What's the smallest rifle you'd feel comfortable with plugging a groundhog?

[Minerva]

I'm thinking a .22 should be fine but my brother recommends a .30/30! I think that's overkill. We're not trying to get shots at 450 yd over hills just smoking them out from under a barn and putting one between the eyes at close range. Of course that close I want it to die and not get pissed and charge me! Sounds silly and I know it's not a boar but those little buggers can be quite mean.

 

[OCGuy]

.22 depending on placement?


It depends on if it is traveling at light speed though.

 

[pontifex]

.22 is more than fine unless it's a very long distance. My dad used to take me groundhog hunting with a .22 when I was younger. worked fine.

 

[sdifox]

what kind of groundhog do you have that requires something more powerful than a .22?

 

[nerdress]

Why would you want it to be small? Annihilate that sucker, get a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun!

 

[Kirby]

Center mass or head and it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[morrisbj]

Anything more than a .22 would be overkill. A well placed shot from a .20 air rifle would probably even do the trick. It isn't like you are going after a deer.

 

[Howard]

The only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.

 

[Evadman]

.50 cal BMG is the minimum that I could be sure the groundhog was dead and not coming after me or my family. My family is very important to me, so I have to be sure.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Howard
The only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.

Can I quote you on that?

:laugh:

 

[Schadenfroh]

T-Rex Rifle for those beasts

A .22 is fine

 

[feralkid]

Licensed to kill groundhogs by the government of the United Nations.

 

[BabaBooey]

30-30 is a freaking deer rifle,your brother needs help....:laugh:

I have taken them with my GAMO SHADOW pellet rifle,.22 is actually a lil over kill but plenty enough for a GH.

 

[alkemyst]

between the eyes, eh...you realize headshots aren't the smartest approach right?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: bababooey
30-30 is a freaking deer rifle,your brother needs help....:laugh:

I have taken them with my GAMO SHADOW pellet rifle,.22 is actually a lil over kill but plenty enough for a GH.

are we talking prairie dogs or like Punxatawney Phil?

.22 will work for either, but I'm not so sure a pellet rifle would work on something like Punxatawney Phil.

my dad and uncle have used .270s to kill punxatawney phil type groundhogs, but at long ranges, like 200+ yards

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
between the eyes, eh...you realize headshots aren't the smartest approach right?

Exactly; makes the meat taste all minerally.

 

[MovingTarget]

On Feb 2, either
a) Groundhog sees his shadow, hides, and we get six extra weeks of winter
b) Groundhog climbs out and does stuff for the cameras for a while. Hello springtime.
c) Groundhog is dead. Nuclear winter.

Choose wisely.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
T-Rex Rifle for those beasts

A .22 is fine

That video is hilarious. What do you use that gun for?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: Howard
The only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.

Can I quote you on that?

:laugh:

I think that's like second-degree quoting.

 

[JulesMaximus]

A .22 would easily kill a groundhog.

 

[spidey07]

A well placed .22. Then again I've seen some big fucking groundhogs (waist high+ when standing) and wouldn't mind something bigger. Want to make it quick, insta kill. I don't think you'll get that with a 22 unless you hit the skull.

 

[rudder]

.22 with a 50 round banana clip. That way if you miss with the first shot you have 49 more. Ruger 10/22 FTW!

 

[MadAmos]

17WMR works fine

 

[MadAmos]

17WMR works fine

 

[CallMeJoe]

.22 is fine; a scoped .223 at long range.