OK...so who else is getting their 2016 gopher gun set-up?

[.22LRGUY]

Alright, so the rimfire forum has been relatively quiet in recent weeks. Totally understandable with fall hunting/fishing distracting many of us. However, with a 2016 gopher trip to Alberta planned...I've been working on getting the necessary goodies in to set-up my own personal gopher-shooter for next spring. Yes, I live in S. Ontario...but this will be my second trip to AB for this purpose, and with the amount of time I plan on spending out there.....22lr is the most economical route to go. I'm told to expect a good number of gophers. My Marlin 917 Varmint will be along for the ride as well, but the heavy lifting will be done by the 22. At least, that's the plan.

So, for months, I've been rounding-up various types of high-velocity ammo to test-out. CCI Blazer, Mini-Mags, American Eagle, Remington Yellow Jackets (no high hopes for this one accuracy-wise) and at least one other that escapes me. I also have some SV ammo that may get kissed by the Waltz hollow-pointer if it proves to have a real accuracy advantage. CCI SV, SK, Federal, etc. Looking forward to that process, and I'm almost there. An experienced Alberta gophernator told me that American Eagle (in his experience) has proven to be the best combination of price, accuracy and effectiveness for gophers but I'm 100% open to opinions on the subject. If you own a CZ452~I'm even more interested. Photos welcome. Scratch that, photos encouraged!

The rifle is a NIB, CZ452 Varmint. Scope is Sightron that just arrived this week; http://info.sightron.com/Riflescopes/SI-Hunter-Series/SIH-TAC412X40AOHHR/ I bought this scope sight-unseen new from a dealer, and just opened it last night. I'm really encouraged by what I see. Rings arrived Wednesday too; http://warnescopemounts.com/product/722-1-inch-7-322-medium-rings/ (high) I've researched the scope/ring/CZ compatibility (=bolt clearance) and everything should work-out just fine. I'll be sure to update once it's together, and I have some photos.

So...maybe a little nuts to be thinking about all of this in second half of September...anyone else in the same boat?

Oh...and I should add~98% of my gophering has been done with a 17HMR, the other 2% a .223 and a 12ga. I've seen plenty knocked-over with 22s. The least exciting, but the end result is the same.

 

[ssapach]

I'm waiting on a very special 243 that I will use for anything......including gophers, because it should be about as entertaining as the 22-250 is!

 

[grelmar]

My 795 impressed me so much this year, I bought her a purdy new dress from Boyd's.

I'm also going to get her a nice dual swivel bipod, and a proper leather sling. I'll probably even wrap them up and put them under the xmas tree for her. She deserves a merry xmas after the good work she put in this year.

 

[Prairie Plinker]

I managed over 300 gophers with the CZ 452 Varmint I've got. Made four or five trips out this summer, I'm already regretting not getting out more! Next year.

FWIW, my 452 shoots most things I've tried so far quite well. For gophering I was sticking with the CCI Mini-Mag's. I shot some Stingers but I don't think they were quite as accurate. For paper, tin cans, etc. I use American Eagle as I find it's the cleanest "cheap" ammo there is.

 

[metalbender]

Yeah, the season's done here. Didn't keep a tally of all I got this summer, over 2k for sure. Have trouble picking a favorite CZ. The 452 Lux and Evo Scout seem to go out more often than the Ultra or 452 and 455 FS. They all shoot great, even with my goto ammo, Win 555. The Waltz die does make the hp's more devastating. Back to poking holes in paper for the winter.

 

[.22LRGUY]

Yeah, the season's done here. Didn't keep a tally of all I got this summer, over 2k for sure. Have trouble picking a favorite CZ. The 452 Lux and Evo Scout seem to go out more often than the Ultra or 452 and 455 FS. They all shoot great, even with my goto ammo, Win 555. The Waltz die does make the hp's more devastating. Back to poking holes in paper for the winter.

Good to hear! What ammo worked best, and did the Waltz die make even SV ammo more effective? Just wondering if the hollow point is significant enough to open-up even SV stuff. Would be nice if it did!

 

[.22LRGUY]

My 795 impressed me so much this year, I bought her a purdy new dress from Boyd's.

I'm also going to get her a nice dual swivel bipod, and a proper leather sling. I'll probably even wrap them up and put them under the xmas tree for her. She deserves a merry xmas after the good work she put in this year.

I have a couple of 795s...the stainless one wants to go to AB, just not sure bringing 3 rifles makes sense. Yours looks sharp though!

 

[667]

I'll need this thread to keep on going to get me through the long cold winter...

Don't know where/when, but I gots me a .243, a CZ455 in .17hmr and a vintage .22 mossberg 151-MB I'd employ...

 

[.22LRGUY]

I'll need this thread to keep on going to get me through the long cold winter...

