gopher hunting with a 12 gauge

The little ones should be out now and they tend to stand together in clusters ,so sweeping the mound with birdshot is very effective for group rates........Harold
 
Im between .22's but a family friend needs help with gophers, I should be fine with my 12 gauge, #6 shot and a full choke for about 30 yards right?

I notice you're in Southern Ontario? If that's the case and your "family friend" is in Southern Ontario too...then there is ZERO chance it's gophers (Richardson's ground squirrels) you'll be aiming at. What your family friend in S. Ontario has is a groundhog problem, and neither a .22 or a 12ga. with #6 shot @ 30 yards is the right medicine.

ALBERTA Gopher (unzipped with a 17HMR)

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ALBERTA Gopher peppered with #7-1/2 shot, no choke, from about 30' away

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Groundhog smacked in the boiler from almost 200 yards with a .223, his lunch still hanging in his yapper

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As you can see, a gopher and a groundhog are very different creatures size-wise. Neither are overly clever, but groundhogs are geniuses compared to gophers. Now, before anyone says ".22s are great for groundhogs"...I've shot them with 22LR, 22WMR, 17HMR, .204 Ruger, .223, .243, .270, and both 12ga and 20ga shotguns. They ALL get the job done provided shot placement and distance are both factored in. I could expand on that. :) Anyhow, if indeed it IS groundhogs you're after, the very BEST shotgun ammo I've used on them is the Hornady Varmint Express 12ga. http://www.hornady.com/store/12-Ga-VX-4-Buckshot/ Where I shoot them, it's typically too flat/dry/hard to risk using a slug (which I'd prefer), but 00 Buck doesn't pattern worth a darn at any real distance. This Hornady stuff~wow. :)

Anyhow, good luck...I'd be curious if it IS gophers, or, groundhogs. I've heard lots of people call groundhogs gophers here in Ontario, and as a huge fan of shooting both of them...I'm very opinionated. :)

What self-respecting "GunNut" is ever "between 22s"? Unimaginable!

^glad somebody else noticed. :)
 
I have used a 12 ga. often for shooting gophers. Great fun. I am not fussy about what loads I use - everything from #2 to #7 1/2 any brand. Good for the soul to shoot a good round of "gopher", sort of like clays.
 
^lol. And I should add..I think shooting gophers with a .22 is maybe the most fun. Not the same "air show" as hitting them with a centerfire...but when you have high-volume work to do, nothing beats it. Well, 17HMR does..but a hundred rounds in...I start getting distracted by the ammo cost! lol
 
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