Which Cartridge for Gopher's???

Camp Cook

Camp Cook

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
94   0   0
Location
B.C.
I just spent 3 days shooting gophers in Alberta with my T/C Contender carbine 16.5" barreled 22lr and a Rem 700P 26" heavy barreled 223 rifle.

I am now looking for a cal/cartridge/rifle combo that is between the 22lr and the 223.

The 22lr didn't have enough reach/power and due to being close to several farms the 223 was to loud and had more power than I needed.

Which cartridge/caliber/rifle would you guys recommend.

I'm kind of leaning towards a 17HMR so I don't have to reload but I am open to other ideas as well.
 
Handload the 223 with reduced loads of BLUEDOT.

You can make pretty quiet and zero recoil loads with these. Much cheaper and more rewarding than buying another gun:p
 
I love the HMR out to 150 on gophers, quiet and you can see your hits. The .204 sounds promising, but only if you shoot past 200.....a hit at 150 is a hit at 150, and the HMR is CHEAP to feed(10-12 bucks/50.....and you get a premium bullet) The HMR is also very flat out to 150, and useable to 200. The only thing to watch is the wind....blows that 17gr pill around something fierce.

Ryan
 
The only issue I have with the .17 is for coyotes and long range hogs. I have seen a couple of them come back and guys trade up because the 17hmr was lacking for long range and just did not have the energy for coyotes.
If I am out spanking groundhogs I want to be able to wack Wile-E-Coyote when he comes trotting across the field.
 
Not much difference between the muzzle blast on a .223 vs .204. 22 Hornet on the other hand..........

Reduced loads in the .223 is a good idea, but why cheat yourself out of another gun.

PS: You really should start reloading.;):)
 
Gatehouse point well taken... I have already played with the reduced Blue Dot loads and have about 5 to 6 lbs of it on the shelf still. Blue Dot is one of my favorite powders for top velocity 10mm's and medium + velocity 44 mag loads. My groups with the reduced loads where ok but I was hoping for better accuaracy. 13.5grs Blue Dot 50gr Sierra Blitz = 2770fps average and 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" groups depending on the wind @ 100 yards but basically the same point of impact as my standard 50gr loads. That load would work great for gophers though and maybe the answer to my problem.

Does anyone here have any experience with reduced Blue Dot loads but with lighter bullets? I am shooting a 1 in 9" twist so haven't tried lighter bullets yet.

LittleBoyLefty I've actually been reloading for over 25 years now. What I meant was that it would be nice to shoot a gun that I don't have to reload for. I already load for about 30 different cartridges which makes it tough to keep up will all of the different loads that I shoot.

It comes down to time/money which I'm running out of lately. :)
 
Sorry, misunderstood you just a little bit. Reloading for thirty cartridges would eat into a guys time................ 17HMR then?:)
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
Not much difference between the muzzle blast on a .223 vs .204. 22 Hornet on the other hand..........
Click to expand...
What?!?!? The Hornet is MUCH quieter than a .223/.204. You can almost get by without hearing protection with a Hornet (though I don't recommend it - I try to use protection on everything incl 22lr's)

Blue dot loads with the .223 are a good idea.

I'm not a fan of the HMR though - everything it does, the Hornet does better. Flat trajectory - Hornet is flatter. Makes gophers pop - Hornet 'helicopters' them. Non-reloadable - the Hornet is. Expensive - you can reload the hornet with PREMIUM components for the same price, or cheaper components for a lot cheaper. Sure, you don't have to reload for it, and don't need to police your brass, but I just can't justify shooting rimfire ammo at centerfire prices.

I've been meaning to try some blue dot loads, but haven't gotten around to is. Google for 'blue dot loads' - you can find info for the Hornet, .223 and 22-250 quite easily.

A fun trick with the Hornet (should probably also work with the 223, but the longer neck of the Hornet make it easier) is to prime an empty cartridge, and pop a 22-cal airgun pellet into the neck :)
 
Last edited:
Not another "one gun thread"! You will require no less than 4(four) guns to properly hunt gophers.

1. 22 lr open sights lever
2. 22 mag
3. 22 cal CF
4. Pump 20 gauge #4

Different times of the year and different feilds demand a selection. There is nothing like walking in a recently grazed pasture full of pups with a 20 gauge in hand.
 
More thoughts on the HMR - it seems to me that this is a rimfire trying to be a centerfire. It has the range, but not the wind resistance for longer shots, effectively limiting it to ~125 yards or so (when have you known a gopher patch to be not windy?)

I have an HMR, and find that it gets almost no use - I find myself reaching for the Hornet everytime. I'm planning on selling it or trading it in one of these days, just don't know what to trade it for yet.

I was considerig a 22 WMR - you can get them with a premium VMAX bullet now, better range than a 22lr, and carries more power out to ~125 yards. Given the suceptibility of the HMR to wind, I don't generally shoot it out that far anyway

And regarding the reloading time - I usually find a day every few months to just go nuts and load a few thousand Hornets at a time. Sure it writes off a whole day, but usually produces enough ammo to see me through a few months of shooting
 
prosper said:
What?!?!? The Hornet is MUCH quieter than a .223/.204. You can almost get by without hearing protection with a Hornet (though I don't recommend it - I try to use protection on everything incl 22lr's)
Click to expand...

What I meant was, the 22Hornet on the other hand is much quieter.:)

Cool idea w/ the primer and pellet. Fun for plinking, eh.
 
Lazy Ike said:
Not another "one gun thread"! You will require no less than 4(four) guns to properly hunt gophers.

1. 22 lr open sights lever
2. 22 mag
3. 22 cal CF
4. Pump 20 gauge #4

Different times of the year and different feilds demand a selection. There is nothing like walking in a recently grazed pasture full of pups with a 20 gauge in hand.
Click to expand...

I usually bring a 22lr bolt, scoped; the Hornet; a 22-250 or 204, and something ridiculously big for ####s and giggles. A 7mm08 with 120 grain VMAX's, or a 308 with 110 VMAX's are fun. Especially at point blank range (note: clean gopher guts off your vehicle asap, once they dry they're quite difficult to get off...)

It would be nice to have a 22lr lever or semi with open sights as well
 
The 221 fireball is still available (as are rifles) though more of a reloader's prospect. Hornet factory ammo is too expensive. I doubt either are going to get dramatic quad back flips, air time or doubles.
 
Load a Hornet with 35gr VMAX's, and it's every bit as specacular as a 22-250, out to about 100 yards. Surprisingly explosive. Much MUCH more gratifying than the HMR.

+1 on the fireball, it's been on my 'to buy' list for a while
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom