Weapon suggestion

[Bear Foot Farm]

I agree with you guys 100%. I`m a pretty good shot also, but at night with a potentially moving target, I`ll go with a shotgun anytime.

If the predator is close to your chickens, you're just as likely to kill them.

If the range is more than 30 yds. you probably WON'T kill the predator​

 

[TucsonAZ]

There is sooo much info hear to read so in the interest of brevity I am going to simply say this.

Get yourself a kids .22 style starter gun. They are normally bolt action, have good quality sights, are very light and very easy to shoot. I find that I can shoot them 4 different ways, sideways with the gun resting on my left bicep, in the normal stance, like a pistol and resting on a window, door jam and so on. The gun is spot on, does a great job and is a joy to shoot. Also, get the little primer only .22 rounds, they will shoot find in the bolt action but not the 10/22 (I own three, great guns!), you can shoot shorts, longs and LR from these so they're ideal for making adjustments depending on what you're shooting at.

http://henryrifles.com/rifle_letters.cfm?rifle=H005

I actually have that gun hanging above my door for just this reason, i would strongly suggest you check one of them out.

 

[JD4570]

Quote:
X2 Don't forget they can shoot cb shorts and longs. Very quiet ammo! I reread the OP's original post and realized the OP didn't want to spend a lot of money so this would be an ideal weapon. I would still use a 1 to 4 power red dot scope. Makes sighting much easier and accurate. With practice you can learn to lead moving targets fairly easily too.

 

[cw]

Quote:
If the predator is close to your chickens, you're just as likely to kill them.

If the range is more than 30 yds. you probably WON'T kill the predator

not if he uses a slug or 00 buck shot, etc.. ive kiled a yote at 50 yards with 6's

 

[geoff40]

I don't agree with any 22 rim fire being enough gun to protect livestock. In a pinch it would be okay, but I happen to think we have a moral obligation to do what we can, within reason, to make sure any varmint we shoot doesn't suffer. It is not the bobcats fault it's a bobcat, it doesn't deserve to suffer.
I don't believe a 22 rim fire meets those requirements. But something like a ranch rifle will, a Mini 14, etc. It fires the .223 round, a much more powerful 22. Recoil is still very easy to tolerate, even a kid can shoot this round and not be punished by the recoil.

My opinion.

 

[hamilton3475]

22 mag will handle any small predator

 

[juliaronan]

Get a shot gun. You don't have to e a good shot, and if you miss, you won't have a stray bullet whizzing around the neighorhood.

 

[cw]

Quote:
Yes, but as he wrote the problem is with dogs, and we dont know the size, and as chicken owners we dont always have the pleasure of just small predators,
as far as kick get a 20 guage, or .410, and try to stay away from single shot, also look at high point 9mm, rifles, about the price of a .22, but the 9mm will drop the bigger stuff

 

[JD4570]

Quote:
If the predator is close to your chickens, you're just as likely to kill them.

If the range is more than 30 yds. you probably WON'T kill the predator

I've killed more than 50 predators with my old single shot 16 ga. and I have never hit a chicken. By the way the barrel is only 19 7/8" long. Most of the preds took a load of#4 shot and the longest shot was 65yds. with 000 buck.

 

[groundpecker]

.22 mag .17 or even a .223 would work for those with soft shoulders