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Not a problem for drift to shooting Gophers, it is part of the strong memory I have of the 20 years I lived in Montana. Besides this is my topic, and I started the drift.

This also brings back memories the thousand and I do mean many thousands of rounds I shot at gophers. The last year was a year of using the 17 Hornady Hornet. I had 1500 rounds of factory ammo I shoot up and then reload. I shot about half those reloads that year also.

I can tell you this. The most inherently accurate was the 17 Hornady Mach 2, the 17 made on the 22LR case. It was was limited to 100 yards because of the wind-they have wind in Montana.

The 17HMR worked very well at to 150 yards, very accurate, but not as accurate as the HM2. Shots on a calm day to 250 yards possible and still was a devastating killer at that range. I used it one time on prairie dogs. I never recovered one, all made it the hole. Plenty of blood and debris to indicate kills, even head shots. But they still got in the hole. No PD's recovered. Head shots only and easily done on Rock chucks and never a miss. Instant death

17 Hornady Hornet. I really like this cartridge. Not as accurate as the two rimfires. but very adequate. I built two of these guns on Martini actions. I made the mistake of loaning one to my wife to use. She is not an experienced shooter but did a spectacular job with this gun. She made a great shot on a rock chuck at 175-180 yards with this gun. I told her to aim at the nose of the straight on facing chuck. I told her she was going to hit below that in the chest. She thought she had missed at the shot. But I saw the chuck hump up at the shot and then saw blood running down the rock. Last time I saw this gun, it was in her gunsafe. I mentioned that my gun was in her safe and she responded to the effect only her guns were in her safe. Hmmm.

I got to shoot a few rounds of 17WSM when a friend brought his Savage rifle out in that caliber. It shot okay. My friend shot if for a while and put it away and got out his other Savage 17HMR. I never saw him shoot that gun again. I was considering doing up a Martini in that Cartridge but after that session I no longer was interested.

I am torn be between the 17HMR and the 17 HH as best cartridge for gophers. Generally ranges for them are well under 100 yards, but longer shots are available. The 17HH does have a touch more range. As far as accuracy, my BSA Francotte 1215's out shoots any other of the guns my friend brought out. Now there is one friend that is a better shooter than me. But in his case it is a better shooter not better gun. Might also be the reason he got a couple of Martini' for the gopher patch.

This is what you do while waiting for the orders to come in, sit around and BS.

When the Ruger and Leupold scope get here and I put them together I will bring this subject back on topic.

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DD, Ret.

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