New Groundhog Rifle for the wife. Suggestions?

[tsmith1499]

So the wife wants a new rifle for dispatching groundhogs on the farm next to our house. After talking to the owner and proudly telling them how good she was, they asked her if she would like to get rid of theirs and she said, "sure". I don't think she realized that on a 135 acre farm her little iron sight .22 isn't going to cut it. It's great for shooting out the window in the backyard, but I don't think it will do 100-150 yds as accurately. So what do you suggest she get? I don't really want to break the bank on this, so cost is a consideration. Thanks.

 

[Copenhaver]

Im liking this fugly Savage Axis I picked up in .223, its a cheap and accurate bolt action. Plenty of caliber choices. I think I paid maybe $370 total (scoped model) for it and I wanna get one in .308 next.

 

[frdfandc]

.22 WMR. Some might say .17 WMR, but any type of crosswind will push a .17 around.

Or something in .223. or maybe 22-250.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Eh Id probably step up to .223 with varmint bullets. .17 HMR will work but the ammo is almost as much as .223.

 

[hornet]

22 hornet!! or 22mag. ;-)

 

[NY Transplant]

If she was planning on shooting at them at 200 yards and beyond I would go with .223. If shooting in the 100-150 yard range and under, I would go with .22 WMR.

 

[tsmith1499]

I'm leaning toward something in .223 because when our AR's are finished that's what they will be. But keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

 

[Imkeenstranger]

definitely something in .50 Beowulf

 

[Franklin]

I like my 22-250 but I can say it is a little much at times unless she likes a lot of blood and head eruptions.

IDE say .223,17 rem,22 hornet and I have really been looking at 17 hornets lately.

If she wants to really go for the pink mist, 22-250,243 220 swift

270 and 308 are really fun too but big bang has some push to it.

Take your pick at brand. Remington 700 sps varmints are a real good deal but can only get them in 223 and 22-250 I think? Savage make a sweet varmint gun too

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

22-250!

Or a .223

. 22-250 is a football field flatter then the .223, but both are great woodchuck guns. The recoil is mild on both guns- and are tons of fun to shoot. Load some V-max or Nosler BT Varmint, and you have perfect varmint round.

Id opt for a bolt action rifle as well.

 

[gunconnection]

I just got in a real nice, used Rem700 SPS Varmint in 22-250rem with a camo stock.
Let me know if you are interested and I will PM you the price.
Thanks,
Dan

 

[balttigger]

I have a Howa 1500 in .22-250 that drops G-Hogs in their tracks...actually can make quite a mess of em depending on the shot. I have been interested in taking a look at the H&R Ultra in .204 for varmint as well and then sending it in to get a .22 Hornet and .45LC barrel fitted.

 

[BSAN]

I have killed ALOT of ground hogs with .17 hmr. I have a 3x12 scope on my savage and have shot them at over 200 yards.

 

[Franklin]

I have the 700 sps in 22-250 as well. I was keeping around a 1" group at 200 with the 40 grain nosler BT varmint rounds before I got my new stock and started reloading. I'm using 52 grain Sierra match kings now and they do a good number on a g-hog under 200. You don't get much meat off of squirrels though!

 

[HT4]

I shot many a groundhog growing up with a 30-06. Farmers where I lived would pay to shoot them on their land, but I only got paid if I produced the body. Way too many of the critters made it back to their holes after taking a good .22 mag hit -- one with a piece of its head missing -- so it was necessary to step it up (and i didn't have anything less than the 30-06). Light 30-06 soft points really did a number on the little bastids.

My point is: err on the side of more power... .223 is a min IMO.

 

[John81]

I would use a 17hmr for any small animals

 

[erwos]

I'm leaning toward something in .223 because when our AR's are finished that's what they will be. But keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

Mossberg MVP. Uses the same ammo and mags. Shoots nicely (or at least enough for this purpose).

 

[streetdude]

I've used .17, (Marlin 917 varmit w/4x12 scope), for groundhogs out to about 100yds worked fine but now that i stepped up to a .223 looking forward to giving that a try in the spring when them rascals pop up out of their borrows.

 

[FFJim]

Take a look at the Mossberg MVP series of rifles. Just got one and love it.

 

[Bootknife]

I just got the Mossberg MVP and it is real nice,threaded for my m2000 and uses AR mag to boot!