best centerfire cal for gophers?

S

skidooracer_99

New member
just wondering what you guys like or seems to work best on gophers. already have a .22 and hmr! im feel the need for another gun for the further ones. im debating .204, .22-250, or .243. what do you think?
 
204 by far. Low recoil, great accuracy and the same range as the 22-250.

don't know what brand your looking at, but I sure like my new CZ Varmint.

CZ527-204-2.jpg
 
may actually go for 2 out of those 3? what would be the best to have? which would be the most explosive on those little guys? i was kinda set on a 22-250 but now the 243 and 204 seem to catch my eye more.
 
Depends on the bullets you shoot. For 30 plus years my go to the woods varmint rifle was the 22-250 then about five years ago I changed over to the 243. Last year I switched again to the 204 Ruger. all pretty well whack ground squirrels and coyotes, but the 204 is much more shootable for a long day of shooting ground squirrels. I like the fact that it reaches out there as well as the 250 without any recoil.

Look all are good cartridges, but the 204 is less money to shoot and less recoil. Recoil doesn't matter for a coyote rifle, but can make a difference in a PD or ground squirrel gun.
 
now does the 250 seem to have a bit more knockdown power at long range than the 204? or with ground squirrels you wouldnt notice any diff? now i narrowed between the 204 and 250 since this will be just a gopher gun. seems like the 204 is the way to go...but is there anything the 250 does a bit better on gophers or anything you prefer about the 250. just wanna make sure im making the right decision here!
 
For ground squirrels I haven't noticed any difference with the 250 and the 204. With both I've had coyotes spin and nip before going down. The most effective long range coyote rifle seems to be the 243 for me, but the other two kill well and I've had no run offs with either. I'm shooting 55 grain Nosler's in the 243 at a little over 3900 fps and it's usually dead right now with that load.

Usually the choice between taking the 243 or the 204 depends on how hard the wind is blowing. The 243 seems to buck the wind a little better once it gets over 15 mph.
 
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"... now does the 250 seem to have a bit more knockdown power at long range than the 204? or with ground squirrels you wouldnt notice any diff?"



Just how BIG are those ground squirrels out there that need a .22-250 to kill them. With the .22-250, you would go through a barrel in one or two days (I have done it!!)

Quote:
"... now i narrowed between the 204 and 250 since this will be just a gopher gun. seems like the 204 is the way to go...but is there anything the 250 does a bit better on gophers or anything you prefer about the 250. just wanna make sure im making the right decision here!



You might give some serious consideration to the .17 FireBall - ideal ground squirrel and Prairie Dog cartridge - low recoil (see your hits in the scope), low cost, low barrel hearing, and longer barrel life... and cheaper to shoot.


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Quote:

Just how BIG are those ground squirrels out there that need a .22-250 to kill them. With the .22-250, you would go through a barrel in one or two days (I have done it!!)



I'll have to agree with Catshooter here. How big are the ground squirrels you guys are shooting? The ones I shoot are 4-6" long and weigh under 8 oz.

If you reload, 17AH is the best. If you don't then look into the 17FB. If all else fails, consider the old fashioned 22 Hornet, it still does a fine job on the little critters.

Whew, 22-250 or 204 for gophers. Continuing that line of thought, you guys would be using a 40mm anti-aircraft cannon on deer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hey Phillip, based on my arithmetic, a 50 BMG would be a coyote rifle for close shots. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Spent last week out in your neck of the woods. If things go wrong, I could be there 3 days a week for the next two years. The area where I would be working has lots of shooting but all the wrong kind, if you get my drift. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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Even i would have to give my vote to the claymores......but you`d be missing out on the recoil that the .50 has to offer.
 
Quote:
If you reload, 17AH is the best.



Darn right.

If you don't reload, I'd go either .22 Hornet or .221 Fireball (plenty of oomph for gophers, considerably less barrel heat and wear than the .17FB).

- DAA
 
The gophers must be about the same size of prairie dog pups which are about 6-8 oz when the come out in the spring. I use a 17 HM2 for shots out to about 80 yards, a 17 HMR for shots for out to about 150 Yds . A few years ago I got a 221 Fireball for shots out to about 225 yards, but this year I have gotten a 17 Fireball rifle with a 6-18 X scope and have made hits out to about 275 yards. I get more shots when I use rifles with a low muzzle blast. With the low recoil I can see the bullet hit them. I have use a 204 Ruger for longer shots. Over the years I have tryed out the 17 Rem, 22 Hornet, 221 Fireball, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, and 243 Win on prairie dogs but now I like the little 17s and the 204 Ruger for small varmints.
 


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