Caliber for coyote and raccoons.

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BigBL87

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A coworker of mine who lives out in a very rural area has decided with her husband that they want to get a gun for nuisance raccoons and coyotes that they've been getting recently. Since I'm the gun nut at work she asked me what she should get as far as kind of gun, caliber, etc.. My thought was a 223 bolt action, or if they are concerned about recoil (they're both older and his health isn't that great) a 22 wmr bolt action for something with a little less kick. Another coworker (they guy everyone "loves" because he's an expert on everything) said a 22lr rifle would be plenty, saying it could kill the raccoons and scare away the coyotes. Probably true, and a 22lr could kill one with a well placed shot, but for someone new to shooting I'd rather have something with a little more power that doesn't require a perfectly placed shot, and I have a problem with shooting to scare/wound.
 
If I wanted to shoot a raccoon and a yote the options are endless. Pretty much only controlled by price, amount of use, and how good of a shot they are.

I probably wouldn't get a 22lr unless I had some high velocity shells and did head shots. But if they're not going to do anything with the pelts then a 22 magnum up to 30 caliber would do fine. Could even go the simple route and get a 20 gauge shotgun.
 
What distance ? I use a rem 700 in 22-250 but also a marlin xt 17hmr . The 22-250 is of course very nice but I also really like the 17 hmr, very light, no recoil, very accurate
 
Ya, my first thought was 20 gauge, but the recoil issue came up. I still think they'd be fine but she seems set on a rifle.

Distance is probably 100 yards and under. I did mention the 17 hmr as well, my brother in law has one and that thing can do some damage.
 
Yeah, I bought that one to hunt bobcat (not successful yet calling them in) but have shot varmint with it and it does very well.
 
I'd go .223, myself. its cheap, available and low recoil. I can find .223 any time I go to walmart, but I have not seen .22 l/r on the shelf anywhere in the past year. I rarely see any rimfire.
 
i shot a racoon with a .22lr and it droped on the spot.cci mini mag ammo.it was on my porch and raiding the garbage can,so it was about 4 feet away.i cant say what it would do at 25 or 50 yards if your hunting racoons.a 22mag might be better
 
17 hmr for an older couple. Devastating close range...bullet won't over penetrate through foliage. No recoil and quieter than 223. Same price per 50 and easily available ammo. Guns are cheap also. Savage runs 200.00 so a better deal also.
 
Dare I say it?

How about 243? A little more variety in ammo, and over the last couple years, when 223 was unavailable I have been able to source 243 ammo easily.
 
The one question I would ask is where they are going to be shooting them? If they are on the ground a small center fire of anything would be fine, if they are going to be shooting Coons out of the trees they would have to be careful on where that round could go if it misses.
 
I have to say that a light weight AR15 with frangible ammo is probably the very best tool for that kind of job. Almost no recoil, flat shooting and easy to use. The high velocity with 45-50 grain bullets makes the bullets shatter on impact with the ground or most objects making the round safer than most others. Ammo is available (for now anyway).
Cost is higher then a 22 lr, but for what you are describing, I believe an AR would cover the bases better than most other arms.
 
Based on what I know (or think I know) these days, I think that a Ruger American compact or a Tikka T3 lite stainless in 223 would be just about the perfect rifle for all around coyote, Raccoon, Armadillo, and pig eradication. Both rifles are accurate, light, easy to handle, and simple to operate and maintain.
 
Except for perfect shot placement, a 22LR could cause a Coyote to suffer for maybe days before it dies. Not even Coyotes deserve to suffer. Clean humane kills for any animal is a good rule to live by.

Just about anything bigger than a 22LR will do the job on a Coyote. Like others said, If shooting coons out of trees be careful of the missed shots (what goes up must come down). A good shotgun is great for tree shooting.

Maybe a Savage combo gun (one rifle barrel / one shotgun barrel) would be just the ticket.
 
If shotgun rifle combo is an option Rossi makes several two or three barrel sets. And they pack away nicely. I think the 22lr/20 gauge combo is around $150. But I know the three offers a decent rifle. But that's only if they can't choose between a rifle or shotgun.

I guess another factor also matters. How much are they willing to spend? A frugal person may want something bare bones not to upset the bank. Or they might want the best money can buy.
 
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