How heavy for a prairie dog rifle ?

[Hammer]

Assume a varmint rifle which will always be shot from a bench.

Not a walking varmint rifle.

Assume live prairie dogs as the target. No predators. No paper competition with rules.

Assume a 222 Remington with a rifle barrel.

How heavy should one make such a prairie dog rifle ?

In Steve Hanson's A Varmint Hunter's Odyssey there are pictures of varmint rifles in the fifty to eighty pound range.

Advantages listed include low recoil and the steadiness to see the shot placement and not needing a spotter to assist.

Assume a gun bearer.


What do y'all think would be the best gun weight for such use ?

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[outlawkyote]

Everyone knows the 222rem is not nearly large enough, thats why they invented the 223rem.

My 2506AI weighs in at 24lbs and I could watch PDs flip in the scope (20X leupold VXIII). A rifle bearer would be handy though.

[Hammer]

Well, if we're not going to use the 222 Remington, then at least let's use the 222 Remington Magnum.

.

[stevec]

My .222 wieghs in @ 15lbs and it is a pleasure to shoot. Only thing that would make it better would be another 5 pounds! The heavier the better!

Steve

[outlawkyote]

My .222 wieghs in @ 15lbs and it is a pleasure to shoot. Only thing that would make it better would be another 5 pounds! The heavier the better!

Steve


Screw a piece of 6" chanel iron to the bottom of the foreend about 18" long. Slides on the bags real nice, that'l add some weight. Take it off when your done.

[Hammer]

At what weight level do you need either hydraulic or electric motor assist for aiming ?

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[Armed in Utah]

I like heavy p/dog guns.....mine are from 15# to 19#

Here's the business end of my 260 AI....one of the heavier rigs..... ;D

http://http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8796/20pt009.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/20pt009.jpg/)

[Hammer]

If the hole in that muzzle were larger in diameter you could get a bigger bullet down the barrel.

.

[Apache]

I don't know yet...but hope to find out! ;)

[xhogboss]

At what weight level do you need either hydraulic or electric motor assist for aiming ?


I'm wondering at what manpower requirement a prairie dog rifle becomes a crew-served weapon?? The gun bearer not being necessary for firing, he (or she) shouldn't count - unless they also load. :D

[dcloco]

I like the 15-18 pound rifle..or at least up to 20 pounds. Anything heavier becomes a chore to transport, setup, etc, etc.

One of my current favorites is a 28" 1.25" straight tube, on a Savage long action single shot, bedded in a Choate Ultimate Varminter stock....chambered in 223 AI.

[stevec]

My .222 wieghs in @ 15lbs and it is a pleasure to shoot. Only thing that would make it better would be another 5 pounds! The heavier the better!

Steve


Screw a piece of 6" chanel iron to the bottom of the foreend about 18" long. Slides on the bags real nice, that'l add some weight. Take it off when your done.


Never thought of that.... I just epoxied lead shot in the stock forarm and butt.
Steve

[outlawkyote]

It works great, took all the recoil out of my 2506AI
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/outlawkyote/hunting%20photos/bigbertha2.jpg

This rifle is 3" wide at the bottom of the foreend but after screwing the 6" chanel to the bottom, it has absolutely no recoil twist and its a fast twist rifle.

[dfrosch]

It works great, took all the recoil out of my 2506AI
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/outlawkyote/hunting%20photos/bigbertha2.jpg

This rifle is 3" wide at the bottom of the foreend but after screwing the 6" chanel to the bottom, it has absolutely no recoil twist and its a fast twist rifle.


Kinda looks like it's expecting a litter of p-shooters... :D :D :D

[handirifle]

How heavy should one make such a prairie dog rifle ?

Assume a gun bearer.


What do y'all think would be the best gun weight for such use ?



Now just how strong is this prairie dog? ;D

Will the bearer be another prairie dog?

[Bad Water Bill]

Hammer Everyone knows you should NEVER go after bull p dogs with anything smaller than a 50 BMG in the 50-60# class. A bipod of at least an additional 50# will help a person of your vast experience not only watch the flight of the 1K armor piercing projectile but also see the vaporizing of the bull p dog.
These guns should always be carried on the back of a specially trained Shetland pony no less than 6 years old. :) :)

[Pete K.]

Hammer,
I have been tracking this item and really thinking about it's uses. Since my range has been under the control of many state and federal agencies they have dedicated most of the parking spaces for the handicap which is all well and good as it should be. The problem is the the quantitative evaluations are based on number of members and not on actual needs. We have only one gentleman that uses a wheelchair and several that use the spouses car with the sticker on the mirror so they can also park in the special places. The rest of us have to make two or more trips a good distance from the parking area with heavy front rests, a couple of bench rifles, a range bag, a tube containing a one piece graphite cleaning rod and more stuff.
I came upon this folding 150 pound hand truck from Sears for $29.99 now with a $5.00 savings for $24.99. I read many reviews and this thing just works well over uneven ground. The wheels are behind the load so I would think that in really bad conditions that you would want to pull it behind you rather than push it. For $24.99 or even $29.99 for a foldable 150 lb hand truck with a couple of bungie straps holding down a Tupper Ware type container of what ever size you need is a terrific deal. I also understand that you are kidding with your question. There is nothing as steady as a 90 lb. rail gun for long distance accuracy on still targets.
Second on the top right...http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=hand+truck&vName=
Edited to add: I went from 125 benches to just four at the new range so check the McFadden shooting rest out in place of a bench using my piano type stool with height adjustments. This is not me by the way but you get the idea....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuzZMaW00ns I want one!!!!
Pete K. ;D