shooting gophers

Today was the 22-250 Ackley sending Hornady 40gr VMAX.

Not sure if that combo makes for the best target report.

I actually think the ol' 22-250 Rem, 50gr Blitzking, and H380 provides for a better lift off.
 
dan belisle said:
I have one of those. Mostly run 55-60 gr bullets, and use it on coyote sized game. - dan
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First year trying 40gr. I’ve always used Sierra 50 BK or Berger 52 FB for gophers. Send them as fast as possible out of a 14 twist Krieger for maximum impact velocity.

Think I’ll go back to the 50gr.
 
powerbaitron said:
Sometimes the babies and females don’t come out until mid June. I have been noticing less gophers in my area as well though. Spots that used to be easy 150 kill afternoons are now 40 gopher days. Makes me really bare down when I do see one so I don’t miss.
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I have to agree with your observations that the numbers are down this year. My favorite spots have far fewer gophers out and about this year than last.
 
No.1 cartridge is the good old .22lr hp. next is .17hmr, last is .22wmr. Also have been known to use 12 and 20 gauge for close quarter defence. Not fussy about which .22lr, as long as it is hollow point, but not Remington Thunderbolt. I have shot thousands with Winchester 333, 555, W-W HP, Federal Blue box HP.

I like reloading, but not enough to fiddle around loading 1000's of small caliber. I have a nice old-time 22-250, built in 1947 by G.B. Crandall, that I might try sometime. It is a heavy barrel with an Unertl scope, so not exactly a light little gopher gun. I use a small folding stool and a camera tripod with a custom v-shaped rest (manufactured by my sidekick professional gopher shooter from Ontario).
 
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I have seen everything from .17 to .50 (black powder) used on gophers.

For gopher shooting I took 3 rifles: A .22LR for distances to 100m, a 17HMR for distances to 150m and a .223Rem for anything past 150m. The 17HMR has impressive terminal results and seems to me the balance between the low cost of .22LR and the performance of .223Rem.
 
.22LR. Quiet, efficient and affordable, with all the range you really need.

You might want to bring along another rifle in a larger calibre, just in case you want to knock off a spectator.
I have had both coyote and badger show up to watch and wait for the free meals.
 
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