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June 11, 2017, 04:48 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: June 2, 2016
Location: Pennsylvania
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Whistle Pig Down / .223 round recommendations
Got another woodchuck this afternoon, little rat has been ravaging the kale and spinach plants in our garden. This is the second I've taken this year with the Savage MKII chambered in .22lr. I just recently purchased an AR-15 in 5.56, what are some rounds you all have used on your varmint hunts? I ordered some plain Jane .223 Wolf Gold FMJs, $6 on Brownells and with free shipping too!
Also, if anyone has any ideas on how I can make a better scope hood, or even one that doesn't look as ridiculous, let me know please! Sun was shining on me this morning and up until about 1pm, I was worried the 'chucks would see the glare! By the way this old girl had to be close to 13lbs...wish I had a scale! Not too shabby, but I've heard of larger specimens in North Central Penna http://imgur.com/6Uv13Zi |
June 11, 2017, 05:46 PM | #2 |
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I use American Eagle 50gr varmint tips for coyotes, my AR shoots them well. Depending on the bell diameter I used a hand towels roller and wrapped it with camo tape. I was surprised it lasted all season but didn't look beat up at all, cheap and efficient LoL
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June 11, 2017, 07:54 PM | #3 |
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All of my woodchuck experience has been with a .22 or a .243 with 58 grain ballistic tips. These are supposed to be pretty spectacular, but I've heard mixed reviews on accuracy:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/41...free-box-of-50 |
June 11, 2017, 08:19 PM | #4 |
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How much bacon you gittin off em whislers?
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June 11, 2017, 09:29 PM | #5 |
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"I use American Eagle 50gr varmint tips for coyotes"
That's a good choice. Another option is the Fiocchi 40 or 50 grain V-Max ammo. All three are excellent for use in areas where there are houses not far away. |
June 11, 2017, 10:27 PM | #6 |
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Sorry.....had to find out what a Whistle Pig was....
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June 12, 2017, 08:55 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
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June 12, 2017, 11:48 AM | #8 |
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Depends on how many pieces you want them in, and how many hands will be required to pick them up.
35-40gr can be pretty dramatic, but I'm unfamiliar with woodchuck but I would guess most .223 will be gory, might need to rinse the kale, especially if it's close range. |
June 12, 2017, 12:45 PM | #9 |
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"...close to 13lbs..." Ground hogs don't go to 13 pounds. Eight isn't unusual though.
"...don't eat them..." You can if you want. They eat exactly the same thing cows do. And they're cleaner. "...worried the 'chucks would see the glare..." Highly unlikely. Isn't something that sets off the ground hog alarms anyway. Movement does that. "...hand towels roller..." TP tube taped on the form ocular with masking tape works too. But it's not really necessary. Something is for coyotes. Wiley pays more attention to what's going on around him. Anyway, any ammo that your rifle shoot well will do for ground hogs. Shot 'em with everything from .22 LR to 220 grain Silvertips(semi-jacketed with an Al cap on the exposed lead. Not made any more. sniff.) .30-06. Not one of complained about what bullet killed 'em. Accuracy is what's important. Not the bullet weight.
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June 12, 2017, 03:33 PM | #10 |
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For whistle pigs if you hit them squarely with a good 223 load, it will do the trick regardless of bullet mfg. Having said that, I do like the Hornady V-Max.
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June 12, 2017, 10:26 PM | #11 |
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As stated any 223 load will end em in real short order but a ~40 grain ballistic/hollow tip will 'splode em.
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June 13, 2017, 07:14 PM | #12 |
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Next up...... woodchuck recipes?!
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June 13, 2017, 10:43 PM | #13 |
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I'm not sure if you're in the market for another rifle but a .22 Hornet would be about perfect...
Tony |
June 14, 2017, 07:52 AM | #14 |
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I like 50-55 grain varmint-type bullets. Sierra Blitzking, Hornady V-Max and other varmint bullets are designed to minimize ricochets. I can testify to their relative safety, compared with bullets designed for larger animals or FMJ bullets.
FMJs should never be used if there are people/homes within a mile or so, especially with larger, heavier bullets. |
June 15, 2017, 04:02 PM | #15 |
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I like reloaded Vmax for 223 but to save the garden I'd stick with the 22.
Last edited by HALL,AUSTIN; June 15, 2017 at 04:11 PM. |
June 17, 2017, 02:42 AM | #16 |
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article
Big name gun writer John Barsness just did an article in "Rifle" magazine on the .223 ctg for prairie dogs and general varmint use. I believe he liked the 50 grain Nosler Ballistic tip and was very big on the sleek BT design and how flat it shot and the low recoil.
My own .223 varmint loads use the 52 gr Sierra Match King bullets at a rather modest velocity, more like .22 Hornet +P. I don't shoot enough to mind the cost of the more expensive competition slug. Groundhogs are scarce here, and crows are my main target. |
June 17, 2017, 03:01 PM | #17 |
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I'm real fond of the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip on coyote sized critters and smaller. For such a little bullet, it'll do a big job on a coyote. Very accurate in my 9 twist Ruger Hawkeye, and you can push it well over 3500 fps.
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June 18, 2017, 09:05 AM | #18 | |
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Quote:
But, good call on the Hornet. I grew up using a 22 Hornet on rock chucks. Very good medicine!
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