Best round for groundhogs

[Doctor_M]

In our on-going war against the dreaded groundhog, I’ve tried just about everything.

.22 LRs are too underpowered… have scored solid hits only to see the little buggers gallop back into their holes. .22 mags are a bit better, but too many wound up wounded and I don’t like to do that. Have used shotguns when close enough and that works if the range is right. .222 works OK (but the only gun I have chambered in that isn’t a good long range gun. .223/5.56 seems like overkill to me. Heck once I even used a .30/30… that was really overkill. Best option I’ve found for consistent one-shot kills is a .22 hornet, but I wanted to see what other folks have had success with.

Cheers.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I've had great success with 22-250. Might have been overkill (sorry for the pun) but it was a guaranteed one shot solution.

 

[crowmd]

17 hmr cheap and does the job

 

[Doctor_M]

I've never tried the .17 hmr on them. I guess meantally, I put it in the .22 mag category. Might give that a shot (pardon the pun). Would be a cheaper option than the hornet.

 

[KRONIK27]

17 HMR or 17 SWR?

 

[crowmd]

i had 22 hornet and the 17 hmr and mach 2 were alot better imo mach 2 only out to 125 yards everything else was hmr

 

[44man]

223 inside of 300 then 22-250 out to where i cant hit em anymore.

 

[ShoreShooter]

I use a bolt action .223.

40 grain Vmax is about right. Not overkill.

55 grain is overkill

 

[Doctor_M]

Good suggestions guys. Thanks. I have more than enough groundhogs to experiment with.

 

[l730dc]

12ga

 

[lumbermut]

Old school. I use a Winchester 1892 in 25-20 caliber that I inherited from my grandfather.

 

[Hattrick]

22-250 by far my favorite round in the world

 

[basscat]

I've always had good luck with 22mag. What mag rounds are you using? Try using hornady CD. Awesome expansion.

 

[JPG]

Several years ago, used to have a Jack Russell, that loved fighting them.

 

[Fishguy]

They are varmints, there is no such thing as overkill. You're not going to eat them, so who cares. I suggest 308Win.

 

[Franklin]

If I got another,.204 ruger out to 400.

Your question really does not make sence though. You say that a .222 is ok but not a good long range gun, but then you say a .223 is overkill. Long range shooters used .222 for years before the .223 came to fame. Do your part and a .222 is all you will need.

I really like my 22-250 and don't see myself going to anything else. If you think a .223 is overkill then a 22-250 is the anti Christ.....lol

 

[tall.guy88]

I have been using Winchester 22 LR with hollow tips. They have worked good for me. I got one this afternoon at about 35 yards with open sites. See pic:

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=126616

 

[Doctor_M]

If I got another,.204 ruger out to 400.

Your question really does not make sence though. You say that a .222 is ok but not a good long range gun, but then you say a .223 is overkill. Long range shooters used .222 for years before the .223 came to fame. Do your part and a .222 is all you will need.

I really like my 22-250 and don't see myself going to anything else. If you think a .223 is overkill then a 22-250 is the anti Christ.....lol

.222 is a good long range round... what I was referring to was the only gun I own in that caliber, which is an old combo gun with iron sights... not my first choice for anything over 100 yards.

 

[Overboost44]

Good suggestions guys. Thanks. I have more than enough groundhogs to experiment with.

Sounds like a real problem PM me if you need help. We can try a .270 or just see how effective the .223 would be.

 

[byf43]

.22lr "Yellow Jacket" or CCI "Stinger".
.223 w/ 55 gr V-Max boolit out to 300 yards

.30-'06 "Accelerator". (55 grain .224 boolit at 4,000 fps!)