Bator 35-250 and "long range" sucess

[Bret4207]

Mr Woodchuck will not be causing me headaches in my hay field this year. 35 Whelen '03-A3 and the 250 Bator AC WW at about 1500 fps did him in. I was approx. 125 yards (!) away. Held the cross hair of the Weaver K-1.5 about an inch over his head. Took him center of the chest. Exit wound you ask? WOW! His whole back was gone. It was quick for sure, but the 25-20 leaves something to eat.

[Bass Ackward]

Would you believe that a woodchuck / ground hog will open a bullet faster than a deer? A little more than a 25-20 huh? :grin:

[Marlin Junky]

What is the Bator 35-250? What were the load spec's on this particular woodchuck round? Was that 1500 fps at the muzzle or at 125 yards?

MJ

[ARKANSAS PACKRAT]

Bass: Sometimes they decide they're "bulletproof" and can carry more lead than an orecart!!! One of the writers said years ago that if a grizzly was as tough pound for pound as a groundhog it would not be safe to hunt them with anything short of a pack howitzer. Sure miss hunting the beasties!!!
Nick

[Bret4207]

The Bator was a long gone GB. I believe the load was 15.0 gr Red Dot, velocity approx at muzzle, varied between 1430 and 1550 per my records.

Bass- That metplat makes the difference!

[Marlin Junky]

That metplat makes the difference!

Tpr. Bret,

What was the meplat diameter?

MJ

[bruce drake]

Don't worry, Mr. Chuck's cousin will move into the pasture shortly. Just another reason to carry your rifle around the farm

[Bret4207]

Tpr. Bret,

What was the meplat diameter?

MJ

I don't know for sure and don't have any handy, but it's gotta be .250-.280 or so. I thought I could find the boolit but it either buried it self in the hill or glanced off into the woods. My bet is it's in the dirt, but where I'll never know. Now that my astonishment has died down a bit I'd say a more accurate description of the wound would be a 3" crater where his shoulders used to be. Still impressive. Of course a 'chuck is nothing if not tough and that goes for the hide too. Booilt was ACWW from a batch at least 4 years old. I didn't put any on the tester, but I'd imagine Brinell about 8-9 if past experience is any indicator.

I'm fairly certain this would go from the north to south through a deer. Shades of Elmer Keith!

[MT Gianni]

Bret do you happen to remember your rate of twist? Gianni

[waksupi]

Bret, I do know those bullets will go through about 4 feet of elk without slowing up much.

[Bret4207]

No idea on twist. It's a rebored 03A3 barrel. Good shooter. the outfit weighs in at about 8-8.5 lbs, so it soaks up recoil good too with full house loads. Oddly quiet even with the 20" barrel. More of a boom than crack. Thats why I love cast.

4 foot of elk?!?!? My word! It oughta go through 3 of our whitetails then.