Pellet gun versus .22

[BryanEx]

I'd like to have something around to put down sick or injured animals but I'm not sure if a pellet gun will be enough. I know you guys in PA will scratch your heads and wonder why but here in Canada anything over 500 ft/s requires a firearms license (which is an expensive 2 day course). I'd like to know if a pellet gun at 470 ft/s would humanly put down a full sized raccoon and/or ground hog or do I need to go to a .22 and pay the extra $$$?

[nas]

You need the 22, or a high power pellet gun, which also needs the PAL. The pellet guns are a lot quieter and safer, the 22 is more effective.

Nick

[captnsteve]

Try the airgunsource.ca in peterboro ont they have some airguns that shoot over 1000 fps

[Tweegs]

I agree with nas. A pellet, even if .22 cal, won’t develop enough energy at that velocity for a quick, clean, 1 shot kill on a coon.

[Sugarmaker]

Bryan,
.22 would do it, or move up to a 06, very robust, but may be a little over the top:)
SM

[lastwoodsman]

22 or 17 HMR
Woodsman

[KenWP]

For coons I have been using silent 22 shells since I seem to shoot them early in the morning or in the dark.They are not the best thing to use but beat a pellet gun all to hell.The low powered pellet guns are pretty well useless for anything over mouse size.
The 1000fps ones work well but are considered a firearm now.Even the low powered ones got checked out because some of them could shoot the lighter pellets over 500fps and got moved to the firearm catagory.The RCMP finally had to be told to stop testing as they were finding to many models that shot the pellets to fast.

[sugardaddy's]

I don't think the pellet gun at 470 fps would put down a coon or a ground hog. I'd go with a .22 rifle. The ammo is inexspensive. And they are accurate. And not really that loud. If you are trying to be humane always take the heart shot on racoons. Don't go for a head shot, It alway's take's two from a .22 in the head with them and they kick and suffer alot more than with a heart shot.

[BryanEx]

Wow... a ton of replies in a hurry but all basically saying what I expected. To put down a "coon" or less I need a decent .22. Pellet guns are for shooting beer cans in the backyard. ;)

[sugardaddy's]

My wife says try a wrist rocket (slingshot) with ball bearings or marbles for ammo. Or a bow and arrow.

[BryanEx]

My wife says try a wrist rocket (slingshot) with ball bearings or marbles for ammo. Or a bow and arrow.

For the beer cans... or the coons?

[syrupkid]

I was thinking more like a Browning .300 UltraMag with the Number 3 shells in it, they're built for Alaskan moose hunting so I think it would kill a coon cleanly, from about 1000 yards. :lol: Actually, I could sit on MapleTrader and pick squirrles off of the pipeline with that. :o

[TapME]

brain if you are a good shot any firearm will do the trick. Pellet guns hereare ured to shot up to groudhogs and do kill cleanly with the right shot. But as mentioned here stepping up to a 22cal or 223 will do what you want and more. Now about the law up there that's another story and answer.....

[CBOYER]

go fast take your licence, if Conservators being replace by any others, you will have a lot more than 2 days course to have a .22 in Canada

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

well you have a couple options
1. go take the course and buy a 7MM STW:D
2. Move south a few miles into the Country just south of Canada, make sure you bring your birth certificate and License.

[JuniperHillSugar]

A bow & arrow would work if you can hit anything with it. You might check out a crossbow (if they are legal where you are). They look quite compact, very quiet and very deadly. Here in Maine they recently made them legal to take game. I'd probably just "bite the bullet" and take the firearm course. In that case you can't beat a .22 for an all around farm gun. Not big by any means, but super cheap to shoot and can kill almost anything if you know where to aim. Do you have a problem with coons drinking your sap?

[Haynes Forest Products]

Im thinking my AK47 with the 30 round clip makes it intresting. Now I do like the 17 for the praire dogs really makes them flip. What you need is the new 12 guage slug with shot all in the same shell:D

[3rdgen.maple]

Go get a 22-250 and you will have a very versatile weapon and easily handle a coyote. Heard of guys even deer hunt with them but not recomended by me. A way to get around the permit is just buy it and have it delivered to my house and then when you need it I will drive up there if I can find the time and let you kill your raccoon.

[Tweegs]

Been thinking about this some.

I don’t know what the laws are up there, but do shotguns need that special license?
If not, a .410 or 20 gauge will dispatch a coon handily, a little safer bringing them down out of a tree, too.

Single shot models can be had fairly cheap.

[Dill]

I was just about to ask the same thing. A good old NEF or H&R single shot 20 ga is a pretty common farm gun for that reason.

[ennismaple]

Brian - A .22 is all you need for raccoons and porcupines plus the odd groundhog. Not that I'm condoning it - but there are hundreds of thousands of farmers who haven't registered their firearms with the Canadian Firearms Program. ;-)

[jasonl6]

Here is somthing that you might want to consider... It's A .45 cal air rifle. This will take out a deer. .45 Air rifle (http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Sam_Yang_Big_Bore_44_909_Light_Hunter/394)

[BryanEx]

Appreciate all the advice. 22 it is as soon as I can get all the legal stuff sorted. My wife as also warned me NOT to nail any kind of practice target to the side of the chicken coop. :D

[nas]

I do like my high power pellet gun for the tree rats. I can let my 11yo son take it out too and not worry to much. He has come home with a rabbit too.:)

Nick

[Waterbird17]

I have a Benjamin Sheridan .20 pellet gun and I can shoot cans at 50. Its a pump but its pretty fast. I've killed everything from rats to coons, and ground hogs. depending on the acer's you have and what the neighbors can hear, that should make you decision. i prefer the bigger the better with everything. IMO go 12ga. ;)

[KenWP]

Dig through a bunch of old houses and see if you can find a old 22.I have three I have found in old houses that people have hidden away and forgot about when they left the building. Use the one for pigs as it was pretty rusty on the out side so the H2S dosn't bother it to much.

[3rdgen.maple]

Man if you are gonna go through all the trouble of being legal skip the little p shooter and go get a 300 weatherby. Can never have a big enough gun. Great thing about the 300 mag is if you shoot anything smaller than a raccon there will be no evidence left for anyone to see.:D

[CBOYER]

why not a 338hhr ?? whit all that snow and cold, you could encounter a polar bear:o

[3rdgen.maple]

already got a 340krag. dont need a 338.

[CBOYER]

never know there are wild elephants hunting:lol: in us

[Dill]

I've pointed out to my wife, since we own an elephant gun (or 2) have you seen an feral elephant in our yard? Nope? See deterrence works.
9.3x62 and a 458 win mag btw.