Groundhog hunting with a .22

[dieselmunkey]

I'll start with stating that i have searched the topic, and didn't find anything that matched to what i'm looking to discuss. Hoping some of the PA natives that were raised here could chime in.

Not a discussion of what's the best caliber for groundhogs. I'm simply not interested in hunting groundhog with my 30-06. A farmer that graciously allows me permission to trap his farms, doesn't enjoy his groundhog population in the soybean fields. I don't blame him, they're expensive to raise with no reward. Many of the areas near these holes have homes belonging to the farmer, with tenants and whatnot. Keeping noise tolerable is the requested method here. Permission to hunt them within the 150 yard safety zone is given, but we're choosing not to be too much a nuisance.

That being said, whom might enjoy to chime in with what .22lr ammo they prefer for groundhog? I've recently picked up a Savage FV-SR, itching to start my process to wait 10 months for a suppressor, but just hard to accept the wait. I'm big on instant gratification. So far, plinking in the back yard at home i've found this rifle really seems to love CCI subsonic, as far as a 30 yard group is concerned. But the velocity being 1050 fps, leads me to question it's might against the whistlepigs. Labeled as a "small game" round, it'll obviously fair really well with squirrel, rabbit, etc. Tried a few CCI copper, at 1850 fps that stuff is plenty more promising for power, but don't group near as pretty as the subsonic in my rifle. Still need to try the stingers that i have on hand. 1640 fps and labeled as a varmint round should put them down just fine, but of coarse, i'm interested what you folks have found to be a personal favorite. Growing up in Indiana, we had groundhogs, but hardly a fraction of the population of PA.

Looking forward to hearing what's impressing you guys, besides the impending "use a 50BMG, 1 shot 1 kill"

[DukeConnor]

I killed countless hogs with a 22

[Delkal]

You can kill any groundhog on the planet within 50 -75 yards with a .22. But unless you are the farmer that is not what varmint shooting is all about. You usually WANT them to be far away then see if you can hit them.

And if you do hit them you want a rifle powerful enough to humanely / instantly kill them if you don't hit them dead center.

[DukeConnor]

if you don't kill em right away they bury themselves.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Got a few with my Toyota too !

[arandy]

A friend of my dads used to give me .50 a groundhog !! (apple orchard in Williamsport)

[Walleye Hunter]

.22 long rifle, hollow point if available. If you hit them, they will die.

[USMC3531]

I like cci standard velocity and go for head shots, until your can comes in get a linear compensator. Kaw valley makes them in a few lengths or their modular.

[cdi]

I*ve had excellent success out to 150 or so with cci 36gn hp ammo. Not subsonic but is a very accurate round in my Kimber.
Btw, if you E-file for your suppressor, the turnaround is less than #10, months.
I filed in May and it returned in 70 days.

[JAKIII]

I don't hunt, but varmint eradication is something I could get into... provided the purpose was to dispatch pest critters impacting a farmer's livelihood, versus just killing them for fun.

Walleye's post #7 seems logical to me.