IdahoElkHunter
New member
Im going on a PD hunt in Wyoming for 2 days. My question is how many rounds of ammo would one take on such a trip. Im flying from California so Im limited to 50 pounds of ammo.
Ammo for Prairie Dog hunt
- Thread starter IdahoElkHunter
- Start date
Then bring 50 pounds of ammo, it's better to have too much then run out. It's hard to say how thick they will be until you get out there. They sit tight if it's cool and windy or rainy. If the sun is shining and it's warm- you will need the ammo. Depending on the gun(bolt/auto) and caliber it's not uncommon to go through 500 rounds a day.
IdahoElkHunter
New member
Delta and American air lines limit you to 50 pounds. Wow that would be alot of ammo. I was thinking of bringing 1000 rounds per gun. Im taking a 17 remington and a 22-250
Hidalgo
Well-known member
Quote:
Delta and American air lines limit you to 50 pounds. Wow that would be alot of ammo. I was thinking of bringing 1000 rounds per gun. Im taking a 17 remington and a 22-250
That is 500 rounds per day, and I can't imagine myself PERSONALLY shooting that much. I have found that it's hard to look through the scope for that many rounds, unless you're really shooting fast. We averaged less than 300 per day, and it wasn't because of a lack of targets. We just took several breaks during the day.
You might be able to go thru 500 daily. My eyes wouldn't allow it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Delta and American air lines limit you to 50 pounds. Wow that would be alot of ammo. I was thinking of bringing 1000 rounds per gun. Im taking a 17 remington and a 22-250
That is 500 rounds per day, and I can't imagine myself PERSONALLY shooting that much. I have found that it's hard to look through the scope for that many rounds, unless you're really shooting fast. We averaged less than 300 per day, and it wasn't because of a lack of targets. We just took several breaks during the day.
You might be able to go thru 500 daily. My eyes wouldn't allow it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
OldTurtle
Moderator - Deceased
Your big concern should be how far from town for a re-supply if needed...
As stated above, the weather and sun will have the biggest effect on how much you will be able to shoot.
I've gone when the weather was hot, cloudy and windy and shot very few, but on a cool day when the sun was out, they were out and standing around like teenage sun worshipers...
The ranch where we go is 30+ miles from the closest town and to have to quit and drive back in to town for ammo is a bear, as the ranch doesn't have any paved roads between PD towns and it's gravel for 20 of the 30 miles to the human town..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
As stated above, the weather and sun will have the biggest effect on how much you will be able to shoot.
I've gone when the weather was hot, cloudy and windy and shot very few, but on a cool day when the sun was out, they were out and standing around like teenage sun worshipers...
The ranch where we go is 30+ miles from the closest town and to have to quit and drive back in to town for ammo is a bear, as the ranch doesn't have any paved roads between PD towns and it's gravel for 20 of the 30 miles to the human town..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Linefinder
New member
Take all you can...you never know. Pdogs are fickle sometimes. There are days when they just don't feel like playing, and there are other days you couldn't run them down their holes with a chain of daisey cutters.
I consider a slow day ~100 round (that's really slow), and I've had days when I've fired close to 700. It also depends on how long you shoot. I've had days that I've spent 13 hours over the rifle.
A friend and I tracked our ammo consumption during the course of a few shoots the year before last, and it worked out to an average of 50 rounds per hour apiece on slightly better than average days. This is rotating 3 rifles each. If you're limited to one rifle, you'll spend some time letting the barrel cool, and your average would probably be more in tune with 30 rounds per hour.
Mike
I consider a slow day ~100 round (that's really slow), and I've had days when I've fired close to 700. It also depends on how long you shoot. I've had days that I've spent 13 hours over the rifle.
A friend and I tracked our ammo consumption during the course of a few shoots the year before last, and it worked out to an average of 50 rounds per hour apiece on slightly better than average days. This is rotating 3 rifles each. If you're limited to one rifle, you'll spend some time letting the barrel cool, and your average would probably be more in tune with 30 rounds per hour.
Mike
blammer
New member
average for me was around 300-400 rnds a day. Those were on heavy dog days, I took my time and didn't super heat my barrel. That's not counting the brick of 22LR's dinged away at the close ones each day... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The airlines don't 'specifically' wt ammo. They'll ask you how much you have. If you don't know how much is wt's just guess, oh 20 lbs I suppose....
I'd just make sure it's seperated into several different check on bags. So if some of you bags get lost you'll still have some ammo.
If extra worried, I'd send 1/2 of your ammo ahead via UPS to whom ever your staying with and pack the other half.
Cheap insurance you'll have some ammo to shoot.
The airlines don't 'specifically' wt ammo. They'll ask you how much you have. If you don't know how much is wt's just guess, oh 20 lbs I suppose....
I'd just make sure it's seperated into several different check on bags. So if some of you bags get lost you'll still have some ammo.
If extra worried, I'd send 1/2 of your ammo ahead via UPS to whom ever your staying with and pack the other half.
Cheap insurance you'll have some ammo to shoot.
Rustydust
Active member
Quote:
If extra worried, I'd send 1/2 of your ammo ahead via UPS to whom ever your staying with and pack the other half.
Cheap insurance you'll have some ammo to shoot.
