Sod Poodle caliber and cartridge

[floyd kittrell]

Looking for ideas to build prairie dog rifle , caliber and cartridge only , I can handle the rifle build but need suggestions with long barrel life please. Had thought about single shot 243 throated , but only experience with that cartridge was buying them and loading for grand children factory rifles .

Thanks , Floyd

 

[dogz]

Floyd----lots of particulars to this question that should be filled in before getting much into it.

Rounds per day?
Rifle weight?
Braked or not?
Shot off a table or off the deck?
Ranges of the majority of your shots?

I've done my share of PD shooting, and for me I just can't get behind the idea of a 243 for a pd rifle, too much recoil, it'll be hard on barrels and even tougher on the shooter.

The easy button would be a 223 AI, note I'd do the AI because you're a loader and it'll keep case trimming to a minimum and this will keep you shooting and not trimming. 8 twist

Plus with a 223 you can spot your own shots and this is a huge help!

A lot of my days are 400 round or more days and I want not part of a 243 for those days....now for 20 or 30 rounds here and there I get it.

Fill us in a bit on what your days in the pd fields look like and we'll try to help out.

 

[GoosePilot]

Looking for ideas to build prairie dog rifle , caliber and cartridge only , I can handle the rifle build but need suggestions with long barrel life please. Had thought about single shot 243 throated , but only experience with that cartridge was buying them and loading for grand children factory rifles .

Thanks , Floyd

I prefer 22 rimfire out to 300 yds or so

 

[Ingwe]

I use a 204 Ruger, 17HMR, and a scoped AR

 

[Bucklowery]

I like my 204 but I guess it would depend on expectations

Thanks

Buck

 

[floyd kittrell]

Floyd----lots of particulars to this question that should be filled in before getting much into it.

Rounds per day?
Rifle weight?
Braked or not?
Shot off a table or off the deck?
Ranges of the majority of your shots?

I've done my share of PD shooting, and for me I just can't get behind the idea of a 243 for a pd rifle, too much recoil, it'll be hard on barrels and even tougher on the shooter.

The easy button would be a 223 AI, note I'd do the AI because you're a loader and it'll keep case trimming to a minimum and this will keep you shooting and not trimming. 8 twist

Plus with a 223 you can spot your own shots and this is a huge help!

A lot of my days are 400 round or more days and I want not part of a 243 for those days....now for 20 or 30 rounds here and there I get it.

Fill us in a bit on what your days in the pd fields look like and we'll try to help out.

Probably 200 rounds a day , shot off bench , rifle weight 15 plus lbs non break , close range 300-700 yards . I am not opposed to a break , I have them on most of my hunting rifles . Also have a heavy barreled 223 I have shot but not proud of it, on a Howa action . This is a new venture to fill in the down time of hunting , maybe 2-3 times a year on hunts in Montana . Garrison Stoker @ Fort Smith , Mt. or Brusett , Mt. Thank you Sir , Floyd

 

[Schnyd112]

200 rounds per day I think gets rid of all the hot shots, like .220 swift, 22-250, 22 br and 22 creed. 222 rem is a tack driver, but doesn't have the steam for 700 yards, and I think any of the .204 and .17 variants will be the same.

.223 ai with a fast twist and 70-90g bullets would foot the bill, and there are plenty of .223 actions available, as would the 6 ARC or a 6 fat rat. I don't know a lot of bolt guns that have a grendel bolt face, but it's easily done in an ar. 700 yards in Montana plains may be interesting, but they will do it. There are guys that will bush a bolt face, but I only know of people who have had it done.

Then is the 6br (br, brx, bra) based cases, those will play 700+ all day. 200 rounds is a lot to ask from any rifle, but with a good barrel I don't think there is an issue if you take breaks. Components are hard for anything, but lots of guys shooting them and plenty of data available. Low recoil, lots of bullet choices and good brass. 2850-2900 FPS on 108-110 g bullets I believe is the top end on these. I think this is the sweet spot for what you have listed.

You can use bigger cases to go faster, but 200 rounds on a .243 or 6 creed is a tall order. A 6.5 bullet wants more powder and I can't poo poo a .260 or a 6.5 creed, but for vermin I don't see any reason to try and hot rod them. If you don't hot rod them, the 6br cases win inside 700 yards.

 

[HARPERC]

17 HMR, and .223 for high volume shooting general shooting. Good optics etc.

Specialty long range PD rounds a different subject, but never hurts to have both on a trip.

Not "proud" of your .223 Howa? I had one that didn't shoot well, is this what you mean?