Don't know where/when, but I gots me a .243, a CZ455 in .17hmr and a vintage .22 mossberg 151-MB I'd employ...

^lol...I hear you. I put 5 hours on my truck every weekend for the chance to shoot a few groundhogs with the .223 here in Ontario. Last summer...laying with a Savage 9317 TR in a pasture SW of Calgary...I didn't need to even move for an hour. At times, wish I had someone loading mags for me. Couldn't believe my eyes...just knocking them over like bowling pins. Bowling pins that come apart.

 

[667]

Yeah.. I think the best groundhog day I had was six or so...
Not near as fun as Colorado prairie dogs...

There's an organized CGN gopher event I've read about in the hunting forum that sounds fun...

 

[Dynamic1]

You have a .223, why not use that? You can zap gophers out to 300 yds + and when you hit them they, well, come apart. The .22 just hits and generally pencils. Anything beyond 50 yds and you need to pull out your ballistic table and start clicking in billet drop. The .17 HMR is definitely fun to about 150 yds, unless there is a wind (which, of course, is common in Alberta.

The .223, aim for the head or use a slight hold-over out to 300+ yds. You have it anyway, use it as the primary and when it gets too hot, shift over to the .22 and/or 17 HMR for the close ones.

My $0.02, worth what it cost (but based on my experience in Alberta)

 

[hometownhero]

Mine is the same as always. cz 452 hmr, cz 452 lux 22lr and cz 452 american 22lr. The 22's shoot mini mags for the most part.

 

[.22LRGUY]

You have a .223, why not use that? You can zap gophers out to 300 yds + and when you hit them they, well, come apart. The .22 just hits and generally pencils. Anything beyond 50 yds and you need to pull out your ballistic table and start clicking in billet drop. The .17 HMR is definitely fun to about 150 yds, unless there is a wind (which, of course, is common in Alberta.

The .223, aim for the head or use a slight hold-over out to 300+ yds. You have it anyway, use it as the primary and when it gets too hot, shift over to the .22 and/or 17 HMR for the close ones.

My $0.02, worth what it cost (but based on my experience in Alberta)

Thanks for the post, and I agree 100%. However, with what WestJet charges to travel with an extra pc. of "baggage"...plus an airline-grade case....I decided it makes more sense to set-up a 22 I could ship out there to my buddies in Calgary, and leave with them if I choose to. (PAL/RPAL holders) Inexpensive to feed if the volume gets up there, without the burden of asking my buddies to store bulk .223. Also, my .223 shoots handloads best but I don't have a progressive press. Little single-stage job. Hand loading is slow, and I have nowhere to do it out there if I run into big numbers and run-out. The downside to being a traveling gopher-slayer...but such is life.

On the 17HMR issue~yes, can't imagine being out there without one and...well...same deal. It may stay out there with the .22 for future trips.

My .223 on groundhog duty here this summer. Best day this year~12, but I had 2 other days where I whacked almost as many. (9 and 10)

 

[Hitzy]

Just got a HB 17hmr because ammo akways seems to be around vs .22mag which is dry as ####....gonna see how well it does.

 

[savagecanuck]

Alright, so the rimfire forum has been relatively quiet in recent weeks. Totally understandable with fall hunting/fishing distracting many of us. However, with a 2016 gopher trip to Alberta planned...I've been working on getting the necessary goodies in to set-up my own personal gopher-shooter for next spring. Yes, I live in S. Ontario...but this will be my second trip to AB for this purpose, and with the amount of time I plan on spending out there.....22lr is the most economical route to go. I'm told to expect a good number of gophers. My Marlin 917 Varmint will be along for the ride as well, but the heavy lifting will be done by the 22. At least, that's the plan.

So, for months, I've been rounding-up various types of high-velocity ammo to test-out. CCI Blazer, Mini-Mags, American Eagle, Remington Yellow Jackets (no high hopes for this one accuracy-wise) and at least one other that escapes me. I also have some SV ammo that may get kissed by the Waltz hollow-pointer if it proves to have a real accuracy advantage. CCI SV, SK, Federal, etc. Looking forward to that process, and I'm almost there. An experienced Alberta gophernator told me that American Eagle (in his experience) has proven to be the best combination of price, accuracy and effectiveness for gophers but I'm 100% open to opinions on the subject. If you own a CZ452~I'm even more interested. Photos welcome. Scratch that, photos encouraged!

The rifle is a NIB, CZ452 Varmint. Scope is Sightron that just arrived this week; http://info.sightron.com/Riflescopes/SI-Hunter-Series/SIH-TAC412X40AOHHR/ I bought this scope sight-unseen new from a dealer, and just opened it last night. I'm really encouraged by what I see. Rings arrived Wednesday too; http://warnescopemounts.com/product/722-1-inch-7-322-medium-rings/ (high) I've researched the scope/ring/CZ compatibility (=bolt clearance) and everything should work-out just fine. I'll be sure to update once it's together, and I have some photos.

