Caliber choice for prairie dogs

[1mechanic]

204 and 22-250

 

[sourdough44]

223, 204, then 22-250. Time of year factor in. For me, the 223 with a 50 grain frangible bullet covers most bases.

 

[Mustang72]

223. Hands down my favorite! Second rifle would be my favorite deer rifle.

 

[jrock]

.17 HMR, 204 Ruger, and a 6mm of your choice.

 

[Starlite]

22CReed

 

[Panhandle Pete]

Out to 150 yards: 17 HMR
150-300 yards: 204 or 223
300-500 yards: 22-250
500+: 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor

17 HMR is usually our truck gun when driving between or through prairie dog towns.

Centerfires provide so much more "splat" factor and for economics it's tough to beat the 204 or 223 but the 22-250 gives more consistent acrobatics in my experience, especially over 400 yards.

For the long shots it's worth it to take a 6mm or larger. My personal best was 1404 yards with my 6 Creedmoor.

You must have been to the same PD school I have been too, we shoot our 17 HMR (17 grain V-Max) on shots 150 yards and in sometimes stretching to 200-225yards depending on the wind which we have plenty of here in the Texas Panhandle, we tend to have a better kill ratio going this route because of the reduced noise -then to my 204 both factory and custom guns- 40 grain V-Max over 26.7 grains of IMR 8208 XBR- then move on to my 22-250's standard 1/14 twist-( 50-55 grain bullets) or my battery of 6XC's ( I have them in 1/7.5 twist, 1/8 twist and 1/10 twist and use them according to my chosen bullet weights ( 55-105 grain) or my 243 Winchester - 1/9 twist ( 70 grain Nosler Ballistic tip) for everything after that. The 204 gets some spectacular flips and doubles as do all the center fire guns depending on the range. Having the center fire guns with a suppressor ( Thunder Beast for the record) makes a huge difference on how long our shooting sessions will last also. MY 2 cents.

 

[223kid]

I like the .223, the 22-250 and the 17 hmr. I take two in .223, one 22-250, two in 17hmr. If you hunt the right spot you will need to let a gun cool down. Also go to the Sioux nation as you buy your license from them and they most times point you where to hunt and there no gun charges or other "add on" expenses. They have a web site https://www.prairiehighlandslodge.com/rosebud-hunting-license/ the Cheyenne river Sioux tribe is the one I have experienced and is located in a convenient three time zone area. So you can hunt for many hours. There sight is : http://crstgfp.com/. Last thing , we take about 4000 rounds for a week per man

 

[tribb]

17 HMR and 223 for me.

50 BMG ....it's the only thing I can find enough primers for

That's the ever loving truth ain't it?

 

[DWill]

17 WSM

 

[436]

.223 Rem 80gr Berger or Sierra MK.

 

[mdmiller]

22-250
Re-barreled my Remington to 1-12 twist, 28"(working on a load)
Built another from Mauser med action in 1-14 twist, wicked with 52 Berger's
Been doing this 30+ years!

 

[mdmiller]

Don't get me wrong, I take few rifles with me:
17 HMR
243
250AL
308
AR-15's
They do get warm!!!!

 

[Parkerized]

.223

 

[Sunburn]

17 hmr from the truck out to ~125. 22-250 w point blank out to ~300 for the majority of action. 6.5 for relaxing long range shots in the wind..a tried and true recipe for absolute destruction.