Long-ish range prairie dog caliber?

[huntsman22]

140 amax's...

 

[Calvin45]

I have managed to squirrel enough ammo away over the years so can shoot it a bit on longer shots.. Put a Timney model 788 trigger in the Remington 591 so it has a good trigger set at about 1.5 lbs. Not to hijack the thread. Usually throw a couple of .22's, the 5 mm and the .17m2 on the back of the 4 wheeler and spend an afternoon or two helping erradicate some gophers on the ranch I grew up on every summer.

Dang that's interesting to me, don't know why but I just always find myself drawn to the unconventional. We could all just shoot 22s and 30-06s but variety is wonderful and both the 5mag and the 17 Mach 2 are cartridges that nobody I know has a rifle chambered in. Thanks for sharing.

I do see what people are saying about not technically needing more than a 223 even for 600 yards. When buying factory the savings on ammo compared to any of the more potent cartridges should allow for a lot more shooting. Op said his dad is relatively new to this. I bet anyone would be more proficient making 600 yard shots with a 223 he had fired twice as many times as a more capable round he had fired far less.

Add to that my first hand observation of my cousin pretty consistently drilling empty 12 gauge hulls with a 22lr at 220 yards and I find myself feeling foolish for ever doubting the ability of pretty much any centerfire again. He doesn't shoot anything but 22, doesn't hunt, just loves plinking more than anything else. Has a stupidly accurate savage heavy barrel 22, runs some higher quality ammo for these shots. All told goes through over 10,000 rounds of 22lr a year and it shows.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

If you want to shoot heavy 22's in factory ammo the 224 Valkyrie would fill the bill. You can get Federal match 90 grainers and some a tad lighter. Don't have one of these and after all of the initial hype you don't hear much about the round either. Wasn't hyped as much as the CR but got some praise when it first came about. Was only mentioned once before in this thread so maybe it is not as great as expected.

 

[Calvin45]

If you want to shoot heavy 22's in factory ammo the 224 Valkyrie would fill the bill. You can get Federal match 90 grainers and some a tad lighter. Don't have one of these and after all of the initial hype you don't hear much about the round either. Wasn't hyped as much as the CR but got some praise when it first came about. Was only mentioned once before in this thread so maybe it is not as great as expected.

The picture you have beside your username is hilarious. I appreciate that very much, did you take that photo? Looks like he's had enough...

I too am a bit perplexed about the Valkyrie and the lack of chatter about it following its debut. It was hailed as the lowest recoil 1200+ yard supersonic capability possible, but maybe no one cared because people interested in shooting that far are also interesting in hunting and it's certainly not energetic enough for serious consideration in that regard? Add to it that most people serious about shooting that far roll their own and it loses appeal fast when one could, even on a budget, get a fast twist barrel made to fit onto a savage action and load a 22-250 or a 22 creed or a 22-6mm or a 220 swift or a - .22-243 or heck even a .22-284 (has crossed my mind more than once) and the list goes on. All of these would of course absolutely thump the rounds designed around ar-15 platforms. And a bolt gun built on a savage even with an aftermarket barrel would probably ring in much cheaper than the ars available in the valk

 

[carl1775]

6mm creedmoor, with factory boxed Hornady 108 ELD match.
very hard to beat as a combo
.243 is older and does have more "options," but who needs options when the 6mm creedmoor performs.

 

[JJMoody]

Saw his shadow one too many times....

RPR 6.5 creed.....

 

[shooterntn]

Planning to build/buy my dad a rifle for prairie dog hunting. He's expressed interest in a .22-250 but the buddy he will be hunting with shoots anywhere from 400 yards to 600 yards and in our state of South Dakota the wind always blows at least 10mph - 25mph it seems. I have wondered if a .22 bullet will be buffeted around by our wind too much to be an effective cartridge. Any suggestions for a better prairie dog cartridge or will a .22-250 suffice? Also, I feel I should note my dad has never owned a rifle before, only shotguns, and will be using factory ammunition. As tempting as a tighter-than-factory twist barrel and 75gr hand-loaded 22-250 sounds, I don't think that will be an option for factory loaded ammo that is readily found at Cabelas.

 

[shooterntn]

22-250 good round ammo good off shelf ammo available, I been shoot 224 valkrie, and 22 cm. I can't tell much difference in 22cm, and 224 valk. But If I Was Buying Off SHELF Rifle , It Be REM 700 in VSSFII 22 250.

 

[smack]

6mm CM

Factory ammo. Factory 369.00 RPR.

 

[hammerem]

My go to for similar Wyoming conditions is 6mm Rem. Easy to load and very accurate. I know it's fairly old school but if it's not broken, don't fix it.

 

[Whizbang1997]

For your application, 243 would be a great choice. But I love my 22 Creedmoor, 22-250 for backup. But I've always wanted a good 220 Swift!

 

[Leslie Laffoley]

22 or 6mm creedmoor make the most sense these days, even moreso if you reload.

 

[jshepherd61]

Planning to build/buy my dad a rifle for prairie dog hunting. He's expressed interest in a .22-250 but the buddy he will be hunting with shoots anywhere from 400 yards to 600 yards and in our state of South Dakota the wind always blows at least 10mph - 25mph it seems. I have wondered if a .22 bullet will be buffeted around by our wind too much to be an effective cartridge. Any suggestions for a better prairie dog cartridge or will a .22-250 suffice? Also, I feel I should note my dad has never owned a rifle before, only shotguns, and will be using factory ammunition. As tempting as a tighter-than-factory twist barrel and 75gr hand-loaded 22-250 sounds, I don't think that will be an option for factory loaded ammo that is readily found at Cabelas.

Personally I would go with a .223 use factory V-Max 52 gr more than capable at those ranges and never ending supply of factory Ammo. Build it with a longer barrel for a little higher velocities no mor than 26" will defeat the capabilities of the round but a good 24"-26" barrel Bartlien is very good. You won't go wrong

 

[Calvin45]

Personally I would go with a .223 use factory V-Max 52 gr more than capable at those ranges and never ending supply of factory Ammo. Build it with a longer barrel for a little higher velocities no mor than 26" will defeat the capabilities of the round but a good 24"-26" barrel Bartlien is very good. You won't go wrong

I forgot about the superformance ammo. If it shoots well in your rifle it does give the 223 a shot in the arm. The 53 vmax claims a g1 bc of .29 and I've seen videos of the velocity actually holding up over the chrono, over 3400.