What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

What would be better for gophers??? A 223,22-250,17 HMR,17 HM2,22 Mag,22lr,223 WSSM,243 WSSM,243 Win ????/ I em buying a new gun for the summer for some plinking and i really want to destroy these gophers since there is so many were i live haha so those are my choice i al ready have a 22 lr but that is for 50 Yards down i wantone that can shoot these things from lik 300 +

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

i would stay away from the .17s because of wind drift and lack of power at that distance. the 223 and 22-250 will do the job quiet nicely with the right bullet. i would stay away from the wssm's because that is just over kill. but you can never kill them dead enough. if you are going to use this rifle for other than gophers, i would reccomend the 243. i have a 22-250 and a 243. i use the 250 on the calm days and when its blowing i use the 243. as well the 243 is a wonderful deer rifle. but that is just my .02 worth. hope this helps alittle.

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

.22-250 rem., .220 swift if you handload

.243 win, or 6mm rem.

These are the only 4 I'd consider. I think I lean towards the .22-250 since I'm not much of a handloader, down the road if I take it up I plan to get a .220 swift, the .22-250 is so much more popular I think, just look at whats available for it in ammo.

Same with the .243, way more ammo available, though again I think the 6mm is a better round, as is the .220swift over the .22-250, considering either though.

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

I reload so I will tell you to get the .220 swift!! I love mine and have good luck shooting long range with it.The .223wssm is also very interesting,it can be hand loaded to 4500fps that is flat smoking.I dont know if your barrel will last to long doing that but wow!!!!

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

If That is the case that rules out the 17hmr, 17m2 and the 22mag.

go with a 223 or 22-250

for the record if you do end up shooting them a little closer (180yards or less) by all means get a cheap savage 17hmr, you will love it, best 150 bucks I ever spent.

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

If your going to plink with it also, go with the 223 because of the availability and price of ammo.. The 22-250 is not as pricey either.. But with the 243 you have a varmit gun up to a muley gun.. All in one sweet little package..

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

Never shot a gopher in my life (actually never seen one) but since you started this asking about pds I will answer -
best first choice for me .204 Ruger
but any will work above the rimfire level.

This is based on several thousand kills using everything from a 22lr, 20 ga. shotgun up to and including a .300 Win mag.

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

Around here we don't have any prarie dogs, but we do have a lot of gophers...A 22 rimfire is more than enough at the short range shots you get at gophers.

DM

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

haha prairie dogs are the same thing as gophers haha

RE: What Would be Better For Prairie Dogs???
 

Gophers are not all that bright, so a rimfire is more than enough to take care of these critters. I carry my .22lr for shorter ranges and my .17hmr for shots up to around 200 yards with great success.