calling all hunters: dealing with an air rifle- Grafic content

[cptbahama]

hey, i once dropped a Liger with a spitball (it actually took another spitball to finish him) so yes, it can be done.
what! just sayin'!

 

[aprophet]

I trap in urban areas where I cannot use a firearm I use a Belisle brand 220 size body grip trap I use a "walking stick" to place said trap over the coons head the coon expires quietly and safely for the neighborhood no firearms used. and number 12 shot is kina small for a good sized rat and our cottonmouths just eat it LOL

 

[Country Parson]

With all the discussion/debate about the merits and drawbacks of the .22 shotshell or various air-rifle options, I would humbly suggest the original poster get a well-made baseball bat. This is perhaps more Captain Caveman than Clint Eastwood, but it does solve the aforementioned safety concerns.

 

[gambler]

I have shot and killed many raccoons at 10 to 15 yards with both .177 and .22 air rifles. Even with pointed pellets the .177 did not kill as quickly and reliably as the .22 pellet. I will say that the .22 left a much larger blood trail when the shot was not precise. If you want to reliably kill a raccoon with an air rifle get a high performance .22 cal. Some of the Chinese ones are a good bang for your buck.

http://www.pellettrap.com/index.cfm?catid=1099

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
ok so do I shoot first then beat with bat after or do i just chase the coon while swinging bat and hope he does not eat my face off? I think I would make a pretty lousy cavewoman for sure.


sorry could not resist. but in seriousness i am completely unable to smash a critter unless there is really no other option.

 

[Country Parson]

Quote:
Just don't stop swinging!

In all seriousness, I would join the group that would recommend against the .22 shotshell (I've shot hundreds and hundreds of those shells and think there pretty worthless). Either go a full .22 (or even a shotgun, though it seems a senseless waste of expensive ammo), or if your living situation prevents that then you should invest in live-traps and/or a good sturdy bat.

 

[cooper38]

One other option would be to use frangible or fragmentation ammo like Magsafe brand ammo. The type of amminution air marshals and swat teams use to eliminate penetrating walls and avoid richocets. They make them for .380, .38, .357, .44, .45, .40, .223 and a few other calibers. I have used them before with great results.

 

[Britney]

I think that raccoons are so cute but not near my chickens. If it would of got one of your birds it would of beheaded it, and that my dear friend is not a sight for your children to find. I know this because it happened to me. The raccoon then would of come back and finished its killings. Ask anyone here that lost a chicken to a coon. I am sorry that it took so many shots but you did what you had to do. I promise you one thing finding a dead chicken that was killed by certain animals and raccoons is one of them is a horrific finding.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I've used .22 shotshell to harvest many critters up to and beyond racoon size, it works. My recommendation is based on experience. Ever used the round yourself

I guess you didn't read any other posts if you're asking that question.

Post #29:

I tried to kill a possum with one, but I guess 2 INCHES was too far, because it didn't seem to bother him at all.

If it won't kill a possum from 2 inches away, it won't kill anything bigger.

I've used lots of them killing pigeons inside tobacco barns, and it's rare to get a clean kill on them even at less than 15 feet.

I'd have to see it kill a coon before I'd ever believe it.

What you're claiming defies the laws of physics​

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
Just don't stop swinging!

In all seriousness, I would join the group that would recommend against the .22 shotshell (I've shot hundreds and hundreds of those shells and think there pretty worthless). Either go a full .22 (or even a shotgun, though it seems a senseless waste of expensive ammo), or if your living situation prevents that then you should invest in live-traps and/or a good sturdy bat.

There are a coupla variations on the blunt force trauma you suggested with the club, technique has a lot to do with it when using BFT . I JUST HATE PUTTING THE TECHNIQUES OUT ON THE FORUM MAY BE A BIT GRAPHIC FOR MOST FOLKS but BFT is surprisingly fast/quick when the technique is right. Unfortunately there is a learning curve with everything and a coon chomping at your arm/leg etc may be too high a price to pay for most folks