Need some advice on woodchuck rifle

[Robert_in_NY]

Hello, here is the situation, I am having trouble getting rid of woodchucks at the farm. The main field is 60 acres with no cover. I have eliminated all woodchucks within 120 yards of the barn which is the main cover. However, the rest of the fields have been let go for a few years and there is literally over one hundred woodchuck dens across the hill side. I have started filling in some of the dens and smoke bombing them as I go but this is a long process and there is nothing saying I will get them all. I have a .270 but have not got a scope on it yet and really do not want to use that powerful of a gun. I have been thinking of a 22-250 or a .223 but do not know. I will be needing something that will kill them out to about 300 yards as that is the sight distance. So here is the rest of the requirements, I would like to keep the price down somewhat cheap (under $500 if possible), price of the rounds should be affordable and the gun needs to be accurate out to 300 yards (I know I still have to shoot it that accurate but that is not a problem). Also, any ideas of a good scope for said gun would be welcomed. There are no houses within the shooting area and the field is surrounded by a heavy woods so I should be ok for any misses, pass thrus or skips. Thanks and take care.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd give serious consideration to an SKS. These use 7.62 x 39 ammo, which is cheap as all get out.

The 7.62 x 39 is about equal to .308 caliber and should be more then adequate for what you want to do. However, 300 yards might be pushing the limit on this rifle.

SKS rifles are an old design. They're really low cost rifles (if you paid more then $160, you paid too much).

A shotgun would work for shorter ranges (< 100 feet) if you ue a lighter game round.

 

[MadReferee]

I have a Remington M700 bolt rifle in .22-250 that has a 4x12 scope and have used it in years gone by to shoot groundhogs. It will do just fine at 300-400 yards. With all the different .22 cal bullets available you should be able to work up a load that will drive tacks at 300 yards.

It is one of my favorite rifles. You can probably pick up a used one for well under $500. Brand new they go for around $550-700 without scope.

 

[JimR]

Forget about the SKS. They are not very accurate at over 100 yards. You may hit a body size object at 300, but not a woodchuck. I would look into a 22-250 or .223 in a bolt action rifle. I would try to find a used one with a scope already on it. Try looking at a gun show or local want ads. A scope with a 6x24x50 will work wonders at that range. Here's what I use for long range fun. Don't ask how much it cost. It would make you sick.

 

[RoyJackson]

"Forget about the SKS"

Pretty apparent you've never shot an SKS.

 

[accordionman]

SIR,
your .270 is about as flat shooting as they come, and can reach
out, and touch them. in my opinion, all you need is a good scope.
there is another way. do you know of any shooting clubs in your
area? invite them to a "shootout", and you could solve your
problem real quick. how about the barn? is the roof strong enough to hold
someone? you could make a nice shooting platform on top of the
roof, and have good coverage over a large area.
REDFIELD makes a real good scope, pricey though. there are several good
brands of scopes on the market.
are these critters keeping the grass, and weeds under control? this is
another thing to think about, if you eleminate them, you may end up
having to mow that big area.
good luck with your project.
accordionman
william l. brown
wright city, mo.

 

[Will_C]

Robert; I will also endorse the .22-250. The .223 would be acceptable for your use, but the .22-250 is just what you need. I don't know the specific ballistics, but I know that you can almost hold dead on out to your 300 yard target and have the trajectory to hit it. recoil is very light, and several companies sell "varmint packs " of cartridges at a reasonable price.
Sticking with your budget, I would suggest that you take a good look at a Savage 110. I have no experience with them, but have read some good reports on them, and have heard from some friends that are very impressed with theirs.
You will want a fairly powerful scope, at least a 12 power, maybe as much as an 18 power. I can't give you give any recommendations on low price scopes, as I have been using Leupolds lately.
I wish you lived closer, I would volunteer to help you out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have shot 14 this year with my Browning .243, topped with a Leupold 4-12x scope.
Will

 

[fishman]

RoyJackson,

I have shot plenty of SKS's and there is no way they are capable of shooting woodchucks consistently much beyond 150 yards. 3" groups are pretty good for these rifles and that's from a bench. Trigger's are usually aweful, but even on the better specimens, 300 yard shots on woodchucks are a dream. If you've got one that will do that, hang on to it, because their aren't many like it.

This isn't an indictment of these rifles. I own more of them than I care to admit. Their strong points are that they are inexpensive, always go bang, ammo is dirt cheap, and you can field strip them without tools in about 30 seconds. But they aren't a woodchuck gun. I have hunted deer and coyote with them though. Great guns.

Will C has some good points. However, if $ is a concern, I'd scope the .270 with a Leupold VX-1 4x12 at about $250, and get to work. If you have any questions about your backstop, be sure and buy some "varmint" ammo which will be loaded with frangible bullets. Bullets designed for deer hunting will stay together and travel much further after ricocheting.

Sure wish you lived closer. I'd help and even provide an extra rifle for you. The suggestion was made to contact your local rifle range. That's a good one, and you might learn a lot from those folks.

 

[RobertN]

Put a good scope on what ya got. Good glass is not cheap, and can easily cost as much as the rifle. Less expensive scopes work, but there is nothing like nice bright glass. That's true on a rifle, camera ect.

Start be looking at Leupold. Nikon makes some nice stuff, Swavorski too. There are many others. But, again, it is hard to beat good glass, especially in weather or low-light conditions.

If you were to look at other options, there are a ton of them, some recent, some classics. There's .222, .223, 22-250, 220 Swift, .243. A sweet older one is a .250-3000 Savage. Ruger has that new .204 coming out.

 

[JimR]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "Forget about the SKS"

Pretty apparent you've never shot an SKS. )</font>

I have shot sks's and presently own a 1952 Tula (Russian), late model Chinese and a 49/56 Yugo. The Russian is the most accurate of them all. Too bad they are far and few between due to trade laws.