Gun suggestions for predators-really

[ChickenToes]

I don't play around. When anything goes after the birds, it either gets a 30.06 (Swedish Mauser) or .357 (Smith & Wesson) aimed at it.

Call it overkill if you want, but any predators around my house don't come back for more.

 

[60ACRES]

You have to be quite accurate with a rifle, if you can, that will do the trick.
I prefer an old .20 GA that I keep by the back door. It will scare off anything that is with in 50 yards.
If I hear a commotion, the trusty .45 semi-auto goes with me.

 

[60ACRES]

Quote:
I can hit anything within 3 feet with my .25! Outside of that range, who knows where it will hit!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Quote:
If you are willing to reload your ammo, it is also one of the most versatile calibers you can own. It can be downloaded to handgun power levels or stuffed with powder/bullet combinations capable of taking the largest moose or caribou.

For North American game, it is considered THE BEST all around, non-magnum rifle cartridge. If I was to own only one hunting rifle, it would be the .30-06.

Pretty good for something well over a hundred years old, eh?

I would say so. It is my DHs favorite gun too. He only takes this with him to deer hunt. He says it is the best possible gun to hunt with. It has been my favorite one of his guns to shoot.

eta: My DH bagged his biggest buck yet this past season and he made the shot at 345 yards! It was his longest shot so far too but the ol rifle was dead on!

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

Quote:
Apparently, Remington has taken up the over under combination baton - as Savage Stevens seems to have dropped them.
But they only have them in .410/.22 RF/.22WMR.
The .17 HMR hasn't made the over-under lineup. Probably wont, although they look good on paper.

I have the Savage 24 with .17 on top and the 20ga on the bottom. I am going to pull it out today and sight it in. I bought it a couple of years ago when I got on a gun buying kick. I was buying 2 new guns a month for awhile, this one got lost in my memory till this thread.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

Well, as a small rancher, an avid gun owner and a hunter (and an NRA life member) I have many calibers to choose from. Rifles- 17, 204, 22, 22/250, 223, 243, 300wssm, 30-06, 308, 7mm, 8mm. Pistol 9, 17, 22, 25, 357, 38, 40, 44, 45, 223 (contender) and ALL shot gun calibers, and many .50 black powders. This is just a quick list from the top of my head.



With all the options available to me, I use my .17HMR over 95% of the time for predators. It is one of the most impressive shooters I have seen. It may be small but it moves so fast and with a hollow point, it packs a punch that will cut small animals like squirrels in half and blow large holes in coyotes and foxes (I promise). I can reach out to over 100yards with tremendous accuracy and still pack a punch, unlike the .22 and the .22 mag. I think in most cases, a .223 and larger caliber is an over kill within the 100 yard range. Most people don't reload their own ammo, so shooting a .17 is considerably cheaper than shooting a .223 or 30-06. Shooting the .17 is just as quiet as a .22 and has little to no kick, my 1200fps air rifle kicks harder than my .17.



While the .17 is not popular since it is less than 7 years old, I have meet a lot of gun "enthusiasts" that have never heard of it. It is considerably better than a .22 or .22mag (I have both). It is worth looking in to.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

If you want an all-purpose varmint gun, I would suggest the .22-250. It's a .22 bullet with serious knock down power. Put a decent scope on it, sight it in, and it will drop a coyote at 300 yards. And it has practically no kick at all. I broke my shooting shoulder in the past, so can't shoot anything that really kicks. And anything that you put a muzzle break on won't kick at all.

I won't use a handgun for shooting-to-kill because of the loss of accuracy. Although I LOVE my PINK .38-special!!

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Apparently, Remington has taken up the over under combination baton - as Savage Stevens seems to have dropped them.
But they only have them in .410/.22 RF/.22WMR.
The .17 HMR hasn't made the over-under lineup. Probably wont, although they look good on paper.

I have the Savage 24 with .17 on top and the 20ga on the bottom. I am going to pull it out today and sight it in. I bought it a couple of years ago when I got on a gun buying kick. I was buying 2 new guns a month for awhile, this one got lost in my memory till this thread.

I did catch that upthread, but I couldnt find it anywhere. Id sure like to see that thing...

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
I would agree with all of this, in the main. The reloading thing is my own choice, I personally don't want a round I cannot reload for.

But the .17 HMR does offer a lot of benefits, as you mention.
I have shot my friends' .17 and did like the low noise and tiny recoil. I also liked that the bullet got there, like NOW. At $10-$15 for a box it isnt cheap. But, for the non-reloader who will deal with small-medium preds inside 100 yards, it is a good choice. I do think it is too much for edible small game, though, unless you reliably shoot like a surgeon.
----------------------------------------------------------
I need another gun like I need a hole in the head, but you have me interested. Maybe one of those Savage bolt actions might just be the ticket....

 

[wombat]

Depends on what you want to shoot

At close range, or if the possibility of missing and hitting an unintended target downrange is a consideration (ok, it always is, but you know what I mean), a shotgun is the way to go. A .410 will handle small predators, a 20g or 12g is a better choice if you have larger predators, vicious feral dog packs, or the like. If there's a problem at the barn at night, grab the 12. I have had .22 rimfire go through targets at close range, with minimal bullet expansion and hence less immediate results ... a consideration when heading out to confront the unknown at night ...

If you need to reduce some problem animals at range, a .22-250 or .223 are good choices. Both are highly accurate, flat shooting, widely available, and pack enough punch for anything up to coyote. The .223 is primarily a military round, but you can find both sport rifles with bolt action, or get a Ruger mini-14 or AR15 in this cartridge. I'm not a big fan of the .17 being touted here, at least o=for your purposes; true, it is accurate and flat shooting, but so are the .22-250 and the .223, and they pack more punch with no real downside trade off vs. a .17 short of the .17 being quieter. Either the .22-250 or the .223 are far better for coyote and such. There are plenty of other options with similar characteristics, but unless you're making a hobby of your firearms, there's no need to pay more for more esoteric ammunition.

If you have very large predators, the old standby .30-06 is hard to beat. Widely available, and if you're going to own only a single larger-game rifle, this is the choice, though there are plenty of other options of course.

As small handguns go, Ruger's .22 is inexpensive and well made. Personally, I like my Hammerli SP20 and it's 1/2" groups at 75 yards, but unless you're match shooting, there's no need to spend that sort of cash.

... the older High Standard .22 are also nice, and can be found at a good price for the accuracy if you want to go retro ...

If you need a larger handgun for larger, and posibbly 2-legged threats, go with a .357 magnum or a .45. The .357 magnum has the advantage of downsizing to cheaper .38 special ammo for cheaper practice and more versatility, and a .357 w/ 6" barrel is accurate out to 100+ yards if you need something for open terrain. I have an older Colt Trooper MKIII 6" and it is great as long as you don't mind stapping that weight on.

Kimber makes excellent .45 autos, and they have a "small hands package" that might be a great fit for the OP, since she said she has small hands. However, any of the "1911" style frames can be outfitted with what's called a "short trigger" inexpensively.

This certainly seems to be a popular thread; I suppose raising chickens and keeping firearms around both hit that same self-reliant streak.