Gophers and .22s~what's the real story?

Like many have posted, it's all personal prefrence. Also it comes down to money. I live in Alberta.
Is a gopher worth 35 cents a round? For some yes. For me NO. I use American Eagle cause I can buy bulk HP 5000 rounds @ WSS for $200 taxes in.
That's 4 cents a shot!!!!! I've shot over 200 gophers on a famers land in just over 2 hours. That would cost $70 in .223 saying you hit every time. For .22 cost is $8!
Yes an HMR has a flatter trajectory but little force over 100yds. An WMR has crazy power and punch but at a cost of 12 cents a round.
I can't imagion using a .223 on a gopher. If you want to distroy a gopher, a cheaper why is a shotgun!!! Unless you want great practice pricision shooting with your .223.
Just my 2 cents worth!
 
250 views...almost 20 replies, and not a single invite. You S.O.B.s! :) :) :) Sounds as though my hunch was right, .22lr is enough...and favored for the economy factor. The .17 rimfires both offering more destruction @ 100, HMR beyond that but added cost makes it hold little appeal for the volume shooters. Centerfire~I'd do it once in a while if I lived out there, but don't think I'll lug mine out from Ontario.

Thanks guys, the input is greatly appreciated. Might be the pair of Marlins if I go~the 795 and 917M2. :D
 
I find the land owners are far moe receptive to the "lowly" 22. Doesn't have the c/f noise, doesn't scare cattle or disturb the neighbors. I always get the "come back soon please"
 
just use a 22 and save your money for fuel, ammo, and beer(for after of course) Its not too hard to pick of gophers at 200 yards plus on a calmish day. If a 204 is 30 cents a round and 22 is <5 cents around then you can walk your shot in 7 times and still be ahead of the game.
 
Hey 22 guy, you could come out our way because I'm always pretty busy in the spring and that's when any problems need to be addressed in our crop land. That being said, at the rate grass fields and pastures are being worked up around here there isn't much territory for the gophers left to thrive in. Lots of poisoning going on too, which I really don't agree with, but it has been a very effective means of controlling them when most producers are busy with spring planting. Also, at least around here, it almost seems like gophers have become nomadic....never really setting up camp for too long in one spot like they used to. Just not enough pastures for them anymore. Best chances are in the south....much more wide open and lot's of grazing land, something the little buggers like. Good luck on your quest out west!
 
.22 LR is the way to go just for economics. I must say that when I have enough room - meaning no other farms close by, I break out a .223 or even .243 just for the practice.
 
the "lowly" .22 is all you would need for hunting the everpresent gophers. No big name gun here...a 1940 Marlin 81 with a scope and shooting out to 200 yards. What a blast and such low cost. ,223 and centre fires of the like are really overkill and expensive. But if its your bag to shoot centerfire, the farmers around here will not allow you on the land. This is what i have come upon and i lived here for many years .
 
armorman said:
A 22LR with the cheapest ammo availiable is all you need. Been hunting them like that for 35 years. That being said, a nice 204 with good optics might be the ticket for those little buggers that are laughing at you when they're out of range....
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That's what makes my 204 so fun. Went out last year with 3x9 the gun came with. Farthest shots were 175 yards and were fairly easy off the bipod. I bought a bushnell 4200 6x24 for it off the EE. Really happy with it so far, haven't did any gophers with it yet but I think 300 yard shots shouldn't be too hard. ( I'm hoping)
 
With all the rimfires I have to choose from, I still reach for my semi auto .22 (yes 10/22) with large cap mags as my first choice at gopher season (primary gun).
You will have just as much fun with a good .22 bolt gun. Use winchester 333's and it will be very effective out to past 100yds. Do not use blue box federals: poor hp performance.
I would see whatever else you take as a backup option. I rank the hm2 slightly ahead of the .22 mag in that case. It's cheaper, quieter, and a bit more accurate for me. Gophers do fly higher when hit by a .22 mag, but the HM2 hits them with authority, certainly harder than a .22 LR.
Sorry, no photos to share.
The HMR (I don't have one), with ammo cost almost 2x the HM2 is not one I would choose, esp if I don't already have one.
 
