Handi for 500 Yards Shots at Ground Hogs

[McLernon]

If you check the ballistics on 22-250 and the Swift I believe you'll find them wanting for 500 yard precision shooting. They shoot bullets that are good to 450 if you stretch it. But one has to take into account both external and  terminal ballistics if they are to be used for hunting. Wind deflection and drop are just too much at 500 yards. Frankly my buddiy and I have been 'jawing' about what constitutes a good 500 yard groundhog rifle for years with no really good solution. What do all think fits the bill

Mc

[stimpylu32]

Mc

It has taken some work as far as range time and load development but i can now take ground hogs and p-dogs at 500 yards with my 223 HB handi , it is just a mater of putting in the time to find what works .

stimpy

[just bill]

I have taken woodchucks at over 400 yards with 22-250's in low wind first shot.  As it has been for years though a .243 is better for the 500+ yard Woodchuck club.  Regardless "walking" for Woodchucks with a  rimfire magnum or 22 Hornet is still more fun 

[knight0334]

I have taken woodchucks at over 400 yards with 22-250's in low wind first shot.  As it has been for years though a .243 is better for the 500+ yard Woodchuck club.  Regardless "walking" for Woodchucks with a  rimfire magnum or 22 Hornet is still more fun 

Try walking them in with a 45-70 if you think the Hornet is fun..  lol

[Roudy]

I remember bullet drop from shooting in rifle matches when I was in the military.  At the 600 yard line (slow fire prone) we would turn our spotting scope just a little out of focus and we could see the vapor trail of the bullet as it traveled to the target.

Shooting 173 grain match 30-06 the bullet arc would be as much as 8 feet over the top of the target frame!  That vapor trail also let you see the impact of the wind very dramatically too.  In a heavy wind the bullet could start out pointed 2-3 targets down the line and then drift and drop right onto the the target that you were shooting at.

This is an interesting observation,. If you want to try, put your scope in line with the bullet path, probably behind the shooter, and turn it a little out of focus.

Roudy  

[Ditchdigger]

I've taken coyotes at 665 yds. with my Swift,but the rifle would shoot less than a 1/2" at 300 yds. That was a 40 gr. B.T. and a near max load of IMR 4064.  Digger

[McLernon]

OK but what is the ideal 500 yard groundhog rifle caliber

Mc

[quickdtoo]

.50BMG!!!

http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/50calibre/chuck_hunting.htm

[flitz]

so stimpy do you want to give us a clue as to what works?

thanks flitz

[McLernon]

Remember guys, I said groundhogs.... big tough Ontario groundhogs that you only get one shot at

Mc

[quickdtoo]

In that case, the US Navy's new railgun!!

Tim

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/012007/01172007/251373

[Old English]

Tim, that was a very interesting article, thanks for sharing. I still find it amazing that in 2007 we're still trying to kill each other by firing pieces of metal at one another. Don't get me wrong, I love firing little pieces of metal at things but..... You would have thought that technology would have progressed beyond this. Remember all those old futuristic movies with Ray guns and lasers??

[quickdtoo]

Credit for that should go to Poncaguy, he sent it to me yesterday, just been waiting for the right time to share it here. I guess this is as close as I'll get to being on topic with it!! 

Thx,

Tim

[McLernon]

OK OK I can see you fellas are not taking me seriously . I'll put a weight restriction of 9 lbs including the scope and no electrical cords or portable generators, that should narrow it a bit. Actually if you check the ballistic tables you'll see it's not so easy a question

Mc

[quickdtoo]

Here ya go Mc!! the 204 is flatter shooting and has comparable energy to the .22-250 at 500yds. Dunno how it would work with the 45gr pills, but it would be worth a try!

Tim

.204 vs .220 Swift vs .22-250

[Ditchdigger]

Those figures on the Swift are preety mild,its not hard to get very close to 4000 fps. with the 50gr. bullet and 4300 with the 40. Digger

[billy_56081]

A 25-06 Might be a real good choice. The 243 would be another.