So...maybe a little nuts to be thinking about all of this in second half of September...anyone else in the same boat?

Oh...and I should add~98% of my gophering has been done with a 17HMR, the other 2% a .223 and a 12ga. I've seen plenty knocked-over with 22s. The least exciting, but the end result is the same.

We must be on the same page.Just in the process of trying to find ammo the 452 varmint likes.For cheap distance plinking up to 100yds I use American eagle.Beyond usually CCI minimags.I've only shot the CZ out to 90 yds as I've only had it out 3 times.Had to rework the trigger twice,I like it now as it breaks at 2.5lbs stock was 4lbs.My Savage TR is no slouch either having completed the 50yd challange and I routinley shoot it out to 170 yds with CCI minimag SP or tacticle.Not much for shooting Varmints as we have too many laws regarding them in BC.I shot lots when I was younger now prefer to watch clays die.
Post us up a pic of your set up when its ready,sounds identicle too mine including rings.

 

[marcoman]

Shot thousands of gophers over the years. Last 5yrs or so have been pretty dismal for numbers out here around Calgary.

Anyway, the Winchester Power Point is my favorite gopher ammo for .22lr. It is extremely accurate and very consistent in my guns.
The hollow points cavity is massive and dumps noticibly more energy on target than any other high velocity hp out there. Some of the hyper velocity ammo is more impressive in tight but accuracy is generally poor and beyond 50yds the PP's rule.

Was dumping gophers at 100yds+ this spring with PP's out of an Annie 1827 with boring regularity.

 

[.22LRGUY]

We must be on the same page.Just in the process of trying to find ammo the 452 varmint likes.For cheap distance plinking up to 100yds I use American eagle.Beyond usually CCI minimags.I've only shot the CZ out to 90 yds as I've only had it out 3 times.Had to rework the trigger twice,I like it now as it breaks at 2.5lbs stock was 4lbs.My Savage TR is no slouch either having completed the 50yd challange and I routinley shoot it out to 170 yds with CCI minimag SP or tacticle.Not much for shooting Varmints as we have too many laws regarding them in BC.I shot lots when I was younger now prefer to watch clays die.
Post us up a pic of your set up when its ready,sounds identicle too mine including rings.

Hey savagecanuck~your set-up was part of the inspiration, and your choice of rings confirmed what I'd researched over on RFC. My Sightron is more of an entry-level offering, but considering it's likely a 6-7 day a year scope...I had to factor that into the decision. I also have a Vortex Viper HS as a back-up if for any reason the Sightron doesn't deliver, but based on what I see so far...it's probably the nicest scope in this price range I've ever held in my hands. Very impressed so far, but it hasn't been mounted or used yet either. I'll report back with photos.

On a side note...I've shot clays for over 30 years at trap and skeet clubs and while I still do that about every 2-3 weeks all year long....I'm now looking for a little variety. Groundhogs fill that void nicely, gophers a nice extension of that. Edibles~grouse in the fall/turkey in the spring. The fact that I love Alberta so much and have friends there~just a bonus.

Shot thousands of gophers over the years. Last 5yrs or so have been pretty dismal for numbers out here around Cagary.

Anyway, the Winchester Power Point is my favorite gopher ammo for .22lr. It is extremely accurate and very consistent in my guns.
The hollow points cavity is massive and dumps noticibly more energy on target than any other high velocity hp out there. Some of the hyper velocity ammo is more impressive in tight but accuracy is generally poor and beyond 50yds the PP's rule.

Was dumping gophers at 100yds+ this spring with PP's out of an Annie 1827 with boring regularity.

Hey Marco~do you mean DynaPoints? I don't see a 22 offering on their site called "power points". Winchester makes a "Power Point" but it looks like it's a centerfire bullet they sell for reloading. If I'm wrong (and I may very well be) please send me a link. Thanks!

 

[marcoman]

The Dyna-points are kinda mediocre, as are the X-perts. The Power Points are what you want to try. I think they used to weigh 42gr but somewhere along the way they became 40gr. Regardless they are accurate and hit hard!

Power Points compared to CCI Mini-Mags. Sorry for the enormous pics:

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[savagecanuck]

Glad to hear I helped you spend some money!!!.I'm off to the range on Sunday with another nutter with a 452 varmint and sightron combo.Where going to swap some ammo and work on groups and hopefully find something the CZ's like.Have you done anything to your trigger yet? PM me if you need any help with it.

 

[metalbender]

Those Dyna points could be modded with a Waltz die. Just lucked into two 500 rnd White boxes at a local Wally for $ 26.56. They seem o shoot quite well out of the CZ's.