New Prairie dog gun?

[Craig]

What would be your pick for a dedicated prairie dog gun? Accurate, 150-200 yard max range, high volume shooting, and I don’t reload ( at least yet ). I was leaning towards a .17 HMR. Any other recommendations?

[MADMAX]

I used a 17
But the 22-250 guys were cleaning up when we went

[wadu1]

As MADMAX said 22-250, the round is easy to load and very forgiving. I like the basic loads, 38gr of H380 and 55gr V-max. An old friend who shoots in South Dakota got tired of shooting them with little bullets. He switched to a Trap Door Springfield 45-70 for fun, no problem smacking them at 200. Just need to add some elevation and lob them in. 

[Bob33]

If your distances are up to 200 yards I would choose a 223 over the 22-250. Less expensive to shoot, easier to find ammunition and more than adequate at reasonable distances. For longer distances I'd consider the 204 Ruger.

The 17 HMR is great up to about 150 yards .

[b23]

What would be your pick for a dedicated prairie dog gun? Accurate, 150-200 yard max range, high volume shooting, and I don’t reload ( at least yet ). I was leaning towards a .17 HMR. Any other recommendations?

Based on the parameters you give, 200 yard max, high volume shooting, don't reload, my top three choices in order would be 17 Hornet, 17 WSM, 17 HMR.

Unfortunately CZ has stopped making the 527 so finding one let alone a CZ 527 in 17 Hornet could be a little difficult not to mention if you do you'll pay through the nose for them.  Also, 17 Hornet ammo has dried up big time so finding any is very difficult.

The 17 WSM is a fair bit more potent than is the 17 HMR but like the 17 Hornet the available guns in 17 WSM is very limited and the quality of those is ehh ok at best unless you want to spend  $4000+ for a RimX 17 WSM build.

17 HMR is an "ok" option but they definitely have the best selection of available rifles and ammo is generally pretty easy to find, unfortunately, it's about double the cost what it used to be.

My top three list is based off of already having them and a pretty good stockpile to shoot in them so I suppose if I was starting from scratch and had to source a gun and ammo to shoot in that gun I'd probably go 17 HMR.

[jasnt]

I had great results with 17hmr and 25gr vmax on marmot out to 300.  Will really teach ya wind skills

[Stein]

Get in close, .22 LR with a 50 round mag.  Lots of fun.

[Pnwrider]

Up to 200 yds, I’ll add a vote for .223. I usually keep a 22 close for the 50 yd shots.

[bearpaw]

IMO you need three rifles when you go PD shooting, a regular .22 for close in shooting and for shooting a lot of ammo, and two center fire rifles because the barrels get hot. .223 is a good choice due to cheaper ammo, but a 22/250, .220 swift, or 243 are a lot of fun. I've also enjoyed using deer rifles, it's good practice to really get to know how they shoot.

[GWP]

I am old school. 22 Hornet and .223 for the ranges you mentioned, but am not opposed to some of the newer ones posted, just have not used them. Beyond that? 22-250. Closer? 22 Mag.

[C-Money]

I used a 17hmr on them...little round is pretty destructive on P dogs. Lots of respect for the 17hmr! Seems like a guy can still find good amounts of 17hmr ammo in stores. If I was to go pay to hunt, I'd sure have a .17hmr, and I would try and secure a .223 as a solid longer range rife. So much fun!

[KFhunter]

.17hmr with a few guys shooting the same gun same ammo gets the competition going

Little trash talk, lotsa fun

[Bob33]

In the new reality of ammo scarcity, visit a few sporting goods stores or ammo websites to see availability and cost of the different calibers. If you get into serious PD situations it's not uncommon to shoot several hundred rounds per session.

[Craig]

More then likely going with a .17HMR. All private land and I can just drive up to them,  Unlimited shooting and most of the time will be 50-75 yards. Out to 200 just for fun . If I reloaded I might look into something bigger. I already have a few .223 rifles. But that would get expensive to shoot a couple hundred rounds a day or weekend.

