Body Count for 2026?

[Bowhunter57]

2025 was a good year for a Body Count of groundhogs with my M&P Sport 15-22. Even so, I had several get away and/or had to mag dump a few to keep them anchored. So, I thought I'd step up my game with a little more power. I sold the M&P Sport to a guy that was looking for a 22 LR, for a squirrel hunting contest, this weekend. Actually, it was silly luck that I happened to walk into the gun shop with the rifle, unknowing about the contest, sold it and purchased another rifle to take home.

This is my first Bergara rifle, it's a Bergara BMR 22 Mag. with a 10 rd. & a 5 rd. magazine. Good looking flake stock, a free-floated barrel and a trigger that is nothing less than amazing. As soon as I got it home, I installed my Sig Sauer Whiskey 3 4-12x50 scope on it and my Rugged suppressor. All I gotta do now, is get it to the rifle range and get it sighted in for the 2026 Body Count.

 

[Bowhunter57]

Well, she shoots as good as she looks. At 25 yards, where most of my groundhog work is done, it shoots nickel sized groups and at 50 yards it shoots inside a quarter. This is with CCI 46 gr. segmented bullets at 1875 fps....basically a hard cast hollow point.

I purchased some CCI 40 gr. JHP (1875 fps) ammo, along with some Winchester Super X 40 gr. JHP (1910 fps), which I have yet to shoot. Most rimfire rifles have a "favorite" ammo that they like and it's worth trying different brands to find out if the rifle likes something else.
I want to try some Hornady 30 gr. V-Max ammo that's rated at 2200 fps. It should be a killer batch of ammo.

 

[GoetzTalon]

Nice. Play around a little more. At 25 you should be putting them in one hole and at 50 in a dime. Always had great luck with CCI Maxi Mags plus V.

 

[Bowhunter57]

@GoetzTalon
I agree with you, on the group sizes. The trigger is absolutely amazing, which makes it a dream to shoot and obtain good groups.