Best woodchuck caliber. Need advice

Vintage-bears · 07-26-2014, 12:34 PM

Hello,
Ive been using a marlin 22 magnum bolt rifle for woodchucks with some great success but
im wanting to get a Savage.

I don't wanna get too much of a caliber as I basically shoot them on my lawn which is only a couple acres and don't want too much bullet travel.
Should I stick with a 22mag and what savage rifle do you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance.....Philip

Vintage-bears · 07-27-2014, 02:20 AM

Gonna stay with my Marlin for now.
Thanks

bremereric · 07-27-2014, 06:47 AM

Get the stainless barrel B-Mag. The 20 grain flies at 3000 fps.

cstone · 07-27-2014, 06:06 PM

Never shot a woodchuck, but something in .22 Hornet should fit the bill and it is reloadable.

**243LPR** · 07-28-2014, 07:23 PM

Depends on the luck you've had with the 22 so far. If you have a bunch of crawl-offs you might want to go to 222 or 223 with a light bullet. Is noise a factor with neighbors?

**Texas Solo** · 07-29-2014, 08:06 AM

I've shot a ton of woodchucks. I started off with a .22 mag, but soon graduated to a .223. The .223 will paste them to the ground, and you can make much further shots than you can with .22. Ammo and components are available, unlike some other calibers.

**limige** · 07-29-2014, 06:15 PM

204/223/22-250 are all great but he's only shooting a small lot theres no need for more than a 22 mag.

**EFBell** · 07-30-2014, 09:06 AM

If you just want something different try a 17HRM. great little problem solver.

**bythebook** · 07-31-2014, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by EFBell

If you just want something different try a 17HRM. great little problem solver.

ED when I bought my first 17 HRM and was there picking it up, an older gent was standing there and ask what I was going to do with it? I answered hunt and he said he had one and traded it because he was shooting groundhogs and the bullets were bouncing off there heads.

**tufrthnails** · 07-31-2014, 01:08 PM

that would be hard for me to believe unless the round was coming apart in flight which I have never seen, but have heard stories about. That is one quick little round Papa has one that he is constantly shooting Squirrels with and they explode when hit. He head shoots them. Of course he is shooting 17 HMR

Originally Posted by bythebook

ED when I bought my first 17 HRM and was there picking it up, an older gent was standing there and ask what I was going to do with it? I answered hunt and he said he had one and traded it because he was shooting groundhogs and the bullets were bouncing off there heads.

**limige** · 07-31-2014, 07:45 PM

People kill coyote with the 17 hmr. Story is BS. Guy couldn't shoot

**Rooster 50** · 08-01-2014, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by limige

People kill coyote with the 17 hmr. Story is BS. Guy couldn't shoot

I agree. I have stoned Coyotes at 100yds with my 17hmr. The 17wsm is even more deadly(now if they would just make some really good ammo for it)

**EFBell** · 08-04-2014, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by bythebook

ED when I bought my first 17 HRM and was there picking it up, an older gent was standing there and ask what I was going to do with it? I answered hunt and he said he had one and traded it because he was shooting groundhogs and the bullets were bouncing off there heads.

Ha-ha-ha-ha.... What a jackass. I just shot one last night at about 100 yards with a 17 grain hollow point. It dropped where it stood with a shot through the head.

**sniper15545** · 08-07-2014, 01:00 PM

HMMMMMM Thick skulled groundhogs?????????????????

**limige** · 08-07-2014, 05:15 PM

Must be wearing armor plate these days lol

**bythebook** · 08-09-2014, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by limige

People kill coyote with the 17 hmr. Story is BS. Guy couldn't shoot

I think that was the whole story there.

LilysDad · 08-10-2014, 06:40 PM

If you want some fun take your fishing tackle, remove the hook and make a slip noose in the end of the line. Put the noose around his burrow and when he sticks his head up, rope him and play him like a Bass!!!

Vince · 08-10-2014, 10:05 PM

I use a . 338 Win Mag because woodchucks and coyotes can be hard to kill.

**DanSavage** · 08-18-2014, 08:18 PM

.308 is my favorite for chuck's

cranebird · 08-18-2014, 09:11 PM

I gather you people don't eat them ? slow roasted and the meat pulled off the bones with a fork and smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce, can hardly tell its not pulled pork you're eating.....

sdeeter19541 · 08-19-2014, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by cranebird

I gather you people don't eat them ? slow roasted and the meat pulled off the bones with a fork and smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce, can hardly tell its not pulled pork you're eating.....

Mmmmm, grass fed...

**DanSavage** · 08-19-2014, 06:32 AM

168 smk's don't do much damage to chucks shot at 300 yards +. A max, ballistic tips, and lead soft point bullets shreds them up for the stew.

hunter1 · 08-31-2014, 12:32 PM

For chucks, I use a custom FN mauser in 220 swift, They look like they were hit whit a Mack.

**DanSavage** · 09-02-2014, 09:14 PM

I have a .243 sporter barrel that I worked up a varmit load for that is a flat shooting laser,, full house of IMR 4006ssc, Fed case, cci# 34 magnum style primer spitting a 58 gr. V Max around 3900 fps, turned a big woodchuck inside out at 330 yard with hardly any holdover with a 100 yard zero.