Who`s using a high powered pellet gun for predator control?

[mxpres]

I have put coons down with one shot to the back of the head and neck area with 22 short solid nose ammo,their small and don,t go bang,if their in a live trap.its easier to do,if I was using a pellet rifle i would think a 22 short would be just as safe,just remember to be sure of your shot before you pull the trigger,and make sure your rifle sights are set to put every shot in or near the same hole at 20 yards,,it can be done,im sure they are hunters here that agree,,but a shot on any moving target is difficult,,thats where the (guage) makes the difference,,#4 on better does the job,,good luck

 

[wisefool]

I usually use my .22LR. The rifle can hold 15 in the tube The pistol can hold ten. If I dont get the headshot it usually does take 2 or 3 to the body for coon/oppossums. In my opinion they don't have as clean of a profile as a deer/dog/cat, so it is pretty hard to get a garenteed heart lung shot depending on how they are presented to you at the time.

It is a little more work to fire those extra rounds. but I could fire 10 22LR rounds and it would still be cheaper than shooting my shotgun once.

And as far as noise, my people dont care during the day, (where I live it sounds like a range) but at night the 22LR turns on a lot fewer neighbor lights, if any.

So I would recommend getting an autoloading 22LR, or like others have said -- if the varmit is trapped -- drown it in a trash can. Not that I care much when it comes to varmits, but drowning is actually a fairly humane way to go.

 

[Oosik]

Some of the older postings suggested using hollow points and getting expansion ..... The reality is that at air gun velocities you are not going to get any expansion at all no matter what type of pellet you are using. A metal pointed round (not the ballistic nylon tipped pellets) is likely to give you the best penetration which is what you want.

Shot placement -- I vote for a shot between the eyes. Even if you don't kill them, it should stun them pretty well and will allow a follow up shot. There are so many jaw and neck muscles that connect to the skull around the ear that it can be hard to get through all of that.

If you have a real .22, consider getting CB caps. These can be a pain to load into some semi-automatics because they are so short but the round is sub-sonic and in a rifle is fairly quiet.

 

[Judy]

Quote:

at the shooting range -- World War III regularly around here -- moved here about 2 years ago and my old, old dog doesn't even cringe at the shots any more; she used to go hide and shake.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Just "dispatched" a big possum that had killed one of my tame White Rock hens yesterday evening. She ran for her life to my front door but I was asleep.

Was really angry that he did that as I leave cat food out for hungry critters. Guess a chicken dinner looked better.

Hate to kill anything but that was not acceptable! He came back to finish his meal an hour ago...not very smart. Used a 20g pump, one shot to the head. Fast, effecient and now I can go to bed early.

All the rest are up in their fortified hen house...just had 3 that hung around my house and roosted in the holly bush. Thought I was done with predators..I was wrong!

 

[bayside chick]

Quote:
Okay, I suspect that you should switch to .22 ammo. Sounds like the .177 is just getting too much blow by. I'd stick with all lead or plated lead pellets (no nylon), RWS or Gammo have good reputations. Shame on the manufacturer, that just can't work. Again hard pointed rounds would be best. Drowning is a time honored method of killing trapped animals, but I'm not sure I would/could do it unless I did not have another choice. Even if the animal doesn't really understand what is happening, it WILL panic. I hunt, I fish, I shoot pests, but deep down I'm still an animal hugger (actually, that IS why I hunt and fish). Something you could try, is a trash can with dry ice. They should just fall asleep and then expire. You'd have to go to the store and come back etc. and the coon would be stuck in the cage till you got back. Not sure which would be better. Yet another option is to drive the critter to an area or friend and then use a "real" gun, but that too requires a traumatizing car ride. No easy answer for you, sorry. You are trying to do a big job with a small tool, it can be done, but there is little margin for error. Best of luck.

Swamp

Thank you , very good info.

I am also an animal hugger , and really didn`t intend to kill these guys , but after 2 vicious attacts on my girls , I have no other choice. I use to relocate them , but I`m now worried they are making their way back...or becoming someone elses problem.

I am using .22 ammo...I tried the .177s on one critter , with no luck , and have not used them again.

Another thought accured to me ....would I be better off with some distance (10-15ft.) between the gun and the animal? Would that give the pellet time to build up speed , as opposed to a few inches out of the barrel?

Again , sorry for my ignorance on this subject...just trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[jholler]

No, once the air pushes it out of the barrel, it's no longer accelerating.

 

[wisefool]

Quote:
Yeah. The natives are restless everywhere. I Maybe shoot a varmit a month with the .22LR. One day per year we tune up/sight the shotguns for deer hunting. maybe some skeet shooting 4 or 5 times a year.

But I have got neighbors on all sides (out of visual range) that shoot it up as soon as they get home from work almost every day. I hear hundreds of rounds per day. Which is great, I think shooting guns is a good recreation. I just don't have the time or the money (most bulletts are $.50 + now adays). I just hope they are putting the some of the rounds to good use when the opportunity arises to eliminate predators so I dont have to.

 

[Swamp Roo]

Jholler is correct, once the pellet/round leaves the barrel, it will begin to loose energy. one or two inches is perfect.

WWIII... I jokingly say the only time my neighbors get miffed is if I don't invite them.

Swamp

 

[Swamp Roo]

Okay, I was in walmart today, and looked at the Beeman combo rifle. It has TWO interchangeable barrels that you can use, which makes much more sense. Make sure you are using the .177 barrel not the .22 barrel with your .177 ammo.

Swamp