.22 lr effective on groundhogs?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hello everyone~I've been invited to go on a groundhog hunt with a fellow using a .223, and from what I understand...he can really reach out with that gun. I don't own any centerfires, but do own an Anschutz .22lr with a 10x scope. (I'm pretty good off a rest with it) My question is this~is a .22lr effective on these, and at what maximum range? (considering the scope) What is the preferred .22 ammo for this kind of hunting?

If I DO take to it, it might finally be the excuse I need to pick-up a .17 HMR, a caliber I've always been interested in, but couldn't justify as a plinker. On that note, I was looking at a Mossberg 817 Varmint...if anyone has any opinions on that model.

Yeah I know~too many questions...

Thanks!
Rob
 
More then enough. Terminated many groundhogs with a 22lr. The accuracy depends on you. Your distance and shot placement is the comfort level of your accuracy.

Good luck.
 
Use HV hollow point. Body shots are effective to about 50 yards. Most hogs I shoot are with 223 or 243 out to 300 yards. In a good field I have shot 22 Hornet at 40 to 100 yards. less noise makes for more close range action.

22 probably won't drop them in their tracks. Will run down the hole and die there.
 
I've shot a few groundhogs with a 22LR, at pretty close ranges, 50 yards or less, and they died on the spot. I don't think its necessary to blow their guts out to humanely kill them.
 
Try a box of each of the "hyper velocity" loadings, esp. the CCI offerings, to see which is most accurate out of your rifle, then buy a couple of bricks of the most accurate ammo. My .22 likes the Segmented Hollow pts. and most of my kills leave the gopher on the surface and they can't make it back into their holes, like they seem to do for me when i use reg. .22 ammo, esp. as i am trying shots over 100 yds.
Where I hunt gophers, the .17HMR is about perfect unless it is always windy, and gets a bit costly, but there are so many gophers that I can't imagine buying factory c.f. rounds or reloading them, and it's not really necessary.IMHO
 
Just one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet. Your scope will not add one bit to the effective range of your 22 rimfire. 4 power is more than adequate for a 22. The saying is a 4x will get everything out of a 22 rimfire that is in it.
If you have shot your 22 much, you will know there is considerable drop at 100 yards. You could sight in for dead on at 50 yards, then hold where you want to hit to about 65, maybe 70 yards. Beyond that it is called Kentucky elevation and the high power scope won't help you on that one.
 
50 yards max with my 22lr. Then I bust out the .223 or 17hmr. ALways go for the head neck shots with the 22lr, get way less runners, I'd rather miss then wound one and have it die slowly in its hole.
 
Almost got one with the car last night but he sort of took the sport out of it. The bugger just sat there staring me down. When push came to shove he got his ar$e off the road. Between porcupines eating my neighbors deck and skunks chewing up lawns there are many uses for the 22lr:)
 
Keep your shots close, under 50 yards, and have a good scope to give you a close up picture so you can place your shot in the crosshairs (10x for example or more). If you pick your shots to the head or chest cavity, you will do well. Try your ammo at the range first. It's more important to find ammo your gun can group tightly, than power of impact. A hollow point round is best on a groundhog, but accuracy is more important if your gun shoots better with a solid point. Practise is important, before going hunting groundhogs with a 22lr.

Have a great summer, and enjoy those long days hunting groundhogs (late in the afternoon is best).
 
Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. 99% of what I've put down the pipe are target rounds, subsonic. I know I'll need to re-zero the scope, and my buddy has a laser range finder so I'll know what adjustments need to be made if I attempt anything beyond 50 yards.

The 10X scope thing~didn't mean to suggest that I think it gives the gun more reach...just a clearer picture of what I'm shooting at. I trust the Anschutz to put the bullets where it's pointing, I like to see the impact once I do though.

If I can find this thread again, I'll update you with how I make out. Who knows, may be looking for a .17 HMR or .223 after that outing!
 
I learnt how to shoot by shooting gophers and marmots with a Browning BL22 loaded with Stingers I shot thousands of them I would push my shots out to a max 100 yards on gophers but on marmots we always limited ourselves to 50 yards max.
 
Anything .22LR will kill a groundhog if well placed and inside a reasonable range. I've used target load .22's on groundhogs, its not a problem. I use my Nordic set up 10/22 (similar to the new SR-22) and a red dot sight. I stalk it, wait for it to stand up to take a look, then drop one into the head. I immediately will approach and provide another head shot if it hasn't expired.
 
I used to love going out to my grandparents farm and shoot groundhogs with my grandfather's old .22. We always used hollow points because that's what was most common on the shelf at the local home hardware. They always worked well out to 100 yards or so. Now I like using my .17 cal as it reaches out just a little more. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot one if it was 150 yards out. I don't see nearly as many around here anymore though. I'd love to find some in the London area (within an hour and a half drive). I miss the good old days on the farm!
 
.22LRGUY said:
The 10X scope thing~didn't mean to suggest that I think it gives the gun more reach...just a clearer picture of what I'm shooting at. I trust the Anschutz to put the bullets where it's pointing, I like to see the impact once I do though.
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Nothing wrong with 10x on a match target rifle. Adding adjustable turrets makes more worthwhile though. Other people's opinions are based on the limitations of their skills and of their own equipment. Don't let that be a deciding factor in choosing your optics.
 
kombayotch said:
Nothing wrong with 10x on a match target rifle. Adding adjustable turrets makes more worthwhile though. Other people's opinions are based on the limitations of their skills and of their own equipment. Don't let that be a deciding factor in choosing your optics.
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Agreed. 22LR is good on groundhogs well out to 125 yards, equipment provided, if you know your holdovers. Recovery may be a different matter, but 125 yards is pretty feasible.
 
With target turrets and/or a mil reticle its very easy to compensate for the drop. His rifle has the accuracy to go beyond that.

22.jpg
 
Use CCI Stingers or CCI Quiclshocks (segmented hollow points).

Learn where you need to hold over by practicing with some clay pigeons (or golf balls if you're getting really good) at different ranges. 50-150 yards

Happy Hunting, You'll know when you hit them by the sound.
 
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