Best GOPHER ammo pictures welcome

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys-I know we can get wrapped-up in punching tight groups on paper, obsess about building the ultimate .22....and even barrel harmonics. (OK, I doubt most of us obsess about that last one)

BUT...22s have a higher purpose if you ask me, and that's ridding the world of as many gophers as possible. Whenever possible. 17HMR is another story, almost laughably effective, possibly THE ultimate gopher round based on what I've witnessed. However, any opportunity to be sitting in a chewed-down pasture with an accurate 22, lots of ammo, and lots of targets=pure happiness.

Wondering what you guys use for ammo? Most accurate in your gun, even if subsonic? Most speed/biggest hollow point? Best price? Any concerns about the rumored ammo shortages coming our way?

Photos welcome. :)

I use 22s for target-shooting here in Ontario probably 95% of the time, they perform almost no hunting/pesting role for me here. However...I keep looking west..
 
For .22lr my go to gopher ammo is CCI MiniMag HP, unfortunately they are now getting kinda pricey. I have found that I get almost exactly the same POI and accuracy using Federal 525 HP bulk pack for less money. Which is nice because I can switch between them without re-zeroing. Lately I picked up some Aguila Super Extra HP and its showing some promise at the range too.

The CCI and Federal pretty consistently produce 3/4"-ish groups out to 50 yards out of my T1X. The majority of my shots are between 20 and 50 yards so that is plenty accurate enough and still connecting on ones out pass 70 yards.

I use .22 mag too and still using ammo I stocked up on years ago. One is a Winchester Supreme JHP with a big wide gaping hollow point which is very impressive when it connects, the other I have is Remington polymer tip and they really open them up too.

I don't have a 17HMR but my hunting partner does and sometime it turns them inside out and sometimes the bullets just sail right through them like a pencil.

We have been shooting such a large volume of critters over the past few years that I have put the .22mag away and just been shooting the T1X as I don't want to burn up all my 22 mag. Maybe this year I should bring it out again.

You and I have chatted before via PM/email. If you make it out south of Calgary this year let me know and maybe we can grab a "socially distant" beverage and compare notes.
 
I've always been a fan of the 38gr American Eagle copper plated hollowpoint myself, as it seems a good deal more consistent than the bulk pack ammo but without the price of the fancier stuff. With that being said, there's nothing wrong with Mini Mags either.

This year I plan to shoot a lot more CRPS, and I'll be using gopher hunting as practice, so I fear I may wind up shooting a lot more pricy .22 at varmints this summer... oh well :)
 
SomebodyTookMyName said:
I've always been a fan of the 38gr American Eagle copper plated hollowpoint myself, as it seems a good deal more consistent than the bulk pack ammo but without the price of the fancier stuff. With that being said, there's nothing wrong with Mini Mags either.

This year I plan to shoot a lot more CRPS, and I'll be using gopher hunting as practice, so I fear I may wind up shooting a lot more pricy .22 at varmints this summer... oh well :)
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it I have used 38gr American Eagle copper HP in the past and really liked them. I think I still have a brick of them in the ammo box...might have to try them in the Tikka.
 
Please stop shooting gophers!!

Leave some for me!!

:)

I have found yellow jackets to be really effective up to about 80 to 100 yards. They really pack a wallop and a really satisfying sound when they impact especially in the mid drift.
 
Whatever has a HP, high velocity, and shoots the best from your rifle. Use that. For my main gopher rifle, it likes Winchester super speed HP, and CCI mini mag HP. It does ok with Remington golden bullets as well. Yellow jackets shot ok, but the last stuff I had tried had lots of duds and flyers, don't buy it anymore.
 
I use Stingers most of the time, because I have many and bought them years back when the were 30 bucks a brick. I usually shoot some with my 5mm mags, but only shoot a box or two of ammo a year. The 17 Rem is fun for long shots on calm days.
 
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My top picks are AE 38 gr. and Federal Black Box - very accurate and they pack a good punch in the gopher field!
 
I use CCI velocitor a lot for gophers. It shoots well in a few of my 22s, gives a nice thwack when it hits and I have pretty good stockpile of the stuff. Mini mags are probably a little more accurate but I still like the velocitors more for gophers.
 
Grew up on federal 525 bulk packs and American eagle. The laughs really started when we borrowed a friend's. 17 after they had just come out, only thing I found that came close to the amount of laughs was when he had got a brick of CCI segmented years ago, but I don't Beleive it was standard velocity or subsonic like I see them offered in now. Now 3 17's later and half dozen 22's I seem to stick to mini mags for the 10/22's and only hornady for the.17. Mini mags seem decent accurate but alot of it was for reliability issues. Just picked up another 1000 today and 500 velociters since I have a feeling 22 will be non existant come spring. Velocitors I may sight a bolt gun to, I don't like the POI difference between them and other HV rounds
 
My favorite gopher shooting ammunition is with out peer the Winchester PowerPoint.
I've always been impressed with its accuracy and awesome terminal performance. Reasonably priced too.
 
CCI Mini Mags are my go to choice for gophers. Federal Auto Match would be my second choice. I am shooting a 10-22 with bull barrel, 4 x 12 scope, Volquartsen trigger kit. It's pretty hard to miss with this combination. And the Mini Mags drop them fast.

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Got over 51 of these guys in 2 hours. Rancher is happy.
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How many gophers you see here? It was a great day.
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And the bonus was two wolves came along near the end of my day and had a field of gophers to feast on. They were happy too.

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Sorry, last pic not the best quality. I was laying out in the middle of the field spotting gophers when I became aware of them. I don't think they saw me and were trotting straight towards me. Snapped a pic with my cell phone and moved.
 
I always got along very good with Fed 525 bulk packs, still have some yet from when they where 18.oo Used a Sako P94 with a 6500 elite on it.
 
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