Which cartridge would be perfect for the rock chucks? I always wanted a rifle for these critters. I reload, got tons of 223 brass. I want to get 17 hornet or 22 hornet but worried about finding brass/ammo. $ for rifle isn't a problem cause it'll probably be next year I'll buy rifle. I use to shoot em with a 17 hmr back when the hmr first came out, shoot that's along time ago. The distance 3-400 yards or so. 22-250 I thought of also, 223, I haven't really been up to date on what's new these days. What you all prefer? And which rifle should I get?

CZ527 204 Ruger, Rem700 6MM Rem. Have both and they work quite well. I'm planning on selling the CZ if you might be interested.

Where in SE Oregon are you ?

Having fired 10's of thousands of rounds at varmints.

I find the 223 is running out of steam after 300

It kills fine but does not blown them up.

The 22-250 is better at the longer distances the 243, 25-06 real shine.

They make red mist for a long ways.

I would consider availability of brass to be a concern.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Having fired 10's of thousands of rounds at varmints.

I find the 223 is running out of steam after 300

It kills fine but does not blown them up.

The 22-250 is better at the longer distances the 243, 25-06 real shine.

They make red mist for a long ways.

I would consider availability of brass to be a concern.

I Agree.

If you are talking 400 yards or more, then a 22.250 with the heaviest bullet it will stabilize is the minimum, IMHO.

I use a 22.250AI with a 1:10" twist barrel and shoot 69 and 70 grain bullets.

I really prefer my 243 with 75-100 grain bullets or my 6.5x284 with 142 grain bullets.

I haven’t shot a lot of rock chucks but have spent some time with prairie dogs. I’ve always preferred a cartridge with low recoil so I could see the hit. A 204 with 39 gr has great ballistics. With the ongoing component shortage, and since you reload, I’d chose a 20 Tactical or 20 Practical.good hunting.
Larry

rcraig PM sent

I have several varmint rifles ; 17HMR, 17 Fireball, 222, 223, 22-250, 243, and the 204 is the one that stays in the truck. I am shooting 40 grain Bergers. They are amazing.

God Bless, Louis

been using 243 for years on woodchucks but the farms where we hunt are 300yds tops.

I just returned from my 6th year hunting rockchucks in ID. First 2 years I was worried about the wind. Yook my 6mmAI & .250 Sav. AI HANDGUNS (don't own any rifles). Found out the wind wasn't that bad if you read it right.
The last 4 years all I took were my .223 Contender & .22-250XP-R Handguns, as well as a suppressed Ruger MKIII for shooting close to homes.
These 3 guns have done fantastic the last 4 years. My 6 year 6 day total is 1905. The best year was 2022-479. I've thinned them a bunch since then.I've done around 250 with the .22 out to 105 yds. with a Rem. 38 gr. subsonic HP. The only bullet I used in the "big" guns has been 40 gr. BTs. Done several from 350-400 with both guns.
I found out quickly that you don't need really big calibers if you actually hunt these critters instead of seeing how far you can shoot.

I am with Frank on the 22/250 IMP

This is why I like the 22.250AI

I whacked a coyote at 300 yards Friday afternoon with the 22.250AI. A whole family walked out right in front of my deer stand that sits 315 yards from my house. I'm sighted in at 300 yards since that's the most common place that I see them.

I'm shooting the 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade at 4,400 fps and it performed perfectly. It went in through the ribs and exploded, the bitch spun around twice and fell dead, five feet from where she was hit. No exit hole but she sloshed when I drug her to the ditch.

22-250, 220 Swift, 243, 2506.

22-243!

Any one of the versions available!

I’m going to try my 22 PPC USA AI Sako SS and 6 PPC USA Sako AI Hunter repeater this Summer. I’ve taken them with my 17 Remington Sako in the past and they just fall asleep. If you want airtime, 85 gr ballistic tips out of a 2506 or 120 grain ballistic tips out of a 7 MM RM will do the job nicely.

My daughter saw a big dark, woodchuck (groundhog) in my back pasture yesterday. He was right at 400 yards from my house, so it looks like I have to get out one of the big guns.

I've used pretty much everything from a shotgun, to a 45-70.
the 223 goes a lot, the 243 is kind of a favorite in a lot of areas...
I use one with 58gr. bullets.
if one really makes me mad I get the 25-06 out with lighter bullets smoking along and wait for him.

After 5 Rock Chuck trips to Idaho, I would recommend a .223 Rem. for 90% of the shots encountered. For a second gun a .22-250 Rem. would in my humble opinion do it all with ease.

On my 6 trips to ID and taken 1905 rockchucks with handguns only, I've use a .223 Contender and XPR-100 .22-250, plus a suppressed Ruger MKIII to take all of these. I've used only 40 BTs in the long guns and 38 gr. Rem. subsonics in the Ruger.
Don't see a need for anything else.

i've been a prairie dog shooting nut for 50+ years usually i take a dozen rifles on a shoot i've shot shem with about every thing you can imagine and have to the conclusion the best is the one in your hands

What ever is handy at the time, usually out my kitchen window for rock chucks, I like my 6x45, 222 and 22-250 for Rock chucks and coyotes, but I'm not a long range shooter as a rule much prefer a 100 0r 200 yard running shot at a coyote or Jack rabbit, to hone my big game shooting skills,but I will take a long shot from time to time as a target of opportunity and not bothersome in the least if I miss any varmint shot...

Just a different approach to varminting to have a good time and pass the time away behind the house using a hand call..Also it depends on the price of furs.