6mm06
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: whyIn the last two years I have killed over 200 groundhogs with my 17 HMR alone........ Over 15 of those 200 were @ 200yds or more. I shoot 17 gr vmax from a cz 452 varmint with a 3x9 bushnell. I learned early on that head shots are a must when the distance gets 100 yds. or more.
Why, that's a lot of groundhogs with the HMR, a lot more than I have done. Wish I was there with you to get some video of that. Would be interesting no doubt. We take head shots exclusively except for those two body-shot ones I mentioned earlier. We never missed a shot to the head in all the times we squeezed the trigger under 100 yards. The accuracy of the HMR made that possible.
It seems this thread is taking a turn away from the OP's original requirement of one rifle for small game AND groundhogs, and perhaps fox. We can all discuss fine varmint / groundhog cartridges all day and have a good time with it, but what about small game ( sqiurrels, rabbits etc.)? Does anyone really want to hunt gray squirrels with. 223, 204 etc? Not that there is anything wrong with that if that's what floats your boat. But in most hunting circles, small game means squirrels and rabbits, and most hunters will say rimfire for that.
Truth be, a guy would probably be better off with a good, accurate 22 long rifle for the small game, and then look for a cartridge suitable for groundhogs and fox.