From: wdm@drutx.ATT.COM (Wayne Motycka)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: .17 vs. .223 for varmits?
Date: 12 Jan 93 22:18:03 GMT
Organization: Joe's Garage (A.K.A. - AT&T-BL Denver, CO)


# In <2935028528.1.p00140@psilink.com> p00140@psilink.com (Gary A. Woodward) writes:
# 
# #Well winter has settled in on us here in VA.  I've got permission to 
# #hunt several farms in the spring and summer to kill groundhogs (it seems 
# #a lot of hunters cannot differeniate between a street sign, a cow, and a 
# #ground hog).  I like the prices of the Remingtons, but I have a question 
# #about the benefits of a .17 cal vs .223 for long rang varmiting.  I do 
# #not choose to reload at least in the begining-so exotic calibres are 
# #out.  Also a recommendation for a good variable X scope would be 
# #appreciated. Thanks in advance. 
# 

As a current varmint eradicator, I think that .17 would NOT be the best for
ground hogs at more than 150-200 yds.  The .17 has great ballistics but will
lose it's velocity faster with less retained energy.  With ground hogs, energy
is the key to success.  With too little energy the ground hog just jumps back
into hiding and may even survive the wound.  Ground hogs are *real* tough!!!

Since you don't say how far is long range, I will assume 300+ yards.  For
ground hogs at that range and beyond, a .22-250 or .220 Swift would be my
minimum.  The .223 Rem. is a fine cartridge but doesn't have the energy beyond
200 yds for clean kills on ground hogs.  Other choices for factory chambered
rounds to think about would be: 6mm Remington, 25-06, 257 Roberts, and 264 Win.
Mag.  I have shot prairie dogs at 300 yards with the 6mm Rem. (my main varmint
rig), a .220 Swift, and a .22-250.  All produced clean kills on itty bitty
prairie dogs, which are about 1/3 the size and 1/3 as tough as a ground hog.

If you want a bit more than these cartridges can provide, you can have a gun
chambered for .22-250 Improved, 6mm Rem. Improved, or 257 Roberts Improved.
An improved chamber will fire factory ammo and can be reloaded to produce a
10-15% improvement over the normal chambering.

Most folks who varmint hunt do reload, because of the ammo cost involved.
If you do get hooked, you will probably reconsider your reloading decision.
In an hour's time, you can easily shoot 20 rounds in a prairie dog town.
And that is a *very* leisurely pace.  For my 6mm that would be $12-15 per hour.

As far as a scope, my choice for my new varmint rig (25-06!!!) is going to
be a Burris 6-18x 40mm.  Other choices that were in the contention:

a Leupold 6.5-20x
a Redfield likewise variable (6-18x I think it was)
A Weaver K15, 15x fixed (my Dad got one of these and it was too short to mount
                        for proper eye relief on his rifle)
and (way beyond my pocketbook) the Nikon.

Pentax makes a fair scope, but I don't know if they had anything in the power
range above 12x.  For 300+ yards you will want a minimum of 12x, and 15x to
18x are probably better choices.  Ground hogs at that range will be tough to
spot against any kind of rock terrain.

Most of all have fun, and don't feel too obligated to leave some for the next
guy, there will be plenty of misses.

Wayne Motycka
-- 
 Wayne D. Motycka            |  "You ask 'em where's my motor?"
 AT&T Bell Labs - Denver     |  "Well, it was eaten by snakes..." F.Z.
 ...att!drutx!wdm            |