I've purchased a Ruger 77/22 rifle with a 3 to 9 Nikon scope. I plan on taking this along on a prairie dog hunt. My favorite .22LR ammo for hunting is CCI Mini Mags. Here's the question. Will this rifle and ammo combo be effective on prairie dogs at 100 yards? I have other rifles for the longer shots, but would like use the less expensive .22LR for the shots 100 yards or less. Opinions please. Thanks.

I wouldn't hesitate to use my Rem 513T with Federal bulk .22s from walmart. you will be surprised what they will do.

Placement.

Not a lot of power out at 100yards (am more comfortable at 75) but if you can place the bullet exactly where it needs to go...every time...will do the job. Wihtout that exact placement, will have them running off to die hours later...bad sportsmanship at best.

if your gun will shoot them well i would go with the velositors for more retained energy down range than the mini mags especialy at 100 yrds. they are a much tougher bullet and even though i think 100 yrds is a tad too far for clean kills on a P.D. with a .22 lr you would stand a better chance of killing them. check out this site for results on various ammo and their energy. don't look at the #'s at the muzzle, take a look at the energy at 100 yrds.
http://www.flat5.net/22LR_velocities.html

100 yards may be a little too far for the .22LR. May have to try to limit the use of it to ranges out to 75 yards. I do have a .17HMR for shots a little farther out before the big guns come out. Just thought for the closer shots the .22 LR would be an economical alternative to the .17HMR which seems to keep getting more expensive. Thanks.

I agree with Ribbonstone; huntingwise I always considered the 22LR a 75yd cartridge, taking few 100yd shots. For longer shots I use the 22 K-Hornet. However I do like to shoot my 513T at 100yds at paper.

Bud W

Praire dog's are alittle bigger then our W/pigs here in ID, W/Pigs wt in at about 1/2lb 8" long on a big one- I've hit them out to 125 yds with 22 LR 36 gr HP's and it kills them clean with a head shot (about 1/2" circle) Body shot might not kill fast but it will kill them. Pdogs run about 1 -1 1/2 lbs? I don't know never shot any! So if you shooting 36gr HPs or 40 solids it should take them if your doing heads shots!

A hundred yards is asking alot from a .22 rimfire. No matter the ammo. You can "drop" them in there though!

60 yards is more relistic for for "critters" like you speak of.
Must make a "clean dispath" of varmits as well as game animals IMHO.

Cheezywan

You can hit them at a hundred yards with a 22 lr, but your not going to kill them all of the time and it doesn't matter much what weight or bullet you shoot. If the wind is blowing a little it makes hitting at that range even more inconsistent.

I'll go along with most everyone else and limit my shots to 75 yards. I'd also shoot a variety of ammo to find the most accurate. You'd be surprised how often a 22 will like one brand better than others.

I'll second the Velocitor ammo. Try it and see how it shoots. I have a couple bolt guns that really like it. I've got others that don't. I'd still be thinking of 75 yards as my max with the .22LR. Once I get beyond that, the .22 Hornet gets the nod. That will get me out to 200 well enough.

Just echoing what the others have said, 100 yards robs alot of energy from a 22. add to that the wind direction, and there are alot of factors working against you.
I shoot 100 with my old Marlin 81 accurately, but have always wanted to put the chrony in front of the target downrange to see the end velocity.
I believe that to make consistant clean kills I'd go with a 22mag or better, the hornet.
Knowing your abilities, and that of your hunting platform is what makes us responsible hunters.

Good luck, let us know how you do!

Kermit,I would take the .22 and use it. I shoot a lot,3-5000 rounds from my .22s each year. My big brother came by the other day with a new cz .22. We shot 1/2 a box (550) federals. We shot from 20 yards to 200 yards. I would not have a problem one shooting a p.d. at 100 yards. Will I hit it everytime... No, but I found out a long time ago if you don't pull the trigger you will never hit anything.Q :p