.223 bb and 22 hornet went pd hunting.

[thejanitor]

Just got home from a trip with my kids and a friend, went to MT and had some private land lined up, rain had water over the road couldn't get over a key bridge and had to end up scrubbing the MT hunt, on the way home I decided to check for ND pds and after locating a farm and getting permission went to town to get the proper paperwork and stamp.... got to shoot at PDs out to 800 yds, was very fun for a first time event. Didn't see any expire due to the one I for sure hit was closer and with scope jump missed the event. One of the party was watching through his scope and saw a dog flip and land by his mound and then heard my shot... so I at least got one. but shot at a bunch, with the hornet trail boss loads I did not have scope jump -watched poi but with a 12 mph wind those slow little bullets had a ton of drift. I can see where a mil dot scope is critical in this sport with wind and all. Before this my longest shot was around 250 yds on deer.
I had a fun trip even though it pretty much = 3.5 hours of doggy time, but these were right by the road and were quite shy for the close shots. I can see rangefinders spotting scopes and a good mil dot scope being important tools in the art of hitting a small critter at anything over a couple hundred yards. Pics are of the flooded MT road by the bridge and of the hornet in the ND field.
Also my daughter did shoot one with her new 7-08 light profile we got back from the factory 2 days before the trip. So that was pretty cool.
thejanitor

[Spanky]

Sounds like a great time for sure.



Spanky

[Mike38]

Early season prairie dog shooting can be fun. A person has to have a sick sense of humor (like me) to enjoy it because it can get some what morbid at times. With ballistic tip ammo, those little dogs pop like a water balloon. My longest confirmed and measured was 429 yards with my .223 Handi. I’ve got another PD shoot on my “Bucket List” so maybe in a few years I’ll try it again.

[thejanitor]

I know many pd shooters love the vapor factor..... I made a point to load soft point ammo but no hollow point or v-max. just watching youtube pd shooting kind of grossed me out, and I know its fun for the hardcore shooters but we just wanted to see if we were up for the challenge. And for the most part we weren't. We were not geared properly.
Having never practiced that far it really makes one feel humbled. I see now where optics money isn't something to really skimp with. Regular deer hunting up to 9 power scopes don't cut the mustard when you are looking at what amounts to a large rat at 350 plus yards..... This was a good eye opener as well for the antelope trip I am buying points for each year. The same type situation will effect that hunt. So I will be getting one such scope some time that will have dots and or lines for reference. The solid cross hair gave me no reference points- mil dot would have helped me a bunch.
thejanitor

[petemi]

Brent, the important thing is you had a good time with your kids.  I've never ever seen a prairie dog, but it is something I want to do.  On those 800 yard shots and 12 mph wind, ya shoulda been shootin the .45-70 with the magic load, the secret homing device in the bullet nose and about a 12 foot holdover

Pete

[thejanitor]

Pete- I never want to shoot one of the magic loads from the prone position. I would need surgery to remove my shoulder from my hip. 
But my son and I did mention how fun it would be to try on a calm day with the 45-70s, I would bring a small bench and chair though, I know I couldn't handle your 405gr 2000 fps load laying down. (kind of like your accidental 500 water jug story-oooffff that must have been a shocker)
But my daughters 7-08 with that new light barrel is a gun I wish I had..... VERY light and with the synthetic youth stock set it is almost as light as my daisy air rifle.... and in a hunting situation won't kick too bad, but I shot it 30 times the first day we got it and trying to zero and see if my loads for my other 7-08 handi would group in it, and after 30 shots I was getting a flinch... But it is really light and she loves how it carries and pulls up, she can hold it.... Thats what I was after.
thejanitor