What cal for badger hunting?

[MikuGlastonbury]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

Not to sidetrack too far here...but what distance were you shooting, what barrel length, and what choke? Reason I ask is this~I have a 21" VR turkey barrel on my 12ga. 870, and it's got an IC choke tube in it. I would have thought even an CYL choke would be good for buckshot/groundhogs but I missed 3 of them this past Saturday. At least I think I did. No sign of blood by their holes, no dead groundhogs. Seemed nearly impossible, as the distance was about 20 yards in each case. So, I set-up an empty Gatorade bottle (about 500ml) at the same distance, and fired about 10 rounds at it. A mix of Remington and Winchester 00 buck. Didn't knock it over! Lit-up the dirt on the dry hay field on either side...but missed the bottle entirely. I put a #7-1/2 in and blew it about 15 feet back, but the 00 Buck got me wondering whether or not a tighter choked would have made any difference considering the barrel length and shot size.

Any thoughts?

For the record...it remains a possibility that I DID in fact...hit the things. Kind of doubt it though, in light of the Gatorade experiment.

I'd try out some different chokes; some tighter some more open.

Hitting a target at 20 yards with buckshot should be very easy to do.

[Opa]

.204 Ruger leaves you with a good hide. Seems that when they are hit with a 32 gr. Hornady they drop and don't move, even out to 200 yds.!! No exit that I have seen. This is on more than 10.

[gitrdun]

If I were to go out specifically to hunt badgers, I would either use my .223 or maybe even my .243. However, most time that I see one is when I've got either the .22 or .17 in the truck. As it is, the only one that I've shot was with my 7mm-08 and 120gr BT's. It didn't move an inch when hit, but then again the hide wasn't worth a hoot.

[saddleup]

,Have probably killed 25-30 over the years. All but two with a .22 rim fire. One with a ,22 hornet, and one with a steel digging spade. (shovel), But that's a whole nother story. The spade badger was the hardest to kill. lol

[7mmremmag]

I found out the other night that a 243 is definitely overkill

[DCse7en]

What does badger taste like?

[tikka250]

Originally Posted by DCse7en

What does badger taste like?

Kinda like coyote but not as bad as skunk.

[SD1797]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

Thanks tikka250, mine was hit in he head with the 55 gr v-max and it left a hardball size entry wound, but the chest is a lot softer than the skull on any animal. Thanks, next badger will be a lung shot

I have nevver shot a .223 but I find it very hard to believe it left a hardball sized ENTRY wound....

[tikka250]

Originally Posted by SD1797

I have nevver shot a .223 but I find it very hard to believe it left a hardball sized ENTRY wound....

Most likely bullet splash. When vmax hits something hard(like a badger face) it makes a messy entrance.

[eric2381]

204,223, 17hmr, 22 mag, 22-250. I've used em all and they work great.

I'd really like to try a CZ 527 varmint in 17 hornet soon here. For coyotes abs fox and badger.

[Unregistered user]

Originally Posted by Eagle Trapper

The 19 Badger

Definitely!

[Hugenuge]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

Earlier this week my dad took me badger hunting in his freinds feild. I was hoping to find a good rifle for the job and my .223 rem is a little to torky for them, I would be pretty sceptical of making a good, clean kill with my .22 but I also haven't tried it yet, is it s clean kill or does it take more than 1 shot? And I would be hoping to get one mounted this winter when their coat is thick.

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

If you plan on getting it mounted, I would avoid the head shot. Winter badgers have gorgeous, long fur but not much on the head. For your purpose, I would body shoot him with your .223.

I shot this guy two January's ago with my .22LR at 30 yards and it did the trick body shot to the vitals because i wanted to mount it as Bushmaster says the fur is amazing!!

[Slash8]

Took one with the 17 HMR last fall, nailed it at the base of the skull at 80 yards and dropped it right in it's tracks. I don't think I would have attempted a body shot with that caliber though. They are tough.