Good Bullet For Groundhogs?

blindman

blindman

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I have been thinking about trying a little groundhog hunting, but I was wondering which ammo to use.. I have thought about either 22-250, or .223? It will all be very long range as well! Thanks for your input!
 
I've never shot ground hogs (none here on the island, even if we were allowed to shoot em), but .22-250 and .204 seem popular calibers for reaching way out there and smoking those whistle pigs. :D
 
What range are you talking about? Keep in mind what we consider long range in Ontario is often considered to be close in on the prairies. Most 22 centerfire cartidges have enough fire power to ruin the day of any groundhog in Ontario. 22 rimfire works good up close as well.
 
groundhog bullet

with my 22-250 i used to have .i loaded up some 40 grn hp .with that bullet it would just leave a red mist where they last stood ..
 
Speer TNTs and V-max. Win 46Gr HP works well for me to 120 yds (any further and accuracy drops )
thats for H&R ultra varmint in 223
 
I have used probably every conceivable caliber for hunting 'hogs: .22LR, .22 Mag, .22 Hornet, .223 Rem, 22-250, .243, 6.5x55, .270, 30-06, .308, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, and I even shot one with a .458 Win Mag once!

My personal favourite is a toss-up between the .223 and the 22-250. I own Savage Heavy Barrel rifles in both calibers and they are both outstandingly accurate. Bullet of choice for both is 50 grain Hornady V-Max.

The 22-250 has an edge over the .223 in terms of speed and flat trajectory. However, the .223 uses less powder and actually gives up little to the 22-250 when fired out of a long-barreled bolt action.

I've had spotty luck with the .22LR on hogs; they get pretty big, particularly around this time of year and can be hard to put down with the rimfire.

For a new shooter, I would probably go with the .223 Remington in a good quality bolt action with a heavy barrel; ammuntion is cheaper, it is more miserly of powder when you reload, and brass is in abundance everywhere.

You can check out my posting about my last groundhog shoot (some real monsters pictured there!):

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99619&highlight=summer
 
30-378 shooting 110 VMAXs at 4100fps ought to get the job done ;)

I'd probably stick with my 22-250 spitting out 55gr VMAXs though
 
scout3006 said:
I have used probably every conceivable caliber for hunting 'hogs: .22LR, .22 Mag, .22 Hornet, .223 Rem, 22-250, .243, 6.5x55, .270, 30-06, .308, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt, and I even shot one with a .458 Win Mag once!

My personal favourite is a toss-up between the .223 and the 22-250. I own Savage Heavy Barrel rifles in both calibers and they are both outstandingly accurate. Bullet of choice for both is 50 grain Hornady V-Max.

The 22-250 has an edge over the .223 in terms of speed and flat trajectory. However, the .223 uses less powder and actually gives up little to the 22-250 when fired out of a long-barreled bolt action.

I've had spotty luck with the .22LR on hogs; they get pretty big, particularly around this time of year and can be hard to put down with the rimfire.

For a new shooter, I would probably go with the .223 Remington in a good quality bolt action with a heavy barrel; ammuntion is cheaper, it is more miserly of powder when you reload, and brass is in abundance everywhere.

You can check out my posting about my last groundhog shoot (some real monsters pictured there!):

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99619&highlight=summer
Click to expand...
Those things are massive! I think I will stick with the .223 as I can use that ammo with both my AR-15, or to go out for groundhogs with a new Remington bolt gun! Thanks for your great advice, and pics!
 
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