What is the ratio of smaller preds close-in (to include pithing them in traps) to larger preds further out? Primarily wooded area (where firing lanes need to be brush cut through the understory and vining clutter), or open ground with clear fields of fire?
.22mag is probably adequate but, on the other hand, I've never had a problem out to a hundred yards, using an old Remington Nylon 66 loaded with Remington Yellow Jackets or Vipers (hyper velocity .22LR). We have a .223 Ranch Rifle, but it hasn't seen much use.
The reason I keep using the Nylon (got in `82) is that it only weighs 4.5lb. loaded and puts 15 rounds downrange in a little under 5 seconds (no problem holding point). A lightweight, slightly underpowered weapon has a wider utility (opossum in the coop for instance).
At this location, anything `big' (like ungulate rats) that shows up and it is pretty much just a walk out back with an aluminum baseball bat... (do they look worried?)
.22mag is probably adequate but, on the other hand, I've never had a problem out to a hundred yards, using an old Remington Nylon 66 loaded with Remington Yellow Jackets or Vipers (hyper velocity .22LR). We have a .223 Ranch Rifle, but it hasn't seen much use.
The reason I keep using the Nylon (got in `82) is that it only weighs 4.5lb. loaded and puts 15 rounds downrange in a little under 5 seconds (no problem holding point). A lightweight, slightly underpowered weapon has a wider utility (opossum in the coop for instance).
At this location, anything `big' (like ungulate rats) that shows up and it is pretty much just a walk out back with an aluminum baseball bat... (do they look worried?)

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