Fire Power

[tarajane]

My husband says we need a shotgun to blow away whatever eats our animals. No guts, no nothing left..... I say we need a 22 rifle with a scope or a 22 pistol with a laser. Much quieter and maybe won't draw such attention. Thoughts from those that don't fool around....

 

[bigcountry82]

There is a school of thinking that could make an argument for both. Recently I found myself sitting outside after dark with both a shotgun and a .22 rifle. I will say that the discesion should be based on a number of variables. First the kind of predator if it is a large carnivore such as coyote , Wolfe , mountain lion etc I would say a shotgun if it is something smaller like coon possum skunk. A .22 would be just fine. Also if you are planning on laying in wait inside the coop or structure your birds are kept in a .22 is much more appropriate. I have been in plenty of barns and looked up and seen many holes in the old metal roof from farmers trying to kill the coons. Definitely would not want a shotgun hole up there lol. And a .22 is far less messy.jmho

 

[tarajane]

There is a school of thinking that could make an argument for both. Recently I found myself sitting outside after dark with both a shotgun and a .22 rifle. I will say that the discesion should be based on a number of variables. First the kind of predator if it is a large carnivore such as coyote , Wolfe , mountain lion etc I would say a shotgun if it is something smaller like coon possum skunk. A .22 would be just fine. Also if you are planning on laying in wait inside the coop or structure your birds are kept in a .22 is much more appropriate. I have been in plenty of barns and looked up and seen many holes in the old metal roof from farmers trying to kill the coons. Definitely would not want a shotgun hole up there lol. And a .22 is far less messy.jmho

I would really love to keep my hearing as long as possible too!!

Just coons, possums, weasels, skunks, mice, rats, on and on and on.......Snakes.....good sharp hoe for that if I am there. Thanks

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I say both....

Shotgun generally tequires less skill, close is close enough with #8 shot. Not at that messy either, pellets go in and don't come out. They work especially well if you have more than one target, once the shooting starts everything is in motion, being a beginners to harder to keep your head and make sure you get to the second target as fast as you can and remember to aim( and ditermine lead and so on) scatter gun is very forgiving in those instances.

Scoped .22 is my go to critter getter, it's semi auto and extremely accurate, it can routinely hit 1in targets out to and past 100 yards. Handled correctly it's a great tool and can increase range over the shot gun.

Shot gun for all nighttime encounters for nothing else but safety sake, .22 when you can see them coming and plan one good shot. I do some food work with a .22mag as well but you need a standard .22 first

 

[tarajane]

I say both....

Shotgun generally tequires less skill, close is close enough with #8 shot. Not at that messy either, pellets go in and don't come out. They work especially well if you have more than one target, once the shooting starts everything is in motion, being a beginners to harder to keep your head and make sure you get to the second target as fast as you can and remember to aim( and ditermine lead and so on) scatter gun is very forgiving in those instances.

Scoped .22 is my go to critter getter, it's semi auto and extremely accurate, it can routinely hit 1in targets out to and past 100 yards. Handled correctly it's a great tool and can increase range over the shot gun.

Shot gun for all nighttime encounters for nothing else but safety sake, .22 when you can see them coming and plan one good shot. I do some food work with a .22mag as well but you need a standard .22 first

Thanks, that's what I thought. Take care and go get um.

 

[aart]

I would think that it would depend on the shotgun load and what kind of area you live in......
......a .22 cal bullet can travel a long ways, so be sure of what's beyond what ever you are shooting at.
(pardon me if you already know that)

 

[tarajane]

I would think that it would depend on the shotgun load and what kind of area you live in......
......a .22 cal bullet can travel a long ways, so be sure of what's beyond what ever you are shooting at.
(pardon me if you already know that)

That's ok to let me know anything you think I don't know. Horrible if I shot at a raccoon and bullet traveled

I am here in FL now looking at properties tomorrow for my mini farm. I'll look around good for predators homes. Thanks again

 

[RonP]

22lr with subsonic ammo.

40 grain lead hollow point nose at 1050 ft/sec. CCI manufacture.

Good accuracy till about 50 yards.

Low noise level, won't disturb the neighborhood, relatively inexpensive, very effective on smaller game.

I am assuming all gun safety cautions would be used...know your target and beyond...