I use Remington Yellow Jackets in my Brno 2E for gophers and their knock down stay down guts inside out capability is very impressive. They feed reliably through my rifle and I have nearly 30,000 rounds down range since 1986, I swear by them. Some people poo poo them (poo poo is a technical term) saying they are not accurate but it's immaterial to me whether I make contact in the right eye or the left eye. I've shot out to about 125 yards but they are more effective in the 75 yard range. I'm all enthused to make the trip next summer!!!
 
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Not sure what some people call expensive but my ammo costs are as follows. 22lr = ~$20 for 525, hm2 = $8-9 for 50, hmr = $15 for 50, 22wmr = $13 fore 50, 223 = $17 for 50 vmax. Imho that isnt much money no matter what caliber used. Sometime you gotta pay for the fun factor of seeing them flying through the air.
 
Being a born and raised Albertan, in great gopher country no less, I feel I can offer a opinion. I've never seen the need for a .17 HMR, and several of my buddies beg to differ. The .22 is far cheaper and just as effective to the ranges you can shoot off a fence post, or kneeling. If you want to go prone with a bipod, .223 can be reloaded for about the price of .17 HMR and can take you out far further than the .17 HMR. So really what's the point?

My gopher shooting is mostly done from the kneeling position or using a fence post. I used to use a semi .22, but went all out this last winter and bought what I think to be the perfect gopher rifle. Superbly accurate, the varmint barrel is light enough that it is not a pain to walk around with, but heavy enough to steady your aim when shooting offhand or kneeling. The Leupold 2-7x28 rimfire is small, light, has a fine crosshair and 2-7 power is great for walking the fields.

A picture if I have too:
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*lawrence said:
I use Remington Yellow Jackets in my Brno 2E for gophers and their knock down stay down guts inside out capability is very impressive. They feed reliably through my rifle and I have nearly 30,000 rounds down range since 1986, I swear by them. Some people poo poo them (poo poo is a technical term) saying they are not accurate but it's immaterial to me whether I make contact in the right eye or the left eye. I've shoot out to about 125 yards but they are more effective in the 75 yard range. I'm all enthused to make the trip next summer!!!
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+1 for Remington Yellow Jackets. Out of all the .22 LR ammo I have tried these anchored gophers the best and made a heck of a mess. I haven't tried them out of my Volquartsen yet though.

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metalbender said:
I do all my shooting from a rotating portable bench, arthritis is a b##ch. Don't have any stills, have a video camera mount for the top of the scope.
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Boy, that's a sweet collection right there.
Do tell me a few details on the Weaver mounted on the full stock.
Just a great looking team.

Here's one of my old gals.

 
The Weaver is a 3-9x32 AO, the FS is a recent purchase. Had the scope on my Buckmark rifle. It seemed like a good match for the FS so off it came. Stuck a Bugbuster on the BMR for lack of a suitable replacement. Another Weaver or similar small quality scope may come my way before spring. Some things are just meant to be. What type of rifle is that? My old Annie also has the schnable fore end.
 
metalbender said:
The Weaver is a 3-9x32 AO, the FS is a recent purchase. Had the scope on my Buckmark rifle. It seemed like a good match for the FS so off it came. Stuck a Bugbuster on the BMR for lack of a suitable replacement. Another Weaver or similar small quality scope may come my way before spring. Some things are just meant to be. What type of rifle is that? My old Annie also has the schnable fore end.
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Don't see too many Weaver optics around anymore.
You happy with the performance of it?

That little pea shooter of mine is a buhbubbed Winchester Model 69A.
I just love this little gal.
Shoots to please.
It's hard for me to get use to the dang scope sitting off center of the barrel.
That's the only complaint I have of these fine gals.
I missed one at the Salmon Arm gun show that the receiver was grooved.
Funny little creatures these are as they always find ways to surprise me with
the different variations of the way they were built around the time clock.
 
Like the Weaver, was a little pricey at WSS at $340, but like you say they're hard to come by. I'm in need of another smaller scope, did some research on the forums about the Burris Timberline. I like to have a bit more magnification. Seeing mixed reviews on it though. Hate to order one and find it unsatisfactory.
 
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