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Old 04-29-2019, 03:22 PM
Rick in Oregon Rick in Oregon is offline
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Default Took my Furball for a walk

It's that time of year again, and when I wake up and it's a perfect sunny morning, I'm jonesing to grab a rifle and go for a rockchuck walkabout, yesterday was one of those days. I've been doing a lot of rat shooting with my 20VT, so decided to take another 'small-case' caliber rifle, and as ranges are not over 300 yards at this particular local ranch, my Cooper Phoenix 221FB was my 'rifle of the day'.



This property has pastures bordered with 'islands' of lava rock and juniper. For a rockchuck, it's pretty much heaven, as they don't get shot much (except by me), have all the food they can eat, and great rock piles for denning. It's also great terrain for sneaking about with a rifle trying to not be seen by the chucks inside of 200 yards.



These chucks are wary enough to know not to let a human see them exposed, so in all the years I've shot here, it's been 90% head shots only. My typical shot is an eye and ear peeking over a rock....no body shots here, so it's been interesting and challenging in the accuracy department.

This rock pile/den has been a chuck condo for as long as I can remember:



These two were taken off this rock pile from 228 yards, prone with bipod. Both only offered 'peeker' head shots, and the little "Furball" shooting Nosler 40gr Varmageddon Tipped over A2200 at only 3,100 fps was mucho plenty for the task.



I really don't want to post excessive carnage, but I'll mention that the chuck on the left in the above pic offered me a head-on shot, my POA was right under his nose. What the pic shows 'looks' like it has a head, but trust me, it's completely empty, just skin. Even I was surprised at the performance of the bullet, and I've killed countless sage rats with it in this rifle and my other .224" rat rifles.

I sure do enjoy these morning walkabouts, and a sweet shooting rifle just makes it better. Love my Furball!
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Last edited by Rick in Oregon; 04-29-2019 at 06:42 PM.
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Old 04-29-2019, 03:35 PM
ramos ramos is offline
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Awesome, Rick! Good to know you are out there keeping the grounds safe for all the high-dollar equines in the area, my friend.
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Old 04-29-2019, 03:42 PM
Rick in Oregon Rick in Oregon is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ramos View Post
Awesome, Rick! Good to know you are out there keeping the grounds safe for all the high-dollar equines in the area, my friend.
That's right, Ramos, someone's gotta get out there and do it. No telling what harm hoards of ravenous rock chucks could do if left unchecked!

Besides, it's a great excuse to get out of the house and take a rifle for a walk on a nice morning.
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Old 04-29-2019, 05:02 PM
Screaminweasil Screaminweasil is offline
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Yes!!!


Excellent morning indeed. Glad you got out.
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Old 04-30-2019, 02:18 PM
jdunham jdunham is offline
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I’m jealous.
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Old 05-01-2019, 10:21 AM
17VLD 17VLD is offline
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Default Great pictures....

As always ,thanks for sharing the pictures and story of your walkabout Rick.
One day I hope to see Oregon with a Cooper in my hands
Matt
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Old 05-05-2019, 01:48 AM
bowfisher bowfisher is offline
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Excellent pics and story as usual Rick! Well done sir.
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Old 05-05-2019, 03:28 AM
georgeld georgeld is offline
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shots like those you get, and p/dogs just sticking eyeball's over
the mounds is the reason to have bughole shooting rifles.

Looks like over the years the land owners have put a whole lot of
labor into relocating those rocks so they'd have smoother fields to farm
and pasture.

Good for you Rick, there's more left, go get 'em!
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Old 05-05-2019, 02:58 PM
hemiallen hemiallen is offline
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As is the norm for you, Rick, excellent story and images. Thanks for taking us along for the journey. I've seen enough of your horse ranch images to pretty much know the lay of the land. It looks like a very nice place, and Mt Hood sure makes a nice backdrop.

Thanks for the story, and glad you got out to continue helping the rancher thin the Chucks.

Allen
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