Handgun Question

[annaraven]

Quote:

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

.410 shotgun with a full choke is all ya need. Easy to handle, relatively inexpensive. Wally World carries them here.....much more likely to kill the predators with a shotgun than with a pistol.

 

[teach1rusl]

Only read the first page, but I agree that a revolver (one with a hammer) would be a good option for someone totally unfamiliar with guns. Maybe a .22 or a .38 special...something along those lines. I ALSO agree that if you have no/little experience with guns, a gun safety course is really important. Also take some time to hit a shooting range for some practice...

 

[tom e]

I can understand a shotgun as a compromise with safety for neighbors, but if you're rural enough to where that's not an issue, I'd go with a rifle and a scope for coyotes.
The ones around here know what a gun is. If they are close enough to see you, they may not worry about you if you're unarmed. But if you're hunting them, they better not see a gun. Crows are the same way I'm told, but I'd never shoot a crow.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Yard full o' rocks :

.410 shotgun with a full choke is all ya need. Easy to handle, relatively inexpensive. Wally World carries them here.....much more likely to kill the predators with a shotgun than with a pistol.

Absolutely!! Also, you need a permit for a handgun, not for a shotgun. Be prepared to jump thru hoops to get that permit and wait at least 2 months before you do get it. A gun safety course is not required, but highly recommended. Get your personal references ready, background check, etc.​

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

1. We went to the police dept - asked who they recommend taking the safety course through.
2. Coyotes around here are between 50 and 80 pounds here... a 20 lb dog does us no good... hand gun, shot gun, rifle....all our best friends

 

[woodmort]

You've seen too many Westerns. Unless you're Dead-eye Dick, the Lone Ranger or Roy Rogers, you're probably not going to do any damage to a coyote with any kind of a hand gun that would be heavy enough to inflict injury. Go with a full choke .410 or .20 gauge with #4 buckshot as it will discourage any predator whether 2 or 4 legged without taking out all the windows in the neighborhood. Even any kind of a rifle will have too long a range if you live within a half mile or so of your neighbors.

Shooting with any accuracy with a handgun takes a lot of practice and even then you have to be more lucky than good. My next door neighbor is a deputy sheriff, fully qualified for his hand gun and it took him 5 shots to kill a rabid coon with his .38--missed the first 4 times and the coon was just sitting there. I suggest the .410 that you keep handy, unloaded, with shells near at hand.

 

[panner123]

Quote:
This is one time I have to agree with woodmort. It takes YEARS to learn to hit anyhting with a handgun. Almost that long with a rifle and some time with a shotgun. A handgun is the last resort when hunting, your long gun is empty and the animal is still coming at you. You have to stand your ground and wait for it to get close enough to kill, but not letting it kill you first. A coyote is almost impossible to get close enough to kill with a shotgun. That leaves a rifle. Winchester has many trap ranges around the country that you can ask all the questions and get a truthful answer. I would start at a good sporting good store. Ask questions and see if they have a range. If they do they will let you test fire a gun of your choice. They will also give you many saftey tips.
If you have read any of my threads, you know I am all for shooting any predator on my property. I do carry a handgun most of the time. And as a rule I can hit what I am shooting at. But, my personal choice is a 30/06. With this gun I can hit and kill most anything within 300 yards. I have had a little practice to do this, my first hunting license was in 1955 and I was killing predators on the farm long before that. Uncle Sam added to my training for awhile. For many years I shot for one of the major arms companies as one of their representatives.
DO NOT believe all the junk you see on TV. Most of the police officers are great shots on the range, but can't hit the inside of a barn from the inside when in the field. When you are shooting at a target, you have all the time in the world to get it right. In the field it is more instinct than anyhting else. This is the reason you will hear many deer hunters say, he had buck fever. Someone saw a deer that they couldn't shoot.
Hear again some might say I am wrong, but if you really want to learn the right way to shoot and you are young enough, let Uncle Sam teach you. He will do it right. My 2 pennys.

 

[Eggclucktic Acres]

Before you consider any type of weapon make sure you know and understand your applicable laws and ordinances for destroying predators. Where we live we have to be able to justify that the predator was a threat to us or our property/livestock. An earlier poster mentioned the 30.06 as his weapon of choice. The M1 garand or Springfield bolt action would kill out to half a mile no question about it. But I would get slammed by wildlife authorities if I popped a coyote taking a stroll through our acreage and going nowhere near the flock.

That said if the purpose for having a firearm is to protect the flock from predators then get a long gun that fits with your territory. (A handgun is useful for a gunfight in an elevator and the chance of a hit under the stress of protecting your flock is relatively low.)

If you have neighbors or other "innocent bystanders" in the backdrop of your flock, i.e. in the direction where you may be slinging rounds at predators, use a long gun that is least likely to cause harm "down range". You are responsible for the bullets/shot that leaves the barrel of your weapon. A shotgun with the appropriate load may be the best choice in this situation.

If it fits with your territory, my recommendation is the Rugar 10/22 semi-auto rifle. This rifle is reliable, easy to use ( I shot it when I was 8 years old ), after market mags can hold up to 30 rounds, and they are inexpensive (low-mid 200 dollar range), and ammo is inexpensive too for practice. Good luck with your decision!

 

[patman75]

As stated before...

I would go with a shotgun if your dealing with coyotes in close quarters. 20 gauge should do it, I perfer 12 gauge because of being able to use it for other things.

Check with you local ordinances first.

Good luck and be safe.