[Bob33]

More then likely going with a .17HMR. All private land and I can just drive up to them,  Unlimited shooting and most of the time will be 50-75 yards. Out to 200 just for fun . If I reloaded I might look into something bigger. I already have a few .223 rifles. But that would get expensive to shoot a couple hundred rounds a day or weekend.

At shorter distances like that the 17 HMR is perfect.

You will hopefully have lots of these.

[highcountry_hunter]

.204?

[Iveexcaped3]

Am I the only one the would think a good old fashioned 22 cal pellet gun is sufficient at 50 yds?

17hmr .40 a round 2375fps (standard 17gr fmj)
.22 LR target .10 a round 1070fps (standard 40gr lead plinking rounds)
.22 cal air .03 a round 975fps (standard shape 15.5gr)

[Stein]

I'm not sure that would work so well, the .22 LR doesn't exactly crush them most of the time.  Hollow points are required, solid bullets roll them on body shots but they often get up and keep running in my experience.

[jasnt]

I'm not sure that would work so well, the .22 LR doesn't exactly crush them most of the time.  Hollow points are required, solid bullets roll them on body shots but they often get up and keep running in my experience.

i would agree.  Even if it’s just varmints I want then dead ASAP. 

[b23]

I'm not sure that would work so well, the .22 LR doesn't exactly crush them most of the time.  Hollow points are required, solid bullets roll them on body shots but they often get up and keep running in my experience.

i would agree.  Even if it’s just varmints I want then dead ASAP.

Carnage, the splat factor and RatObatics is what makes it fun.  If they just tip over dead it's kind of a uneventful. 

It's a real bummer the 17 Hornet didn't take off better than it has because out to 350 the little 17 Hornet is a death ray on PD/ground squirrels and does so with considerably more splat factor than the 17 HMR or 17 WSM.  It's something you can shoot all day without breaking the bank or torching a barrel too.  CZ made a good one in their 527 line but in CZ's infinite wisdom they've decided to stop making the 527 as well as it doesn't appear they chamber that new thing they have coming out in 17 Hornet.  I think Savage still makes something in 17 Hornet and I'm not sure if Ruger still has their 77/17 Hornet or not.

[jasnt]

I’ve always wanted a 17 hornet

[NRA4LIFE]

The last time I got into them in MT all I had was my .243.  Splat factor was off the charts.  Red mist abounded.  60 gr at nearly 4K fps.  Nice thing about the .243 is it is legal everywhere (I think) for big game where the .22's are not in some states.

[huntnphool]

 I can shoot my 17HMR all day long and not have a issue....and it’s cheap to shoot for long periods of time.

[jasnt]

243 definitely makes a mess.  Had a few triple over 20’s     62gr Berger at 4K does well

[Iveexcaped3]

I was thinking more of headshots than anything. Either way a .22 in the upper chest cavity should be fatal, maybe not immediately.

[STEVO85]

An accurate .22lr for 0-150 and an accurate 17hmr for 0-300 is all you really need. You could stretch them both out a little farther if you wanted as well, plus they are much cheaper to shoot in volume. I shoot quite a few squirrels and rock chucks with that pair and never feel under gunned unless a coyote pops up or the wind is blowing pretty good, those little bullets drift a lot.

[NRA4LIFE]

62gr Berger at 4K does well 

OMIGOD!

[jasnt]

62gr Berger at 4K does well 

OMIGOD!

28” 1:7 if ya believe that.  Even 58gr survived that twist and speeds

[huntnphool]

An accurate .22lr for 0-150 and an accurate 17hmr for 0-300 is all you really need. You could stretch them both out a little farther if you wanted as well, plus they are much cheaper to shoot in volume. I shoot quite a few squirrels and rock chucks with that pair and never feel under gunned unless a coyote pops up or the wind is blowing pretty good, those little bullets drift a lot.

 +1, 300 is no problem on ground rats with a 17HMR.

[Lead ball 54]

I would go for the 458 socom better penetration then have a .223 for back up