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Thread: Prairie dog shooting with a 480 Ruger

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Question Prairie dog shooting with a 480 Ruger

    I have a scoped Ruger SRH in .480 ruger. I'd like to maybe reach 75 to 100 yds for prairie dog shooting. Don't want heavy recoiling loads. Looking in Speer #14 12gr-16grs of unique is the powder charge weight for their 275 Jacketed HP . I figure I'd seat to the crimping grove with a heavy crimp. Is there something I'm missing ? 32grs of H110 with same bullet is a heavy kicking load that I'd like to avoid.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    I run starting loads of h110 over 400 grain cast. Very pleasant to shoot. If I'm shooting 275s I'm going for max velocity so dont have much advise for you there. Also if you dont already have the hogue tamer grips they are a must in my opinion! Calmed my 480 down immensely!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    Sounds like the ol' sledgehammer to kill flies trick.
    Political correctness is a national suicide pact.

    I am a sovereign individual, accountable
    only to God and my own conscience.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    I once took a prairie dog with a Remington clone 36 caliber cap and ball.
    But with my little 36 I had to wait for the prairie dog to come to the top of the hole...
    "Time and money don't do you a bit of good until you spend them." - My Dad

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    reminds me of a line from an old movie, "Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?".
    but after shooting prairie dogs for a summer, deer in the fall will almost be too easy.
    ..

  6. #6
    Boolit Bub
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    I have those grips,and yes they are a must. I think I'll test a few powders .

  7. #7
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    When I had one, it had a Leupold 2x mounted and offhand standing up I could break clay pigeons with boring regularity @ 100 measured yards. But then again, clay pigeons don't run around.....
    Tom
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    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  8. #8
    Boolit Bub
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    What happened to it ?

  9. #9
    DOR RED BEAR's Avatar
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    Well that should definitely do them in.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    I shot one with a 454 once. It died. The 480 should be similarly effective.

  11. #11
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    Shoot into the crowd on a mound- you may get more than one. Also count how many times the bullet hits earth and keeps skipping

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
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    Texas that is an excellent point. Where I go is semi hilly s,so any hand gun shots will be against a hill side.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master



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    I am an avid prairie dog shooter and I have used ricochet prone bullets or cartridge when it's safe but 99.9 percent of my shooting I use the most explosive bullets possible to prevent ricochets since cattle are almost always present. A couple of my best spots came about after the landowners had issues with ricochets and locked the gates. After demonstrating how explosive a 22 cal. 40 grain V-Max at 3,600 plus FPS is I am the only one that has access.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

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  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    At this place they're are cattle. Perhaps I'll leave the cannon home after all.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master pmer's Avatar
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    I would go with HS6 if you're trying to slow down the 480 ruger. I have had good luck using HS6
    Oh great, another thread that makes me spend money.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master



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    That will hone your skills for bigger game, like jack rabbits
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master



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    Quote Originally Posted by Ironworker View Post
    At this place they're are cattle. Perhaps I'll leave the cannon home after all.
    I would still take and use it but you have to be mindful of only picking targets that give a good backstop.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by M-Tecs View Post
    I am an avid prairie dog shooter and I have used ricochet prone bullets or cartridge when it's safe but 99.9 percent of my shooting I use the most explosive bullets possible to prevent ricochets since cattle are almost always present. A couple of my best spots came about after the landowners had issues with ricochets and locked the gates. After demonstrating how explosive a 22 cal. 40 grain V-Max at 3,600 plus FPS is I am the only one that has access.
    I agree with this 100% when cattle are present. One of the old towns we used to hunt in had no cattle and the nearest farm on the horizon was 20 miles away as the crow flies. Still we were careful not to shoot any dogs between us and that farm. We would take our elk rifles and about 40 rounds of ammo and practice with them. Once that was over with, out came the 22 250 ,223, 220 Swift, and so on.
    Killing a prairie dog with a handgun is a neat feeling, but not oft repeated.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ironworker View Post
    What happened to it ?
    I foolishly traded it for a Savage single shot model 12 BVSS/S in .308.

    Which I foolishly traded for who knows what....
    Tom
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    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  20. #20
    Boolit Bub
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    Sighted gun in at 25 yards ,it shot to the left ,over adjusted but still nice group on small shoot n See target . Then moved back to 50yds and it was way right. Experimented different ways to rest the handgun of a rest,rest the bbl ,rest it on the crane hinge,then the rear of the butt of grip. I liked the loads of 14.5grs of unique behind 275gr JHP . But those prairie dogs are all safe until I can get some consistency . So how do you all rest a revolver of bags ? Maybe I should have the trigger worked on ?

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check