Gun suggestions for predators-really

[pne123]

Quote:
just put slugs in it. no scatter

 

[flopshot]

such an open question. in reality the weapon is chosen by the prospective predator and your envioronment. a .22 or 410 shotgun (not loaded with slugs) are pretty useless against a coyote . high power rifles can be a liability in close quarters. there's no one gun solution but if i had to pick only one i think it would be a .45 Long Colt revolver given its abitlity to shoot a single 45 calibre bullet or 410 shotgun shells.

 

[danielbrown]

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I have an AR10 cambered in .308. I took a deer with it last year.

 

[MandyH]

We wnt in the Bass PRo SHop in Memphis, TN a few weeks ago and ALL they had was shotguns shells, 45 auto, and .38. It lloked like they were going out of business because of all the empty shelves. They told us that there are people lined up outside every morning before they open waiting to see what ammo the got in that morning. It's pathetic, good thing we are already armed to the hilt.

 

[Phox01]

We have a small armory , Have to choose between the ak 47 or the mini 14 . No critter is going to get away.

 

[BiggKountry]

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Why stop there......pull out the .50 cal sniper rifle

I would highly recommend the Taurus "Judge". It is a .45 long colt and .410 shot shell revolver. If you live in the Socialist republic of California....it is banned

Anywhere else should be good!

 

[Phox01]

DH wont let me use the sniper rifle , it' a customised swedish mauser.

We do have 2 50 cal black powder rifles but I ain't touching them.

 

[Kewlhanded]

22 plinkster works well for the small varmits... If you want to take on any distance or size 30 cal and up. If in close range using a shotgun 2 buck slugs work great from bears to humans but it's gonna kick...

 

[WalkingWolf]

It is hard to have a one gun solution. But if only one gun was available it would probably be 20ga shotgun. Easy to handle for ladies though a might big with slugs it will get the job done to take out a predator that is in with the chickens. #4 shot for shots in the trees, and a 20ga will shoot accurate enough for a 100 yard shot. I would suggest a double with a ammo holder on the stock with both slugs and shot. Pump is fine but to change ammo requires more time. For most people a revolver is a better option than a auto as a handgun, a 38 will handle most tasks comfortably. Many double stack autos are too wide for small hands. A J frame S&W is a nice fit and easy to carry. One thing that must be remembered with shot at close range is it skips like a stone on water. If you miss some of the shot will skip and hit whatever is behind your target, even the slugs can skip use caution.

I have a lot of weapons both black powder and cartridge as well as black powder cartridge. Usually most times I will have a 38 J frame S&W or a 1851 Navy colt conversion 38 strapped to the hip. Along with a Marlin 38 1894 close by. The Navy is a dead on pointer I hit what I point at and it is extremely fast. The marlin is the same dead on at 50 yard point shots. I use a Russian 22lr with a laser for most night time shots.

 

[Davaroo]

Say for coons? coyotes? --- rattlesnakes and copperheads ----
I won't mention bobcats and bear -----
There is no single firearm that can do it all. THere are always compromises, as with any tool.

However, for up close ranges, it is hard to beat the 12 ga. shotgun. With a variety of shells and shot weights, you can do almost anything with it.
For the largest creatures, magnum slug and sabot rounds will put some fearsome firepower into your hands.
For the medium critters (including human aggressors), shot in the range from 0 buck through BB shot will take them out cleanly and humanely.
Smaller critters are handled with game loads in the midrange, shot sizes from BB down through 7 or 8.

For longer range, then a rifle is in order. Something in the 6mm class will do for nearly all chicken killing critters except bears. This includes popular calibers like the .243 WIN. Another great choice is the Marlin lever action in .357 Magnum, out to 125 yards.

For larger animals like bear at almost any range, you need more whollop. Heavy calibers and heavy bullets are in order.

I'd consider 30-06 the minimum rifle caliber for bear, and then only with 220 grain bullets. Some people favor the big bore lever actions in calibers like .444 Marlin good bear medicine. I'd agree.

Pistol suggestions possibly too. (I also trailride)--Mainly pistols seem to be to big in the grip for me comfortably. I have wide square hands, but short fingers.

I'd recommend a 4"- 6," double action revolver in .357 magnum as the best all around handgun. They are not overly heavy, but are one of the heaviest hitting handgun rounds going against human targets. For anything else but bears, it's a lead pipe cinch.

If bears might be encountered on the trail, then the best thing to do is leave. Shooting bears with a handgun from horseback is not well considered.

Nonetheless, if you want something heavier, then a .44 Magnum is a decent choice. There are more powerful rounds, but they are not common and there is a price in weight and recoil. Beyond the .44 Magnum, practicality becomes a consideration, as well.
Both of these the ever practical .357 Magnum and the powerful .44 Magnum will take some training, as they are LOUD with sharp, brisk recoil.
However, both can be stoked with their little brother rounds... .38 Special in the .357 Magnum and .44 Special in the .44 Magnum. This gives reduced noise and recoil and them excellent choices for general trail and pot use. I'd have to again give the nod to the .357 Mag for this use, as the .44 Magnum/.44 Special combination is a lot heavier.
Although in good leather, either one can be carried comfortably. as for grip size problems, the solution is after market grips. I also have smallish hands, so I use finger groove, strapless Pachmayr grips on my K frame .357 Magnum. They - and similar grips from other makers - can be had for almost any revolver made.

It should be noted that both the .357 and .44 Magnums are also chambered in repeating rifles, which adds to their versatility. Having a rifle and handgun in the same caliber has long been a welcome combination when one is "out-a-ways."

Self loading, semi-automatic pistols are not the best choice, generally, unless you may encounter human assailants in numbers. For animals, and general use, their speed and ammo capacity are not really needed.
They can be cranky about ammo selection and fiddly to operate, although quality, modern auto's are fairly free of these issues. The worry over jams and stoppages exists, too, but that can be minimized with ammo choices. However, it can still happen and it is more than an inconvenience if it occurs at the wrong time...! There are none of these problems with revolvers.
Auto's are not normally as accurate as revolvers, either. And, except in certain cases, they are not more powerful than equivalent, common revolver rounds.

On the mean streets of L.A., they may be just the ticket. And they do look good in the movies and thug rap videos.

But, on the back trails and around the farm, holster a DA revolver and get good with it.