A little bit of practice and a PA groundhog

MLC · May 11, 2005, 09:03 PM

I've been after a family of groundhogs for a couple days and actually took a few shots at one while a friend was "on hold" the other day.
Today I got to connect, albeit from a hasty and precarious rest.
I got the sucker from 124 yards(laser measured, paced at 126) with my CZ 452 22lr, Leupold 2-7 Compact and a Remington Subsonic hollow point.
The precarious part was that I was resting on the post of a live electric fence.

The groundhog was moving around for quite a while and not giving me a shot until it poked it's head up under one of our Christmas tree funnels.
He was on the fieldstones we use for ballast and peeking out from under the fiberglass making the shot a little tricky because I didn't want to nick the fiberglass.

I'd previously laser ranged the area they've been frequenting and knew it was around 125 yards.
I set up some plywood(after my previous misses) and shot at the top edge to see what my drop was at that range with my current 50 yard zero.
The drop was approximately 12".
So I held the thick part of the duplex reticle just behind his ear.
Figuring my drop was a hair lower than the junction on the reticle.
This is where the fiberglass tension came into play because I was aiming right at it with the crosshairs.

Since it was subsonic ammo it took a bit for the sound of the whack to get to me and I saw the hog roll off the stones at about the same time.

In the pics above and below you can see the rocks he was perched on, sneaky SOB.

I said to my friend that it was really nice to see what practice, patience, marksmanship and a little luck will get you.

esheato · May 11, 2005, 09:10 PM

Stop kidding yourself, luck had nothing to do with it.

You used a rangefinder and found the distance. You knew your rifle and the loads drop for that distance. You executed the shot with proper marksmanship (using a rest, trigger control). You had done your research and were prepared and the bullet connected. One shot, quick and painless.

If only every other hunter took as much preparation as you had, hunters would have a much better reputation.

Nice shot and great post.

Ed

9mm1033 · May 12, 2005, 07:57 AM

Punxsutawney Phil Beware. MLC is on the prowl. Nice shot!

Twycross · May 12, 2005, 08:50 AM

Nice shot! But next time, maybe a few less pics? Its really slow loading for those of us unfortunate enough to be stuck with dial-up.

FirstFreedom · May 12, 2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Punxsutawney Phil Beware

Ya beat me to it - I was gonna say, "he killed Punxsatawney Phil, y'all!". Ha. Very nice story, pics, and detail - good shooting!

Big Yac · May 12, 2005, 12:53 PM

I've decided that I'm going to get out soon and shoot some groundhogs. Well Sunday I decided that since I havent shot my Winchester model 70 in .243 for alittle over a year I'd take it out and see how its shooting. I have several boxes of Federal classic 80gr ammo (which I have never used before) and to my surprise I had great groups at 300 yards. I also have a 3x-9.5x Leupold scope on the gun. I think I may just start using this .243 instead of my usual 30-06 for groundhogs

May 11, 2005, 09:03 PM	#1
MLC Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2001 Location: New Hope, PA Posts: 230	A little bit of practice and a PA groundhog I've been after a family of groundhogs for a couple days and actually took a few shots at one while a friend was "on hold" the other day. Today I got to connect, albeit from a hasty and precarious rest. I got the sucker from 124 yards(laser measured, paced at 126) with my CZ 452 22lr, Leupold 2-7 Compact and a Remington Subsonic hollow point. The precarious part was that I was resting on the post of a live electric fence. The groundhog was moving around for quite a while and not giving me a shot until it poked it's head up under one of our Christmas tree funnels. He was on the fieldstones we use for ballast and peeking out from under the fiberglass making the shot a little tricky because I didn't want to nick the fiberglass. I'd previously laser ranged the area they've been frequenting and knew it was around 125 yards. I set up some plywood(after my previous misses) and shot at the top edge to see what my drop was at that range with my current 50 yard zero. The drop was approximately 12". So I held the thick part of the duplex reticle just behind his ear. Figuring my drop was a hair lower than the junction on the reticle. This is where the fiberglass tension came into play because I was aiming right at it with the crosshairs. Since it was subsonic ammo it took a bit for the sound of the whack to get to me and I saw the hog roll off the stones at about the same time. In the pics above and below you can see the rocks he was perched on, sneaky SOB. I said to my friend that it was really nice to see what practice, patience, marksmanship and a little luck will get you.

May 12, 2005, 07:57 AM	#3
9mm1033 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: A big city with far too many cars and people. Posts: 932	Punxsutawney Phil Beware. MLC is on the prowl. Nice shot! __________________ No one reads or cares what is written in ones signature box. So I'm not writing anything worth reading or remembering.

May 12, 2005, 08:50 AM	#4
Twycross Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 1,187	Nice shot! But next time, maybe a few less pics? Its really slow loading for those of us unfortunate enough to be stuck with dial-up. __________________ The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty, and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. - Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN (ret.)

May 12, 2005, 12:53 PM	#6
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	I've decided that I'm going to get out soon and shoot some groundhogs. Well Sunday I decided that since I havent shot my Winchester model 70 in .243 for alittle over a year I'd take it out and see how its shooting. I have several boxes of Federal classic 80gr ammo (which I have never used before) and to my surprise I had great groups at 300 yards. I also have a 3x-9.5x Leupold scope on the gun. I think I may just start using this .243 instead of my usual 30-06 for groundhogs __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

May 11, 2005, 09:10 PM	#2
esheato Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Marysville, CA Posts: 110	Stop kidding yourself, luck had nothing to do with it. You used a rangefinder and found the distance. You knew your rifle and the loads drop for that distance. You executed the shot with proper marksmanship (using a rest, trigger control). You had done your research and were prepared and the bullet connected. One shot, quick and painless. If only every other hunter took as much preparation as you had, hunters would have a much better reputation. Nice shot and great post. Ed