the bullets, distance, where the bullet makes contact, etc. Just sold my .223, and am running my 17 Hornet again this year. So effective, zero recoil, low report, etc. Greatest distance so far 198 yards, and it dropped on the spot. Instant sleeping pill. Still, a busy day on those can be 4-5 groundhogs. My nephew and I have shot close to 1,000 gophers in a single day. Love it all...but this time of year, I wish I had shares in WestJet.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Ok, here's one of 52 I shot over the weekend. One hit from my Zastava 22WMR using Hornady 30gr
Ok, here's one of 52 I shot over the weekend. One hit from my Zastava 22WMR using Hornady 30gr
that's one rifle I hear actually shoots 22WMR accurately. How do you like it? How does it group?
GReat photo of the gopher by the way! lol I've shot thousands of them...but I don't think I've ever looked that closely at a fallen one. Judging by the spine/ribs 90 degrees outward from where they should be~I'd say it was a perfect shot. The Zastava shoots!
- Location
- Calgary, AB
that's one rifle I hear actually shoots 22WMR accurately. How do you like it? How does it group?
GReat photo of the gopher by the way! lol I've shot thousands of them...but I don't think I've ever looked that closely at a fallen one. Judging by the spine/ribs 90 degrees outward from where they should be~I'd say it was a perfect shot. The Zastava shoots!
Yes, very accurate. The trigger is a bit heavy and will have to tinker with it, but very impressed. I also picked up the 22LR version and it shoots amazing as well. 5 shots at 50yds with cheapo Federal.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
that's one rifle I hear actually shoots 22WMR accurately. How do you like it? How does it group?
GReat photo of the gopher by the way! lol I've shot thousands of them...but I don't think I've ever looked that closely at a fallen one. Judging by the spine/ribs 90 degrees outward from where they should be~I'd say it was a perfect shot. The Zastava shoots!
Here is the 22WMR - 5 shots at 50yds. Will be testing at 100 soon, but good enough for gophers
Here is the 22WMR - 5 shots at 50yds. Will be testing at 100 soon, but good enough for gophers
Thats some seriously powerful gopher medicine you have there .444
I always chuckle at those who snub " how inaccurate '' the .22Wmr is.
Plenty good for minute of gopher and coyote and badger and the other numerous vermin one may encounter in the Wilds of Wild Rose Country. (not the political party)
Sure bullet selection is limited, but they do the job and they do it well.
I had a CZ452 and it thumped those yellow bellies in BC with a loud pop and sadly the A-bolt never saw any game.
What are you shooting? (just read back a few posts a Z gun...great results)
Coasted, you can find the Alberta Regs. online and familiarize yourself with the rules in Alberta.
East of Calgary near Strathmore and even around Finnegan and the Ferry line-up is never really long.
Rob
