small caliber - kill zone?

[chickened]

Ask Osama if head shots work.

 

[ShortCircuitRanch2332]

Quote:

ROFLMAO

 

[cooper38]

Panner 123 do you have any job openings.

Any gun is better than no gun, just know how to use it. Don't go buy a rifle and a box of ammo, put it in the corner until you need it. Get it out and shoot it and learn it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Lets try to keep focused more on chickens than the weapon we try to protect them with.

Kudos for trying to bring the subject back to chickens and predators...twice. Thread hi-jackers...

The OP is about a specific weapon and how best to use it.
It never was about chickens at all

There's no need for overkill, or to risk over penetration, or risking hitting something beyond your target (for us mere mortal who sometimes actually MISS)

 

[jacoblipford]

the 17.cal is plenty big of enough for a dog to take a dirt nap aim for the ear if you cant just aim right behind the shoulder it will drop him in his tracks no problem

 

[chickened]

If over penetration is a concern especially in an urban setting #4 buckshot is an alternative for any marginal marksmen.

 

[GarlicEater]

Quote:
And do it with a solid nose round for good penetration. And I mean a .22 not a .17HMR. The .22 will penetrate if you use a round nose, the HMR is more for bustin' small stuff like squirrels.

Now, this heart/lung shot won't be an instant down. It will be, as long as no one gets excited, the dog goes kinda "Uh. I don't feel so good ... I think I'll lie down ... groaaaan.... sigh... dead."

If you can trap 'em and take the dogs to the pound that may work better, they make coyote or pig traps that are big and strong enough to keep 'em (especially the pig traps). Or, trap and put them down under more controlled conditions, a wounded dog running off Isn't Good.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

If over penetration is a concern especially in an urban setting #4 buckshot is an alternative for any marginal marksmen.

A "surgical " strike with a a rifle is far safer than a "handful" of 22 cal pellets in a pattern

A high velocity 17 caliber bullet is likely to shatter on impact rather then ricochet like a round lead ball

At more than about 30 yds. most of the buckshot IS probably going to miss a medium sized dog.

If the predator is near your birds, you're just as likely to kill them instead of your intended target

If you can get within shotgun range, there's no excuse for not being able to make a clean kill with a rifle at that same distance​

 

[chickened]

There are various chokes to use with some success on shotguns also I am told what you pack the pellets in can reduce travel but not sure what.

All of our urban hunts are shotgun or bow and mainly because of fear of over shooting in residential areas.. I can personally attest to the efficiency and accuracy of a 12 gauge # 4 buckshot on a dog at 70 yards and most pellets were in the dog with a full choke. It dropped without a peep. I just mentioned it as an alternative and on a large dog at 50 yards or more the lead ball usually right under the skin on the far side of the animal as the skin absorbs the lead by stretching and the ball never exits the other side but if you follow rule #1 make sure of the target and backdrop you will be fine.
Quote:
A "surgical " strike with a a rifle is far safer than a "handful" of 22 cal pellets in a pattern

A high velocity 17 caliber bullet is likely to shatter on impact rather then ricochet like a round lead ball

At more than about 30 yds. most of the buckshot IS probably going to miss a medium sized dog.

If the predator is near your birds, you're just as likely to kill them instead of your intended target

If you can get within shotgun range, there's no excuse for not being able to make a clean kill with a rifle at that same distance

 

[darkmatter]

I agree with Hoss1975 about the 22LR, I've disposed many a chicken killing canine with my 22LR. If they still enough, I'll go for the head shot, if not, I'll do the wing it heart/lung. Sometimes a double-tap is required---usually not, the 22LR is more then enough for dog sized predators. I have a bolt action 22LR that I've had for years, I also have my fathers 1946 tube fed bolt action 22LR. Both work fine for varmints. My Son has a 17 HMR and I've seen that it's also ample for dog sized varmints.
P.S. By the way, paper targets and varmints are two very different shooting situations, you'll need to practice at both.