Gopher defense thread

[powder burner]

I loaded up some 120gr VMax in the 7mm08, and went out to the gopher patch. A few were out and I had to give the 7-08' a try. Lets say I was not disapointed. you either missed or had an amazing display of acrobatics.

I have done this before with the .22-250 55gr Vmax. It makes them fly pretty good too.

Anybody else try vmax's in a non-varmint cartridge on varmints?? After seeing what the 7mm08 in vmax does to the pesky buggers, I dont feel it would be a suitable wild dog round. They would make quitte the mess..

However, for a critter such as a groundhog, the 120gr vamx in 7mm will have some impressive results.

 

[Slimbo]

I dont know about v-max's but a plain old 129 gr Spire point from my 6.5x55 sure makes a mess of the little critters!

 

[pharaoh2]

I've shot them with everything from .223 FMJ and HP's, to .300 Winchester soft points. All the soft point ammo went through, with very little damage. The most carnage I've ever seen, aside from the whole red mist thing was from 30-30 winchester 150 grain hollow points. You ended up with a head, the tail and a spinal column, helicoptering through the air.

 

[todbartell]

95 grain Vmax @ 3315 fps in my 260 will absolutely wreck anything you point it at. Fur clouds fly and mists of red float in the breezer, seriously.

 

[powder burner]

WOW! thats a lot of sewing!

 

[Boomer454]

I shoot a Rem Varmint Special in 7mm-08 and have found that I get insane accuracy out of Sierra 120 grain game kings. One ragged hole at 100 yards is not uncommon.
I have also used Speer 115 grain hollow points. While accuracy is not quite as good it still holds about .75 inch at 100 yards. But the absolute devastation on gophers is simply amazing!
I can look up the exact load if you want, but I know the Speer 115 hollow points used Varget, and the Sierras used IMR 3031

 

[powder burner]

Another recipe would be great to have boomer!

 

[Boomer454]

7MM-08 Data

Sierra 120 grain spitzer (#1900)
42.6 Grains IMR 3031
CCI 200 Standard Primer
C.O.A.L 2.790"
Chronographed an honest 3000 FPS.

This is a pretty hot load. Powder is at max in the manual, and the bullet is seated pretty close to the lands in my gun. You would want to start low and work up, but do it in hot weather. I have found this powder to have some pretty serious pressure spikes when the temperature goes up!

The other load is as follows.
Speer 115 grain Hollow Point.
45.8 Grains Hogdon Varget
CCI Standard Primer
C.O.A.L 2.650
Chronographed 3100. FPS.

Again tight to the lands in my gun so start low and work up. The Varget seems to be a much more consistent powder in all temp extremes, so I will be working up a load with the 120 grain bullets once the 3031 is gone.

Both loads make a nice PFC in the gopher towns...
Be safe and enjoy