This year I took the LRVP and 950 rounds of .204 loaded up with 32 grain V-Max, H322 powder and a Remington 7 1/2 primer. I also took my newest toy, the new AR. It's a Rock River lower, White Oak Arms upper with a 26" barrell with a 1-12 twist chambered in .223. I loaded up 500 rouds using a 50 grain Sierra Varminter bullet with Reloader 10x powder. The trigger is a Williams set trigger which proved to be very nice out in the field.
My 3 best shots. The longest was with the AR at 460 yards, a new personal best for me, topping the 425 yard head shot I had last year. Probably the best shot I made was a 400 yard belly shot that I had to compensate a foot and 1/2 to the left of the little dog to made. My 1st attempt landed about 2 ft. to the right, with an update from my spotter, I made a correction and turned the dog inside out on the very next try! It's amazing what that little 32 grain V-max will do even in the wind at long distances! My 3rd best was a 2 for 1 shot with the AR at 350 yards.
One of the guys in the group picked one off at 738 yards with his new 6mm Ackley Improved. It took a good number of shots but once he made the shot, he walked out and one of the other guys in the group used a range finder to get the distance!
Here's a few pictures of the scenary and better yet, some of the aftermath.
Let's start off with some scenary pictures...
Mmm Beef!
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3215.jpg)
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3219.jpg)
One of my buddy's new 6mm Ackley Improved waiting for her turn to play...
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3221.jpg)
My new AR and my makeshift shooting mat, another buddy was using my new Midway mat so I had to improvise
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3228.jpg)
The Carnage!
Head shot
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3229.jpg)
This little guy was thrashed by the .204 at about 75 yards...never could find the lower 1/2 of the body
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3231.jpg)
But I did find this...the upper portion of the body and the foot were about 5 feet away from each other...no lower body to be found!
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3232.jpg)
Par'd this one!
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3233.jpg)
.223 to the belly
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3236.jpg)
3 in one hole!
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3237.jpg)
More V-Max belly damage
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3243.jpg)
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3246.jpg)
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3244.jpg)
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3252.jpg)
No body to be found...
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3253.jpg)
On our walk about we found a soft shell turtle munching on the head of this dead prairie dog. When we got close he calmed up. We ended up seeing two turtles while out there.
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3249.jpg)
Finally this little guy was in the middle of a prayer when he was smacked...
![Image](http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s290/mjweste/2009%20Prairie%20Dog%20Hunt/IMG_3245-1.jpg)
All in all we had a great trip. We ended up with 600-700 dogs down, the ranchers were happy and we will be headed back next spring for sure. My plans for next year include picking up something a bit larger to really reach out there. At this point I'm thinking a 6.5 x .284.