 

[Jack Woods]

I would recommend a 22-243 with a fast twist barrel so you can shoot heavy for caliber bullets. The obvious reason for these bullets is for their high B.C. I would also recommend a muzzle break so you can see your point of impact. I have 2 rifles chambered in 22-243 and this is what I use them for and they work really well.
Another cartridge that I am really fond of is the 243 AI with a fast twist barrel. Both cartridges are easy to load for and very accurate. The 204 is a really nice little cartridge but out to 700 yards with wind for me would be questionable, but it is a very accurate and fun cartridge. There are several great cartridges out there to choose from and it really comes down to personal preference.
Good luck with your decision
Jack Woods

 

[floyd kittrell]

17 HMR, and .223 for high volume shooting general shooting. Good optics etc.

Specialty long range PD rounds a different subject, but never hurts to have both on a trip.

Not "proud" of your .223 Howa? I had one that didn't shoot well, is this what you mean?

Yes Sir best out of it is around 3/4"

 

[Rhino55]

Here we call PDs "SERTs" Self Erecting Rifle Targets. LOL. Now for the rifle caliber question. Look at the 6MM Bench Rest or Dasher (6MM BR IMP). Uses a .243 projectile, 2/3s the powder of a 243 Winchester and 55% less recoil. I have the 6MM Norma Dasher and I'm pushing 107gr SMK at 2960 fps out to 1300 yds. It doesn't beat you up and it is FUN to shoot! You can get mags through MDT. 308 bolt face.

 

[floyd kittrell]

Here we call PDs "SERTs" Self Erecting Rifle Targets. LOL. Now for the rifle caliber question. Look at the 6MM Bench Rest or Dasher (6MM BR IMP). Uses a .243 projectile, 2/3s the powder of a 243 Winchester and 55% less recoil. I have the 6MM Norma Dasher and I'm pushing 107gr SMK at 2960 fps out to 1300 yds. It doesn't beat you up and it is FUN to shoot! You can get mags through MDT. 308 bolt face.

That's funny , SERTS , I just returned from a whitetail hunt in Taloga , Ok. We always have a blast hunting in Ok. I have never seen any PD's where we hunt.

 

[Rhino55]

That's funny , SERTS , I just returned from a whitetail hunt in Taloga , Ok. We always have a blast hunting in Ok. I have never seen any PD's where we hunt.

We hunt in the Panhandle and down close to Ft Sill. I also hunt a 10K acre lease for deer/turkey/yotes/sandhill crane and ducks NE of Woodward.

I shot for the Navy Rifle Team for a few years and have a story about the LVPD and the word "SERT". It is funny as HELL! LVPD use to call their version of "SWAT" SERT "Special Entry Reaction Team" Well one of the Navy team members worked at their firearm academy as a small arms instructor. He arranged a "Friendly" rifle computation between the Navy Team and the "SERT". Well the day on the match to get inside their head the battering started. They all showed up wearing their "SERT" shirts and us Navy guys started laughing our asses off. We ask what SERT stood for and they puffed up their chest and said "Special Entry Reaction Team". We laughed even harder! Their team leader actually got MAD! He asked what we were laughing about and I explained to him that SERT to a rifleman meant "Self Erecting Rifle Target". Needless to say, it working on getting inside their head and we won the match. I also heard they changed their name too.

 

[floyd kittrell]

We hunt in the Panhandle and down close to Ft Sill. I also hunt a 10K acre lease for deer/turkey/yotes/sandhill crane and ducks NE of Woodward.

I shot for the Navy Rifle Team for a few years and have a story about the LVPD and the word "SERT". It is funny as HELL! LVPD use to call their version of "SWAT" SERT "Special Entry Reaction Team" Well one of the Navy team members worked at their firearm academy as a small arms instructor. He arranged a "Friendly" rifle computation between the Navy Team and the "SERT". Well the day on the match to get inside their head the battering started. They all showed up wearing their "SERT" shirts and us Navy guys started laughing our asses off. We ask what SERT stood for and they puffed up their chest and said "Special Entry Reaction Team". We laughed even harder! Their team leader actually got MAD! He asked what we were laughing about and I explained to him that SERT to a rifleman meant "Self Erecting Rifle Target". Needless to say, it working on getting inside their head and we won the match. I also heard they changed their name too.

Cool story , I was at Fort Sill gun school in 1967 , was a lanyard puller , #1 gunner . I loved the cannons . Spent many days at lake Elmer Thomas and got into plenty of trouble in Lawton. The bad old days for sure . Where we hunt in Ok. is almost due north of Sill . A lot of memories with some good guys that didn't come back from Nam .