There you go, Patrick! Go ahead and send it on. And all that is left by the time you get here we will take with us! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Might want to save a few rounds for whistlepigs.
If extra worried, I'd send 1/2 of your ammo ahead via UPS to whom ever your staying with and pack the other half.
Cheap insurance you'll have some ammo to shoot.
There you go, Patrick! Go ahead and send it on. And all that is left by the time you get here we will take with us! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Might want to save a few rounds for whistlepigs.
Rustydust
Active member
Quote:
tell em that there is one bullet with a super hot charge in it and it'll blow up any gun fired in and only you know what one it is.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
wonder how many they'll gamble on...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
That might be hard to do! He just bought a case of factory ammo! But where there's a will there's a way I guess! Thanks for the idea!
tell em that there is one bullet with a super hot charge in it and it'll blow up any gun fired in and only you know what one it is.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
wonder how many they'll gamble on...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
That might be hard to do! He just bought a case of factory ammo! But where there's a will there's a way I guess! Thanks for the idea!
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
For me 200 rounds a day is plenty. 200 well aimed rounds is enough for one day. Beyond that it is too much like work. When I go shooting ground squirrels locally I rarely shoot even 150. But then, I am lazy.
Jack
Jack
IdahoElkHunter
New member
Thanks for the replies great advice. Now If you can only bring 2 rifles what would you guys bring? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
trailhound
New member
A 204 and a 223. Why??? Because you are limited on the weight of the ammo you can bring. A 204 and 223 weigh less than a 22-250 per round.
Rustydust
Active member
I used the 17 Remington and the 223 for more shooting last year than my 221 Furball, my 204, and my 220 Swift all put together. My 17 Rem was the number 1 fave out to about 300 yards. Past that the 223 and past 400 the Swift was the one to use. I will likely leave the 204 at home this year. Nothing that it would do that my 17 Rem or 223 wouldnt do. If I was taking only one gun, it would be my varminted AR-15. If you take your 17 Rem and your 223 you be in fine shape in my opinion.
Rustydust
Active member
While this is true, I certainly would hate to be limited to 100- 150 yard shots.
I was out last year with a guy that had brought along his NEF 17 Hummer. I admit it- it was a hoot out to 100 or 125 yards or so. Could not miss. Didnt blow up the dogs much, but they were DRT. Another friend a a Marlin in the 17 M2. It also killed pretty good out to 100 yards or so, but the praire dog just looked like he had a stroke and fell over. When the shooting got slow, we would pick these dogs up and put them back on the mound and shoot them again with our 22/250's or the Swift. Hee hee. Let them ripen in the sun for a few hours before you do this for even more effect.
I was out last year with a guy that had brought along his NEF 17 Hummer. I admit it- it was a hoot out to 100 or 125 yards or so. Could not miss. Didnt blow up the dogs much, but they were DRT. Another friend a a Marlin in the 17 M2. It also killed pretty good out to 100 yards or so, but the praire dog just looked like he had a stroke and fell over. When the shooting got slow, we would pick these dogs up and put them back on the mound and shoot them again with our 22/250's or the Swift. Hee hee. Let them ripen in the sun for a few hours before you do this for even more effect.
Njanear
New member
Quote:
While this is true, I certainly would hate to be limited to 100- 150 yard shots.
I was out last year with a guy that had brought along his NEF 17 Hummer. I admit it- it was a hoot out to 100 or 125 yards or so. Could not miss. Didnt blow up the dogs much, but they were DRT. Another friend a a Marlin in the 17 M2. It also killed pretty good out to 100 yards or so, but the praire dog just looked like he had a stroke and fell over. When the shooting got slow, we would pick these dogs up and put them back on the mound and shoot them again with our 22/250's or the Swift. Hee hee. Let them ripen in the sun for a few hours before you do this for even more effect.
What a sick mind! Doing that to those poor dead dogs! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I like your way of thinking - recycling targets is an environmentally sound practice, don't you think? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'm envious. We don't have anything fun like that out here in GA. One day I am going to have to make one of those shoots - and if I do, one of my HM2s will just have to come with me.
While this is true, I certainly would hate to be limited to 100- 150 yard shots.
I was out last year with a guy that had brought along his NEF 17 Hummer. I admit it- it was a hoot out to 100 or 125 yards or so. Could not miss. Didnt blow up the dogs much, but they were DRT. Another friend a a Marlin in the 17 M2. It also killed pretty good out to 100 yards or so, but the praire dog just looked like he had a stroke and fell over. When the shooting got slow, we would pick these dogs up and put them back on the mound and shoot them again with our 22/250's or the Swift. Hee hee. Let them ripen in the sun for a few hours before you do this for even more effect.
What a sick mind! Doing that to those poor dead dogs! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I like your way of thinking - recycling targets is an environmentally sound practice, don't you think? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'm envious. We don't have anything fun like that out here in GA. One day I am going to have to make one of those shoots - and if I do, one of my HM2s will just have to come with me.
IdahoElkHunter
New member
Rustydust Im bringing my 17rem for sure but Its a toss up on the 223 or the 22-250. Never shot any critters with the 22-250. As you well know the 223 has shot too many to count including the coyote we got. My 22-250 like your swift is a bench gun set up for long range. Im thinking I might bring it. Also Russ what ya think about taking my 10/22??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif