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

This thread caused a reminiscing of 20years on the prairies and a longing to be back. Some great countryside in those pics. Maybe some day head back. Nothing like a 22CF for lifting those prairie poodles right out of the saddle and use the rimfire up close when the highpower needs to cool down.
 
Last summer while doing my M14Clinics in Calgary's TSE store, I took out 2 gopher rigs: CZVarmint .22LR with Leupold Mark4 LR/T 3.5 x 10 x 40mm mildot and a Ruger 10/22 Compact CRR with a fake Leupold on top.

I loved the semi 10/22 for walking around lots, kneeling and of course: fenceposting shots. Then for the longer shots 40m to 120m plus, I broke out the Varmint .22 and had so much fun. in the past, I flew out here with a .223. Great drama, great fun, maximum splatter, but I really love shooting all afternoon with the .22LR and super cheap recreation.

.22LRGuy, I'm living here in Bantario, too. The secret is to getting the AB gopher killers to bring you out is to offer free bzzr! :D ha ha ha ha ha

Cheers,
Barney
 
A CZ 452 with either AE .22 hp or some CCI Quick Shock if you have to be different .
The CCI would literally suck the gutz out of a quarter sized hole if body shot.
2-7 power in a Leupold glass (CZ now) or Weaver rimfire glass worked fine on the Sako Fin Fire.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
All this gopher talk is making winter worse. Soooo looking forward to taking the new CZs out to pop a few. They're virgins so must be handled with care till the first time. Had a little indoor range time, 20 yrds. Not much of a challenge. Have to do the YO Dave kit on the FS yet, trigger is only fair. Not so patiently waiting,, Fred
 
Don't know about gophers, but I've only ever used 22LR's on groundhogs.

As for whether you should add a 17HMR to your rimfire collection; Yes.
My question is why you have an 17 Mach2 and NOT a 17 HMR.
 
The farmers that I shoot gophers for are very thankful for my service. The critters cause massive crop damage, the holes in grazing pastures don't do much for the cattle. The organic farmers can't use poison so we feed them a little lead pill, they become part of the food chain for owls, hawks and so on. Last year I had a couple of foxes doing undertaker work, picking up fresh kills and stashing them. The land owner says the foxes don't bother the cows so let them be, no problem.
 
It's an us or them thing. If your not from gopher country, you wouldn't understand.

I usually hunt the flat land of the SE but this year I need to get into some stuff west and get some mountain views.

Greg
 
I last shot gophers in 2003 but dont recall having any problems with the lowly .22lr, actually adds a bit of challenge to it for the longer 80-125 yard shots with the wind in southern Alberta. One thing you .22 toting gopher hunters might consider is the D rock or Neil Waltz tool to change the nose profile or open up the hollow points on the bulk 22 stuff for a more impressive terminal effect.
I've got them both and it does make a difference.

w ww.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239273 is a link to a discussion on the tools over on rimfire central just fix the space between the w's
 
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ciphery said:
Don't know about gophers, but I've only ever used 22LR's on groundhogs.

As for whether you should add a 17HMR to your rimfire collection; Yes.
My question is why you have an 17 Mach2 and NOT a 17 HMR.
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Why don't I? Well I've had not 1, but 2 of them over the years. Both great shooters. First was a Savage, second was a CZ452 Varmint. Both held allot less appeal once I shot a groundhog with a .22WMR. No comparison. Then I tried .223 and almost any groundhog I could spot...was within range. :) The decision to buy/try a 17M2 had more to do with having no experience with one...and just wanting to see what it was all about. I have the (Ontario) groundhog guns covered...any HMR I'd get would play 3rd fiddle to them..and would probably collect dust. So, if I want to tinker with a rimfire with more punch than .22lr, lower cost ammo than HMR, more accurate than .22WMR...I figured the 17M2 might be a good gamble. I was right. :)

Now, I think it would reign supreme on 100yard-ish gopher shots, especially if you're mindful of ammo cost....but to your comment about adding an HMR to collection...spot-on. No need for one, but it doesn't stop me from wanting one just the same. The rimfire bases would be covered!
 
Rick911 said:
Why exactly are you killing them again ?
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Not really good for anything. A broken leg on our livestock is never a good thing from these little bastards digging up everything.

Rick911 said:
No...

I see three options:
- To eat
- For fun
Unless you want to control pest on the middle on nowhere (see first post pics)
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My pix were taken 50 yards away form our house on the farm
 
Sounds like a great setup / formula for accuracy and killing power.

FLHTCUI said:
A CZ 452 with either AE .22 hp or some CCI Quick Shock if you have to be different .
The CCI would literally suck the gutz out of a quarter sized hole if body shot.
2-7 power in a Leupold glass (CZ now) or Weaver rimfire glass worked fine on the Sako Fin Fire.
Tight Groups,
Rob
Click to expand...
 
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