South Dakota prairie dog trying for low earth orbit after Dr. V-Max made a house call!! Orbit not achieved! If this post disturbs anyone, I will gladly delete.
Skip
-- Edited by Skip on Wednesday 6th of December 2017 08:04:13 PM
Lefty: I have no problem discussing load/caliber details just give me a moment to address other issues. What you see in the picture is what we call a "show dog". A wise person told me several years ago that show dogs are like snowflakes in that no two are exactly alike. I can confirm that. I have at least 100 such pictures taken over several years! I hasten to add ( this is true ) that we managed to "harvest" 2 crows a few moments after this picture was taken that were feeding on dead prairie dogs! So I hope this now qualifies as a "crow post".
It does appear, as BobA suggests, the bullet hit underneath the target. It actually struck the ground behind the target ( note the elevation in the terrain ) giving that "grenade" impression. Somehow, the energy involved rockets the target off in different directions--back, up or left or right whether or not the bullet impacts the ground near the target. This one went up.. and continued up another 5-7 feet like it had pressed the "nitro" button.
Lefty, while I have encountered dog hunters who love the long shots 500-1,000 yards or more when they do zap a dog at those ranges there is no "show dog" effect. Uggh! The calibers, loads, bullets they have to use for such distances just do not appeal to my gang. Way too much recoil and their TBC is usually relatively low but to each his own!
By far the most popular prairie dog caliber is .223. Ammo is plentiful and relatively cheap, easy to reload, etc. We use 40 gr. Vmax or Ballsitic tip loaded with 27.7 grs. of CFE @ 3500 fps. It offers light recoil ( you can stay IN the scope to observe hits or misses ) and it good to 350+ yards. The dog in the picture was victim of one of my favorite 20 caliber guns--.20 Tactical. Yes, it is a wildcat but very easy to reload. It is a .223 case necked down to 20 caliber ( .204 ) and shoots either a .32 gr or 40 gr bullet very very well. I use the 32 grain Vmax at slightly over 4000 fps. and you can see the effects of that velocity in the picture. The load is 23.5 gr. of H4198. My other 20 cal.. is the super .20 VarTarg.. using same 32 gr. bullet with 18.7 grs. of H4198 for 3780 fps. For shots inside 135 yards we use a Volquartsen semi-auto HMR with 25 rd magazines.
Not sure I covered all the questions... but let me leave with this... crows are to shotgunners what prairie dogs are to riflemen!
Skip, I don't know if this is true but I have heard that those .20 caliber rifles have to have a patch swabbed through the barrel after every 20 rounds of ammo, is this true? If so that would be a royal pain in the ass.
For the rifleman who likes volume, prairie dogs are hard to beat.
Skip, thanks for the details, I enjoy that part. I know everyone has “what works for me” particulars but Ill offer this. Try those 40 Vmax in the .223 with some Hodgdon Benchmark. That powder has been magic with my .223s and 53 Vmaxs.
20 caliber barrels cleaned after 20 or so round??... not true sir.. not even close. I often shoot 200 or more rounds a day... no drop off in accuracy barrels clean up nicely at night. I think this is one of the strengths of these calibers but then these two are the only 20's I have any experience with. Very difficult to beat those calibers for the task for which we use them.
Skip...I am wondering just how you, or someone, got so close to the dog to make such a picture? Appears the pic was made within 6-10 feet from the dog. How did the camera person coordinate the correct time to take the picture, compared to when the shooter fired his gun? Must have NASA on your team!
KenCrow: I took the picture...single frame.. shutter on 1/1000..distance was 140 yards, Digital Canon with 400mm image stabilized lens. How I did that is a function of my "cat-like" reflexes!
Hey Skip - with those catlike reflexes you have, what's the chance of catching him on the fly between two pieces of toasted white bread, mustard optional ??? Now that would be what I call FRESH !!!! mmmmmm - Aunt Bee, Aunt Bee
Billboxtx: Have never met anyone who eats prairie dogs other than some of the native Americans. We try not to handle them as they carry West Nile and a various form of plague. I do not plan on trying it myself!
Elkhunter & KillerCrow: I suggest you put a "dog hunt" on your bucket list! As I have said before... crows are to shotgunners as prairie dogs are to riflemen. I think you will find the west full of friendly and "glad to see you" folks. I have been asked many times...how do you do a prairie dog hunt? Answer: go to South Dakota or Wyoming ride out onto the prairie and start shooting! Well, it is not quite that easy but you get the point. All you need is a 1/2MOA rifle, scope with magnification of at least 15, preferably 20, decent pair of binoculars and one change of clothes. Find a rancher and ask if he "has dogs". If so get permission. If he does not be assured he knows others who do. I have been at least twice a year since 2003 and am eager to return next June! We hunt 4 days and IF we have no rain or high winds our typical TBC is 1200-1500. You will come back a better rifleman than when you went!
I had the pleasure of joining Skip on one of these fun PD safari's. I fired 800 rounds from my Les Baer Super Varmint in 2 and 1/2 days. It meets Skip's required 1/2 MOA accuracy spec.
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