New Toy

[Pre-64]

Well good people, I just picked up a brand new toy. Went to my local gun shop and grabbed a Remington 700 VTR in .223 Rem. All I can say is WOW. Second round of refined hanbdloads put a 5 shot group in .415" at 100 yards. Coolest thing has to be the muzzle break. You can actually watch the bullet hole slam Bullseye.

[Catfish]

The Big Green has been getting alot of bad press the last few years, but it looks like they are getting things right now. I have a nephue that brought down a new mountain rifle in .243 Win. He shot an 8 shot group in the low 6`s, the amazing thing was that 5 of the rounds were 75 gr. varmint bullets and the other 3 were 100 gr. round nose. I told him if he ever want to get rid of that gun to give me a call.

[Pre-64]

Catfish,
I agree that Remmy has put some flops out as of late but this Rifle seems to be of the old quality. I have always had a love affair with the old Winny's but if you do not already own them it requires refinancing your home to get one now. I have worked 3 loads up for this rifle already ( 50 Gr. Blitzking, 52 Gr. Matchking and a 55 Gr. V Max) in no time at all. I know that a 223 is very forgiving to the Hand loader but the worst of the 3 loads, the 55 V Max, are all putting groups inside of 5/8 of an inch at 100. Maybe I got one of the rare ones that will eat whatever you give her but I am seriously considering getting her big sister in .308

[rainydays]

Always fun to get a new rifle, and the .223's are sure fun to shoot. Congrats on getting one.

[Larryjk]

kThe .223 is the worst thing that happened to prairie dogs. Usually very accurate and used to be very cheap to shoot. Tough caliber to beat for that use.

[rainydays]

kThe .223 is the worst thing that happened to prairie dogs. Usually very accurate and used to be very cheap to shoot. Tough caliber to beat for that use.
Overall I believe that is hard for average shooter to go wrong with the .223.
It is still probably the least expensive of most small calibers to handload for and out to 350-400 yards it is still a pretty good round for prairiedogs. I had mine out the other day shooting a few dogs. One thing when it is 20 degrees out, the barrel stays pretty cool. And, like you say, for the most part they are pretty darn accurate. I very good value.:)

[Larryjk]

rainydays, I suppose you will hate to hear me say this. I have been sending letters to our Game & Fish Commission and talking to the game wardens about the idea of putting a season on prairie dogs in Wyoming. 1) Shooting them too early in the spring is really putting a crimp on their reproduction. I am recommending June 1 in Wyoming. 2) License them as a small game animal. All non-residents would have to buy a license and conservation stamp as would all residents. Most residents already do that for other needs. It would bring in about $45.00 for each non-resident shooter.(Try shooting p-dogs in anyother state without haveing their non-resident license.) 3) With a later starting date, there would be many more p-dogs to shoot. Resident landowners could shoot them anytime on their own property to prevent damage. 4) It would show the Game & Fish is managing p-dogs, which would make it more difficult for some enviro groups to push for endangered species status.
I am not a no hunting type. I hunt everything it is legal to hunt. I am a conservationist and I think this would be a good move for the long term hunting of p-dogs.

[rainydays]

rainydays, I suppose you will hate to hear me say this. I have been sending letters to our Game & Fish Commission and talking to the game wardens about the idea of putting a season on prairie dogs in Wyoming. 1) Shooting them too early in the spring is really putting a crimp on their reproduction. I am recommending June 1 in Wyoming. 2) License them as a small game animal. All non-residents would have to buy a license and conservation stamp as would all residents. Most residents already do that for other needs. It would bring in about $45.00 for each non-resident shooter.(Try shooting p-dogs in anyother state without haveing their non-resident license.) 3) With a later starting date, there would be many more p-dogs to shoot. Resident landowners could shoot them anytime on their own property to prevent damage. 4) It would show the Game & Fish is managing p-dogs, which would make it more difficult for some enviro groups to push for endangered species status.
I am not a no hunting type. I hunt everything it is legal to hunt. I am a conservationist and I think this would be a good move for the long term hunting of p-dogs.
Larryjk, I hear what you are saying and I do agree with you. Here though, it is somewhat of a different situation. The Feds are poisoning the the dog towns that infringe on private ground because there are to many dogs in them and the ranchers are complaining about the feds not controlling there dogs. Guess that is why I shoot them all year round. Even at that, some of the towns I used to hunt are now gone. Hard to figure out if the Feds what to put the dogs on the endangered species list or poison them off. :confused:

[Larryjk]

rainydays, Do the land-owners let people in to shoot the p-dogs, or do they charge for hunting? I have done control work on two ranches where they wanted the p-dogs reduced. One ranch manager said the prairie dogs disappeared the year after I shot them down. I don't know what the cause for that might be, but would be inclined to think it may have been disease going through his population of dogs.
I am only familiar with the area north of Bismark around Washburn and east where I hunt pheasants sometimes. I don't remembeer seeing p-dogs in that area.

[Catfish]

I`ve never hunted pd`s, but back here in Oh. the groundhog is the biggest problem to the farmers. Haveing been a farmer I am sure that any thing you do to reduce hunting presure on them would not be taken well by them.

[rainydays]

rainydays, Do the land-owners let people in to shoot the p-dogs, or do they charge for hunting? I have done control work on two ranches where they wanted the p-dogs reduced. One ranch manager said the prairie dogs disappeared the year after I shot them down. I don't know what the cause for that might be, but would be inclined to think it may have been disease going through his population of dogs.
I am only familiar with the area north of Bismark around Washburn and east where I hunt pheasants sometimes. I don't remembeer seeing p-dogs in that area.
I really don't can't say for certain if the private landowners charge to shoot. I would imagine that some probably do. I mostly hunt on Federal lands. I do know that some of the private landowners have also gone to poisoning dogs. As far as I know, there are not any PD's north of Bismarck.
Hey, I went to high school in Washburn.:)

[Larryjk]

rainydays, I tell the ranchers that I know have p-dogs not to poison. I will come in when they want and bring a couple shooters with me I will be responsible for, and shoot down the dogs to the level they prefer. I tell them I can't get them all by shooting, but they can't get all of them by poisoning either. My method is free to them.
And the folks around Washburn are very nice!

[Larryjk]

Catfish, You really know how to get my goat. I have never had a chance to shoot groundhogs. Prairie dogs, Richardson ground squirrels, rock chucks (Marmots), and bigger four footers, but never a groundhog. I envy you.