Best gun for varmints

[Buster52]

Quote:
Yeah, I'd like to get something with a scope. I've never used one and think it might be fun to try one. Also, its been a long time since I fired a weapon of any kind, so I'm bound to be rusty and may need all the help I can get.

But, the weapons specialist for our local police force advised my wife we get a shotgun as the best weapon for this sort of thing. His logic was the versatility issue mentioned by others. Different rounds for different purposes.

I don't know, though. Rifles are more fun. I was beginning to get excited about the prospect of a new toy to play with.

 

[rittert3]

I thought i would like a scope too, my savage had a 10X on it when I got it and I took it off after the 2nd time i shot it and havn't touched it since. you used to beable to find great deals at pawn shops, anymore though I think they're more in the ballpark of anyplace else you would buy a gun. I saw somebody mentioned gun shows swith usually have swap meets included I would check one of these first if you have one close then if you can't find a gun that fits your needs there shop around the pawn and gun stores in your area.

 

[Blue Skys]

I haven't read all the posts, but my here's my two cents. My husband got me a single shot long gun with interchangable barrels. One is a .22 and one is a .410 shotgun. I love it, the .22 is good for smaller varmint and the .410 is good for snakes and somewhat larger critters. It may not be ideal as far as taking time to switch barrels, but with practice, it does not take too long.

 

[JessHall]

I just think it's funny that poultry people are some of the toughest people I have ever herd talking. LOL I guess we have to be when everything is after our Chickens! I am still trying to wrap my head around the turtle thing!

 

[warmfuzzies]

Quote:
Yeah, I'd like to get something with a scope. I've never used one and think it might be fun to try one. Also, its been a long time since I fired a weapon of any kind, so I'm bound to be rusty and may need all the help I can get.

But, the weapons specialist for our local police force advised my wife we get a shotgun as the best weapon for this sort of thing. His logic was the versatility issue mentioned by others. Different rounds for different purposes.

I don't know, though. Rifles are more fun. I was beginning to get excited about the prospect of a new toy to play with.

Not one to argue with a Weapons Specialist....

But I would only do this if you know they will not be too far to shoot with a shotgun.

Also, shot is lead, and ducks and wild birds, too will pick it up and eat it. If you will be eating any of your birds, or if you are worried about this, you may want to research this. Wild waterfowl have died from lead poisoning from eating lead shot when they dig around in the mud.

BUT, I do like shotguns.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Folks this has required some major editing! Lets drop the griping and get back on topic!

I have a Mini Ranch in 223 (semi auto and I load Hornady 55 V-MAX) for when the coyotes swarm my LGDs and as my heavy hitter since I got stalked by cougar near the bluffs so now I carry that while hiking that area. I use that open sight although it has the ability to be scoped. Hubby has a 204 bolt action that we reach out to single coyotes with, it's scoped and he custom loads with V-MAX as well. Both get used regularly for gopher shooting in the hayfield just to keep sharp and for fun. A 22 is handy for smaller stuff but we just don't have that here much, and our distances are generally too great for that cartridge. I have use it to start the processing on the uncatchable turkey. One good friend of mine swears by his 17 for all the things you mention and it is available as a combo with a shotgun but not sure the gauge. I'd like to have the 17 for it's weight (and how quiet it is) compared to my mini 14 for hiking but I'm not thinking it would be enough gun to take on our cougars here. The 22 250s are not getting good reviews from what I have seen, I did look into that before getting the Mini 14. If you get a mini 14 be sure to get the newer model with the tighter twist and new action, the older ones had accuracy issues.

Really to me it sounds like the 17/shotgun combo would be right for your threats, I'm just not sure of the distances you need to be accurate to.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Well, that's reason enough to close the case for me. We have a lot of water fowl, both wild and domestic, that visit our backyard pond and harming them is the last thing I would want to do.

Ironically, the police weapons specialist sent us to a particularly knowledgeable pawn broker who gave the exact opposite advice he did. He suggested a Ruger 10-.22, and showed us the coolest little .22 round with bird shot in the head. It could pepper an invading dog without killing it (I could never kill one unless it was attacking a human being) and take out a snake in the hen house without also taking out the wall the way a shotgun would. This rifle can also handle a Mag (hope that's correct term) round, which I understand is more powerful than a regular .22 round. He also carries hollow points for it, a box of 50 costing a little over $4.

One thing I didn't mention is we only have 8 acres, so we don't need anything with a lot of range to it, since once something gets off my property I'm not about to shoot it even though there's nothing but fields and creeks for over a mile (which is where all these critters are probably coming from) behind our property.

Well, maybe if it has one of my chickens in its mouth.

Adoptedbyachicken, he also gave the same review you did for the .22-250. Not recommended, especially for our needs. Oh, and thanks for cleaning up the thread, and sorry for my participation in the off-topic stuff. I should have just ignored it.

Edited to add...
I should ask, is $245 a good price for this Ruger 10-.22? It's a pawn shop, but the rifle is new (he apparently sells some new stuff).

 

[warmfuzzies]

That sounds like a really good price, we bought ours for (I think) $350, but it had some extras, like a scope and stuff.

Someone else might know more about it though.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

The use of lead as shot has been illegal here and other places for many years. Check around your area, shot that is not lead should be available, or it may be that your shot is not ever lead any more either. Lots of people here are not aware that what they're shooting is not lead anymore, it's steel, and it's harmless if ingested.

Yes the 22 with bird shot is a good thing to have if you need to shoot inside your coop or barn. I should get some to get rid of some starlings that keep delivering mites to my birds when they nest in the rafters. However my barn has daylight panels in the walls that are a plastic so I'd still have to be very careful I think.

If noise or weight is a factor to you rather than the 22 go to the 17. The HMR should have the same hit for those distances as the 22 Mag and half the noise or weight, avoid the Mach II totally. However I'm not aware of any bird shot available for it, look into that.

Price I can't comment on, I'm in Canada.

 

[archerobx]

I have a savage 17HMR. has heavy barrel and a detachable clip.

Pros:
Hits dead on 130 yards. doesnt really kick.

Cons:
Drifts in wind, heavy barrel is a pain for walking, barrell points down and then clip digs into your back. small

use my on coons and groundhogs and it is excellent. Would worry about anything bigger. Shot placement is key, but like something alittle bigger to cover my mistakes.

Dont know of any bird shot

My riffle is picky about ammo. Hollow point ammo gives me a grouping the size of a cd. Winchester V-max with black plastic tip are quarter size group.

I think remington makes a single shot .22 called the cricket for like 100 bucks


Personally I would not shoot anything I did not intend to kill, so peppering a dog with snake shot isnt my thing. If it needs to be shot then put it down. If not pepper spray, rock salt or paintball. Also what if you start peppering the dog and it doesnt run but attacks you. I would like something more then a .22 to shoot