groundhogs beware

[jim 44-40]

Spring is coming soon I hope.Working on a load for a Ruger 44WCF to use on groundhogs here in Greene Co,PA So far I have cast 429215 gc sized to .427 and drilled them out hollowpoint. with a BHN of 6, and 7.8 grs Unique. Shot a few into a block of ductseal and they mushroomed out to .620 and grouped 1 1/2 in at 20yds. Since I don't have a place to hunt long range for hogs, I walk with my six gun and over the years have shot many with 357,44,45 colt. If I can get my PC to read SD card I will post some pics.

[John Allen]

I know what you mean. I am waiting for the snow to disappear myself for the same reason. I use an old stevens single shot with a unertyl scope in 22 hornet.

[owejia]

Don't remind me. Had to fill in holes and tunnels yesterday in a large haybarn. Put a roll of hay on the front end loader and wham when a tunnel caves in. Worst I,ve ever seen last year. I shoot most of them with a 22 rf, some times I carry my Ruger pistol in the tractor cab, because they don't seem to be afraid of tractor, just open the door and shoot.

[daniel lawecki]

Contender in 22K Hornet sure does a job on them out to a 100 or so.

[rking22]

Used to hunt them with a 22-250 and 2 1/4 inch Unertl 15x. Last few years it's been a 36 flinter in he woods. Coyotes must really have worked them over, not many in our fields anymore.

[Hickok]

Used to hunt them with a 22-250 and 2 1/4 inch Unertl 15x. Last few years it's been a 36 flinter in he woods. Coyotes must really have worked them over, not many in our fields anymore.Same thing I have noticed. I use to really get into shooting ground hogs, but the coyotes have about made them extinct.

I know the ground hogs are a major problem for farmers, busted machinery and hurt livestock due to holes.

[tdoyka]

around my house i use a 444 marlin(265gr ranch dog) or 45-70(405gr cast fbfn ). when i go out, i either use a tc encore in 20 vartarg or a tc encore in 22-250 ai, both with the j-word bullets.

[nagantguy]

Wood chuck hunting used to be THE family past time haven't shot one in two years, they either are on a rodent down turn in population or because we are over run with coyotes or we hunted them to the brink, option 2 seems most likely.

[jim 44-40]

Here in Southwest PA, I see more in the woods and around slate dumps.Of course they get in my garden too.I live trapped 6 last year under my garden shed, they went for a ride up the hill.Should have tagged them to see if I shoot one in future

[rking22]

I'm actually lookin forward to the springtime and getting a few young ones for the pot. Last few I shot would have made tough gravy!

[leeggen]

Last spring we had one under the goat shed ramp. He wold stand up and Dad (93) could see him 200yd away. He just disappeared, I am sure he would have ven made the gravy tuff to eat. Best fun shooting I ever had was on ground hogs.
CD

[luvtn]

Spring is coming soon I hope.Working on a load for a Ruger 44WCF to use on groundhogs here in Greene Co,PA So far I have cast 429215 gc sized to .427 and drilled them out hollowpoint. with a BHN of 6, and 7.8 grs Unique. Shot a few into a block of ductseal and they mushroomed out to .620 and grouped 1 1/2 in at 20yds. Since I don't have a place to hunt long range for hogs, I walk with my six gun and over the years have shot many with 357,44,45 colt. If I can get my PC to read SD card I will post some pics.
I don't understand your sizing the boolits to .427?
lt

[jim 44-40]

I don't understand your sizing the boolits to .427?
ltThe Ruger Vaquero I'm shooting will not chamber .429 lead. And I gave up with plain base because leading was a pain.I also use .426 jacketed soft point.Lucked out at gun show and got 100 for $15.00

[Hickok]

The Ruger Vaquero I'm shooting will not chamber .429 lead. And I gave up with plain base because leading was a pain.I also use .426 jacketed soft point.Lucked out at gun show and got 100 for $15.00 The Rugers in 44WCF had a cylinder and bore miss-match, very tight cylinder throats as per 44/40 specs. and barrel land and groove specs for .44 Special/.44 magnum.

[country gent]

For several years I was getting 10-11 a spring/summer from the kitchen window around the back deck and house. Last year didnt get a single one, Im using an old savage in 22 hornet shot are long at 50 yds like this. No need for the 22-250 or swift.

[WRideout]

Where I live in Butler, PA we have had a couple living in the neighbors yard across the street. They never did get into my garden; I think they stay away from our cats. Where I work in Uptown Pittsburgh, you can regularly see groundhogs in the vacant lots. We have some behind my office on 5th Avenue. Rabbits are a regular feature on the South Side, next to the Birmingham bridge. I would like to go after ground hogs, but just can't find a place that would be open to it. I don't know any farmers around here.

Wayne

[Brad Phillips]

G'hogs around here are about the same, some really choice long range places, but most are shot when you see 'um.

[bob208]

around here last summer my 92 carbine in .25-20 was being used got it right by the kitchen door. in my room where I just sneak the window open and use a 92 rifle in .32-20.

[DougGuy]

I have welded up more tractor steering arms b/c of tunnels, once the farmer almost rolled the tractor down the side of a pretty steep hill, he told me they have to go. Everytime I would come on the property, I would sneak down the drive in the truck, which scared them into their holes, sit and wait until the gas in the tank sloshing back and forth calmed down enough to not disturb the crosshairs, by that time they were coming out of hiding. I would roll them and gut them all at the same time with the .308 M77. 280-300yd shots were the norm. Come back an hour later, nothing but skull and paws left. The owls eat right up to the claws and that and the head is about all they leave behind.

[kfarm]

I saw a ground hog at the zoo once