Groundhog gun

dstegjas · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:03 am Post subject: Groundhog gun

Hi everyone,
Since I found this board I thought I would ask the same question everyone else nornally asks. What caliber for the long shots ? I don't need something for the 300 yard and in shots. I have a T /C Contender set up with a custom MGM 21" bull barrel in .223. Topped off with a Bushnell Elite 3200 it is a great setup. What I am looking for is a 500 yard caliber. I like the 25-06 but there is one other variable, I am left handed. Any suggestions on the manufacturer for a lefty in that caliber. Ruger makes a varminter that would work but I haven't heard much about its accuracy. I didn't see much that was available for me in the other gun makers.

Any help would be great guys.

TRBLSHTR · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

Check this out
http//www.savagearms.com/111fl.htm

codybrown · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I personally like the Ruger guns. I have the entire line of the KM77VT. For longer range than a .223 will reach, you can go with:

204 ruger
22-250
220 swift

That's about all from the 22 caliber. From there you can go up to the .243 or .308. Hope this helps you out.

Cody

dstegjas · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

Guys thanks for the replies. The reason I wanted the 25-06 was that I thought it would handle the wind a little better at those ranges then my .223. I have zero experience with the Savage rifles. Although I hear they are accurate. All my experience with Ruger has been with there pistol and I have been very pleased with them. I certainly wouldn't be concerned about trying them out.

I do have a Remington 700 VS in .308 that is left handed. It is topped off with a Springfield Armory 4-14 scope. I know it would handle those distances. I just thought the 25-06 would be flatter shooting and just be an overall better round for this situation. If you guys think that the .308 is best for this that's fine with me.

Thanks again for your responses.

Jim

codybrown · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I'm actually using a TC Encore chambered in 25-06 for deer hunting this year. I am extremely impressed with how it groups at 100 yards. That's where it's sighted in at, and I have no problem keyholing all my shots. I haven't had the need to shoot it over 100 yards, so I'm not sure how well it does over that. It's a pretty fast cartridge, so I would imagine that it would do fine.

roklok · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I use a .243 with handloads using the 70 grain Nosler Ballistic tip bullet. I have killed groundhogs up to 606 yards with this combination. I always thought it would be nice to have to have a rifle to reach out even further.....funny thing is I was considering a good accurate .308 with a high quality tactical scope...such as the rifle you already have. Past 400-500 yards wind resistance, consistency, and bullet weight are more important than speed IMO. For 500 yard shooting the 25-06 would be a good choice, but for longer shots the .308 would be my choice. At those ranges it doesnt matter how flat shooting a cartridge is, you still need to know precise range and holdover-scope adjustments to score a hit.

dstegjas · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

How did I know this wasn't going to be an easy decission. Very Happy

Roklok, thanks for your comments. As much as I would love to have a new rifle in 25-06. I certainly could save a lot of money by using my current .308 and working up some new loads. I would be ahead of the game too come spring time. The .308 just isn't a caliber I see used much in a varmint gun. On the good side though I bet it will make quite a display when I hit them. Very Happy

Thanks again everyone.

Jim

roklok · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I certainly am not trying to discourage the purchase of a new rifle!! As a gun nut, I understand the need for the "ideal" rifle for a given situation. I dont do much groundhog hunting anymore,living in AK, but before I moved from PA I was considering a .308 for looooong range groundhog sniping. Other calibers I was considering were the 6.5-284 or the .257 Weatherby. I knew a guy that used a 7mm mag for long range work on groundhogs also. How accurate is your 700 VS .308? One of the main reasons I was considering a .308 is it's reputation for accuracy. I almost bought a .308 40X at a gunshow for groundhog hunting.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:40 am Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

Why not another barrel for the Encore? Maybe a .260 Rem or .264 Win Mag? The .264" bullet have pretty high BCs. Might be overkill for varmints but they'd reach out there.

codybrown · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I read quite an article about the 6.5x283 in a Shooting times awhile ago. Not positive on the magazine, but I'm pretty sure. Savage's new F class is available in the 6.5x284 as well as the .308. I beleive that's the only 2 calibers that they offer currently in that configuration.

www.savagearms.com/12FTR.htm
www.savagearms.com/12f_class.htm

Might interest you:D

dstegjas · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

Pumpkinslinger,
All my pistol & Carbine T/C stuff is for the Contender. I never really had a reason to switch over to the Encore with what we have to hunt here in Ohio. I have been hunting deer here with my contender pistol in .44 mag and .444 Marlin for probably 12 years now.

CodyBrown & Roklok,
My .308 is very accurate out to 300 yards. To be honest I have never tried it beyond that distance. I am sure it can handle those distances. That was just the limit at the range I shoot at. My thought was that a flatter shooting bullet was better. With the understanding that a bullet that is to light will be affected by the wind. That is why I decided on the 25-06 as a good fit with both those issues in mind. However if the .308 will do the job, that is good enough for me. I just don't remember hearing of to many people using that caliber for varmint hunting.

Don't worry about me not buying another rifle. I can always find a reason to do that. Very Happy

Jim

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

I think you already have the gun you seek in the .308. I've killed many g-hogs with mine, although not at nearly the distance you mention. In my part of the state, 300-400 yards is about the max range you will encounter. My personal best is 330 yards with the .308 (Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 150 gr factory load), but my .243 will outshoot the .308 under 400 yds. Both are factory Remington 700's, but I haven't started handloading for the .308 yet. I suspect it will outperform the .243 once I get away from factory loads.

FALPhil · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

codybrown wrote:

Savage's new F class is available in the 6.5x284 as well as the .308. I beleive that's the only 2 calibers that they offer currently in that configuration.

The fantastic thing about Savages is, for $168, you can get a varmint weight barrel in just about any caliber you want from ER Shaw. A couple of wrenches, a headspace gauge and 5 minutes later, you are ready to shoot that new barrel.

d_hoffman · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: Groundhog gun

Hey dstegjas. How about a gun that can be shot with either hand? H&R makes a 26" barreled 25-06 that is a real tack driver. You can get it in a standard handi rifle from Wal-Mart for about $230.00 or in an ultra hunter for about $280.00.

There is also a member of this website that does custom work on H&R's. He can probably turn it into a 25-06 Ackley and put on a custom made muzzle break. His name on here is deersniper. Here's his website;
www.dandtcustomgunworks.com/

204Shooter · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Diana, TX

d_hoffman, be careful about recommending H&Rs. Some of their guns shoot well, others do not. See my post about my .243 Handi rifle. I recently read a post about the reason why. It seems that H&R does not relieve the stress in their barrels after they are button rifled. As the barrel heats up, they tend to "warp" a small amount (because of the barrel stress) causing the inaccuracy. I recently returned my .243 to the factory because of inaccuracy problems - 5 inch groups at 50 yards! I expect to get it back soon. I'll let everyone know how it comes out.