FMJ (.223) legal for gopher/squirrel hunting in AB

marlin60

marlin60

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I have plenty of FMJ, but not much JHP/similar ammo for my T3.

I hope to hunt ground squirrels in AB this coming spring, and with the way .223 supplies are, I think I'd better start shopping around now.

Is FMJ legal to use for this purpose?
 
I can't see why they are not legal, but they are not nearly as safe as a varmint bullet. I can see FMJ's ricocheting accross a field, where a good varmint bullet tends to vaporize, whether it hits a gopher or dirt. So if using an FMJ just be extra careful to have a good backstop.

PS I can't see it being nearly as fun as watching them explode with a good varmint bullet.
 
do a search. FMJ's can bounce a LONG way. personally I think it's a stupid idea to use them on gophers, where you're shooting at very acute angles.

you willing to explain/pay for the damage caused by a ricochete?
 
I'd rather not use them for hunting, believe me.. so looking for varmint rounds now. I still have a few months... but not taking any chances.

I'm flying up, so I'll have to use FMJ if that is all I have, but will do my best not to be in that situation. The whole ammo supply/cost sucks... especially .223.

Taking my .22lr also, so it may see the most use depending on the field.

If .17hmr is easier to get... I may have to buy a new rifle.. too bad for me ;)
 
"I'll have to use FMJ if that is all I have"



I am glad I don't live in Alberta

I wouldn't let a guy hunt gophers around here if all he was going to use was FMJ


Rich
 
I agree with the guys that have mentioned the safety factor.... FMJ are far more likely to ricochet than a normal soft point or hollow point bullet. This could be a big factor depending on where you are shooting. I'm not sure what part of the province you plan on shooting gophers in, but the best gopher shooting areas are generally fairly well populated and / or in livestock grazing areas. A soft point or hollow point bullet is a much safer bet.
 
FMJ is a no no here. I am surprised it is legal in AB.. as I don't think it is a good idea.

I'll forego the FMJ.

I should be able to cobble together a few hundred rounds of .223 JHP by then. I'll ask Santa to start by stuffing my stocking with them (the ones hung on the mantle....... :redface:).

If I can't get a sufficient supply I'll use .22lr and .17hmr instead.
 
also, make sure you are only huntig gophers, and not tree squirrels. Much to my surprise i found out on these boards, that hunting squirrels in AB is illegal!
 
That's true too. Squirrils can only be taken by trappers. FMJ ammo is a bad idea. A .22 LR can richochette a long ways, a high powered .22 will be much, much worse. Yes we have vast expanses of nothing...Except cattle, cars, houses, pets etc. Most land owners are shy of high powered stuff anyways, and would definatly frown on non-expanding ammo. And besides all that, you won't gain alot of thrill from it anyways. You'll find the bullet will probably zip right through, the gopher will wander off to die in it's hole, and you'll burn up alot of ammo. I've shot gophers with some of the most popular centerfire cartridges. In soft point bullets, I never got the "Did you ever shoot a gopher with that '06? Wow does it make a mess!" Though I've heard it plenty. The most memorable example was a good weekend several years ago. We were shooting gophers in some hilly country South of here. we were allowed to use whatever we wanted, so long as we stayed where the folks told us to stay. I brought an iron sighted 30-30, and several boxes of Winchesters 150 grain hollow points. It was a blast. That big cavity litteraly tore them to pieces. When I ran out, I had a good supply of standard soft points. There was a gopher on his belly right around 75 yards. I brought the rifle up, fired and missed. I did it again several times, but the bugger never moved. I walked up to it while I reloaded and found it was dead. I did hit it, and dragged some of his insides out the far side, but there was no "Boom" And you FMJ will likely do the same. Come here, go buy some bulk USA Winny HP stuff, and have at it. But if I were you, I'd get that .22 LR ready. Lot's of mags, and lots more ammo. ;)
 
pharaoh2 said:
That's true too. Squirrils can only be taken by trappers...[
Click to expand...

Sure. Referrring to Richardson Ground Squirrels... not the tree kind.

Come here, go buy some bulk USA Winny HP stuff, and have at it. But if I were you, I'd get that .22 LR ready. Lot's of mags, and lots more ammo. ;)
Click to expand...

With my luck there would be no ammo to buy... I'm sure supply is worse in late May/June.

Trouble is... HMR supply can be iffy too.

22lr Remington Yellow Jackets to the rescue.
 
What makes you think there would be no ammo to buy in Alberta? I have never gone in to a store and found they were sold out.
 
Bulk FMJ is hard to find.

Small boxes of specialty/varmint ammo shouldn't be an issue, but the situation is getting worse, not better. And all ammo is cheaper by the case, vs. picking up 20+ boxes.

Too much money and time to get there, to come up empty.
 
back in the day, a friend of mine had a mini-14 and used to get fmj ammo in the US, i know nothing of what sort, but it came in plain 40 or 50 round paper boxes, kind of like that south african 303 that was floating around a few years ago. at the ranges that we could hit the gophers (100 yards max basically), it really tore them apart.

as to safety, it all depends on the area. where i shoot gophers, if the shot is unsafe it would be so regardless of the rifle or load. and a safe shot is just that, i wouldn't want people shooting around me that are counting on bullets disintegrating for safety.
 
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